[ADEQ Media] ADEQ Director Owens Announces IMC Magnetics of Tempe to Pay $130, 000 Penalty for Hazardous Waste Violations

[media@lists.azdeq.gov]

ADEQ Director Owens Announces IMC Magnetics of Tempe to Pay $130,000
Penalty for Hazardous Waste Violations

PHOENIX (April 21, 2008) - Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
(ADEQ) Director Steve Owens announced today that IMC Magnetics Corp.
will pay $130,000 for violations of federal and state regulations
involving the handling and storage of hazardous waste at its facility at
1900 E. Fifth Street in Tempe.

ADEQ issued a Notice of Violation (NOV) in 2003 for 11 major violations
by the company, which manufactures aerospace components.  ADEQ
inspectors observed cotton swabs coated with toxic methyl ethyl ketone
(MEK) and residue containing cadmium and lead tossed in the trash and
lead solder drippings on the floor. The company failed to determine that
material containing MEK, a solvent, and the cadmium-lead residue were
hazardous wastes. 

The company also stored hazardous waste without a permit and kept
hazardous waste in large containers that were improperly labeled or not
labeled at all.  It also failed to update its contingency plan or to
make emergency arrangements with local officials. 

"The company handled hazardous waste in a careless manner, endangering
the public and its own employees," Director Owens said.  "In some
instances, company officials claimed that their toxic waste was not
hazardous.  The penalty reflects the seriousness of the violations."  

 In August of 2004 ADEQ issued IMC Magnetics another NOV for mishandling
hazardous waste after the City of Tempe Fire Department found
potentially explosive waste that was improperly stored and had not been
properly disposed of.  Seventeen state and city agencies cooperated to
remove the waste, which was removed by a robot and exploded off-site.

In addition to the $130,000 penalty, IMC Magnetics must implement and
maintain an Environmental Management System for more than two years and
retain a third party to perform two annual compliance audits.  

-30-

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

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