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News Releases from Region 06

EPA Fines Pumpco Services for Hazardous Waste Violations at Five Texas Facilities

08/18/2016
Contact Information: 
Jennah Durant or Joe Hubbard (R6Press@epa.gov)
214 665-2200

DALLAS – (Aug. 18, 2016) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has settled with an oil and gas equipment company for hazardous waste violations at five Texas facilities. Pumpco Energy Services Inc. will pay a penalty of $237,980 for violating the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) by improperly generating, transporting and disposing of hazardous waste.

“Laws such as RCRA provide the foundation for EPA’s mission of protecting human health and the environment,” said Regional Administrator Ron Curry. “Companies must be held accountable for violating those laws.”  

Under RCRA, companies producing hazardous waste are regulated as small- or large-quantity generators. Under Texas law, a generator can be exempt from these regulations if the company produces no more than 100 kilograms of hazardous waste in a month and complies with certain other state regulations. During 2015 investigations, EPA inspectors found Pumpco generated or offered for transport and treatment enough hazardous waste to qualify as a small-quantity—or sometimes large-quantity—generator.

While illegally operating as a small- or large-quantity generator, Pumpco violated RCRA by failing to obtain an EPA identification number, notify EPA or the state of Texas of its hazardous waste activities, keep required records, and improperly storing, handling, or treating diesel fuel or mixed waste diesel fuel. These violations occurred at facilities in Cleburne, Jacksboro, Valley View, Barnhart, and Pleasanton, Texas. 

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, passed by Congress in 1976 gives EPA the authority to control hazardous waste from "cradle-to-grave." RCRA sets national goals for protecting human health and the environment from the potential hazards of waste disposal, conserving energy and natural resources, reducing the amount of waste generated, and ensuring wastes are managed in an environmentally sound manner.

More about EPA’s work in Texas: https://www.epa.gov/tx

More about RCRA: https://www.epa.gov/rcra

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