The Bullet:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency resolved a series of enforcement actions directed at five Southern California metal finishing companies which will collectively pay more than $223,700 in civil penalties for hazardous waste and Clean Water Act violations.
Who:
- Anaplex Corporation in Paramount, CA
- Barkens Hard Chrome in Compton, CA
- Bowman Plating Company, Inc. in Compton, CA
- Alumin-Art Plating Company in Ontario, CA
- R.L. Anodizing and Plating, Inc. in Sun Valley, CA
Three of the facilities are located along the I-710 freeway corridor, an area of special concern to USEPA due to the disproportional impact of pollution on residents of this area.
What:
Anaplex has agreed to pay a $142,200 penalty for violations of RCRA and the Clean Water Act (CWA). Hazardous waste violations include
- Failure to properly label and close hazardous waste containers.
- Failure to properly meet training requirements for its employees
- Did not operate the facility in a way that minimizes the possibility of hazardous waste being released into the environment.
Barkens has agreed to pay $28,100 in penalties to resolve its hazardous waste violations, including:
- Failure to minimize the release of hazardous waste.
- Failure to meet certification requirements for tanks used to transfer, store or treat hazardous waste.
- Failure to have proper decontamination equipment.
- Facility did not have the proper contingency plan for emergencies.
- Lacked adequate training records for its employees.
Bowman has agreed to pay a $9,900 penalty to resolve its hazardous waste violations, including:
- Failure to minimize releases of hazardous waste.
- Did not have a permit to store certain hazardous waste streams on-site.
- Failure to properly close hazardous waste containers.
- Did not maintain adequate aisle space for stored hazardous waste.
Alumin-Art has agreed to pay a $28,000 penalty to resolve hazardous waste violations found at its Ontario, CA. facility, including:
- Did not have a permit to store and treat hazardous waste.
- Failure to close a hazardous waste container.
- Failure to meet necessary training requirements for its employees.
R.L. Anodizing has agreed to pay a $15,500 penalty to resolve its hazardous waste violations including:
- Storing hazardous waste without the proper permit.
- Improper labeling, storing and maintenance of containers holding hazardous waste.
Where:
- Anaplex Corporation in Paramount, CA
- Barkens Hard Chrome in Compton, CA
- Bowman Plating Company, Inc. in Compton, CA
- Alumin-Art Plating Company in Ontario, CA
- R.L. Anodizing and Plating, Inc. in Sun Valley, CA
Three of the facilities are located along the I-710 freeway corridor, an area of special concern to USEPA due to the disproportional impact of pollution on residents of this area.
When:
Released May 14, 2015.
Investigations and actions by USEPA go back to 2010.
Why:
Metal finishers use a plating or anodizing process to coat industrial metal, and typically generate hazardous wastes including: sludges containing heavy metals such as chromium, cadmium, and lead; spent plating solutions containing metals or cyanides; flammable liquids; and both alkaline and acidic corrosive liquids.
How:
The Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) requires metal finishing companies – and everyone else – to properly manage hazardous waste to prevent harm to human health and the environment. Under RCRA the California EPA, and with Cal EPA the Department of Toxic Substances Control, California has the authority to create and enforce its own regulations for hazardous waste. Here, however, the USEPA stepped in to enforce Federal regulations.
Conclusion:
A perfect example of the USEPA exercising its Federal authority to enforce its regulations within a state that has an authorized hazardous waste program. Federal or State, all hazardous waste regulations require training, and that’s what I do. Contact me to schedule Onsite Hazardous Waste Personnel Training for you and all of your employees right there at your facility in California. In one day and for only a little money you can avoid violations such as these.
|
Daniels Training Services 815.821.1550 |
For more information:
Media Contact: Nahal Mogharabi, Mogharabi.nahal@epa.gov, 213-244-1814
For more information on The Clean Water Act, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/lawsregs/laws/cwa.html
For more information on the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/compliance/civil/rcra/index.html
For more information on EPA’s work at the I-710 corridor, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/region9/strategicplan/i710.html