[ADEQ Media] ADEQ Director Owens Announces Tarome Inc. to Pay $70, 000 for Hazardous Waste Violations at Eloy Facility

[media@lists.azdeq.gov]

ADEQ Director Owens Announces Tarome Inc. to Pay $70,000 for Hazardous
Waste Violations at Eloy Facility

PHOENIX (March 11, 2008) - Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
(ADEQ) Director Steve Owens announced today that Tarome, Inc., a company
that makes food supplements for the dairy industry, will pay $70,000 for
violations of federal hazardous waste regulations involving improper
handling of calcium oxide materials that burst into flames.

"Tarome's mishandling of these combustible substances presented
unacceptable risks to its employees and the surrounding community,"
Director Owens said. 

ADEQ investigators determined that the company improperly stored a ton
of calcium oxide in a dumpster, where it was exposed to rain three times
in 2005.  When the substance is exposed to water, it undergoes a
chemical reaction that releases heat.  The dumpster was filled with a
variety of combustible materials, resulting in a fire at the site.  

The first fire occurred on Aug. 10, 2005, when the Eloy Fire Department
responded. Fire personnel also observed large amounts of calcium oxide
stored outdoors, including in a water-retention basin.  ADEQ inspected
the site two days later, but before the company took steps to store the
calcium oxide in a safe, dry place, two more fires occurred the
following month.  

Calcium oxide is mixed with palm oil to produce cattle feed.

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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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