EPA v. UNITED CIRCUITS INC

Case summary

UNITED CIRCUITS MANUFACTURES PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARDS FOR BOTH MILITARY AND COMMERCIAL CLILENTS. IT PURCHASES COPPER LAMINATE BOARDS AND PROCESSES THEM TO EXACT SPECIFICATIONS THROUGH A VARIETY OF PROCESSES INCLUDING DRILLING, PLATING, IMPLANT IMAGING, ETCHING, SCREENING AND ROUTING. HAZARDOUS WASTES ARE GENERATED FROM ITS OPERATINS. FOLLOWING A COMPLAINT TO EPA'S HOTLINE, INSPECTORS FROM RCRA, WATER AND LAB OFFICES CONDUCTED A MULTI-MEDIA INSPEC- TION ON NOVEMBER 25, 1997. RCRA VIOLATIONS WERE BASED ON OBSERVATIONS MADE DURING THE INSPECTION. THEY ARE AS FOLLOWS 1. UNITED CIRCUITS FAILURE TO ADEQUATELY MAINTAIN A HAZARD- OUS WASTE STORAGE AREA. 2. THE CONCRETE BASE OF TEH STORAGE AREA WAS IN POOR CONDITION WITH LARGE CRACKS AND A SIX INCH DIAMETER HOLE COMPLETELY PENETRATING THE BASE TO THE FLOOR BOARDS BELOW. THE STORAGE AREA IN THE BASEMENT OF THE BUILDING ABUTS BEAVER BROOK. THE SAME STORAGE AREA WAS BEING USED TO STORE INCOMPATIBLE WASTE. ALSO, OTHER RCRA BASE PROGRAM REQUIRE- MENTS. PRIOR TO THIS ACTION, UNITED CIRCUITS WAS CITED BY MA DEP FOR SEVERAL HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT VIOLATIONS. UNITED CIRCUITS ENTERED INTO A CONSENT ORDER WITH THE STATE ON JANUARY 18, 1996. UNITED CIRCUITS PAID A CIVIL PENALTY OF $19,000 TO SETTLE THE ACTION.

Defendants (1)

• UNITED CIRCUITS INCNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• UNITED CIRCUITS INCORPORATED

  100 PLEASANT ST., DRACUT, MA, 01826

  Registry ID: 110000309746

Statutes cited

• RCRA 3002 — Standards Applicable to Generators of Hazardous Waste
• RCRA 3004 — Hazardous Waste Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Standards
• RCRA 3008G — Penalty Authority

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• UNITED CIRCUITS INCentered 2000-08-28

  Primary law: RCRA

  Federal penalty: $12,800

Timeline (4 milestones)

• 1999-12-28Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 1999-12-30Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2000-08-28Final Order Issued
• 2000-08-28Enforcement Action Closed