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EPA Enforcement Roundup: Week of 8/29

Posted on 8/28/2017 by Roger Marks

Every day, facilities across the US receive Notices of Violation from Federal and State environmental agencies for alleged noncompliance with a wide variety of programs like the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts, chemical management and reporting regulations (TSCA, EPCRA, CERCLA, etc.), hazardous waste management and disposal standards (RCRA), and much more.
 
In January 2017, EPA raised its fines for noncompliance with major environmental programs. We hope that providing information about EPA enforcement cases will help you identify and fix noncompliance issues that could leave your company facing costly penalties and future liability.

In this week’s EPA Enforcement Roundup, four companies will pay more than $350,000 combined for chemical reporting violations under EPCRA and TSCA, and a paperwork storage company will pay for Safe Drinking Water Act violations.


WHO: 3 chemical companies
WHERE: Connecticut
WHAT: EPCRA chemical reporting failures
HOW MUCH:  Approx. $112,800 combined

chemicalinventory.jpgFor failure to submit timely, accurate Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) reports on their use of hazardous chemicals as required under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), three chemical companies in Connecticut will pay hefty fines and bring their reporting into compliance.
 
  • A brick manufacturer will pay $11,246 for a quickly-corrected error in reporting its use of barium compounds.
  • A company that makes tape for healthcare and industrial applications will pay $58,214 for failure to file accurate TRI reports concerning use of ethylbenzene and vinyl acetate between 2013 and 2015.
  • Lastly, a gun part maker and assembler will pay $43,419 for failure to submit TRI reports detailing its use of copper in 2012, 2013, and 2014.
Read more about these three EPCRA chemical reporting violations here.


WHO: An electronics manufacturer
WHERE: California and Lawrenceville, GA
WHAT: TSCA chemical reporting violations
HOW MUCH: $245,990

Printer-Blog.jpgA major electronics manufacturer will pay a six-figure fine for failure to submit accurate Chemical Data Reports (CDR) required under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).

Under TSCA, companies are required to report on large volumes of certain chemicals they manufacture, import, or use. According to US EPA, the electronics maker failed to keep records on the volumes of ten chemicals imported to its facility in Georgia.

Need a primer on TSCA chemical reporting? Join a full-time Lion instructor for the TSCA Chemical Reporting & Recordkeeping Webinar, presented live on October 19. The two-hour TSCA training session will guide you through your TSCA reporting responsibilities—CDR, PMN, SNUR, and more.

Plus, get an update on how changing requirements under the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act will affect compliance at your site.  We’ll cover the new Active-Inactive reporting rule, Risk Evaluations, and much more.


WHO: A records storage company
WHERE: Oahu, HI
WHAT: Safe Drinking Water Act violation
HOW MUCH: $122,000

To settle alleged violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act, under which US EPA required the closure of all large-capacity cesspools (LCCs) by April 5, 2005, a paperwork storage company headquartered in a Hawaii industrial park will pay $122,000. As of this writing, the company has replaced the large-capacity cesspool—which EPA discovered in May 2016—with an individual wastewater system.

To date, more than 3,400 LCCs have been closed in Hawaii.
 

20+ Hours of EHS Manager Training - Available Anytime, Anywhere

ENV-300-computer-image.jpgManaging site compliance with the many complex EPA programs that affect your business—from the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts to TSCA, EPCRA, CERLCA, and more—is a major challenge. If you’re new to the field, or need an update on changing EPA rules, the Complete Environmental Regulations Online Course will help you quickly build in-depth expertise.

Or, check out the latest individual EPA compliance training options here:
 
Clean Air Act Regulations Online
TSCA Regulations Online
New! Clean Water Act & SDWA Regulations Online
Just Launched! Superfund and Right-to-Know Act Regulations Online 
 
The 2017 nationwide schedule for the Complete Environmental Regulations Workshop is now available. Collaborate with other managers to identify the requirements that apply to your facility, ask the right questions, and make the right decisions about EPA compliance.
 

Tags: EPA, EPA Enforcement Roundup, EPCRA, fines and penalties, Safe Drinking Water Act, TSCA

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