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Oakland facility agrees to pay U.S. EPA $8,800 to resolve reporting violations

Release Date: 6/1/2005
Contact Information: Mark Merchant, (415) 947-4297

SAN FRANCISCO -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today that Advanced Grinding, Inc. of Oakland, Calif. has agreed to pay an $8,800 for allegedly violating federal hazardous waste regulations.

The EPA fined the company, located at 812 49th Ave., for violating the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act by failing to report information regarding hazardous wastes generated in 2001. The EPA alleges that in 2001, the Advanced Grinding generated sludge waste containing chromium, a metal classified as hazardous because of its potential to harm humans and animals.

“Companies are required to report their hazardous wastes so communities know what’s in their neighborhoods,” said Jeff Scott, director of the EPA's Waste Division in the Pacific Southwest Region. “We are committed to ensuring that companies handling hazardous waste comply with federal law."

Advanced Grinding has been operating at its current location in Oakland since 1991. The company grinds and mills stainless steel, aluminum, copper and bronze for other manufacturing facilities.

The EPA discovered the violations during an inspection of the facility in March 2004.

California facilities that generate more than 2,200 pounds of hazardous waste or more than 2.2 pounds of acute hazardous waste per month – waste that even in very small amounts can cause severe health effects – are required to submit information to the state every two years regarding the quantities, nature, and disposition of their hazardous wastes.

For more information visit www.epa.gov/waste