Document V3gkyyk8yV8XgngnnNKnxnOOK

In the Matter of Hiep Thai Arlington, Respondent. FILED NMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 15 APR 24 AM 09:21 ';' GION 6 ,. 'r~~t, Suite 500 :>las 15270 r\&, REGIONAL HEARING CLERK' EPA REGION 6 Docket No. FIFRA-06-2024-0304 .,, . hc':y, Region 6 ("EPA" or "Complainant"), and Hiep Th9i Arlington ("Respondent") have agt complaint, arid thus this action is simultarif " " .'(' Assessment of Civil Penalties and the Rev ,,:,.~1:.e',ttlement of this action before the filing of a ;;t:t. ommenced and concluded pursuant to Rules ~ of Practice Governing the Administrative i/!.-f n1/Termination or Suspension of Permits, 40 C.F.R. 22.13(b) and 22.18(b)(2). instituted pursuant to Section 14 0U~1 .lhsecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act ("FIFRA"), 7 U.S.C. 136/. 2. serves as notice that the EPA has reason to believe that Respondent 12 of FIF,~A, 7 U.S.C. 136j. (\ In the Matter of Hiep Thai Arlington Docket No. FIFRA-06-2024-0304 3. Complainant is the and Compliance Assurance Division of the EPA, Region 6, as duly of the EPA and the Regional Administrator, EPA, Region 6. 4. company conducting business in the state of Texas. {'_,'/'::,: .:, Statutd,ry1~~& Regulatory Background 5. Congress enacted FIFR.Ar,IXAt0 .S;C. ' ' ''{ ~~ -,,,'.':c{i-0: >_ 136 ;_ et.seq., in 1947 and amended it in 1972 and in 1996. The general purpose of Flf <p;rovide the basis for regulation, sale, }ftf;.'{'. distribution and use of pesticides inthe\ ~'.) - ..' 6. Section 12(a)(1)(A) of FlfRA,,j(LJ.$tp. 136j(a)(l)(A), states that it shall be l unlawful for any person to distribute or seH e~t!tide that 1s not registered under Section 3 7. Pursuant to the regulatio ci)~r~Hc.F.R. 152.15, in relevant part, no person may distribute or sell any pesticide prodt1c( :f,~ijtis not registered under the Act, except as provided in 40 C.F.R. 152.20, 152.25, and 11si,1i~:iA pesticide is any substance (or mixture of substances) intended for a pesticidal p tUi t e''., Use for the purpose of preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any'~ asa plant regulator, defoliant, or desiccant. 0 A substance is considered to be intended,'t~~i l ~i~'.ticidal purpose, and thus to be a pesticide requiring registration, if the person who d s:or .sells the substance claims, states, or implies (by labeling or othe rwise) that (either by itself or in combination with any other substance) can or should In the Matter ofHiep Thai Arlington Docket No. FIFRA-06-2024-0304 8. k .t 136/(a)(l), authorizes a civil penalty of not , ii(~tir, more than $5,000 for each offense. The DeJ>~i,f o!lection Improvement Act of 1996, 31 U.S.C. ,,if,;f~Ij/iiii!r. . 3701, as amended, and the Federal CivilPe/ ral~les Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act :"1,\.z~tk1f1iir of 2015, 28 U.S.C. 2461, and implementin'~'t egulations at 40 C.F.R. Part 19, increased these f~:.:;~,,l:; statutory maximum penalties to $24,255 fo;r\ yiolations that occur after November 2, 2015, and for which penalties are assessed on or after December 27, 2023. Definitions 9. Section 2(s) of FIFRA, 7 Q.,'$.C: 136(s), defines "person" to mean any individual, .,...,.r,<: ' :.,:, ~ . )-_ ?i':f};1:f ;,:,:f\:::.: . . partnership, association, corporati on;'JrJ(l ' , rganized group of persons whether incorporated or not. :);'tiJ}tb.Fi, c,J/ri1.:i;1:~,, 10. . Section 2(u) of FIFRA, 7 u.s.':j,~:1~6(Li), defines "pesticide" to mean any ' ';. ~-- ..} ; " f,z;{-\kl\\;i!\r substance or mixture of substances intende'dffor ipreventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any pest. \\ 11. Section 2(t) of FIFRA, 7 u!s:-t. 136(~), defines "pest" to mean (1) any insect, l11:.J: rodent, nematode, fungus, weed, or (2) any' other form of terrestrial or aquatic plant or animal life or virus, bacteria, or other micro-og~rifsrn (except viruses, bacteria, or other micro- /fJ/Y)~?::~Hi:=: organism on or in living man or other 1W. , l;mals) which the Administrator declares to be a ,,>';f-:1":::)tJ;;::;';:, , pest under Section 25(c)(1). ; 0'\~::0:})Yf::\.;;}i}, .