EPA v. CLEAN HARBORS ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC

Case summary

9/29/2025 - CONSENT AGREEMENT AND FINAL ORDER ISSUED ASSESSING A PENALTY OF $27,075.00 TO BE PAID IN 30 DAYS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS CAFO. ALLEGED VIOLATIONS: ON APRIL 5, 2022, SAVANNAH RIVER NUCLEAR SOLUTIONS, LLC (SRNS), LOCATED IN AIKEN, SOUTH CAROLINA, DISCLOSED TO THE EPA (SRNS REPORT) A MISSING SHIPMENT OF THREE CONTAINERS CONTAINING PCB WASTE DESIGNATED FOR DISPOSAL AT THE DEER PARK FACILITY. ACCORDING TO THE SRNS REPORT, CLEAN HARBORS TRANSPORTER PICKED UP THE THREE (3) CONTAINERS OF PCB BULK PRODUCT WASTE ON NOVEMBER 3, 2021, AND DELIVERED THEM TO THE REIDSVILLE FACILITY ON THE SAME DAY. SRNS CONTACTED CLEAN HARBORS REIDSVILLE, LLC (CHR) ON DECEMBER 6, 2021, AND REPEATEDLY REQUESTING THE STATUS OF THE SHIPMENT. A COMPLETED COPY OF THE SIGNED MANIFEST DATED FEBRUARY 18, 2022, WAS EVENTUALLY PROVIDED TO SRNS BY CHR. ON MAY 17, 2022, AND MAY 18, 2022, EPA REGION 6 PERFORMED AN INSPECTION OF THE DEER PARK FACILITY AND THE LA PORTE FACILITY, RESPECTIVELY. DURING AND AFTER THESE INSPECTIONS, THE EPA REQUESTED AND REVIEWED RECORDS FROM THE DEER PARK FACILITY, THE LA PORTE FACILITY, AND THE REIDSVILLE FACILITY. BASED ON THE FINDINGS OF FACT IN THE CAFO, THE EPA ALLEGES THE FOLLOWING VIOLATIONS AS OUTLINED IN THE CAFO: - CLEAN HARBORS REIDSVILLE, LLC (CHR) FAILED TO STORE PCBS OR PCB ITEMS IN A DESIGNATED APPROVED STORAGE AREA DESCRIBED IN THE FACILITY?S PCB APPROVAL; TO CONDUCT DAILY INSPECTIONS OF PCBS AND PCB ITEMS IN STORAGE; TO MAINTAIN ACCURATE DAILY RECORDS OF STORAGE INVENTORIES; TO SIGN AND DATE EACH COPY OF THE MANIFEST AND NOTE ANY DISCREPANCIES ON EACH COPY OF THE MANIFEST IN VIOLATION OF 40 C.F.R. ?761.213(A)(2), APPROVAL CONDITION I.3(L), AND SECTION 15 OF TSCA, 15 U.S.C. ? 2614. - CLEAN HARBORS LA PORTE, LLC (CHLP) FAILED TO VERIFY THE PCB CONTENT OF PCBS OR PCB ITEMS BEFORE ACCEPTING THE MATERIAL FOR STORAGE IN VIOLATION OF APPROVAL CONDITION III.B.4 AND SECTION 15 OF TSCA, 15 U.S.C. ? 2614; TO STORE PCBS AND PCB ITEMS ONLY IN AREAS DESIGNATED IN THE APPROVAL IN VIOLATION OF 40 C.F.R. ?761.65(B)(2), APPROVAL CONDITION III.B.1, AND SECTION 15 OF TSCA, 15 U.S.C. ? 2614; TO CHECK ALL PCB ITEMS IN STORAGE AT LEAST ONCE EVERY 30 DAYS FOR LEAKS AND RECORD THOSE INSPECTIONS IN VIOLATION OF 40 C.F.R. ?761.65(C)(5), APPROVAL CONDITION IV.I.1, 40 C.F.R. ? 761.180(B), AND SECTION 15 OF TSCA, 15 U.S.C. ? 2614; TO MAINTAIN ACCURATE INVENTORY OF PCBS AND PCB ITEMS IN STORAGE IN VIOLATION OF APPROVAL CONDITION IV.I.2 AND SECTION 15 OF TSCA, 15 U.S.C. ? 2614; TO SIGN AND DATE EACH COPY OF THE MANIFEST AND NOTE ANY DISCREPANCIES ON EACH COPY OF THE MANIFEST IN VIOLATION OF 40 C.F.R. ?761.213(A)(2) AND SECTION 15 OF TSCA, 15 U.S.C. ? 2614; TO MEET THE 1-YEAR DISPOSAL TIME FRAME FOR THE CONTAINER OF PCB BULK PRODUCT WASTE WITH THE RFS DATE OF FEBRUARY 17, 2021 IN VIOLATION OF 40 C.F.R. ?761.65(A)(1) AND SECTION 15 OF TSCA, 15 U.S.C. ? 2614. - CLEAN HARBORS DEER PARK, L.P. (CHDP) FAILED TO TIMELY SUBMIT ITS ONE-YEAR EXCEPTION REPORT IN VIOLATION OF 40 C.F.R. ?761.219(A) AND SECTION 15 OF TSCA, 15 U.S.C. ? 2614; TO CORRECTLY IDENTIFY TRANSPORTERS AND PROVIDE A REASON FOR THE DELAY IN BRINGING ABOUT THE DISPOSAL OF THE AFFECTED PCBS OR PCB ITEMS IN THE ONE-YEAR EXCEPTION REPORT IN VIOLATION OF 40 C.F.R. ?761.219(C)(2) AND SECTION 15 OF TSCA, 15 U.S.C. ? 2614. - CLEAN HARBORS TRANSPORTER FAILED TO CONTACT THE GENERATOR WHEN THE PCB WASTE COULD NOT BE DELIVERED IN ACCORDANCE WITH 40 C.F.R. ? 761.212(A) BECAUSE OF AN EMERGENCY CONDITION OTHER THAN REJECTION OF THE WASTE BY THE DESIGNATED FACILITY IN VIOLATION OF 40 C.F.R. ?761.212(B)(1) AND SECTION 15 OF TSCA, 15 U.S.C. ? 2614.

Defendants (4)

• CLEAN HARBORS DEER PARK, L.P.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• CLEAN HARBORS LA PORTE, LLCNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• CLEAN HARBORS REIDSVILLE, LLCNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• CLEAN HARBORS ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INCNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (5)

• CLEAN HARBORS REIDSVILLE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY

  208 WATLINGTON INDUSTRIAL DRIVE, REIDSVILLE, NC, 27320-8147

  Registry ID: 110058305490

• CLEAN HARBORS REIDSVILLE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY

  208 WATLINGTON INDUSTRIAL DRIVE, REIDSVILLE, NC, 27320-8147

  Registry ID: 110058305490

• CLEAN HARBORS DEER PARK

  2027 BATTLEGROUND RD, LA PORTE, TX, 77536

  Registry ID: 110068014598

• CLEAN HARBORS ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES

  42 LONGWATER DR, NORWELL, MA, 02061

  Registry ID: 110040474466

• CLEAN HARBORS LAPORTE

  500 INDEPENDENCE PKWY S, LA PORTE, TX, 77571-9768

  Registry ID: 110070750606

Statutes cited

• TSCA 6-PCBS — PCBS

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• CLEAN HARBORS ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INCentered 2025-09-29

  Primary law: TSCA

  Federal penalty: $27,075

Timeline (3 milestones)

• 2025-09-29Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 2025-09-29Final Order Issued
• 2025-09-30Enforcement Action Data Entered