FAA Proposes $70,000 Penalty Against Matarah Industries for Hazmat Violations

The Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA), Southern Region, has proposed to
assess a $70,000 civil penalty against
Matarah Industries, Inc. of Milwaukee,
WI, for allegedly violating Department
of Transportation hazardous materials
regulations.

The FAA alleges that on November 27,
2000, Matarah Industries improperly
offered a fiberboard box containing a
one-gallon container of SPI personal
insect repellent, a flammable liquid,
to United Parcel Service (UPS) for
transportation by air. Ground handling
employees at the UPS sort facility in
Louisville, KY, discovered the shipment
leaking.

Matarah Industries offered the
hazardous materials for transportation
when they were not packaged, marked,
classed, described, documented, or in
condition for shipment as required by
regulations. Matarah Industries also
failed to ensure employees were trained
to properly package and handle
hazardous materials, and did not make
available at all times the required
emergency response information.

Matarah Industries has 30 days from
receipt of the FAA notice to submit a
reply to the agency. This announcement
is made in accordance with the FAA’s
practice of releasing information to
the public on newly issued enforcement
actions involving penalties of $50,000
or more.