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McKeesport Facility Settles Hazardous Waste Violations

Release Date: 07/02/2009
Contact Information: Donna Heron 215-814-5113 / [email protected]

PHILADELHIA (July 2, 2009) -- Sequa Coatings, LLC, headquartered in New York City, has agreed to pay a $65,000 penalty to settle alleged violations of federal and state hazardous waste regulations at its Precoat Metals facility, located in McKeesport, Pa. (the facility), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today.

The facility engages in the application of decorative and protective coatings in continuous coiled steel for use in commercial and residential construction projects.

EPA cited Sequa for violating the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the federal law governing the treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste. RCRA is designed to protect public health and the environment, and avoid costly cleanups, by requiring the safe, environmentally sound storage and disposal of hazardous waste.

Following a May 2008 inspection by EPA, and follow-up investigations, EPA cited the company for RCRA violations involving hazardous waste stored at the facility, including: operating a hazardous waste storage facility without a permit, failure to keep containers of hazardous waste closed during storage, failure to comply with air emission standards equipment marking requirements, failure to comply with air emissions monitoring requirements for pumps and valves in light liquid service , failure to contain universal waste lamps properly, and failure to comply with universal waste labeling and marking requirements.

The alleged violations involve storage and recordkeeping violations and not discharges of hazardous waste. The settlement penalty reflects the company’s compliance efforts, and its cooperation with EPA in the investigation and resolution of this matter.

As part of the settlement, Sequa has neither admitted nor denied liability for the alleged violations, but has certified its compliance with applicable RCRA requirements

For more information about hazardous waste and RCRA, visit www.epa.gov/epawaste/index.htm