RCRA Training is the Solution for South Carolina Company Facing EPA Fines for Hazardous Waste Violations

Compliance and Enforcement, RCRA Hazardous Waste Regulations

RCRA Training is the Solution for South Carolina Company Facing EPA Fines for Hazardous Waste Violations

Daniel Stoehr
April 10, 2012

Sumter Coatings, Inc. (SCI) in Sumter, SC must pay a $55,000 civil penalty as part of a settlement with the US Environmental Protection Agency for violations of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) regulations discovered at its facility during a joint US EPA & SC Department of Health and Environment inspection (press release).  Alleged violations of the hazardous waste regulations include:

  • Improper management of hazardous waste containers on site;
  • Failure to provide a sufficient base beneath containers which held hazardous waste;
  • Failure to make a hazardous waste determination;
  • Failure to inspect all areas where hazardous waste containers are stored weekly;
  • Failure to develop personnel training program to ensure compliance with hazardous waste regulations;
  • Failure to update information contained in the contingency plan, along with failing to make arrangements with local police and hospital authorities regarding the contingency plan and submitting copies of the contingency plan to first responders.
Along with the civil penalty noted above, the EPA also required the company to develop a personnel training program, develop a schedule for implementation of the training program, and identify facility employees that require training.

It is sadly ironic that yet another company is developing a training program under the shadow of an enforcement action when proactive implementation of RCRA training could have precluded the violations from occurring in the first place.  Hazardous waste training is required for all personnel of a large quantity generator who handle, manage, generate, work around, treat, recycle, etc. hazardous waste and is highly recommended for similar employees of small quantity generators.  In addition to being a regulatory requirement, it is also a good way for you and your personnel to maintain compliance with the full array of hazardous waste regulations applicable to your operations.

I can provide RCRA Training and DOT HazMat Employee training in a variety of formats and locations; either at my open enrollment events held nationwide and year round, or right at your facility with on-site training tailored to your site-specific needs.  Please review my training schedule to find a date and location convenient to you, or contact me for a free training consultation.