EPA v. PHILADELPHIA, CITY OF PRISON SYSTEM

Case summary

COUNT I. OWNING AND OPERATING A HAZARDOUS WASTE STORAGE FACILITY WITHOUT A PERMIT OR INTERIM STATUS: RCRA SECTION 3005(A), 42 U.S.C. SECTION 6925(A), NORMALLY REQUIRES PERSON PERSONS OWNING OR OPERATING A FACILITY FOR THE TREATMENT, STORAGE, OR DISPOSAL OF HAZARDOUS WASTE TO OBTAIN A PERMIT. HOWEVER, GENERATORS OF HAZARDOUS WASTE MAY ACCUMULATE HAZARDOUS WASTE ON-SITE FOR 90 DAYS OR LESS WITHOUT A PERMIT OR INTERIM STATUS PROVIDED THAT THE GENERATOR COMPLIES WITH CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF RCRA SET FORTH IN 40 C.F.R. SECTION 262.34(A) AND THE PENNSYLVANIA HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT REGULATIONS, 25 PA. CODE SECTION 260A ET SEQ ( PAHWMR ). DUE TO CERTAIN ACTS OR OMISSIONS, RESPONDENT, AT THE TIME OF EPA'S INSPECTION FAILED TO QUALIFY FOR THE PERMIT EXEMPTION PROVIDED UNDER 40 C.F.R. SECTION 262.34(A) AND 25 PA. CODE SECTION 262A.10 FOR STORAGE OF HAZARDOUS WASTE. NAMELY, RESPONDENT FAILED TO MARK ITS HAZARDOUS WASTE CONTAINERS WITH THE ACCUMULATION COMMENCEMENT DATES, FAILED TO MARK IT CONTAINERS WITH THE LABEL HAZARDOUS WASTE , AND LEFT IS HAZARDOUS WASTE CONTAINERS OPEN AT TIMES OTHER THAN NECESSARY TO ADD OR REMOVE CONTENTS ARE REQUIRED UNDER THE RCRA REGULATIONS. COUNT II. FAILURE TO MAKE HAZARDOUS WASTE DETERMINATIONS: A GENERATOR OF HAZARDOUS WASTE IS REQUIRED TO DETERMINE IF THE SOLID WASTES IT GENERATES ARE HAZARDOUS WASTES USING 25 PA. CODE SECTION 262A.10 AND 40 C.F.R. SECTION 262.11(A)-(C). RESPONDENT GENERATED SOLID WASTE AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED UNDER THE RCRA REGULATIONS WITHOUT MAKING HAZARDOUS WASTE DETERMINATIONS.

Defendants (1)

• PHILADELPHIA, CITY OF PRISON SYSTEMNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• PHILADELPHIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

  8001 STATE ROAD, PHILADELPHIA, PA, 19136

  Registry ID: 110041235865

Statutes cited

• CWA 311J — SPCC and/or Federal Response Plan Violations
• RCRA 3005 — Permits for Treatment, Storage, or Disposal of Hazardous Waste

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• Philadelphia, City of Prison Systementered 2002-12-04

  Primary law: RCRA

  Federal penalty: $10,000

Timeline (4 milestones)

• 2002-01-31Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2002-03-28Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 2002-12-04Final Order Issued
• 2005-09-22Enforcement Action Closed