EPA Enforcement Roundup: Week of 8/26

The EPA Enforcement Roundup gives you insight into how and why US EPA and state partners assess penalties for environmental noncompliance. 

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:

An environmental services company in California faces a civil penalty due to alleged hazardous waste management violations.

The company, which is based out of Turlock, California, offers hazardous waste management services to its clients. The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (Department) alleges that, between May 4, 2021, and November 11, 2022, the company stored hazardous waste without holding a hazardous waste facility permit or other grant of authorization from the Department.

The company has since corrected the error and must pay $16,983 within 90 days of the effective date of this Consent Order.

Join Lion in San José on September 9–10 for in-person Title 22/RCRA hazardous waste management training. Lion's California Hazardous Waste Management workshop returns to Los Angeles on September 17–18, and San Diego on September 23–24.

A Detroit, Michigan retailer faces $584,000 due to the alleged sale of three unregistered pesticide products.

US EPA announced a settlement with a retailer in Detroit, Michigan, for allegedly selling unregistered pesticide products in violation of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. The company has stopped producing and selling the pesticide products.

The products in question made claims of sanitization of disinfection capabilities. Under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, products that claim to kill, destroy, prevent, or repel bacteria or viruses are considered pesticides and must go through EPA’s registration process to ensure that the products perform as intended prior to their distribution or sale.

A winter sports park in Connecticut agreed to resolve alleged Clean Air and EPCRA errors related to anhydrous ammonia.

The company entered the consent agreement to resolve an alleged issue with its handling of anhydrous ammonia, which was being used in an ice-making unit. The company uses an ice-making unit that contains around 1,200 pounds of anhydrous ammonia to lay an ice foundation on its slopes for the addition of synthetic snow on top.

EPA alleges that its inspection of the park revealed violations of the General Duty Clause requirements, including the failure to identify the hazards posed by the refrigeration system.

In response to this action, the company corrected its alleged Clean Air violation, submitted a missing EPCRA Tier II form, hired a third-party expert to perform a Process Hazard Review for the refrigeration system, and coordinated with local emergency responders to plan for a possible accidental release of ammonia.

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 5–6 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: Clean Air Act, FIFRA, hazardous waste management, Title 22