$237,980 RCRA Fine for Texas Oil and Gas Equipment Company

An oil and gas equipment firm will pay a hefty civil penalty for violations of RCRA hazardous waste management requirements at facilities in Cleburne, Jacksboro, Valley View, Barnhart, and Pleasanton, Texas.

For the alleged RCRA violations at five of its Texas facilities, the company will pay a fine of $237,980. According to US EPA, the energy services company violated RCRA when it:

• Failed to obtain an EPA identification number (required for large and small quantity generators);
• Failed to meet RCRA recordkeeping responsibilities; and
• Improperly stored, treated, and/or handled hazardous wastes, including diesel fuel and mixed waste diesel fuel.

This RCRA enforcement action underscores a crucial element of hazardous waste management: counting your hazardous waste to determine your site’s RCRA generator status.

Additional Rules for Hazardous Waste in Texas

In Texas, hazardous waste generators must not only comply with requirements under RCRA, but also know Texas-specific rules created by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). To help generators in Texas master the unique, complex web of requirements that apply to facilities in the Lone Star State, Lion Technology recently launched the Texas Hazardous and Industrial Waste Management Online Course.

How to Calculate RCRA Generator Status

Generator status must be calculated on a monthly basis. There are three “types” of hazardous waste generators under the RCRA regulations: large quantity generators, small quantity generators, and conditionally exempt small quantity generators. These generator “types” have been in place since 1986.

Large Quantity Generators (LQG)

Large quantity generator facilities generate 1,000 kg or more of hazardous waste in a month or more than 1 kg of acutely hazardous waste in a month. LQGs are subject to the most stringent RCRA regulations, including the requirement to provide annual training for all hazardous waste personnel.

Small Quantity Generators (SQG) 

Small quantity generator facilities generate more than 100 kg but less than 1,000 kg of hazardous waste in a month.  

Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generators (CESQG) ) 

Conditionally exempt small quantity generator facilities generate 100 kg or less of hazardous waste and less than 1 kg of acutely hazardous waste in a month.

For more information on the RCRA hazardous waste rules and who needs RCRA training at your facility, check out the explainer video and FAQ at Lion.com/RCRA-Training.

Expert-led Hazardous Waste Training Coming Soon

This fall, the RCRA hazardous waste training workshop trusted by generators since the 1970s comes to Minneapolis, Cedar Rapids, St. Louis, Chicago, Louisville, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Detroit and more! Get up to speed on new and changing RCRA rules, and meet EPA’s annual training requirement for hazardous waste personnel. 

Sign up now for training led by a full-time instructor, annotated and simplified RCRA regulations, hazardous waste resources you can use on the job, and a full year of compliance support though Lion Membership—including fast answers to your questions from our trusted Finder Service.
See the full schedule and get signed up!  

Tags: EPA, fines and penalties, hazardous waste, RCRA