[ADEQ Media] ADEQ Director Owens and Attorney General Goddard Announce $80, 000 Penalty Against Safety-Kleen for Hazardous Waste Violations

[media@lists.azdeq.gov]

PHOENIX (Oct. 17, 2007) - ADEQ Director Steve Owens and Arizona Attorney
General Terry Goddard announced today that Safety-Kleen Systems, Inc.,
will pay an $80,000 penalty for hazardous waste violations at the
company's Chandler facility.

 

During an April 2006 inspection at Safety-Kleen's plant, located at 6625
W. Frye Road in Chandler,  ADEQ inspectors discovered that company
officials had failed to submit to ADEQ 176 signed generator and
transporter hazardous waste manifests.  Safety-Kleen previously had been
cited by ADEQ for similar violations discovered during a 2005 inspection
at the facility.

 

During the 2006 inspection ADEQ inspectors also found that two 3-inch
flange plugs had not been properly tagged with air emission inspection
tags and that inspection logs inaccurately stated that the flanges were
in compliance with the company's hazardous waste general permit.
Safety-Kleen's emergency contingency plan at the facility also contained
inaccurate information, such as incorrect telephone numbers.

 

 "These were serious violations of the hazardous waste laws," Director
Owens said.  "The fact that Safety-Kleen had been cited for similar
violations before makes the situation even worse." 

 

"Hazardous waste violations create risks of considerable harm to both
the environment and to human health," Goddard said.  "This penalty is
clearly warranted."

 

In addition to paying the $80,000 penalty, Safety-Kleen will conduct
half-day training seminars for small-quantity generators of hazardous
waste like auto repair shops and paint and body shops. That supplemental
environmental project will cost the company more than $15,000.

 

Safety-Kleen treats and stores waste solvents, cleaners, antifreeze,
paint wastes, photo-developing wastes and dry-cleaning wastes collected
off-site.  

 

-30-

 

News media interested in additional information on this or any other
topic concerning the Arizona Department of Environmental Qulaity should
contact the Office of communications at (602) 771-2215 or via email at
communications@azdeq.gov."

 

 

 

 

 

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