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Navy settles alleged environmental violations at Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads

Release Date: 09/12/2014
Contact Information: Roy Seneca seneca.roy@epa.gov 215-814-5567

PHILADELPHIA (September 12 , 2014) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reached a settlement with the U.S. Navy over alleged environmental violations at the Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads in Chesapeake, Va. The settlement will help reduce potentially harmful discharges and protect the public and environment from exposure to potentially harmful substances.

Under the settlement over violations of the Clean Air Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the Navy will pay a $49,500 penalty and implement procedures to ensure the proper handling of its hazardous wastes.

The Clean Air Act violations pertained to regulations designed to reduce discharges of ozone-depleting substances used as coolants in air conditioning units. EPA alleged that the facility did not perform leak rate calculations when it serviced those units. In addition, EPA alleged that the facility did not have a CAA permit to operate a diesel-fired boiler, which meant that the boiler was not subject to required emissions limits.

The RCRA violations pertained to regulations that require the safe, environmentally-sound storage and disposal of hazardous waste and prevention of spills from underground storage tanks. The Navy has upgraded its underground storage tanks, which should help protect waters in the nearby Great Dismal Swamp.

For more information on the Clean Air Act, https://www.epa.gov/air/caa/ . For more information on RCRA, see https://www.epa.gov/laws-regulations/summary-resource-conservation-and-recovery-act .