As expected by many, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) fined Chemical Waste Management, Inc. (CWM) more than $300,000 for violations of hazardous waste regulations for polychlorinated byphenyls (PCBs) at CWM's Kettleman Hills Hazardous Waste Landfill near Kettleman Hills, CA. The penalty was for improper management of PCBs, failure to comply with labeling requirements, and spills resulting in soil contamination in excess of amounts allowed by federal law.
The facility handles hazardous waste generated from several different sources. It is one of only 10 landfills in the country that can accept PCBs and is the only such landfill in California.
EPA discovered the violations during several inspections this year. EPA determined that PCBs were not managed properly, including spills near the facility's PCB Storage and Flushing Building. Although federal regulations limit soil concentrations to 1 part per million (ppm), EPA found concentrations ranging from 2.1 ppm to 440 ppm.
In a Nov. 30, 2010 statement posted on EPA's Region IX website, Jared Blumenfeld, EPA's Regional Administrator, said:
“Companies charged with safely disposing of society’s most toxic materials need to rigorously follow the protective laws established to secure both the public safety and public trust. Violations of federal environmental laws at the Kettleman hazardous waste facility are unacceptable.”
However, EPA also stated that the fines levied were for problems within the confines of the facility itself. They found no evidence that the contamination posed any threat to nearby communities. EPA noted that an additional, ongoing study is evaluating whether PCBs are migrating off site and posing a risk to humans and/or the environment.
PCBs were commonly used in electrical equipment such as transformers and capacitors. Past tests have shown that PCBs cause cancer in animals and may cause cancer in humans. Short term exposure may also result in acute harm to various bodily systems and organs.
To see EPA's press release, go to this link: EPA Fines Kettleman Hills Hazardous Waste Landfill
For more information on PCB violations found at the Kettleman Hills Facility, go to: http://www.epa.gov/region9/kettleman/index.html
For more information on PCB regulation and enforcement as well as the Toxic Substances Control Act, go to: http://epa.gov/region9/toxic/pcb/index.html
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