EPA Enforcement Roundup: Week of 1/22

US businesses are subject to complex, overlapping environmental regulations related to air emissions, discharges to water, hazardous waste management and disposal, oil spills, chemical management, and more. Failure to comply with all applicable US EPA requirements can result in future liability and civil penalties as high as $100,000+ per day, per violation.

The EPA Enforcement Roundup highlights enforcement actions that offer insight into how and why US EPA and state partners assess penalties for noncompliance for environmental regulations.

All violations or claims discussed below are alleged only unless we say otherwise, and we withhold the names of organizations and individuals to protect their privacy.

Your EPA Enforcement Roundup for this week:

In Ohio, five companies agree to settlements totaling more than $7 million to resolve alleged Clean Water, CERCLA violations.

A complaint filed by the United States alleges that five companies are liable for historic industrial discharges of hazardous substances and/or oil including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), arsenic, lead, PCBs, and pesticides. The site—near Toledo, OH—encompasses creeks, adjoining wetlands, floodplain areas, and uplands.

The alleged violations occurred at the site of a refinery originally built by Standard Oil in 1919. PAHs and metals were identified in creek sediments in concentrations that could cause harm to local wildlife.

For alleged failure to provide RCRA training for hazardous waste personnel, a waste transfer site in Washington will pay $25,000. 

The facility allegedly stored hazardous waste—called "dangerous waste" in Washington's state regulations—for several months without providing mandated training for personnel on proper waste management techniques.

The company is a ten-day waste transfer facility, meaning that may hold waste without a permit provided that certain rules are followed. Inspectors reportedly observed repeated violations at the facility since December 2022 that included not properly training employees, recordkeeping issues, and failure to transport waste off site within the ten day time limit.

Solar farm builders agree to pay $2.3M in penalties to resolve alleged stormwater management violations in three states.

While building solar farms in Idaho, Alabama, and Illinois, a company allegedly failed to use proper stormwater controls, conduct adequate site inspections,or properly address stormwater pollution issues as required by the Clean Water Act.

The $2.3 million civil penalty will be split between the Federal government, the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, and the State of Illinois. The company will also provide $600,000 to fund a restoration project in the Portneuf River on Pocatello, Idaho.

Complete Environmental Regulations Training

Want a clearer idea of how major EPA air, water, and chemical programs all fit together to affect your site's activities? Join in on the next Complete Environmental Regulations Webinar on February 1–2 at Lion.com.

EH&S professionals who attend can identify the regulations that apply to their facility and locate key requirements to achieve compliance with the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts to EPCRA, TSCA, Superfund, and more. Prefer to train at your own pace? Try the interactive online course.

Tags: CERCLA, Clean Water Act, EPA Enforcement Roundup, hazardous waste management, stormwater