Release Date: 11/26/2012

Contact Information: David Deegan, (617) 918-1017

(Boston, Mass. – Nov. 26, 2012) – A New Haven, Conn. company that makes door hardware has agreed to pay $39,705 to settle EPA’s claims that it violated state and federal hazardous waste laws.

The Sargent Manufacturing Company violated state hazardous waste laws as well as the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).  These laws are designed to help protect public health and the environment by promoting the proper management of hazardous wastes.

The complaint grew out of an inspection of the facility in March 2011 by EPA. Sargent violated RCRA by failing to: have an adequate hazardous waste training program, close containers of hazardous waste, maintain adequate aisle space between containers of hazardous waste, mark containers with the date that accumulation of hazardous waste began, update and submit a revised contingency plan to local authorities, and otherwise manage hazardous waste in accordance with the requirements.

Sargent’s failure to have an adequate hazardous waste training program increased the likelihood that wastes generated may not be properly managed and that Sargent personnel may not be able to adequately coordinate all emergency response measures in the event of emergency.

After the inspection, Sargent brought its facility into compliance with state and federal waste management laws. 

More information:  Enforcing hazardous waste laws in New England(http://www.epa.gov/region1/enforcement/waste/index.html)