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Barbosa Cabinets, Inc. pays over $32,200 to settle federal hazardous waste violations

Release Date: 07/12/2007
Contact Information: Wendy Chavez, 415/947-4248, [email protected]

(San Francisco, Calif. -- 07/12/2007) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently reached a $32,200 settlement with Tracy, Calif.-based Barbosa Cabinets, Inc. for improperly storing, labeling, handling and disposing of hazardous waste materials – a violation of federal law.

“Every facility that creates hazardous waste is required to train its employees, implement an emergency contingency plan and properly categorize, label and dispose of hazardous waste generated,” said Steven Barhite, acting Waste Management Division director for the EPA’s Pacific Southwest region. “We are pleased Barbosa Cabinets has corrected its violations. The proper storage and management of hazardous waste ensures community, worker and environmental safety.”

During a routine inspection in May 2006, EPA officials found that Barbosa Cabinets, Inc., located at 2020 East Grant Line Rd., was not handling rags containing waste acetone as hazardous waste -- a violation that caused hazardous waste to be treated as municipal waste. Municipal waste landfills are not equipped to handle these types of materials.

In addition, EPA inspectors found the facility did not have a hazardous waste training program, a complete contingency plan in the event of an emergency, and did not file a biennial report. The biennial reporting system is one of the EPA's primary tools for tracking generation, shipment, and receipt of hazardous waste.

Barbosa Cabinets, Inc. manufactures and finishes kitchen cabinetry. This facility’s hazardous waste is generated from waste solvent-based finishes and acetone used to clean equipment used to apply finishes to cabinetry.

The EPA’s hazardous waste rules require facilities to properly store, label and seal hazardous waste containers. Facilities must properly train staff, as improperly stored hazardous waste can potentially spill and pose a risk to workers and the environment.

For more information on the EPA’s hazardous waste program visit: https://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/hazwaste.htm