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EPA reaches agreement with Lockhart Chemical on hazardous waste violations; $101,900 penalty levied

Release Date: 06/18/2009
Contact Information: Karen Thompson, 312-353-8547, thompson.karen@epa.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 09-OPA113

(Chicago - June 18, 2009) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has settled with Lockhart Chemical Company, Flint, Mich., for alleged violations of federal hazardous waste regulations. A $101,900 penalty has been set.

The company, located at 4302 James P. Cole Blvd., failed to meet hazardous waste tank secondary containment, certification and inspection requirements. Lockhart also failed to have a hazardous waste storage permit, properly label tanks and keep proper shipping records.

The hazardous chemicals accumulated were methanol and butanol which are both ignitable. Following an EPA inspection, Lockhart modified its production process, ceased using tanks to accumulate hazardous waste and notified EPA that it is a small quantity generator.

Under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, EPA controls hazardous waste from its production to final disposal.