Washington University to Pay Fine for Hazardous Issues

Posted 27 Sep 2010

Washington University in St. Louis is paying a $15,000 civil penalty over what the federal government calls "hazardous waste management issues."

The school also will spend at least $45,000 on a supplemental project to help clean local high school laboratories of hazardous waste, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said.

Washington University’s hazardous waste problems at the school’s Danforth and School of Medicine campuses were uncovered through inspections conducted in April 2008.

Inspections found violations for failure to make hazardous waste determinations and for operating a treatment, storage and disposal facility without a proper permit. There also were "issues related to the storage of hazardous waste beyond legal time limits," failure to properly label hazardous waste storage containers, and failure to manage waste lamps among the problems, the EPA said.

As part of a settlement, the school will spend a minimum of $45,000 on a supplemental environmental project to address hazardous waste issues in 12 high schools within the St. Louis Public Schools District.

The university agreed to conduct ongoing clean-out operations at laboratories at the two campuses, the EPA said.

*For more information on news about waste and recycling go to www.wasterecyclingnews.com

From: http://veoliaes-ts.com/buzz-newsletters/September2010/3

EPA Proposes Final Authorization of State Hazardous Waste Management Program Revision

EPA has proposed to authorize Wisconsin's Hazardous Waste Management Revisions which took effect in August 2006. The proposed rule can be found at:

http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-27855.pdf

Of interest to me was a (rather lengthy) table that correlates Federal provisions with former NR provision, as well as the recodified NR provision.

Also:

G. Where Are the Revised State Rules
Different From the Federal Rules?
These practices are prohibited in Wisconsin: Underground Injection (40 CFR Part 144), and Land Treatment (40 CFR 270.20). Wisconsin also does not provide for Permit by Rule (40 CFR
270.60). Wisconsin does not allow automatic authorization under the permit modification regulations found in 40 CFR 270.42 (b)(6). The 10 year Remedial Action Plan, or RAP (40 CFR
270.79 et seq.) is replaced by a 5 year Remediation Variance (NR670.079). These Wisconsin regulations are more stringent: 662.220(5)(c,d), 662.220(6)(c,d,f), and 670.030 (annual
report required instead of a biennial report). Wisconsin maintains different financial regulations that allow for additional equivalent financial mechanisms (664.0143), do not allow the net worth test for closure under Part 665, and maintain some more stringent insurance requirements under 664.0143(5)(h), 664.0147(1)(a)(3), and 665.0147(1)(a)(3). The following Wisconsin regulations have no Federal counterpart: 666.081, 666.900 through 666.910, and 673.11.
There are no Wisconsin provisions for 40 CFR 268.5, 268.44 (other than 268.44(h)), and 270.3 as these are Federal non-delegable provisions.

SHWEC newsletter

The October 2008 edition of the Solid & Hazardous Waste Education Center newsletter is now available. An email newsletter subscription link is at the bottom of their page. Covered topics include:

Recycling Rate of Used Oil Filters and Absorbents a Concern in Wisconsin
Enforcement Advisory on Outdoor Wood Fired Boilers
Pharmaceutical Waste Update
Drug Collection Grants Offered
WH2E Takes Off
Solar Decade Conference
Zero Energy Homes Grants in WPPI Territory
Will Allen Named a MacArthur Fellow
Building Communities: Focus on Sustainability Webinar Series
Environmental News Briefs
Events, Training and Workshop Opportunities

Del Monte Fined $190K for Hazardous Waste Storage, Handling Violations

September 30, 2008
EPA has fined Del Monte Fresh Produce Co. of Kunia, Oahu, $190,000 for hazardous waste storage, handling, and used oil management violations. The agency said that in August 2007 its inspectors found open and unlabeled containers of hazardous waste at the facility and evidence of a release of used oil. Additionally, the inspectors found the facility had stored containers of hazardous waste without a permit and stored hazardous waste for longer than the 90 days allowed by the EPA's hazardous waste storage rules, the agency said. At the time of the inspection, the company had ceased its pineapple growing operations.

According to EPA, the facility also failed to:

Have a response plan for hazardous waste and used oil spills and have an emergency response coordinator;
Properly manage other wastes, such as lead acid batteries;
Keep adequate hazardous waste training records for its staff;
Properly store used oil and label the containers; and
Respond to releases of used oil, and comply with oil pollution control requirements.
"Companies must properly store and handle hazardous waste to protect the community, workers, and the environment," said Jeff Scott, director of Waste Programs for the EPA's Pacific Southwest region. "I am pleased that Del Monte has corrected the violations and that the facility no longer presents a potential risk to human health and the environment."

EPA's hazardous waste rules require facilities to properly store, label, and seal hazardous waste containers. Facilities must also have trained staff, as improperly stored hazardous waste can potentially spill and pose a risk to workers and the environment. Proper disposal of hazardous waste is required at a permitted disposal site, with the required permits and notifications made to EPA. For information on hazardous waste, visit www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/hazwaste.htm.