Cal DTSC Fines Cable Provider $9.5 Million for Hazardous Waste Violations

The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) has fined a major cable TV provider for alleged violations of California’s State hazardous waste standards.

According to the complaint against the cable provider, the company failed to make proper hazardous waste determinations and did not meet its compliance responsibilities for hazardous waste storage, handling, transportation, or disposal.

Reports about DTSC’s enforcement actions reveal that the company allegedly mismanaged wastes like batteries, electronic devices, and aerosol cans. Under Federal and California State law, regulated hazardous wastes must be disposed of at an approved facility—not just any dumpster or landfill.
In addition to the $9.5 million civil penalty, the company must provide annual hazardous waste training for covered employees as required under 22 CCR 66262.16 and 66273.36.

This is not the first time a cable company has been the target of DTSC hazardous waste enforcement. In December 2015, DTSC fined a cable provider $26 million for similar compliance violations.

California Hazardous Waste Penalties Rising

In October 2017, the Governor of California signed into law AB 245, a bill to raise the civil penalties for hazardous waste violations—codified in California’s State Health and Safety Code—to $70,000 per day, per violation, nearly triple the old maximum penalty of $25,000.

Under the Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), hazardous waste penalties are now as high as $71,264 per day, per violation. EPA also raised its penalty amounts this year and may raise penalties to match inflation again in the coming months.

Tags: California, fines and penalties, hazardous waste, Title 22