[ADEQ Media] ADEQ Director Owens, AG Goddard Announce $6 Million Settlement with Honeywell Over Environmental Violations

[media@lists.azdeq.gov]

ADEQ Director Owens, AG Goddard Announce $6 Million Settlement with
Honeywell Over Environmental Violations

PHOENIX (Aug. 7, 2008) -- Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
(ADEQ) Director Steve Owens and Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard
today announced that Honeywell International, Inc. (Honeywell) will pay
a $5 million civil penalty for hazardous waste and environmental cleanup
violations at its Phoenix airport facility, located at 111 S. 34th
Street in Phoenix, and $1 million for a supplemental environmental
project.

The penalty settles a lawsuit filed by ADEQ and the Attorney General's
Office against Honeywell in July 2004 for a number of environmental
violations spanning more than 30 years. The lawsuit alleged that between
1974 and 2004 Honeywell violated numerous environmental laws, including
the Arizona Water Quality Control Act, Arizona Hazardous Waste Disposal
Act and Arizona Underground Storage Tank Act.

Honeywell's alleged violations included discharging chlorinated solvents
such as vinyl chloride, dichloroethane, trichloroethane and
trichloroethylene, into the Phoenix sewer system without a permit. 

Additional violations included failing to clean up historic releases of
fuel from underground storage tanks at the airport facility and failing
to fully disclose information regarding contamination over a period of
several years at the facility. 

"I am very pleased that Honeywell worked closely with the state to reach
this settlement," Governor Janet Napolitano said. "This clearly shows
our commitment to protecting our environment and precious groundwater
resources."

"These were extremely serious violations of the law, and the size of the
penalty reflects the significance of the problems at this facility,"
Director Owens said.

Owens added that as a result of the enforcement action taken by ADEQ,
Honeywell has improved its environmental compliance significantly in
recent years.  "The company has made a lot of progress at this facility
in the last few years, due to both a change in attitude and a change in
leadership," Owens said. 

"Arizona's environmental laws provide crucial protections for the health
and well-being of our families, communities and natural resources,"
Goddard said. "Following those laws is part of doing business in
Arizona. Anything less will not be tolerated." 

The settlement also resolves three notices of violation issued against
Honeywell by ADEQ between 2005 and 2007. These notices cited 14
incidents of improper storage and disposal of hazardous waste as well as
failure to inform employees of proper handling and emergency procedures.
In one such violation, ADEQ inspectors discovered that
cyanide-containing wastewater was stored next to wastewater containing
chromic acid.  When combined, these two substances react to form cyanide
gas.

In addition, Honeywell discovered that underground storage tanks at the
facility were leaking petroleum into the groundwater table. Honeywell
did not report the leaks to ADEQ for more than 10 years.

As part of the settlement process, Honeywell conducted a comprehensive
environmental audit at all of its Arizona facilities and disclosed the
findings and corrective actions to ADEQ. The company also upgraded its
fuel distribution facilities to prevent leaks and is in the process of
cleaning up the fuel in the groundwater.

In addition to the $5 million civil penalty, Honeywell will provide a $1
million supplemental environmental project to the Western Governors
Association for the Western Climate Initiative in support of efforts to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the West. 

-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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