Where Industry and Security Intersect
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Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Enforcement Michael J. Garcia announced today that a $496,000 civil penalty has been imposed on Entegris, Inc., of Chaska, Minnesota for violating export regulations.
The Department alleged that, on 124 occasions between February 1996 and December 1998, Fluoroware, Inc. - now owned by Entegris, Inc. - exported diaphragm valves and components from the United States to Taiwan, the People's Republic of China, and Israel without the required Department of Commerce export licenses.
The Commerce Department's Bureau of Export Administration controls the export of these types of valves and their components because of their ability to be used in the manufacture of chemical weapons precursors. A portion of the penalty - $96,000 - was suspended and will be waived after one year provided that Entegris pays the remaining $400,000 in a timely manner and does not commit any violations during that one-year period.
The Department of Commerce, through its Bureau of Export Administration, administers and enforces export controls for reasons of national security, foreign policy, nonproliferation, anti-terrorism, regional stability, and short supply. Criminal penalties as well as administrative sanctions can be imposed for violations of the Export Administration Act and Regulations.
Assistant Secretary Garcia commended the efforts of Special Agent David Nardella of the Chicago Field Office for his work on this investigation.
In April of 2002 the Bureau of Export Administration (BXA) changed its name to the Bureau of Industry and Security(BIS). For historical purposes we have not changed the references to BXA in the legacy documents found in the Archived Press and Public Information.