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U.S. EPA fines industrial paint manufacturer $26,200 for hazardous waste violations in Fontana

Release Date: 9/16/2005
Contact Information: Francisco Arcaute, (213) 244-1815, Cell: (213) 798-1404

SAN FRANCISCO -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today fined an industrial paint and coatings manufacturer $26,200 for hazardous waste violations at its Fontana, Calif. facility.

During an inspection in October, the EPA discovered that Specialty Finishes stored three 55-gallon drums of hazardous waste solvents for more than 180 days without a permit, failed to properly label ten drums of hazardous waste, failed to securely close two 55-gallon drums containing hazardous waste, failed to submit a biennial hazardous waste report, and failed to complete annual hazardous waste refresher training for its employees.

"Improper hazardous waste management puts the surrounding community at risk," said Jeff Scott, Waste Management Division director for the EPA's Pacific Southwest region. "This settlement sends a message to the regulated community that the EPA is committed to aggressively enforcing safe hazardous waste handling requirements."

Specialty Finishes manufactures industrial coatings and paints primarily for the coil coating industry, and periodically generates large quantities of hazardous waste. After the violations were discovered, the company promptly corrected the violations.

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act protects communities from the hazards of improper waste disposal; helps conserve energy and natural resources by recycling and recovery; seeks to reduce or eliminate waste and clean up waste that may have been illegally disposed.

For more information on Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, visit: https://www.epa.gov/osw/mission.htm