Are the military installations of the US Government subject to the US EPA regulations for hazardous waste derived from the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)? Read on…
Maryland Air National Guard Settles Hazardous Waste Violations at Baltimore Facility
PHILADELPHIA (Oct. 18, 2012) — In a consent agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Maryland Air National Guard (MDANG), 175th Wing, has agreed to pay a $75,000 penalty to settle alleged violations of hazardous waste regulations at its facility at 2701 Eastern Blvd., Baltimore, Md.
EPA cited MDANG for violating the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the federal law governing the treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste. RCRA is designed to protect public health and the environment, and avoid costly cleanups, by requiring the safe, environmentally sound storage and disposal of hazardous waste.
The consent agreement resolves alleged violations discovered in an April 2011 inspection of the facility. According to EPA, MDANG stored hazardous waste for more than 90 days without a RCRA hazardous waste permit or interim status, failed to provide annual hazardous waste training to some of its employees for a three-year period, and violated RCRA rules on labeling and recordkeeping. The wastes involved in these alleged violations include lubricants, paints, sealants, cleaning solutions and adhesive wastes. These wastes are hazardous because they exhibited the characteristics of being ignitable, corrosive or toxic due to chromium, methyl ethyl ketone or other compounds. (more…)
U.S. Navy Settles Hazardous Waste Violations at its Patuxent River Naval Air Station
PHILADELPHIA (Oct. 23, 2012) — The U.S. Navy has agreed to pay a $38,500 penalty to settle alleged hazardous waste violations at the Naval Air Station Patuxent River, located at 22268 Cedar Point Road in Patuxent River, Md.
This settlement resolves alleged violations alleged by EPA of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the federal law governing the treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste. RCRA is designed to protect public health and the environment, and avoid costly cleanups, by requiring the safe, environmentally sound storage and disposal of hazardous waste.
Following an EPA inspection, the U.S. Navy was cited for allegedly failing to determine whether waste was hazardous, failing to maintain aisle space to allow for the movement of personnel and fire protection equipment, failing to conduct weekly inspections of waste containers for leaks and deterioration, failing to mark each container with a date and whether it contained hazardous waste, failing to keep hazardous waste containers closed during storage, and failing to properly maintain leak detection and spill prevention equipment on underground storage tanks.
The violations were found in 11 buildings including: the public works transportation, the hazmat warehouse, the Webster field annex, hangar, fleet readiness center, and the materials lab. (more…).
Many people are unaware that the US EPA’s hazardous waste regulations under RCRA apply to military installations of the US Government the same way they apply to any other business in the US. The US EPA is serious about its mandate to protect the environment and will not hesitate to inspect, cite, and fine a military installation if it finds violations of the RCRA regulations. The basis for US EPA ‘s authority over military installations is derived from the Federal Facilities Compliance Act of 1992. Read my article for a more thorough understanding of Military Munitions, RCRA, and the Federal Facilities Compliance Act of 1992.
Whether you are a business or a government agency (Federal, State, County, or Municipal) you are subject to the hazardous waste regulations of the US EPA. Compliance requires knowledge and the right tools to do the job. Both of these, and a lot more, you can get from my training services. Either in Public Workshops or On-Site. Contact me for your free training consultation.