Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) Director Steve Owens announced that IMC Magnetics Corp. will pay $130,000 for violations of federal & state regulations involving the handling & storage of hazardous waste at its facility at 1900 E. Fifth Street in Tempe.
ADEQ issued a Notice of Violation (NOV) in 2003 for 11 major violations by the company, which manufactures aerospace components. ADEQ inspectors observed cotton swabs coated with toxic methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) & residue containing cadmium & lead tossed in the trash & lead solder drippings on the floor.
The company failed to determine that material containing MEK, a solvent, & the cadmium-lead residue were hazardous wastes. The company also stored hazardous waste without a permit & kept hazardous waste in large containers that were improperly labeled or not labeled at all. It also failed to update its contingency plan or to make emergency arrangements with local officials.
"The company handled hazardous waste in a careless manner, endangering the public & its own employees," Director Owens said. "In some instances, company officials claimed that their toxic waste was not hazardous. The penalty reflects the seriousness of the violations."
In August of 2004 ADEQ issued IMC Magnetics another NOV for mishandling hazardous waste after the City of Tempe Fire Department found potentially explosive waste that was improperly stored & had not been properly disposed of. Seventeen state & city agencies cooperated to remove the waste, which was removed by a robot & exploded off-site.
In addition to the $130,000 penalty, IMC Magnetics must implement & maintain an Environmental Management System for more than 2 years & retain a 3rd party to perform 2 annual compliance audits.