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EPA Enforcement Roundup: Week of 4/10

Posted on 4/9/2018 by Roger Marks

In this week’s EPA Enforcement Roundup, PCB-containing oil, air pollution source modifications, and a spill at a steel facility all resulted in EPA fines for noncompliance.  

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All accusations of environmental violations herein are “alleged” unless otherwise noted. Lion News does not publish names of individuals or companies impacted by EPA enforcement.


WHO: A Connecticut city and a waste hauler
WHERE: Ansonia and New Haven, CT
WHAT: Hazardous waste shipping and TSCA violations
HOW MUCH: $19,125 and $32,397 respectively

For allegedly shipping waste oil containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) without a Hazardous Waste Manifest, two entities—a Connecticut city and a waste hauler—will pay fines to US EPA.

The “un-manifested” PCB-containing oil was added to other used oil, cross-contaminating 4,500 gallons in total and rendering all of the oil unrecyclable. Under TSCA, wastes that contain PCBs must be managed and disposed of according to specific rules. For the alleged violations, the city will pay $19,125 and the waste hauler will pay $32,397.

Hazardous Waste Manifests go electronic on June 30—are you ready? Find out what EPA expects from generators, transporters, and TSDFs when the new “e-Manifest” requirements take effect. Join a Lion instructor for this live webinar on April 26. In one hour, we’ll cover what you need to know to make a smooth transition to EPA’s new electronic system.
 

WHO: A steel manufacturer
WHERE: Portage, IN
WHAT: Clean Water Act and EPCRA violations
HOW MUCH: $600,000 + response costs and damages

steel_making_145820618-(1).jpgFollowing a spill at its manufacturing facility in April 2017, a steel producer will reimburse Federal and State agencies for response costs and damages incurred and pay a six-figure civil penalty.

According to a Consent Decree lodged by the US Department of Justice last week, the April 2017 spill released chromium into the environment and caused four beaches and one public water drinking intake to close. Subsequently, EPA conducted inspections that uncovered noncompliance with NPDES permit requirements and failure to properly report the release as required under EPCRA.


WHO: A specialty chemical producer
WHERE: Woodville, OH
WHAT: Clean Air Act violations
HOW MUCH: $800,000

EPA alleges that a specialty products manufacturer made major modifications to five kilns at its Woodville, Ohio facility. Under the Clean Air Act, building new sources of air pollution and modifying  existing sources in certain ways require a permit.  In addition, facility operators must install technologies to limit air pollution when a source is built or modified.

In addition to the permitting violations, the facility operated the newly-modified kilns in violation of NESHAP limits and Ohio’s Clean Air Act State Implementation Plan.
 

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Build on your expertise with a streamlined RCRA refresher course you can access anytime, anywhere. You get access to fully annotated resources trusted by professionals in the field since 1977. Plus, earn CEUs and leave with a full year of Lion Membership for fast answers to your questions, exclusive content and reference materials, State hazardous waste summaries, and more.
 
 

Tags: Act, Air, Clean, EPA, EPA Enforcement Roundup, fines and penalties, SDWA, TSCA

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