< : J ,; /titt1r;;;~t": . . 12. Section 2(gg) of FIFRA, 7 U:s-ci,,.1,i-~--i-~'<'3, 6{gg), defines "to distribute or sell" to mean ,.,J_,ttJ;t:?. to distribute, sell, offer f~r sale, hold for aiJ,jf(b ion, hold for sale, hold for shipment, ship, . /i:{it\~!h:T:\ t deliver for shipment, release for shipment f ~}redeive and (having so received) deliver or offer to deliver. '.:\:>- -,: ': t.t&!?i\ . .;;,,;C Page 3 of 14 ,., .. :, , '{ . In the Matter of Hiep Thai Arlington ,;,1{/,i ; Docket No. FIFRA -06-2024-0304 :. f\}~.:~.F<:'f~: ,t:::?\f::t),'/,';. , . 13. Section 2(p)(l) of FIFRAf 7,{t;:1':S)'C; '136(p)(l) defines "label" to mean the written, printed,or graphic matter on, or attachecl\d; .t ff~ pesticide or device of any of its containers or wrappers. 14. :\;:~:}>"'- . :. and all other written, printed, or graphic :fflatter - (A) accompanying the pesticide or device at any time; or (B) to which reference is m'~de on the label or in literature accompanying the -, '.f' ... pesticide or device. 15. The regulation at 40 C.F.~ljd:9?.3 defines "active ingredient" as any substance (or '. ..::.,_:( '.' . repel or mitigate any pest, or that functibh'sJ it1a''1 fant regulator, desiccant, or defoliant within :.;,/: {(t~~ ft ' ' __:.":'c:'.::.i.~---<:){:: the meaning of FIFRA sec. 2(a), except as proyldgd in 174.3. EPA Findings of1F~~~;~~dConclusions of Law 16. Respondent is, and at all tiij1~7s-referred to herein was, a "person" as defined by Sect.ion 2(s) of FIFRA, 7 u.s.c. 136(s), V':2f' 17. Respondent owns ar:d op~ rates an international grocery store located at : 2430 E 18. Pursuant to Section 9 of '~f~W~;:".1 ,.. ': . .' ->~,....--.. t} ' S.C. 136g, the EPA conducted an inspection of the Facility on May 31, 2023, to deterrr\H{'j :'~.~,.1.. p6ndent's compliance with FIFRA and the i<::>I~t;,.-'- federa1 regulations promulgated thereund~r1(tH~l'.'.:'lnspection"). f ~'' '--~- ,_.: /: .,. ,,~\({!,t During the inspection, EP~..C,Js:cfo.v~red -~c,-i: :,, - . ., that Respondent distributed or sold, as ', - . '.. ,\\~:\;,;}<.. . ' ' \ those terms are defined by Section 2(gg} ,at,'P.IFRA, 7 U.S;C. 136(gg), at the Facility two <'' In the Matter of Hiep Thai Arlington Docket No. F/FRA-06-2024-0304 ,,..~ ' , M.oth Balls and (2) Crazy Tiger Mosquito Coil (the "Products"). 20. was distributing or selling the Products identified above. 21. On July 31, 2023, the Respondent a Stop Sale, Use, or Removal Order. EPAFindings of Violation 22. The facts stated in the EPA Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law above are herein incorporated. 23. Complai~ant hereby statfA?~-rt~:~Ireges that Respondent has violated FIFRA and \X' ..J:,> federal regulations promulgated thereunder) :is tgllows: ,'...... ::,::. :.. : . 24. The ingredients in the Moth 7Balls product include naphthalene. This ingredient is an "active ingredient" as defined by.Se'ction 2(a) of FIFRA, 7 U.S.C. 136(a) and 40 C.F.R. '; :. . 152.3, because it is a substance thatwffFpFevent, destroy, repel, or mitigate a pest. 25. The Moth Balls product hi ~ctsignificant commercially valuable use as 'i, :. _. '}..:''.-< . , distripu~ed or sold other than use for pesf i~i~~l~o rpose. ;- .. -: 26. / The Moth Balls productis astjbst'i~ffce'intended for a pesticidal purpose pursuant . :;.,:,\:- /\' ,,_,-- (:, ' . . to 40 C.F.R. 152.15(b) because it consists,'tif~i1{~bntains ~ne or more active ingredients and f.'.tt~(}\;::;:_:':;:_:~ has ho significant commercially valuable t.i$e1~i distributed or sold other than use for pesticidal ~ ",\r>\/' ~'. . :- -> \ purp~se (by itself or in combination 'with,~! ny other substance), ~nd required registration pursuant to Section 3 of FIFRA, 7 u.s-;c\ :'t36a. .. 