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EPA, NDEP enjoy strong enforcement, compliance assistance year

Release Date: 12/11/2003
Contact Information: Laura Gentile, 415/947-4227 (gentile.laura@epa.gov)

SAN FRANCISCO -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection worked together to bring businesses in compliance with environmental regulations through enforcement and technical assistance activities over the past year.

In 2003 the EPA and the NDEP fined Nevada businesses more than $600,000 last year for violations of air, water, mining and pesticide regulations.

Nevada's long-standing technical assistance program, operated under contract with the University of Nevada, helped many businesses not only remain in compliance with environmental regulations but also reduce the amount of hazardous and industrial waste they generate. In 2003, the program helped five industries reduce or eliminate 47,000 lbs. of hazardous and industrial waste.

Through their respective enforcement programs, the EPA and the NDEP required industries to pay penalties and, in some cases, to take actions in their daily operations to improve the environment.

For example, the EPA required Capital Cabinet Corp., a wood furniture manufacturer in Las Vegas, to reduce emissions of harmful chemicals known as volatile organic compounds by 50 tons per year. These chemicals contribute to significant air pollution problems, including ground-level ozone and smog.

"A strong enforcement program is one of the primary tools the EPA employs in ensuring companies comply with environmental regulations," said Wayne Nastri, administrator of the EPA's Pacific Southwest Office in San Francisco. "Thanks to our partnerships with the state, tribes and local communities, we are continuing to bring cleaner air, water and land to all Nevadans."

Nationally, the EPA increased environmental benefits from enforcement actions by 131 percent over 2002 efforts - reducing, treating or managing roughly 600 million pounds of pollutants this past year compared to 260 million pounds in 2002.

Over the past four years, industries participating in Nevada's technical assistance program have reduced the amount of hazardous and industrial waste they generate by more than 1,000,000 pounds.

"In Nevada, our focus is on getting businesses in compliance rather than collecting penalties," said Allen Biaggi, administrator of the NDEP. "We have had, and continue to have, a strong outreach program that helps the regulated community understand what they need to do to comply with the law."

Below are several agency enforcement highlights for Nevada for 2003. Please go to https://www.epa.gov/region09/enforcement/2003.html for a full description of the EPA's enforcement actions throughout California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii and the Pacific Islands in 2003.

* The EPA settled a clean air emissions action with Capital Cabinet Corporation. The Las Vegas wood manufacturer will pay a $142,000 penalty and reduce its emissions of volatile organic compounds-or VOCs - by about 50 tons per year. VOCs are chemicals that contribute to significant air pollution problems, including ground level ozone and smog.

* The EPA reached settlements for air emission violations with Chromalloy Gas and Turbine Corp., a company that uses halogenated solvents in their degreaser machines to clean machine parts. Chromalloy, which has facilities in Phoenix, Ariz., Carson City, Nev. and Gardena, Calif., paid a $92,522 penalty.

* The EPA fined the Del Webb Communities in Henderson, a land developer, and Western States Contracting in Las Vegas a total of $90,000 for Clean Air Act violations of county dust rules. The EPA also ordered both companies to ensure their employees complete local dust control classes. Both companies were issued more than 10 notice of violation orders each from the Clark County Department of Air Quality Management. The county asked EPA to investigate the violations and to take federal action to ensure deterrence and compliance with county air regulations.

* The EPA fined Univar USA, Inc. $10,450 for improperly distributing and selling a restricted use pesticide, Avitrol Whole Corn, from its Las Vegas facility to a non-certified applicator in Las Vegas. The pesticide is used to control pigeon infestation.