Maine metal finisher faces EPA fine for hazardous waste violations

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed a penalty of $54,397 against a metal finishing and electroplating facility in Saco, Maine, for five counts of violating state and federal hazardous waste laws.

According to EPA, Southern Maine Specialties violated state hazardous waste laws as well as the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) by improper storage, labeling and other management of hazardous waste, as well as by not providing adequate employee training.

The EPA complaint outlines that Southern Maine stored containers of hazardous waste next to incompatible material; failed to provide required hazardous waste management training for employees; exceeded the limit of 55 gallons of one type hazardous waste in one place by storing two 55-gallon containers of sodium hydroxide sludge together; and failed to comply with tank management standards by having a tank of hazardous waste that was not designed to hold hazardous waste, was not labeled with the words “hazardous waste,” and was not being managed according the required tank operating standards. 

The complaint filed last month grew out of a January inspection of the facility by EPA.

More information: EPA enforcement of hazardous waste laws (http://www.epa.gov/region1/enforcement/waste/index.html)