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EPA Settles PCB Violations at Easton, Pa. Facility

Release Date: 10/24/2008
Contact Information: Donna Heron 215-814-5113 / heron.donna@epa.gov

PHILADELPHIA (October 24, 2008) – Flaw Inc. has settled a case involving alleged violations of federal regulations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) at its used oil storage facility at 1600 South 25th St., Easton, Pa.

In a consent agreement with the EPA, the company has agreed to pay a $49,555 civil penalty to resolve alleged violations of the Toxic Substances Control Act, which is designed to protect public health and the environment.

The violations were identified when Flaw Inc. submitted a mandatory unmanifested waste report to EPA in March 2007, which indicated that one of its used-oil collection trucks received PCB-contaminated used oil from a customer and transported it to its Easton facility. It was subsequently combined with additional volumes of used oil in storage tanks and stored between Feb. 27 and March 16, 2007. Consequently, large amounts of waste oil was contaminated with PCBs, and as a result, had to be disposed of as PCB waste at an approved PCB waste facility.

Alleged violations included storing PCB waste without EPA approval, transporting PCB waste without obtaining an EPA identification number, and storing PCB waste in tanks that were not properly marked.

PCBs, a probable human carcinogen, were once widely used as a nonflammable coolant for transformers and other electrical equipment. In 1976, Congress enacted the Toxic Substances Control Act, which strictly regulated the manufacture, use and disposal of PCBs. For more information on the health effects, regulations, and cleanup of PCBs, visit www.epa.gov/pcbs/.

Flaw Inc. neither admitted nor denied the allegations and has certified that the facility now is in full compliance with PCB regulations.

Today’s action contributes to EPA's record-shattering enforcement results for the 2008 Fiscal Year. To date, EPA has concluded enforcement actions requiring polluters to spend an estimated $11 billion on pollution controls, clean-up and environmental projects, an all time record for EPA. After these activities are completed, EPA expects annual pollution reductions of more than three billion pounds.