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Rust-Oleum Corporation Settles Hazardous Waste Violations at its Williamsport, Md. Facility

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

PHILADELHPHIA (October 9, 2009) – Rust-Oleum Corpoation of Vernon Hills, Ill., has agreed to pay a $147,306 civil penalty to settle alleged violations of hazardous waste regulations at its facility, located at 16410 Industrial Lane, Williamsport, Md. , the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today.

EPA cited Rust-Oleum 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 a May 2008 inspection, EPA cited Rust-Oleum for violations involving hazardous waste stored at the facility, including waste paint and fluorescent lamps containing mercury and other hazardous waste materials.

The alleged violations included operating a hazardous waste storage facility without a permit, failure to conduct weekly inspections, failure to keep containers of hazardous waste closed, failure to obtain written structural integrity assessment for a new tank system, failure to inspect daily a secondary containment system, failure to adequately place identification marks on equipment, failure to monitor pumps weekly for leaks, failure to monitor valves for leaks, failure to keep required records, and failure to inspect solvent waste tank system annually.

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

As part of the settlement, Rust-Oleum 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.