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Wilmington Manufacturer Fined for Violating Hazardous Waste Laws

Release Date: 08/24/2005
Contact Information:

Contact: David Deegan ([email protected]), EPA Office of Public Affairs, (617) 918-1017

For Immediate Release: August 24, 2005; Release # dd050814

(Boston) - A Wilmington, Mass. manufacturer has agreed to pay $20,000 to settle claims it violated federal and state laws regarding the management of its hazardous waste.

According to an agreement signed last week, ChemGenes Corporation of 33 Industrial Way in Wilmington will pay the sum to settle the claims brought by EPA’s New England office in March. Specifically, EPA said the company failed to properly make hazardous waste determinations; conduct inspections of hazardous waste storage areas; properly label and date containers storing hazardous waste; provide hazardous waste training; develop a hazardous waste contingency plan; and post emergency information and signs in hazardous waste areas. ChemGenes has corrected the violations alleged in EPA’s complaint.

The action against ChemGenes stems from a March 2004 inspection of the facility during which EPA personnel found that the company was not complying with the hazardous waste requirements applicable to the company, considered a “large quantity generator” under federal and state law.

"Hazardous waste laws are meant to ensure companies like ChemGenes manage the waste safely," said Robert W. Varney, regional administrator of EPA's New England regional office. "We hope this enforcement action provides ample warning that EPA will not look the other way when companies fail to comply with hazardous waste management requirements."

ChemGenes manufactures components used as raw material by researchers that produce synthetic deoxyribonucleic acid ("DNA") and ribonucleic acid (“RNA") and generates hazardous waste as a by-product of its manufacturing processes.

For more information about EPA’s hazardous waste enforcement program visit: https://www.epa.gov/region1/enforcement/waste/index.html .

Related Information:
RCRA/Hazardous Waste
RCRA/Waste Enforcement in New England