EPA fines two Alaskan companies for improper waste disposal

November 12th, 2015 by Dakota Software Staff Industry News

Two companies, owned by one construction corporation, amassed $140,000 in fines from the Environmental Protection Agency for illegally handling hazardous construction waste in Anchorage, Alaska. The EPA claimed the companies violated the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act by transporting the waste and disposing of it without EPA approval, according to The Alaska Dispatch News.

Incidents of improper disposal of hazardous waste material date back to 2010. One of the businesses - a roofing company - didn't obtain identification numbers before transporting waste. The other business - a general construction company - stored it without an RCRA permit for several months before actually disposing of it at an approved RCRA facility, according to The Alaska Dispatch News. The EPA did not find evidence of contamination or environmental harm.

" ... the problem was that they didn't do this correctly and safely," Suzanne Skadowski, an EPA spokesperson, told The Alaska Dispatch News.

RCRA rules are important for all parties involved
The RCRA was implemented to protect public health and keep the environment safe while reducing any costly cleanup incidents by monitoring and disposing of hazardous waste in safe ways, according to Waste Management World.

"Improperly managing hazardous waste puts people and our environment at risk from exposure to harmful substances," Ed Kowalski, director of the EPA's Pacfic Northwest Office of Compliance and Enforcement, told Waste Management World.

Kowalski went on to say compliance with RCRA regulations ensures the safety of workers, protects the environment and helps companies succeed by allowing them to avoid costly fines.The Alaska Dispatch News reported Skadowski said the EPA became aware of the misconduct when the general construction company requested a generator ID for hazardous waste.

"That came to us a little out of the blue because we didn't recognize the company as an RCRA operator, and that started our investigation," Skadowski told The Alaska Dispatch News.

Upon further inquiry, the EPA realized what went wrong and issued the appropriate fines. The two companies decided to settle. The corporation that owns both construction companies issued a statement, according to The Alaska Dispatch News, that said it worked with the EPA to find a justified remedy to the situation. The corporation also emphasized the fact that no injury occurred to the workers, environment or public during this incident.