1: F'.,-1 ~ ....,,.i'/, .., .\_,;;,, - --~, In the Matter of Hiep Thai Arlington Docket No. FIFRA-06-2024-0304 27. At the time of the inspection,t he Moth Balls product was not registered pursuant to Section 3 of FIFRA, 7 U.S.C. 1 6p . { ;,tf'1;;1i~f.... 28. Respondent's distribution oc~~ le of the Moth Balls product, a pesticide that was , -.._, ,: _.'?',~ftftc,. ; ~not registered under Section 3 of FIFRA;];ctU;S;C. 136a, is a violation of Section 12{a)(l)(A) of FIFRA, 7 U.S.C. 136j(a)(l)(A). Crazy Tiger Mosquito Coil .. ( 29. At the time of the lnspecdon,'ithe label for Respondent's product, Crazy Tiger Mosquito Coil, stated that "Using .08% M epefrfluthrin - ,, t-:. ,, it can eliminate mosquito and be safe for ,\ human" and that it is "toxic to silkworms ancffis.li/' implying that the product could or should be used as a pesticide. '}:W-;?>j 30. Because Respondent cla ime'cf~h,y'labeling that the Crazy Tiger Mosquito Coil rieti?. , product can or should be used as a pestr2la t the' product was intended for a pesticida l purpose and required registration pursuant to Section 3 of FIFRA, 7 U.S.C. 136a. 31. Additionally, the ingr'edieht's in the Crazy Tiger Mosquito Coil product include .08% metofluthrin. This ingredient is ah.'i~ftite ingredient" as defined by Section 2(a) of FIFRA, 7 U.S.C. 136(a) and 40 C.F.R. 152:3, b~c:a~$~ itis a substance that will prevent, destroy, rep~I, or mitigate a pest. 32. , The Crazy Tiger Mosquito tod'-t ro~ucthas no significant commercially valuable ;J{\\rn: use as distributed or sold other than uset Ji i! ~stl tidal pu ;pose. .;-ft'.f: ~ .r?<:.t.. - . 33. The Crazy Tiger MosquitO,e61l product is a substance intended for a pesticidal purpose pursuant to 40 C.F.R. 152:l s'{~f because it consists of'or conta ins one or more active ingredients and has no significant conin,:ercially valuable use as distributed or sold other than In the Matter of Hiep Thai Arlington Docket No. FIFRA-06-2024-0304 1,, ,'\ .: ~ use for pesticidal purpose (by itself or in combin~tion with any other substance), and required registration pursuant to Section 3 of FIFRA,'7.)U.S; C. 136a. l f ~,. .,; , -;, 34. At the time of the inspedidtit~ ~'t:razy Tiger Mosquito Coil product was not \f' ~ ' :"i<}{:~ registered pursuant to Section 3 of FIFR.A:, 7 U.S.C. 136a. ' ' '. ''..f.;, 35. Respondent'sdistributiqr{ or sale of Crazy Tiger Mosquito Coil, a pesticide that was not registered under Section 3 oftlF'RA, 7 U.S.C. 136a, is a violation of Section 12{a)(l)(A) of FIFRA, 7 U.S.C. 136j(a){l){A). CONSENf AGREEMENT \ ... r:. .~ 36. For the purpose of this proceecling} asrequired by40 C.F.R. 22.18{b)(2), Respondent: ;}__::,-~},{:::.\~:{ ; a. admits the jurisdictiohc!1l~lfegations set forth herein; ': __-:;::/~ ;_ b. neither admits ridr cfo~i~s'the specific factual allegations stated herein; c. consents to the 1ss~~j'~ent of a civil penalty, as stated herein; d. consents to the issu~~:Ee of any specified compliance or corrective action order; e. consents to any conditl6'r,i fs ~etified herein; f. consents to any stated f>e1rliitPAction; , g. waives any right to contest:the'allegations set forth herein; and ::~,:\{~it~/.. :,.} . . h. waives its right to appe~Jit:He Final Order accompanying this Consent Agreement. 37. Respondent consents 1:6ijh~ issuance of this Con~'ent Agreement and Final Order and consent for the purposes ofsettleffi'~nttothe payment of the civil penalty specified herein. In the Matter of Hiep Thai Arlington Docket No. F/FRA-06-2024-0304 38. Respondent and EPA agree 1:J_t o~Eiliate this matter without the necessity of a formal hearing and to bear their respective }k,~ifand attorneys' fees. ,..,.: f.~fr,<C , .i Pertalty Payment 39 . Respondent agrees that/ ir/settlement of the claims alleged herein, Respondent ,. .,,. . shall pay a civil penalty of Five Thousa~'itight Hundred Dollars ($5,800.00), as set forth below . ' ' .