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Sunoco, Inc. (RandM) Settles Hazardous Waste Violations at its Marcus Hook Refinery Facility

Release Date: 10/09/2009
Contact Information: Donna Heron 215-814-5113 / heron.donna@epa.gov

PHILADELPHIA (October 9, 2009) – Sunoco, Inc. (R&M) has agreed to pay a $148,315 civil penalty to settle alleged violations of hazardous waste regulations at its Marcus Hook, Pa. refinery, located at 100 Green Street, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today.

EPA cited Sunoco 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 an August 2008 inspection by EPA, and followup investigations, EPA cited Sunoco for RCRA violations involving a variety of hazardous waste stored at the facility, including mixed refinery wastes, lab wastes, and used lamps.

The alleged violations included: (1) operating unpermitted areas at a hazardous waste storage facility without a permit or interim status, (2) failure to keep containers closed except when adding or removing hazardous waste, (3) failure to clearly mark containers in permitted areas with the contents of container, (4) failure to clearly mark containers in permitted areas with dates that containers began accumulating waste, (5) failure to operate the facility in a manner that prevents or minimizes releases, (6) failure to operate the permitted storage area free of cracks or gaps, (7) failure to store containers of hazardous waste in a proper configuration with aisle spacing to allow for safe management, inspections and emergency response, (8) failure to keep universal waste lamps in closed containers, (9) failure to clearly label or mark containers of universal waste lamps, (10) failure to submit an exception report, (11) failure to make a hazardous waste determination, and (12) failure to list the proper waste code on the manifest.

The alleged violations involve storage and recordkeeping violations, and not discharges of hazardous waste. The settlement penalty reflects the company’s compliance efforts, and its cooperation with EPA.

As part of the settlement, Sunoco 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 www.epa.gov/epawaste/index.htm.