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EPA Seeks $54,000 Penalty for Hazardous Waste Violations at Connecticut Facility

Release Date: 03/12/2001
Contact Information: Andrew Spejewski, EPA Press Office (617-918-1014)

BOSTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today that it is proposing a penalty of $53,994 against the U.S. Surgical Corporation for hazardous waste violations at the company's facility in North Haven, Connecticut.

According to a complaint filed last week, the company failed to develop and implement a required program to protect against airborne emissions from a tank storing used solvents. The complaint also alleges that the company failed to perform daily tank inspections, as is required, and did not document whether certain facility personnel were properly trained.

"Environmental regulations are in place for a reason -- to protect the environment and the health of employees," said Ira W. Leighton, acting regional administrator for EPA's New England office. "Companies need to follow through in meeting their requirements. When they don't, we're going to seek appropriate penalties, as we're doing here."

The violations were discovered during an EPA inspection in September 1999. U.S. Surgical has since corrected the violations.