Available Now: 2023 Schedule of Hazmat & RCRA Training
Search

EPA Enforcement Roundup: Week of 10/5

Posted on 10/5/2020 by Lauren Scott

Every day, facilities across the US receive Notices of Violation from US EPA for alleged noncompliance with a wide variety of programs like the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts; chemical management and reporting regulations (TSCA, EPCRA, CERCLA, etc.); hazardous waste management and disposal standards (RCRA); and much more.

Below are examples of recent EPA enforcement actions that provide insight into how and why EPA issues civil penalties to facilities for environmental noncompliance. Names of companies and individuals cited by EPA are withheld to protect their privacy.
 

WHO: A horse track
WHERE: New Orleans, LA
WHAT: Clean Water Act violations
HOW MUCH: $2.79 million, plus $5.6 million in operational changes

According to EPA, a New Orleans racetrack and fairgrounds allegedly discharged untreated wastewater into a municipal separate storm sewer system, which ultimately leads to the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. In violation of its permit, the racetrack discharged the wastewater after as little as a half-inch of rain, as well as in dry weather. EPA estimates unauthorized discharges of contaminated wastewater occurred more than 250 times between 2012 and 2018.

The horseracing company agreed to pay a $2.79 million fine, one of the largest penalties ever issued for Clean Water Act violations. The company will also implement best management practices and construction projects designed to eliminate unauthorized discharges. The fairgrounds will also perform site-specific sampling, monitoring, and hydraulic modeling to help determine whether the remedial actions are successful in eliminating unauthorized discharges.
 

WHO: A cold storage facility
WHERE: Honolulu, HI
WHAT: Clean Air Act violations
HOW MUCH: $210,564

EPA announced a settlement with a refrigeration company to resolve alleged violations of the Clean Air Act’s Risk Management Plan requirements at one of the company facilities on Honolulu, Hawaii. The cold storage company will pay a $210,564 civil penalty and implement changes to reduce the risk of chemical accidents at its facility.

In March 2019, an EPA inspection found that an industrial refrigeration system failed to safely manage large quantities of anhydrous ammonia. In addition, the facility’s written risk management system was deficient as components were either out of date or not being implemented.
 

WHO: A natural gas processing plant
WHERE: Evans City, PA
WHAT: Clean Air Act violations
HOW MUCH: $150,000

An energy company has settled with EPA alleged violations of the Clean Air Act, including failure to timely conduct a third-party leak detection and repair audit, failure to timely comply with requirements for monitoring leaks at connectors, and failure to timely apply to incorporate these leak detection requirements into a Federally enforceable State operating permit. EPA identified the alleged violations while reviewing the company’s compliance with a previous administrative compliance order from March 2017.

As part of the settlement, the company did not admit liability for the alleged violations, but agreed to pay a penalty and has certified that it is now in compliance with applicable Clean Air Act requirements.
 
Convenient, Effective Online EHS Manager Training
Managing site compliance with the many complex EPA programs that affect your business—from the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts to TSCA, EPCRA, CERLCA, and more—is a major challenge. If you’re new to the field or need an update on changing EPA rules, online training is a convenient way to quickly build in-depth expertise.

Check out the latest EPA compliance training options here:
 
Clean Air Act Regulations Online
TSCA Regulations Online
Clean Water Act & SDWA Regulations Online
Superfund and Right-to-Know Act Regulations Online 
 

Tags: Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, environmental violations, EPA, hawaii, Hawai'i, Louisianna, New Orleans, Pennsylvania

Find a Post

Compliance Archives

Lion - Quotes

Excellent job. Made what is very dry material interesting. Thoroughly explained all topics in easy-to-understand terms.

David Hertvik

Vice President

I have over 26 years of environmental compliance experience, and it has been some time since I have attended an environmental regulations workshop. I attended this course as preparation for EHS Audits for my six plants, and it was exactly what I was looking for.

Frank Sizemore

Director of Regulatory Affairs

My experience with Lion classes has always been good. Lion Technology always covers the EPA requirements I must follow.

Steven Erlandson

Environmental Coordinator

You blew the doors off the competition!

Stephen Bieschke

Facilities Manager

Course instructor was better prepared and presented better than other trainers. Course manual and references were easier to use as well.

Marty Brownfield

Hazardous Waste Professional

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

Troy Yonkers

HSES Representative

The instructor's energy, enthusiasm, and knowledge of the subject make the class a great learning experience!

Brian Martinez

Warehouse Operator

I can't say enough how pleased I was with this course! Everything finally makes sense.

Kim Graham

Lab Manager

These are the best classes I attend each year. I always take something away and implement improvements at my sites.

Kim Racine

EH&S Manager

Much better than my previous class with another company. The Lion instructor made sense, kept me awake and made me laugh!

Marti Severs

Enterprise Safety Manager

Download Our Latest Whitepaper

Tips to identify and manage universal waste under more-stringent state regulations for generators and universal waste handlers in California.

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.