Search

DTSC Fines Commercial Landlord & Tenants $124K for Illegal Haz Waste Disposal

Posted on 11/27/2019 by Lauren Scott

Last month, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) reached a settlement with a property management company and its auto body and repair tenants for allegedly mishandling hazardous waste at over a dozen properties in the greater Sacramento area.

DTSC’s Office of Criminal Investigations discovered that Meinco Properties’ tenants allegedly stored, transported, and disposed of over 30,000 lbs. of hazardous waste illegally as part of their auto repair and auto painting operations.

The waste generated by the tenants was a mix of regulated hazardous and universal wastes, including hybrid battery cells, non-empty aerosol cans, solvents, paint waste, used oil, e-waste, and automotive fluids.

On one occasion, State officials intercepted over 5,200 lbs. of waste that was picked up from one of the properties by a contracted disposal company not authorized to handle or transport hazardous waste. DTSC determined the load contained hazardous waste and was illegally disposed.

As part of the settlement, Meinco Properties agreed to pay $30,000 in civil penalties plus $94,100 to offset State and local investigation costs. The property management company was also ordered to consult with an environmental compliance specialist to verify that its tenants are compliant with hazardous waste laws and the applicable County of Sacramento ordinances.

The courts also ordered the tenants to maintain secure waste receptacles and agree to future hazardous waste inspections by any governing body, including DTSC and any California Unified Program Agency (CUPA).

Although the property management company is responsible for all penalties, Meinco Properties may require its tenants to pay the penalties, legal fees, and/or any other monetary costs incurred due to the tenants’ missteps.
 

Title 22/RCRA Hazardous Waste Training

For training to ensure compliance with California’s complex, unique hazardous waste laws and regulations, join Lion for the California Hazardous Waste Management Workshop in January.

Meet EPA and Cal DTSC annual training mandates for hazardous waste personnel. Plus, stay up to date on the latest updates to California’s Title 22 hazardous waste regulations and the State Health and Safety Code.

CAHW_news.jpg
Los Angeles January 6–7
Santa Barbara January 9–10
Fresno January 13–14
San Francisco January 16–17
 
In Spring 2020, the workshop comes to San Diego, Ontario, San Jose, and Sacramento.

Can't join us for instructor-led training? Train online with reliable, easy-to-use online courses that cover what you must know to properly identify, store, and dispose of your site's hazardous waste.

California Hazardous Waste Management
California Hazardous Waste Management Refresher  
 

Tags: auto body, auto repair, California, commercial, DTSC, enforcement, environmental, fines, haz waste, hazardous waste, liability, penalties

Find a Post

Compliance Archives

Lion - Quotes

Given the choice, I would do all coursework this way. In-person courses go very fast without the opportunity to pause or repeat anything.

Ellen Pelton

Chemical Laboratory Manager

Lion is easily and consistently the best option for compliance training. I've learned new information from every instructor I've had.

Rachel Mathis

EHS Specialist

My experience with Lion training, both online and in the classroom, is that they are far better organized and provide a better sequential explanation of the material.

Robert Roose

Manager, Dangerous Goods Transportation

More thorough than a class I attended last year through another company.

Troy Yonkers

HSES Representative

The instructor was great, explaining complex topics in terms that were easily understandable and answering questions clearly and thoroughly.

Brittany Holm

Lab Supervisor

Lion courses are the standard to which all other workshops should strive for!

Brody Saleen

Registered Environmental Health Specialist

Convenient; I can train when I want, where I want.

Barry Cook

Hazmat Shipping Professional

Very well structured, comprehensive, and comparable to live training seminars I've participated in previously. I will recommend the online course to other colleagues with training requirement needs.

Neil Luciano

EHS Manager

Well designed and thorough program. Excellent summary of requirements with references. Inclusion of regulations in hard copy form, as well as full electronic with state pertinent regulations included is a great bonus!

Oscar Fisher

EHS Manager

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

Download Our Latest Whitepaper

Use this guide as a quick reference to the most common HAZWOPER questions, and get course recommendations for managers and personnel who are in need of OSHA-required HAZWOPER training.

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.