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Ellwood Quality Steels Company Settles Hazardous Waste Violations at New Castle, Pa. Facility

Release Date: 03/08/2012
Contact Information: Donna Heron 215-814-5113 / heron.donna@epa.gov

PHILADELPHIA (March 8, 2012) -- Ellwood Quality Steels Company has agreed to pay a $150,000 penalty to settle alleged violations of hazardous waste regulations at its manufacturing facility in New Castle, Pa., the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today.

EPA cited the company for violating the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the federal law governing the treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste. RCRA is designed to protect public health and the environment, and avoid costly cleanups, by requiring the safe, environmentally sound storage and disposal of hazardous waste.

Following a September 28, 2010 inspection by EPA, and follow-up investigations, EPA cited Ellwood Quality Steels Company for RCRA violations involving a variety of hazardous waste including electric and ladle arc furnace dust, which was contained in two tractor trailers without being marked as hazardous waste; and improperly disposing of mercury-containing universal waste lamps in its arc furnace without a hazardous waste permit.

The company also stored hazardous waste for more than 90 days without a storage permit; failed to keep hazardous waste containers closed; failed to minimize the possibility of releases of hazardous wastes; failed to conduct weekly inspections; failed to provide hazardous waste training; failed to prepare and maintain hazardous training records; failed to properly fill out hazardous waste manifests; and failed to comply with universal waste labeling/marking requirements.

The settlement penalty reflects the company's cooperation with EPA in the investigation and resolution of this matter. As part of the settlement, Ellwood Quality Steels Company has neither admitted nor denied liability for the alleged violations, but has certified its compliance with applicable RCRA requirements.
For more information about hazardous waste and RCRA, visit https://www.epa.gov/epawaste/hazard/index.htm.