EPA v. Northern Star (Pogo) LLC

Case summary

On September 27, 2022, EPA Region 10 settled with Northern Star (Pogo) LLC for violations of Subtitle C of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) at its Pogo Mine facility in Delta Junction, Alaska. The implementing regulations of RCRA require that generators of hazardous waste must manage the hazardous waste in compliance with the RCRA requirements in order to protect human health and the environment. EPA alleges that Northern Star (Pogo) LLC failed to properly determine that wastes generated in its laboratory were hazardous wastes, and further stored, treated, and disposed of hazardous waste without a RCRA permit. As part of the terms of the settlement, Northern Star (Pogo) LLC will spend over $100,000 to upgrade sump equipment to meet RCRA closure performance standards, which will result in preventing over 400,000 pounds of hazardous waste from entering the environment. Northern Star (Pogo) LLC will also pay a civil penalty of $600,000.

Defendants (1)

• Northern Star (Pogo) LLCNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (2)

• POGO MINE

  POGO RD, MILE 50, DELTA JUNCTION, AK, 99737

  Registry ID: 110009058802

• POGO MINE

  POGO RD, MILE 50, DELTA JUNCTION, AK, 99737

  Registry ID: 110009058802

Statutes cited

• RCRA 3002 — Standards Applicable to Generators of Hazardous Waste

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• Northern Star (Pogo) LLCentered 2022-09-27

  Primary law: RCRA

  Federal penalty: $600,000

Timeline (3 milestones)

• 2022-09-06Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2022-09-27Final Order Issued
• 2022-09-27Complaint Filed/Proposed Order