> 40. Respondent shall pay th~rg~nalty within thirty (30) days of receiving notice of the effective date of the Final Order. Suchpc:1yment shall identify Respondent by name and docket number and shall be by certified or cl;~ier's check made payable to the "United States Treasury" and sent to: U.S. Environmental Protectipfi Ag~ncy ,., _..,:.-.:::. Fines and Pena lties . ,}ii< Cincinnati Finance Cente? 'IF.f:\)' PO Box 979078 St. Lou is, Missouri 63197f9000 or by alternate payment method descflJ:ed at http://www.epa.gov/financiaf/makepayment. 41. A copy of the check or ofHer information confirming payment shall simultaneously be sent to the following: Lorena S. Vaughn Regional Hearing Clerk U.S. Environmental Protection AgE!ncy, Region 6 1201 Elm Street, Suite 500 , Dallas, Texas 75270-2102 vaughn.lorena@epa.gov; Blake Sieminski Enforcement and Gon,plja'.nc:e Assurance Division Waste Enforcement Branch U.S. Environmenta l Prot~~tion Agency, Region 6 1201 Elm Street, Suite S@O(ECDST) Dallas, Texas 75270-210t t/ :t sieminski.blake@epa .gov Page 8 _pf 14 In the Matter of Hiep Thai Arlington Docket No. FIFRA-06-2024-0304 42. Respondent understands that ''itsfailure to timely pay any portion of the civil penalty may result in the commencemenf <Bti'; civil action in Federal District Court to recover the full remaining balance, along with penalties and accumulated interest. In such case, interest -} :.:; ;>,. ' shall begin to accrue on a civil or stipulaf~d penalty from the date of delinquency until such civil ' -_ . ,,(.~~--\ '{; or stipulated penalty and any accrued lrH:efest are paid in full. 31 C.F.R. 901.9(b)(1). Interest will be assessed at a rate of the United States Treasury Tax and loan rates in accordance with 31 U.S.C. 3717. Additionally, a charge will be Jssessed to cover the costs of debt collection including processing anp handling costs, and a nqn-payment penalty charge of six percent (6%) per year compounded annually will be asSes!i~a dn any portion of the debt which remains del_inquent more than ninety (90) days af~~~'payment is due. 31 U.S.C. 3717(e)(2). Effect of Settlemeht and Reservation of Rights 43. Full payment of the peri~lt\iproposed in this Consent Agreement shall only resolve Respondent's liability for fede)~jtei~n penalties for the violations alleged herein. Complainant reserves the righfto::-fa~e-;ariy enforcement action with respect to any other violations of the FIFRA or anyother ap.plicable law. 44. The effect of settlement desc'ribecfin the immediately preceding paragraph is conditioned upon the accuracy of Resporia~'~tSI :f epresentations to the EPA, as memorialized in paragraph directly below. 45. Respondent certifies byJ -~:igning of this Consent Agreement that it is presently in con,pliance with all requirements o(~fEkA .. -,~ - . and its implementinI g regulations . 46. Full payment of the pe~~IW'proposed in this Consent Agreement shall not in any case affect the right of the Agency or tn-~ltiri'i'tediStates to pursue appropriate injunctive or In the Matter of Hiep Thai Arlington Docket No. FIFRA-06-2024-0304 other equitable relief or criminal ?anctions for a,ny violations of law. This Consent Agreement and Final Order does not waive, extinguish,pt otherwise affect Respondent's obligation to !-}: 'i,i';(li} comply with all applicable provisions of the FIFRA and regulations promulgated thereunder. 47. Compla inant reserves the. right to enforce the terms and conditions of this , -''l.if---;. Consent Agreement and Final Order. General Provisions 48. By signing this Consent Agreerne11t, ,: ' -; the undersigned representative of Respondent certifies that he or she is fully authorized to execute and enter into the terms and ,' ~ i conditions of this Consent Agreement and has th'e legal capacity to bind the party it represents to this Consent Agreement. 