Search

Biggest Superfund Penalty in EPA History Announced

Posted on 5/4/2016 by Roger Marks

On May 3, the US EPA and US Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a nearly $7 million fine for a company that allegedly violated the terms of a 2002 Superfund consent decree.
As part of the 2002 decree, the company was required to clean up the Rodale Manufacturing Superfund Site in Emmaus, Pennsylvania. The decree required the company to pump and treat groundwater, monitor groundwater quality, and operate air pollution controls to prevent emissions during cleanup.

Dating back to 2008, EPA and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) says, the company was not operating the air pollution controls as required by the decree. The settlement requires the company to pay $6,868,975, ten percent of which will go to the PA DEP, for alleged violations that include:
  • Failure to maintain air pollution control equipment
  • Failure to collect and treat hazardous air pollutants like trichloroethylene and VOCs
  • Failure to alert EPA and PA DEP of malfunctioning air pollution control equipment
  • Failure to comply with PA air pollution regulations
  • Failure to provide records to enforcement personnel
Read the full EPA press release here.

HAZWOPER EPA Superfund site
Added to the EPA’s National Priority List (NPL), a.k.a. Superfund List, in 1991, the site was first owned by the Rodale Manufacturing Company. Rodale manufactured electronics components at the site as far back as the 1930s—performing activities like electroplating, vapor degreasing, and metal shaping. The site changed hands twice since then, first to the Square D company in 1975, and then to the current owners, who now find themselves on the hook for the nearly $7 million penalty. 

See how a site gets on the EPA’s Superfund List here.

New! 8-hour HAZWOPER Refresher Online Course

To help personnel who work at uncontrolled hazardous waste sites meet OSHA’s annual HAZWOPER training requirement, Lion Technology launched the new 8-hour OSHA HAZWOPER Refresher Online Course. Designed for personnel who perform post-emergency cleanup work at uncontrolled hazardous waste sites, the new course is an effective, convenient way to meet OSHA training mandates. Sign up now to start a free 6-month Lion Membership and get fast answers to your questions, critical rule updates, exclusive resources and content, and discounts on select Lion training products.

Tags: CERCLA, EPA, hazardous waste,, HAZWOPER, Superfund

Find a Post

Compliance Archives

Lion - Quotes

I had a positive experience utilizing this educational program. It was very informative, convenient, and rewarding from a career perspective.

John Gratacos

Logistics Manager

The instructor does a great job at presenting material in an approachable way. I have been able to save my company about $30,000 in the last year with what I have learned from Lion!

Curtis Ahonen

EHS&S Manager

Lion Technology workshops are amazing!! You always learn so much, and the instructors are fantastic.

Dorothy Rurak

Environmental Specialist

Lion's information is very thorough and accurate. Presenter was very good.

Melissa Little

Regulatory Manager

I have attended other training providers, but Lion is best. Lion is king of the hazmat jungle!!!

Henry Watkins

Hazardous Waste Technician

Our instructor was very dynamic and kept everyone's interest. Hazmat shipping can be a dry, complicated topic but I was engaged the entire time.

Kimberly Arnao

Senior Director of EH&S

Lion is at the top of the industry in compliance training. Course content and structure are updated frequently to make annual re-training enjoyable. I like that Lion has experts that I can contact for 1 year after the training.

Caroline Froning

Plant Chemist

Amazing instructor; real-life examples. Lion training gets better every year!

Frank Papandrea

Environmental Manager

The instructor was energetic and made learning fun compared to dry instructors from other training providers.

Andy D’Amato

International Trade Compliance Manager

The instructor was very engaging and helped less experienced people understand the concepts.

Steve Gall

Safety Leader

Download Our Latest Whitepaper

Ace hazmat inspections. Protect personnel. Defend against civil and criminal penalties. How? See the self-audit "best practices" for hazardous materials shippers.

Latest Whitepaper

By submitting your phone number, you agree to receive recurring marketing and training text messages. Consent to receive text messages is not required for any purchases. Text STOP at any time to cancel. Message and data rates may apply. View our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.