EPA Enforcement Roundup: Week of 8/28

US businesses are subject to complex, overlapping environmental regulations related to air emissions, discharges to water, hazardous waste management and disposal, oil spills, chemical management, and more. Failure to comply with all applicable US EPA requirements can result in future liability and civil penalties as high as $100,000+ per day, per violation.

The EPA Enforcement Roundup highlights enforcement actions that offer insight into how and why US EPA and state partners assess penalties for noncompliance for environmental regulations.

All violations or claims discussed below are alleged only unless we say otherwise, and we withhold the names of organizations and individuals to protect their privacy.

Your EPA Enforcement Roundup for this week:

A Fremont, CA ice processor pays $169,400 penalty to resolve alleged Clean Air Act violations related to anhydrous ammonia.

The facility’s refrigeration system contains about 14,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia. A popular chemical in refrigeration, this chemical is corrosive and capable of chemically burning human skin, eyes, and lungs from exposure.

Specifically, EPA said that the piping, operating equipment, and safety systems at the facility were not compliant with the Clean Air Act (CAA). Since notification from EPA, the facility has certified its compliance with relevant CAA regulations.

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A biopharmaceutical manufacturer will pay $158,208 in penalties following claims of hazardous waste violations by EPA.

EPA claims the manufacturer improperly managed hazardous waste at a facility in northern California. Allegations include noncompliance related to:

• Hazardous waste permit requirements,
• Hazardous waste air emissions and equipment inspections,
• Equipment marking and recording,
• Overfill protection controls for a hazardous waste tank, and
• Incomplete hazardous waste manifests.

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Last Chance: Final California Workshops in 2023

Lion's final hazardous waste, 49 CFR, and IATA DGR workshops in California this year start in Los Angeles on September 11–12 and San Jose on September 18–19. 

Check out the workshop Agendas and see the full training schedule in both cities at Lion.com/CA. 

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EPA announces $300,030 settlement with Colorado’s sole oil refinery to resolve alleged chemical noncompliance.

The company allegedly failed to comply with process safety and hazard analysis requirements under CAA's Risk Management Program (RMP). RMPs are meant to prevent accidental chemical releases, and violations like these reduce the efficacy of risk reduction efforts.

The Agency also alleges that the company did not report two chemical releases in a timely fashion and that the company did not report the sulfuric acid in its industrial batteries to local emergency responders—both are requirements of the Emergency Planning and Community-to-Know Act.

Penalties will cost the company $60,000—the remaining $240,030 will be spent on equipment to enhance the local fire department’s emergency response capabilities.

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Complete Environmental Regulations Training

Want a clearer idea of how major EPA air, water, and chemical programs all fit together to affect your site's activities? Join in on the next Complete Environmental Regulations Webinar on September 7–8 at Lion.com.

EH&S professionals who attend can identify the regulations that apply to their facility and locate key requirements to achieve compliance with the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts to EPCRA, TSCA, Superfund, and more. Prefer to train at your own pace? Try the interactive online course.

Tags: California, environmental compliance, EPA Enforcement Roundup, hazardous waste