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EPA Enforcement Roundup: Week of 8/1

Posted on 8/1/2017 by Roger Marks

Every day, facilities across the US receive Notices of Violation from Federal and State environmental agencies for alleged noncompliance with a wide variety of programs like the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts, chemical management and reporting regulations (TSCA, EPCRA, CERCLA, etc.), hazardous waste management and disposal standards (RCRA), and much more.
 
In January 2017, EPA raised its fines for noncompliance with major environmental programs. We hope that providing information about EPA enforcement cases will help you identify and fix noncompliance issues that could leave your company facing costly penalties and future liability.

In this week’s EPA Enforcement Roundup, a chemical manufacturer, a petroleum distributor, and a Long Island property owner will pay for alleged violations of EPA air, water, and emergency preparedness regulations and to reimburse US EPA for hazardous substance cleanup.
 

WHO: Commercial chemical manufacturer, blender, and distributor  
WHERE: Kansas City, KS
WHAT: Alleged Clean Air Act Risk Management Plan (RMP) violations
HOW MUCH: $950,000 

 
retail_facilities_OSHA_PSM.jpgAccording to a July 31 Consent Decree, a commercial chemical distributor will pay for allegedly failing to adequately assess and plan for possible emergency chemical releases as required under section 112 of the Clean Air Act (40 CFR Part 68). Violations at the company’s chemical sites, which the company self-reported to EPA, included failure to develop and or comply with a Risk Management Plan. 
 
In addition to paying a $950,000 penalty to settle the allegations, the company will install foam sprinkler systems at eight facilities and perform audits at 28 sites to ensure each is in compliance with the Clean Air Act RMP requirements.
 
Earn CEU’s and keep your Clean Air Act knowledge sharp with the Clean Air Act Online Course.  
 

WHO: A petroleum distributor
WHERE: Eugene, OR
WHAT: Clean water and oil spill regulations
HOW MUCH: At least $123,000, including cleanup costs 

 
A petroleum distributor will pay about $23,000 in fines to resolve allegations of US EPA and Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) water and oil spill regulations stemming from a 900-gallon spill of red dyed diesel from an aboveground storage tank in February 2016. 
 
In addition to the civil penalties paid to EPA and the DEQ, the company spent $100,000 to remove nearly 3,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil from the site. Plus, the company paid a cleanup crew of up to 20 personnel to perform cleanup work for one month. 
 
Read more here. 
 

WHO: A property owner 
WHERE: Long Island, NY
WHAT: CERCLA hazardous substance cleanup costs 
HOW MUCH: $261,000

 
To reimburse US EPA for its costs to cleanup the Computer Circuits Superfund Site at 145 Marcus Blvd in Happauge, Suffolk County, New York, a property owner will pay EPA $261,000. 
 
circuit-board.jpgFrom 1969 to 1977, the company leasing the property manufactured circuit boards in a 21,600 square foot, one-story building on two acres of land in an industrial park. As part of their operation, the company discharged waste liquids to cesspools on the property. The air, ground water, and soil at the site was later found to contain methylene chloride, tetrachloroethene, and trichloroethene. The site was placed on EPA’s National Priorities List in May 1999 and is now in the Final Stage of cleanup. 


OSHA 8-Hour HAZWOPER Refresher Workshop—August 23 in Sparta, NJ

Do you work or supervise cleanup operations at a Superfund site? Meet OSHA’s annual training requirement for cleanup personnel at “uncontrolled hazardous waste sites” at the 8-Hour HAZWOPER Refresher Workshop, only available at the new Lion Training Center in Sparta, NJ!

Now only $199! Join us on August 23 to keep your HAZWOPER certification training up-to-date.


20+ Hours of EHS Manager Training - Available Anytime, Anywhere

ENV-300-computer-image.jpgManaging site compliance with the many complex EPA programs that affect your business—from the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts to TSCA, EPCRA, CERLCA, and more—is a major challenge. If you’re new to the field, or need an update on changing EPA rules, the Complete Environmental Regulations Online Course will help you quickly build in-depth expertise.

Or, check out the latest individual EPA compliance training options here:
 
Clean Air Act Regulations Online
TSCA Regulations Online
New! Clean Water Act & SDWA Regulations Online
Just Launched! Superfund and Right-to-Know Act Regulations Online 
 
The 2017 nationwide schedule for the Complete Environmental Regulations Workshop is now available. Collaborate with other managers to identify the requirements that apply to your facility, ask the right questions, and make the right decisions about EPA compliance.
 

Tags: Act, Air, Clean, EPA, EPA Enforcement Roundup, fines and penalties, HAZWOPER, RMP

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