EPA v. ENVIRONMENTAL WASTE REMOVAL INC.

Case summary

ENVIRONMENTAL WASTE REMOVAL ( EWR ) OF WATERBURY, CT, OPERATES ONE OF NEW ENGLAND'S LARGEST HAZARDOUS WASTE TREAT- MENT, STORAGE & DISPOSAL FACILITIES. EWR IS LOCATED IN AN URBAN AREA, IN CLOSE PROXIMITYTO MANY PUBLIC BUILDINGS, INCLUDING SCHOOLS & HOSPITALS. THE 2 MAJOR FUNCTIONS OF THE COMPANY'S BUSINESS ARE THE HANDLING OF HAZARDOUS WASTE DRUMS & THE TREATMENT OF AQUEOUS IND. WASTES. EWR RECEIVES AN AVG OF 10,000 GALS OF WASTE/DAY & OPERATES A WASTE OIL SEPARATION PROCESS & A 1000 GAL SOLVENT STILL. EWR HAS MET THE RCRA REQUIREMENT FOR OBTAINING INTERIM STATUS & THEREFORE MUST MEET THE REQUIREMENT OF 40 CFR PART 265. 3 INSPECTIONS OF EWR'S FACILITY OVER THE LAST YEAR BY EPA HAVE REVEALED NUMEROUS & REPEATED VIOLATIONS OF THESE REQUIREMENTS. SECTION 3008 OF RCRA AUTHORIZES THE COMMENCE- MENT OF A CIVIL ACTION IN FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT FOR THESE VIOLATIONS. SERIOUS POTENTIAL THREATS EXIST TO THE SUR- ROUNDING COMMUNITY BY THE COMPANY'S LACK OF ADEQUATE FIRE- FIGHTING EQUIPMENT IN THE LARGE BARREL STORAGE AREA & BY THE CONDITION OF THE HAZARDOUS WASTE SLUDGE PILE. A RECENT IN- SPECTION BY THE CT. FIRE MARSHALL'S OFFICE OF THE BARREL STORAGE WAREHOUSE REVEALED 20 VIOLATIONS OF STATE FIRE CODES; THESE VIOLATIONS ARE PARTICULARLY SERIOUS BECAUSE THE BUILDING CONTAINS MANY FLAMMABLE MATERIALS. LOCAL INTEREST IN THIS CASE HAS BEEN INTENSE, PRIMARILY BECAUSE EWR HAS BEEN SEEKING LOCAL APPROVAL TO SEND THEIR TREATED WASTE SLUDGE TO A WATERBURY LANDFILL. ADDITIONAL LOCAL INTEREST HAS ALSO RESULTED FROM A RECENT FIRE AT THE FACILITY. EWR'S FACILITY WAS 1ST INSPECTED BY EPA PERSONNEL ON 1/27/81, AT WHICH TIME SIGNIFICANT VIOLATIONS OF THE RCRA REGULATIONS WERE FOUND. ON 6/16/81, REGION I ISSUED AN ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER AGAINST EWR PURSUANT TO RCRA 3008(A)(1) AND ASSESSED A PENALTY OF $44,775. ON 12/14/81, EWR ENTERED INTO A CONSENT AGREEMENT WITH EPA IN WHICH THE COMPANY AGREED TO MAINTAIN FULL COMPLIANCE WITH ALL HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGMENT REGULA- TIONS. IN ADDITION, EWR PAID $25,000 IN SETTLEMENT OF THE PENALTY AMOUNT. RECENT COMPLIANCE MONITORING INSPECTIONS, HOWEVER, REVEAL THAT THE COMPANY HAS LAPSED INTO NONCOMPLI- ANCE WITH RESPECT TO 2 MAJOR VIOLATIONS CITED IN THE JUNE ORDER: FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE PROTECTION FROM FIRE & FAILURE TO COVER THE HAZARDOUS WASTE SLUDGE PILE. IN ADDI- TION, EWR IS NOW IN NONCOMPLIANCE WITH OTHER RCRA REGULA- TIONS. * FACILITY ADDRESS: 130 FREIGHT ST WATERBURY, CT 06704 OWNERSHIP: P SIC CODE: 4953 EPID# CTD072138969

Defendants (1)

• ENVIRONMENTAL WASTE REMOVAL, INC.Named in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (6)

• ENVIRONMENTAL WASTE RESOURCES INCORPORATED

  130 FREIGHT ST, WATERBURY, CT, 06702

  Registry ID: 110067536722

• ENVIRONMENTAL WASTE RESOURCES INCORPORATED

  130 FREIGHT ST, WATERBURY, CT, 06702

  Registry ID: 110067536722

• ENVIRONMENTAL WASTE RESOURCES INCORPORATED

  130 FREIGHT ST, WATERBURY, CT, 06702

  Registry ID: 110067536722

• ENVIRONMENTAL WASTE RESOURCES INCORPORATED

  130 FREIGHT ST, WATERBURY, CT, 06702

  Registry ID: 110067536722

• ENVIRONMENTAL WASTE RESOURCES INCORPORATED

  130 FREIGHT ST, WATERBURY, CT, 06702

  Registry ID: 110067536722

• ENVIRONMENTAL WASTE RESOURCES INCORPORATED

  130 FREIGHT ST, WATERBURY, CT, 06702

  Registry ID: 110067536722

Statutes cited

• RCRA 3008 — Res Conserv & Rec Act

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• ENVIRONMENTAL WSTE REMOVAL INCentered 1983-11-14

  Primary law: RCRA

  Federal penalty: $25,000

Timeline (8 milestones)

• 1982-04-02Referred To Headquarters
• 1982-04-20Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1982-06-04Referred TO U.S. Attorney
• 1982-06-09Complaint Filed With Court
• 1983-11-14Final Order Lodged
• 1983-11-14Final Order Entered
• 1983-11-14Concluded
• 1984-02-03Enforcement Action Closed