Company’s lax hazardous waste management leads to large penalty
Posted May 10, 2017
A $54,000 penalty illustrates the importance of complying with hazardous waste management regulations under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). EPA announced a settlement with a Washington D.C. electric power company over alleged violations of environmental regulations designed to protect communities and the environment from potential exposures to hazardous waste.
EPA cited the company for RCRA violations involving hazardous wastes stored at the maintenance facility, including lead-contaminated rags, lead-contaminated transformer flushing oil, mercury-contaminated lamps, and mineral spirits. The company was cited for failure to:
- Properly label or date hazardous waste containers;
- Keep containers of hazardous waste closed;
- Conduct effective inspections of hazardous waste storage areas;
- Maintain fire protection equipment; and
- Maintain an adequate contingency plan.
As part of the settlement with EPA, the company has not admitted liability, but has corrected the alleged violations and certified its compliance with the applicable RCRA requirements.
J. J. Keller's Environmental Compliance Manual is packed with easy-to-understand information on regulations, environmental issues, and compliance.
J. J. Keller's FREE Workplace SafetyClicks™ email newsletter brings quick-read workplace safety and compliance news right to your email box.