rcra fines

Olson Wire Products Co., Inc. Settles Hazardous Waste Violations at its Baltimore Facility

 PHILADELPHIA (October 2, 2012) — Olson Wire Products Co. has agreed to pay a $80,000 civil penalty to settle alleged violations of hazardous waste regulations at its manufacturing facility located at 4100 Benson Ave., in Baltimore, Md., the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today.

EPA cited Olson Wire, which manufactures steel wire shelving and fabricated wire products, 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.

Following an inspection by on May 25, 2011 EPA cited the company for violations of federally authorized state regulations involving hazardous waste stored at the facility, including wastewater treatment sludge from the electroplating operations, spent lead anode rods from plating processes and used aerosol cans containing an enamel-based product that is sprayed onto metal parts in preparation for powder coating.

The alleged violations included the failure to make required hazardous waste determinations, storage of hazardous waste for periods greater than 90 days without a permit, failure to properly label and keep containers of hazardous waste closed during storage, offering hazardous waste for off-site transport and disposal without preparing approved manifest forms and through parties not authorized to transport or receive hazardous waste, failure to maintain training records of personnel having hazardous waste management responsibilities and failing to prepare and submit a biennial report concerning hazardous waste activities at the facility in calendar year 2009.

             The settlement penalty reflects the company’s compliance efforts, and its cooperation with EPA in the resolution of this matter. As part of the settlement, Olsen Wire has neither admitted nor denied liability for the alleged violations, but has certified its compliance with applicable RCRA requirements.

For more information about hazardous waste and RCRA, visit http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/hazard/index.htm.

U.S. EPA Fines U.S. Pipe Company for Hazardous Waste Violations

“Baghouse dust” improperly managed, posed threat to worker safety

SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has fined the Union City, Calif.-based United States Pipe and Foundry Company (U.S. Pipe) $158,000 for improperly managing “baghouse dust,” a hazardous waste containing cadmium and lead generated from iron pipe fabrication, under the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).

EPA discovered in an August 2011 inspection that U.S. Pipe had failed to contain the dust, which was found on the ground of the facility.  The facility cleaned up the spilled dust and soil where the dust was found, and conducted subsequent sampling to ensure all contamination was removed.

“EPA is committed to ensuring hazardous waste is properly managed,” said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest.  “Preventing the release of this dust is critical to protect U.S. Pipe workers and the environment.”

Following EPA’s findings, U.S. Pipe modified its operational practices to minimize the potential for future releases and improved staff training in proper dust management.

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act authorizes EPA to oversee the generation, transportation, treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste.  Under RCRA, hazardous waste must be stored in closed and labeled containers.

For more information on the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, visit:  http://www.epa.gov/lawsregs/laws/rcra.html.

Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc., in St. Joseph, Mo., to Pay Penalty and Build New Hazardous Waste Facility for Mercury Violations

Release Date: 09/24/2012

Contact Information: Ben Washburn, 913-551-7364, washburn.ben@epa.gov

(Kansas City, Kan., Sept. 24, 2012) – Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc., a veterinary health products company, has agreed to pay a $68,475 civil penalty to the United States to settle a series of Resource Conservation and Recovery Act violations based on its mishandling of mercury waste in St. Joseph, Mo.

In addition to paying the civil penalty, the company will spend a minimum of $300,000 to build a state-of-the art hazardous waste storage facility at the site as part of a supplemental environmental project.

According to an administrative consent agreement and final order filed by EPA Region 7 in Kansas City, Kan., EPA representatives inspected the company’s St. Joseph facilities in May 2010, and noted several violations of the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), which regulates hazardous waste. Boehringer generates mercury as part of its vaccine production process.

“The proper handling and management of hazardous waste is an integral part of protecting human health and the environment,” EPA Region 7 Administrator Karl Brooks said. “In the event of an accidental release on site or while in transport, proper labeling, storing, and management practices can help reduce the risk of exposure to hazardous material by response personnel as well as reduce risk to public health by identifying the necessary and proper cleanup methods.”

The violations included failure to perform hazardous waste determinations on multiple waste streams, storing hazardous wastes without a RCRA permit, failing to comply with generator requirements, sending hazardous waste containing mercury to a non-authorized facility, transporting hazardous waste without a hazardous waste transporter license or manifest, failure to comply with universal waste lamp requirements, and failure to comply with recycled used oil management standards.

By agreeing to the settlement with EPA, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc., has certified that it is now in compliance with all requirements of the RCRA regulations.

Proper training is the answer to the question, “How can I avoid these violations?”  Contact me to receive the training you need to learn what you need to know to maintain compliance.