All News Releases By Date

U.S. EPA orders Southern California radiator firm to comply with hazardous waste regulations

Release Date: 05/09/2006
Contact Information: Francisco Arcaute, (213) 244-1815

LOS ANGELES – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has ordered Ideal Radiator Corp. of Montebello, Calif. to comply with federal hazardous waste regulations and is seeking fines of up to $32,000 per day per violation.

In January and August 2005, the EPA inspected Ideal Radiator Corp., a radiator repair shop. Based upon those inspections, the EPA alleges that Ideal Radiator Corp. committed the following violations of the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act:

• Failure to close containers of hazardous waste - 18 drums and 16 trays of hazardous wastes were not in closed containers;
• Storing hazardous waste without a permit - hazardous wastes were stored longer than 180 days;
• Failure to maintain land disposal records - Ideal Radiator Corp. has not presented these requested documents;
• Failure to respond to an information request - Ideal Radiator Corp. has not responded to a June 2005 EPA information request.

"Strict enforcement of hazardous waste regulations not only protects the health and environment of a local community, it also helps ensuring a level playing field for all businesses, regardless of their size” said Jeff Scott, director of the EPA’s Waste Management Division for the Pacific Southwest region. “This agency will see that Ideal Radiator Corp., as well as any other delinquent businesses, comply with all hazardous waste regulations or face costly fines and possible legal action.”

Ideal Radiator Corp. faces fines of up to $32,000 per day per violation and must correct the alleged violations.

Firms that handle hazardous waste must engage in proper waste handling and storage programs to prevent spills and safeguard worker health. The EPA’s Resource Conservation and Recovery Act oversees how to safely manage and dispose of solid and hazardous waste generated nationwide.

For more information on the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act program, please visit:

https://www.epa.gov/compliance/basics/cleanup.html#rcra