HAVERHILL- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has cited Sunoco Chemical's Haverhill plant for alleged clean air violations.

According to EPA Region 5 spokesman William Omohundro, the citations regard leaks of hazardous pollutants that were discovered during an inspection of the plant in late February and early March. Omohundro stressed that the findings of violations are preliminary.

&#8220What we're doing is putting the company on notice that we have found violations and that they have an opportunity to meet with us,” he said.

&#8220(The) EPA's mission is to protect public health and the environment,” EPA region 5 Administrator Thomas V. Skinner said. &#8220We will take whatever steps are needed to ensure compliance with the Clean Air Act.”

Omohundro said it is preliminary to discuss possible penalties that could be assessed in this case since the matter in the early stages. The next step is for company officials to request a meeting with EPA officials to discuss the allegations.

Sunoco spokesman Gerald Davis said corporate officials have scheduled a meeting with EPA officials for Nov. 8 and are working &#8220in the spirit of full cooperation” with the environmental agency.

&#8220Sunoco continues to be focused on operating its Haverhill plant and all of its facilities to the highest standards safely, reliably and with environmental integrity,” Davis said.” We are focused on being a good neighbor. We're pleased to be in the community and work hard at being a responsible neighbor.”

Sunoco manufactures acetone, alphamethyl styrene, bisphenol-A and phenol at its Haverhill facility.