Thursday, October 18, 2007

Safety-Kleen Systems Given Big Fine

ADEQ Director Steve Owens & Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard announced that Safety-Kleen Systems, Inc., will pay an $80,000 penalty for hazardous waste violations at the company’s Chandler facility.

During an April 2006 inspection at Safety-Kleen’s plant, at 6625 W. Frye Road in Chandler, ADEQ inspectors discovered that company officials had failed to submit to ADEQ 176 signed generator & transporter hazardous waste manifests. Safety-Kleen previously had been cited by ADEQ for similar violations discovered during a 2005 inspection at the facility.

During the 2006 inspection ADEQ inspectors also found that two 3-inch flange plugs had not been properly tagged with air emission inspection tags & that inspection logs inaccurately stated that the flanges were in compliance with the company’s hazardous waste general permit. Safety-Kleen’s emergency contingency plan at the facility also contained inaccurate information, such as incorrect telephone numbers.

In addition to paying the $80,000 penalty, Safety-Kleen will conduct half-day training seminars for small-quantity generators of hazardous waste like auto repair shops & paint & body shops. That supplemental environmental project will cost the company more than $15,000.

Safety-Kleen treats and stores waste solvents, cleaners, antifreeze, paint wastes, photo-developing wastes & dry-cleaning wastes collected off-site.