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News Releases from Region 02

EPA Takes Action to Protect Public from Hazardous Waste from a Middlesex, NJ Hazardous Waste Storage Company

05/12/2016
Contact Information: 
John Martin (martin.johnj@epa.gov)
212-637-3662

(New York, N.Y. – May 12, 2016) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued a complaint against Veolia ES Technical Solutions, L.L.C. for alleged violations of its federal hazardous waste permit at its Middlesex, New Jersey facility. Under the terms of the complaint, Veolia must comply with hazardous waste management requirements and faces fines up to $57,240 for failing to perform monthly emissions monitoring to detect leaks in the company’s pumping equipment, and for failing to keep its hazardous waste containers closed.

“Companies that handle hazardous wastes must ensure that the waste is properly stored and handled,” said EPA Regional Administrator Judith A. Enck. “Emissions of hazardous waste from leaking equipment and containers can pose a serious danger to employees and those living in the surrounding community.”

Veolia’s hazardous waste permit requires it to properly store, handle and dispose of hazardous waste to safeguard public health and the environment. Specifically, Veolia must effectively train its staff and ensure that containers holding hazardous waste are closed and sealed pursuant to federal guidelines. Many types of toxic hazardous waste can evaporate, making it especially important that containers are properly sealed in order to prevent airborne releases from affecting on-site workers and people in surrounding communities.

In July 2015, the EPA conducted inspections of Veolia’s Middlesex, New Jersey facility. During the investigation, EPA inspectors determined that Veolia had not performed monthly air emissions monitoring on pumps used in the transfer and storage of hazardous waste from April 2012 to April 2015. EPA inspectors also observed numerous hazardous waste containers at Veolia’s facility that were left open in violations of federal guidelines, which only allow containers to be open while adding or removing contents.

For more information about federal hazardous waste law, visit: http://epa.gov/osw/hazard

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