News Releases from Region 10

EPA Settles With Anchorage Companies for Hazardous Waste Violations

(Seattle - November 4, 2015) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has settled with UIC Roofing and UIC Construction in Anchorage, Alaska for alleged mishandling of hazardous waste in violation of the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).

"Improperly managing hazardous waste puts people and our environment at risk from exposure to harmful substances," said Ed Kowalski, Director of EPA's Pacific Northwest Office of Compliance and Enforcement. "Compliance with federal hazardous waste rules helps companies protect their workers, their community, and their bottom line by avoiding costly fines."

EPA alleges that, on October 19, 2010, UIC Roofing transported hazardous waste to property owned by UIC Construction in Anchorage, Alaska, in violation of several RCRA requirements. Specifically, UIC Roofing failed to: obtain generator and transporter identification numbers prior to transporting hazardous waste, prepare a hazardous waste manifest, and dispose of the waste at a RCRA permitted facility. UIC Construction stored the hazardous waste without a RCRA permit until April 1, 2011, when the waste was shipped to an approved RCRA disposal facility.

Both companies have agreed to settle the alleged violations and pay penalties. As part of this agreement, UIC Roofing will pay $59,724 and UIC Construction will pay $80,456 in penalties. The companies are both subsidiaries of parent company UIC Construction Services, of Anchorage, Alaska.

RCRA rules are intended to protect public health and the environment, and avoid costly cleanups, by requiring the safe, environmentally-sound storage and disposal of hazardous waste. RCRA regulations require solid waste to be evaluated to determine if the waste is hazardous. Obtaining a RCRA permit prior to operating a storage facility is required to insure that hazardous waste storage facilities are operated to prevent harm to the environment or human health.

Learn more about EPA's work in enforcing the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act at: http://www2.epa.gov/enforcement/waste-chemical-and-cleanup-enforcement.