EPA v. Homeca Recycling Center Co. Inc. et al.

Case summary

The Defendant is an auto recycling company with several facilities in Puerto Rico. The company's management practices have created a serious potential threat to human, health, safety and to the environment and include crushing cars, containing hazardous waste fluid directly over soil without removing such fluids; failure to make hazardous waste determinations; improper disposal of hazardous waste substances; and improper storage of potentially hazardous substances, etc. Some of the facilities are located near substantial bodies of water (i.e. the Caribbean, Rio Grande de Loiza), drinking wells, aquifers, and housing communities. The entered CD resolves the United States' claims against the Defendant for violations at three different facilities located in Caguas, Ponce Playa, and Hormigueros. EPA has direct implementation responsibility for these rules in Puerto Rico and the settlement requires the Defendant to pay a $50,000 civil penalty in two installments and to implement various practices as injunctive relief to help the facilities maintain compliance with the applicable regulations.

Defendants (2)

• Homeca Recycling Center Co. Inc.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• Municipality of Ponce

Facilities (7)

• HOMECA RECYCLING CENTER CO INC

  CALLE COMERICO 1, PLAYA PONCE, PR, 00716

  Registry ID: 110037939684

• HOMECA RECYCLING CENTER CO INC

  CALLE COMERICO 1, PLAYA PONCE, PR, 00716

  Registry ID: 110037939684

• HOMECA RECYCLING CENTER CO INC

  CALLE COMERICO 1, PLAYA PONCE, PR, 00716

  Registry ID: 110037939684

• HOMECA RECYCLING CENTER CO., INC.

  PR-183 KM 4.5 BO TOMAS DE CASTRO, CAGUAS, PR, 00725

  Registry ID: 110037101542

• HOMECA RECYCLING CENTER CO., INC.

  PR-183 KM 4.5 BO TOMAS DE CASTRO, CAGUAS, PR, 00725

  Registry ID: 110037101542

• HOMECA RECYCLING CENTER CO INC

  CALLE COMERICO 1, PLAYA PONCE, PR, 00716

  Registry ID: 110037939684

• RECOVERY AND RECYCLING-HORMIGUEROS

  PR 309, KM 1.4, HORMIGUEROS, PR, 00660

  Registry ID: 110037956209

Statutes cited

• CWA 301/402 — NPDES Permit Violations
• CWA 301 — NPDES Discharge without a Permit
• CAA 608 — National Recycling & Emission Reduction Program
• RCRA 3008A — Compliance Order: Injunctive & Penalty

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• Homeca Recycling Center Co. Inc. et al.entered 2017-12-18

  Primary law: RCRA

  Federal penalty: $50,000

Timeline (5 milestones)

• 2010-03-31Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 2010-04-05Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2017-05-11Complaint Filed With Court
• 2017-05-12Final Order Lodged
• 2017-12-18Final Order Entered