EPA Enforcement Roundup: Week of 7/14

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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A Los Angeles oil refinery agreed to a $270,437 settlement to resolve alleged chemical safety violations.

The refinery allegedly violated the Clean Air Act Risk Management Program requirements as well as the EPCRA regulations. The agency stated that the facility underestimated the distance that dangerous concentrations of chemicals could spread out in a worst-case scenario release—such underestimations impact emergency responders’ ability to protect the public from chemical releases.

The alleged EPCRA violations are due to the refinery’s alleged failure to immediately notify state emergency officials after three releases of sulfur dioxide. The releases occurred in 2018, 2020, and 2021, and each release exceeded 500 pounds.

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A medical supply company will pay $557,199 for alleged illegal distribution of unregistered disinfectants.

Per the agency, an inspection revealed that the medical supply company distributed unregistered disinfectant wipes to nursing homes and other medical facilities for a period of almost two years.

The product allegedly claimed to contain chemical compounds for antimicrobial use but was never submitted to EPA for registration review as required by the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. EPA evaluates the efficacy of such products and makes sure that label warnings adequately protect users.

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A chemical plant will pay a $423,308.60 penalty for alleged hazardous waste violations in Joliet, Illinois.

According to US EPA, the company sells products and services to help clean and treat wastewater but allegedly failed to comply with federal hazardous waste regulations in performance of its business. Those allegations include failure to:

• Obtain a permit, or interim status, for hazardous waste storage.
• Maintain documentation for waste determinations and training.
• Comply with hazardous waste storage tank requirements.
• Comply with container management requirements.
• Comply with contingency plan requirements.

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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 July 24–25 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.