EPA v. STRONG STEEL PRODUCTS LLC

Case summary

On April 7, 2005, Chief Administrative Law Judge Susan L. Biro issued an initial decision ordering Strong Steel Products, LLC to pay a civil penalty of $269,527 and to complete closure clean-up of its hazardous waste disposal activities. This case is part of the Region���s Detroit urban area and scrap yard initiative. The Region initiated enforcement against Strong Steel as a result of a collaborative effort with the City of Detroit, Wayne County and the State of Michigan. She found that Strong Steel was operating a hazardous waste disposal facility without a permit; failed to provide a complete notification since it failed to identify all of the hazardous wastes it generated and failed to notify of its storage and disposal activities; disposed of hazardous waste without meeting the land ban treatment standards; failed to retain records of its land ban determination; and failed to adequately responded to the releases of hazardous waste. The facility removed 80 cubic yards of hazardous waste contaminated waste and two 55-gallon drums ignitable hazardous waste soil contaminated benzene, toluene and chlorinated solvents chlorobenzene; 1,4-dichlorobenzene; 1,2-dichloroethane; tetrachloroethylene and trichloroethylene were present in soils above the treatment standards. An additional 40 cubic yards of soil was removed because of lead levels above generic risk levels. Waste codes D001 (ignitable), D008 (Lead), D018 (Benzene), D021 (Chlorobenzene), D027 (1,4-Dichlorobenzene), D028 (1,2-Dichloroethane), D039 (Tetrachloroethylene) and D040 (Trichloroethylene) above the regulatory toxicity level.

Defendants (1)

• STRONG STEEL PRODUCTSNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• STRONG STEEL PRODUCTS LLC

  6464 STRONG STREET, DETROIT, MI, 48211

  Registry ID: 110001848902

Statutes cited

• RCRA 3008A — Compliance Order: Injunctive & Penalty
• RCRA 3002 — Standards Applicable to Generators of Hazardous Waste

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• STRONG STEEL PRODUCTS LLCentered 2005-04-11

  Primary law: RCRA

  Federal penalty: $269,527

Timeline (5 milestones)

• 2001-09-28Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 2001-10-17Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2003-11-18Administrative Hearing
• 2005-04-07Admin Law Judge Decision
• 2005-04-11Final Order Issued