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U.S. EPA SIGNS CONSENT AGREEMENT WITH SCHOFIELD BARRACKS

Release Date: 10/27/1995
Contact Information: Lois Grunwald, U.S. EPA, (415) 744-1588

  (San Francisco) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(U.S. EPA) today announced the signing of a consent agreement and
consent order with the U.S. Army's Schofield Barracks, Wahiawa,
Hawaii to settle charges that the army violated hazardous waste
regulations at the facility. Under the agreement, the Army will
pay a penalty of $77,347, perform numerous tasks to bring the
facility into compliance, and undertake four supplemental
environmental projects.

     "We are extremely pleased that the Army is not only bringing
Schofield into compliance but also will perform supplemental
environmental projects," said Laura Yoshii, U.S. EPA's deputy
director for the Office of Waste Programs. "Schofield is
demonstrating environmental leadership by making special efforts
to make the base safer and cleaner."

     The four supplemental environmental projects that the 25th
Infantry Division (Light) is undertaking are: eliminating
hazardous waste spent solvents in washers or degreasers at Army
installations on Oahu; installing new spill containment and fire
prevention devices where hazardous wastes are generated;
providing training to Oahu Army personnel at the Army's new
Environmental Compliance Center; and, designing and implementing
a model hazardous substance management system.

     The model hazardous waste management system will list all
the hazardous chemicals used for an entire Army division at
Schofield Barracks, search for less toxic chemical substitutes,
and track each chemical container from its purchase, to use at
the facility, to recycling or disposal.
       
    U.S. EPA issued an order against the Army in May 1994. U.S.
EPA and Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) inspectors found
numerous violations at Schofield including: failing to transport
hazardous waste off-site within 90 days, failing to label waste
properly, and failing to make adequate hazardous waste
determinations.  

     In addition, the facility failed to comply with numerous
other requirements including those pertaining to the facility's
contingency plan and hazardous waste management training program.
                         
    The 25th Infantry Division (Light) is garrisoned at
Schofield Barracks. The facility operates numerous motorpools and
maintenance shops that generate wastes such as waste paint, waste
solvents, and contaminated waste oils which are considered
hazardous waste under the federal Resources Conservation and
Recovery Act (RCRA) program.  

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