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EPA fines 22 California companies for failing to file hazardous waste reports

Release Date: 2/25/2004
Contact Information: Laura Gentile, 415/947-4227 ([email protected])

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently fined 22 California companies a collective $48,000 for not filing biennial hazardous waste reports with the agency.

With this year's March 1 filing deadline approaching, the EPA encourages companies to determine if they are subject to the reporting requirements.

As a result of these actions, the 22 companies reported more than 27 million pounds of hazardous waste to the EPA. In addition to filing their missing biennial hazardous waste reports, each company paid a fine of $2,200.

"We are making sure companies report what they have so communities know what’s in their backyards," said Jeff Scott, director of the EPA’s Waste Division in the Pacific Southwest Region. "We issue penalties to make sure companies not complying with environmental laws do not gain a competitive advantage for their noncompliance."

The federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act requires companies that generate more than 2,200 pounds of hazardous waste or more than 2.2 pounds of acute hazardous waste -- waste that even in very small amounts can cause severe health effects -- a month to report to the EPA at least every two years the quantities, nature, and disposition of their hazardous wastes.

The biennial reports for 2001 were due to the EPA by March 1, 2002. This year’s deadline for filing the biennial hazardous waste report is March 1. Approximately 2,500 companies file these reports in California.

The data is also used to evaluate the effect of regulations and policies on companies that generate hazardous waste. The reports also collect information about changes in waste volume and toxicity that can be used to measure the impact of the EPA’s efforts in the area of pollution prevention and waste minimization.

The companies that settled with the EPA are:

Siemens Transportation Systems, Inc. 7464 French Road, Sacramento.

Thibiant International 20320 Prairie St., Chatsworth.

Eurodesign Cabinets, Inc. 13428 Benson Ave., Chino.

OPI Products 13056 Saticoy St., North Hollywood.

X-Ray Laminates 1504 McCarthy Blvd., Milpitas.

Crower Sales and Engineering 3333 Main St., Chula Vista.

Maxdem, Inc. 140 East Arrow Hwy., San Dimas.

Systron Donner Inertial Division 2700 Systron Dr., Concord.

Clearwater Environmental Management 33204 Western Ave., Union City.

General Ceremic 2770 E. Coronado St., Anaheim.

Anaheim Plating 928 East South St., Anaheim.

Murrietta Circuit Design 5000 East London Dr., Anaheim.

El Paso Merchant Energy 1130 West Rincon St., Corona.

Synpep Corp. 6905 Sierra Ct., Dublin.

Flash Electronics 48607 Warm Springs Road, Fremont.

Cal Bumper 13034 Saticoy St., North Hollywood.

Inland Valley Development Agency 294 S. Leland Norton Way, San Bernardino.

Aero Electric Connector 548 Ampula, Torrance.

Data Circuit Systems 335 Turtle Creek Ct., San Jose.

Merchants Metals 12482 E. Putnam Dr., Whittier.

Ortho Organizers 1619 S. Rancho Santa Fe Road, San Marcos.

Xerox Corp. 800 E. Bonita Ave., Pomona.