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EPA Proposes $255,206 Penalty Against Wilmington, Mass. Manufacturing Facility for Hazardous Waste Violations

Release Date: 03/17/2005
Contact Information:

Contact: Sheryl Rosner, EPA Office of Public Affairs, (617) 918-1865 rosner.sheryl@epa.gov

For Immediate Release: March 16, 2005; Release # sr050310

BOSTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced it has proposed a $255,206 penalty against a Wilmington, Mass. manufacturer for violating numerous federal and state laws regarding the management of its hazardous waste.

According to an administrative complaint signed last week, ChemGenes Corporation located at 33 Industrial Way in Wilmington, violated numerous federal and state hazardous waste laws including failing to: properly make hazardous waste determinations; conduct inspections of hazardous waste storage areas; properly label and date containers storing hazardous waste; provide hazardous waste training; develop a hazardous waste contingency plan; and post emergency information and signs in hazardous waste areas.

The action against ChemGenes stems from a March 2004 inspection of the facility during which EPA personnel found that the company was not complying with the hazardous waste requirements applicable to the company, considered a “large quantity generator” under federal and state law.

"Companies that deal with hazardous waste are responsible for ensuring that the waste is managed safely and within the limits of the law. ChemGenes’ failure to properly manage its hazardous waste put unnecessary risks on the public and environment," said Robert W. Varney, Regional Administrator of EPA New England. "This proposed penalty should serve as a warning that EPA takes seriously such violations by companies that handle hazardous waste."

ChemGenes manufactures components used as raw material by researchers that produce synthetic deoxyribonucleic acid ("DNA") and ribonucleic acid (“RNA") and generates hazardous waste as a by-product of its manufacturing processes.

For more information about EPA’s hazardous waste enforcement program visit:
https://www.epa.gov/region1/enforcement/waste/index.html

Related Information:
Cleanup Process
RCRA/Hazardous Waste