Arizona Department of Environmental Quality Director Steve Owens announced that Red J Environmental Corp., a hazardous waste transporter based in Joseph City, Arizona, will pay $63,500 in penalties for hazardous waste violations that occurred when it transported waste in the Phoenix area.
“This company committed a number of violations that potentially endangered the environment & the public,” Director Owens said. “The company’s actions were simply unacceptable.”
ADEQ learned that the Navajo County company illegally stored 32,000 gallons of petroleum-contaminated wastewater treatment sludge after test results indicated the sludge was a hazardous waste. Federal & state law prohibits the storage of hazardous waste for longer than 90 days without a permit, which the company did not have.
Red J had moved the waste from the Cave Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant in 2004 & 2005 to a yard at 3215 S. 7th Street in Phoenix.
In February 2005, Red J received the test results, which showed that the sludge contained benzene & could easily catch fire. ADEQ inspectors discovered that the sludge had remained stored at the Phoenix site until the end of April 2005.
In addition, the company transported the waste about 15 miles from Cave Creek without the manifest required by state & federal law, transported hazardous waste without a required EPA ID number, & failed to pay the relevant fees.
“If you are going to be in the business of transporting toxic waste, you’d better follow the law,” Owens said.