JEROME — A Jerome dairy processing facility will pay close to $52,000 in fines for failing to report its prior use of toxic chemicals.

The Environmental Protection Agency announced Thursday that Idaho Milk Products didn’t disclose its use of nitric acid in 2009 on time. Nitric acid is one of the toxic chemicals that must be disclosed under the agency’s right-to-know laws called the Toxics Release Inventory Program.

According to court documents, Idaho Milk Products used 300,000 pounds of nitric acid and manufactured more than 25,000 pounds of nitric compounds in 2009. The company eventually filed the appropriate documents for using the chemical, but did so 360 days late.

“Communities have a right to know what chemicals companies are using and potentially releasing into the environment,” said Kelly Huynh, manager of the TRI program at EPA in Seattle, in a news release. “Accurate and timely numbers from companies are the foundation of these rules so citizens have access to the most current information.”

Nitric acid must be monitored because it can harm the eyes, skin, respiratory system and teeth, explained EPA officials.

As of 2010, close to 300 dairies across the United States used nitric acid as a cleaning agent.

The failure to disclose was a result of an “oversight,” according to an Idaho Milk Products statement.

The facility has corrected the situation by improving its reporting process and creating a new position designed to oversee environmental compliance, according to its statement.

“We strive to exceed industry standards with the quality of our products and the way we do business,” said Kent Giddings, general manager of Idaho Milk Products, in the written statement. “We are committed to conduct ourselves with competency and compliance to government and industry standards.”

Idaho Milk Products is a privately held international milk processor supplying milk products to global food and nutrition companies. Owned by three American dairies, Idaho Milk Products was formed in 2009 and processes 40 million pounds of product annually.

“Idaho Milk Products is uniquely positioned in the Idaho dairy industry as a leader, and they’ve accomplished that due to their diligence and focus on being a best-in-class organization,” said Mayor John Shine.  “We are proud that Idaho Milk Products is here in Jerome.”

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