EPA v. VORBECK MATERIALS CORPORATION

Case summary

On June 8, 2017, Region III entered into a Consent Agreement with, and issued a Final Order to Vorbeck Materials Corp., settling violations of RCRA Subtitle C at the company's facility in Jessup, Maryland ( Facility ). The settlement will ensure that Vorbeck properly handles and disposes of waste solvent generated by the Facility. At the Facility, Vorbeck performs research and development, and manufactures inks and other high tech materials. Because the Facility generates hazardous waste in the form of waste solvents, Vorbeck is required to comply with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA); the federal hazardous waste regulations; and the authorized Maryland Hazardous Waste Management regulations. RCRA is designed to protect human health and the environment by providing for the safe management of such hazardous wastes. During the inspection, and through subsequent communications, the EPA Inspector learned that Vorbeck: (1) operated a hazardous waste storage facility without a permit or interim status; (2) failed to make a waste determination on waste solvents and solvent-contaminated debris; (3) failed to properly manifest hazardous waste shipped off-site; (4) failed to keep containers holding hazardous waste closed except when necessary to add or remove waste; (5) failed to maintain an adequate contingency plan for the Facility; (6) failed to provide initial and refresher hazardous waste training to employees with hazardous waste management responsibilities; (7) failed to maintain personnel records which document that the training required for, provided to and completed by employees with hazardous waste management responsibilities; and (8) failed to track accumulation dates of universal waste batteries. The parties have negotiated a settlement in which the Company has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $28,200.00, and perform a Supplemental Environmental Project ( SEP ). Vorbeck will donate emergency response equipment and innovative communications equipment to the Howard County, Maryland, Fire Department Hazmat and Special Operations Division, and spend at least $46,900.00. The company has performed a self-audit, corrected shipping practices, closed containers, updated its contingency plan, and provided training, among other things, to achieve compliance. The Consent Agreement and Final Order initiate and resolve this enforcement action. EPA informed Maryland's Department of the Environment ( MDE ) of the action by letter and received no objection.

Defendants (1)

• VORBECK MATERIALS CORPORATIONNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (2)

• VORBECK MATERIALS CORP.

  8306 PATUXENT RANGE ROAD SUITE 112, JESSUP, MD, 20794-8609

  Registry ID: 110006847939

• VORBECK MATERIALS CORPORATION

  8306 PATUXENT RANGE ROAD, UNIT 106, JESSUP, MD, 20794-8609

  Registry ID: 110006847939

Statutes cited

• RCRA 3002 — Standards Applicable to Generators of Hazardous Waste

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• VORBECK MATERIALS CORPORATIONentered 2017-06-08

  Primary law: RCRA

  Federal penalty: $28,200 · SEP: $46,900

Timeline (4 milestones)

• 2017-06-08Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 2017-06-08Final Order Issued
• 2017-06-21Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2018-12-20Enforcement Action Closed