An Auburn company was among three Northwest businesses that violated federal community right-to-know reporting requirements by failing to report releases of toxic chemicals on time to the federal Toxics Release Inventory.

According to a settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Auburn-based Formula Corp., failed to report on time for releases of glycol ethers at its facility during 2009 and will pay a $3,800 penalty.

Formula Corp., is a manufacturer of custom chemicals used in personal care, sanitary maintenance and industrial cleaning markets.

Glycol ethers are an inhalation hazard and might affect the blood, kidneys and liver.

The other companies found in violation were Frazier Industrial Company (Pocatello, Idaho), and McClure Industries, Inc. (Portland). The three companies will pay nearly $12,000 in combined penalties.

“Companies that use industrial chemicals have a responsibility to surrounding communities to run safe and transparent operations,” said Kelly Huynh, manager of the Inspection and Enforcement Management Unit at EPA in Seattle. “That includes reporting about the chemicals they use and release at their facilities.”

Under the federal TRI Program, companies that use certain toxic chemicals are required to report annually about releases, transfers, and waste management activities involving toxic chemicals at their facilities. Most companies, including Frazier Industrial Company, Formula Corp, and McClure Industries, report toxic chemicals releases that result from routine manufacturing operations at their facilities.

The Toxic Release Inventory is a national database of chemical data from more than 23,000 facilities and is a public resource available to any citizen. The TRI Program falls under the Emergency Planning and Community-Right-to-Know Act, which aims to inform communities and citizens of chemical hazards in their neighborhoods.

For more information on the TRI Program, visit www.epa.gov/tri/.