EPA Enforcement Roundup: Week of 12/29

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.

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Multi-national American tech company settled with US EPA to resolve alleged hazardous waste management violations.

As a result of EPA’s action, the company addressed hazardous waste management and air emissions issues and has come into compliance with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).

In August 2023 and January 2024, EPA conducted inspections of the facility after receiving a tip and complaint from the public. During the inspections and reviews of facility records, EPA inspectors identified multiple violations of federal requirements for the management of hazardous waste.

Alleged violations include failure to:

• Maintain a permit to store hazardous waste for more than 90 days.
• Identify land disposal restriction (LDR) requirements and provide written notification of the restrictions.
• Properly characterize hazardous waste, and label and date hazardous waste containers.
• Perform and document daily inspections of hazardous waste tanks.
• Control air emissions from a solvent waste tank.

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A national paint producer settled with US EPA to resolve alleged hazardous waste management violations in California.

US EPA announced a settlement with a national paint producer to resolve claims of violations of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) at the company’s manufacturing facility in Commerce, California. The settlement requires the facility to pay a civil penalty of $306,436 and return to compliance.

The facility produces resins used as base materials for paints. During a routine inspection, EPA determined that the company had failed to properly identify hazardous waste it was generating, including chemicals like xylene, toluene, and butanol.

EPA also found that the facility failed to meet air emission standards for equipment and hazardous waste storage tanks, maintain proper containment systems, conduct required daily inspections, and determine whether waste must be treated before it can be disposed.

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Pennsylvania food manufacturer faces a $1.15M penalty for alleged Clean Water Act violations including 600+ permit violations.

The manufacturer operates a wastewater treatment facility in York County, Pennsylvania. Under the proposed settlement, the company would pay a $1.15 million civil penalty and take a series of actions to address alleged violations of the Clean Water Act.

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits are required if wastewater is being discharged into a water of the United States. Per the complaint, the company failed to comply with a state-issued National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit to operate its wastewater treatment facility.

Since 2016, the company allegedly violated its NPDES permit on more than 600 occasions. Additionally, environmental inspections identified numerous alleged violations of operations and maintenance requirements at the facility.

Under the proposed agreement, the company will install new equipment closely monitor compliance with its discharge permit, report any violations, identify root causes, and take corrective action to address them.

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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 January 12–13 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 Water Act, EPA Enforcement Roundup, hazardous waste management, RCRA