49. This Consent Agreements.hall not dispose of the proceeding without a final order from the Regional Judicia l Of t lcer ,._,. . fb ~ ._, b Regional Administrator ratifying the terms of this Consent Agreement . This Consent Agreem~nt ' .a ;''. \? and Final Order shall be effective upon the filing of the Final Order by the Regional Hearingl.tferk for EPA, Region 6. Unless otherwise stated, all time periods stated herein shall be calculate tPiri t alendar days from such date.. 50. The penalty specified herein shall'r'epresent civil penalties assessed by EPA and shall not be deductible for purposes of Fedeijal}'Sfate and local taxes. < 51. / This Consent Agreement anditJi,af Order shall apply to and be binding upon . Respondent and Respondent's agents / } l.iccessors !; "\ ; and/or assigns. Respondent shall ensure that all contractors, employees, consultanti ;:nrfns, or other persons or entities acting for . . ,. \ Respondent with respect to matters:in'~htl;~gc:fherein ~ ,,. :-,., '. comply with the terms of this Consent Agreement and Final Order. Page 10of 14 In the Matter of Hiep Thai Arlington Docket No. FIFRA-06-2024-0304 52. The EPA and Respondent agr~~ to.the use of electronic signatures for this matter pursuant to 40 C.F.R. 22.6. The EPA and 'f(~lspondent further agree to electronic service of this .Consent Agreement and Final Order by.eJnail to the following: To EPA: george.elizabi?th-Ya@epa.gov ::;,\1-.."'.'(f'. .. : To Respondent: manilee7'0@y,ahoo.com Pagell of 14 RESPONDENT: HIEP THAI ARLINGTON Date: _l/_-_8'-_-"2-_u_ . _ In the Matter of Hiep Thai Arlington Docket No. F/FRA -06-2024-0304 ~~ > Signature Name Title COMPLAINANT: U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY Date: April 12, 2024 Digitally signed by Cheryl T. Seager Date: 2024.04.1213:15:40 -05'00' Cheryll.Seager Director Enforcement ;>nand Compliance Assurance Division U.S. EPA, Region 6 ~ Page 12 of 14 FINAL ORDER In the Matter of Hiep Thai Arlington Docket No. FIFRA-06-2024-0304 Pursuant to Section 14(a) of FIFRA, 7 U.S.C. 136/(a), and the Consolidated Rules of Practice Governing the Administrative Assessment of Civil Penalties and the Revocation/ Termination or Suspension of Permits, 40. C.F.R. Part 22, the foregoing Consent Agreement resolving this matter is hereby ratified abd"incorporated by reference into this Final Order. Respondent is ORDERED to comply with all of the terms of the Consent Agreement. In accordance with 40 C.F.R. 22.31(b), the effective date of the foregoing Consent Agreement and this Final Order is the date on which this Final Order is filed with the Regional Hearing Clerk. This Final Order shall resolve onlythose causes of action alleged in the Consent Agreement. Nothing in this Final Order4sljall be construed to waive, extinguish, or otherwi~e affect Respondents' (or its officers,ageNts>servants, employees, successors, or assigns) obligation to comply with all applicablefechfral, state, and local statutes and regulations, including the regulations that were the subje1cf of this action. IT IS SO ORDERED. THOMAS RUCKI Digitally signed by THOMAS RUCKI Date: 2024.04.15 09:40:04 -04'00' Thomas Rucki Regional Judicial Officer Date Page 13 of 14 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE In the Matter of Hiep Thai Arlington Docket No. FIFRA-06-2024-0304 Icertify that a true and correct copy of the foregoing Consent ~greement and Final Order was filed with me, the Regional Hearing Clerk, U.S. EPA, Region 6, 1201 Elm Street, Suite 500, Dallas, Texas 75270-2102, and that ! sent a true and correct copy on this day in the following manner to the addresses: Copy via Email to Complainal(lt, EPA: george.eIiza beth .a@epa.gov Copy via Email t9 Respondent: manilee70@yahoo.com Hiep Thai Food Store 2430 E Pioneer Pkwy Arlington, TX 76010 LORENA VAUGHN Digitally signed by LORENA VAUGHN Date: 2024.04.15 09:22:02 -05'00' Regional Hearing Clerk U.S. EPA, Region 6 Page J 4 of 14