EPA v. JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON (FF)

Case summary

On September, 16, 2020, EPA Region 10 filed a consent agreement and final order (CAFO) resolving violations of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) at Joint Base Elmendorf- Richardson (JBER). On October 9, 2019, JBER disclosed to EPA Region 10 that it had speculatively accumulated a large quantity of expended small-arms cartridge casings (ESACCs) that exhibit the toxicity characteristic for lead. Prior to 2017, JBER recycled its ESACCs since they are made of a valuable commodity, brass, but in 2017, this recycling activity ceased. Since 75% of the ESACCs were not recycled in calendar year 2018, the ESACCS became a solid waste, and those that exhibited the toxicity characteristic for lead became hazardous waste. To date JBER has accumulated about 200,000 lbs of brass ESACCs. Under the terms of the CAFO, EPA is allowing JBER to recycle the brass ESACCs versus disposing of it in a permitted RCRA treatment, storage, and disposal facility. The CAFO sets forth schedules and requirements for the storage and recycling of the ESACCs in a manner that protects human health and the environment. The CAFO also requires JBER to report to EPA on its recycling progress, and to decontaminate the building at which the hazardous ESACCs are stored when the recycling is completed. In addition, the settlement resolves universal waste management violations identified during an October 7-9, 2019, EPA inspection of JBER. JBER will spend $486,500 to come into compliance, but will save $460,000 by recycling rather than disposing of the waste ESACCs. JBER will pay a penalty of $61,554 to settle this action.

Defendants (1)

• JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSONNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (25)

• JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON

  6326 ARCTIC WARRIOR DR., ANCHORAGE, AK, 99506-3240

  Registry ID: 110060333928

• JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON

  6326 ARCTIC WARRIOR DR., ANCHORAGE, AK, 99506-3240

  Registry ID: 110060333928

• JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON

  6326 ARCTIC WARRIOR DR., ANCHORAGE, AK, 99506-3240

  Registry ID: 110060333928

• JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON

  6326 ARCTIC WARRIOR DR., ANCHORAGE, AK, 99506-3240

  Registry ID: 110060333928

• JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON

  6326 ARCTIC WARRIOR DR., ANCHORAGE, AK, 99506-3240

  Registry ID: 110060333928

• JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON

  6326 ARCTIC WARRIOR DR., ANCHORAGE, AK, 99506-3240

  Registry ID: 110060333928

• JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON

  6326 ARCTIC WARRIOR DR., ANCHORAGE, AK, 99506-3240

  Registry ID: 110060333928

• JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON

  6326 ARCTIC WARRIOR DR., ANCHORAGE, AK, 99506-3240

  Registry ID: 110060333928

• JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON

  6326 ARCTIC WARRIOR DR., ANCHORAGE, AK, 99506-3240

  Registry ID: 110060333928

• JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON

  6326 ARCTIC WARRIOR DR., ANCHORAGE, AK, 99506-3240

  Registry ID: 110060333928

• JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON

  6326 ARCTIC WARRIOR DR., ANCHORAGE, AK, 99506-3240

  Registry ID: 110060333928

• JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON

  6326 ARCTIC WARRIOR DR., ANCHORAGE, AK, 99506-3240

  Registry ID: 110060333928

• JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON

  6326 ARCTIC WARRIOR DR., ANCHORAGE, AK, 99506-3240

  Registry ID: 110060333928

• JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON

  6326 ARCTIC WARRIOR DR., ANCHORAGE, AK, 99506-3240

  Registry ID: 110060333928

• JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON

  6326 ARCTIC WARRIOR DR., ANCHORAGE, AK, 99506-3240

  Registry ID: 110060333928

• …and 10 more

Statutes cited

• RCRA 3002 — Standards Applicable to Generators of Hazardous Waste

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON (FF)entered 2020-09-16

  Primary law: RCRA

  Federal penalty: $61,554

Timeline (4 milestones)

• 2020-08-19Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2020-09-16Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 2020-09-16Final Order Issued
• 2021-07-16Enforcement Action Closed