Rentech, Inc. has acquired New England Wood Pellet (NEWP), the largest producer of wood pellets for the U.S. heating market and a repeat target of OSHA combustible dust violations.
Rentech, Inc. (NASDAQ: RTK) announced that it has acquired New England Wood Pellet (NEWP), the largest producer of wood pellets for the U.S. heating market.
New England Wood Pellet LLC has been cited for multiple alleged combustible dust-related citations by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, four months after agreeing to pay $100,000 to settle violations stemming from an October 2011 fire at its Jaffrey, NH, plant.
New England Wood Pellet LLC, which sustained a series of explosions and fires at its plant in Jaffrey, NH, has agreed to take corective action to prevent future outbreaks, as part of its negotiated settlement with the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
OSHA's recent press release announcing $147,000 in fines against New England Wood Pellet, also admonished "the employer's failure to effectively minimize and address clearly recognized hazards that could kill or disable workers in a catastrophic incident." Was that over the top? The pellet maker thinks so.
Management of New England Wood Pellet lashed out at the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, saying that statements in OSHA's April 27 new release announcing fines against the manufacturer were unfair.