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Pennsylvania Company Settles Hazardous Waste Violations

Release Date: 10/09/2009
Contact Information: Donna Heron 215-814-5113 / [email protected]

PHILADELHPHIA (October 9, 2009) – Sandvik Inc. has agreed to pay a $160,017 penalty to settle alleged violations of hazardous waste regulations at its manufacturing facility, located at 982 Griffen Pond Road, Clark Summit, Pa. , the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today.

EPA cited Sandvik for violating the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the federal law governing the treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste. RCRA is designed to protect public health and the environment, and avoid costly cleanups, by requiring the safe, environmentally sound storage and disposal of hazardous waste.

Following a September 2007 and August 2008 inspections, EPA cited Sandvik for violations involving hazardous waste stored at the facility, including spent caustic cleaner waste.

The alleged violations included operating a hazardous waste storage facility without a permit, failure to conduct weekly and daily inspections, failure to keep one container of hazardous waste closed, and failure to provide an adequate hazardous waste management training program.

The alleged violations involve storage and recordkeeping violations, and not discharges of hazardous waste. The settlement penalty reflects the company’s compliance efforts, the relatively small quantity of hazardous wastes involved, and its cooperation with EPA.

As part of the settlement, Sandvik has neither admitted nor denied liability for the alleged violations, but has certified its compliance with applicable RCRA requirements.

For more information about hazardous waste and RCRA, visit www.epa.gov/epawaste/index.htm.