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EPA settles with Detroit company on hazardous waste violations; $700,000 to be spent on facility updates at two locations

Release Date: 10/30/2009
Contact Information: Karen Thompson, 312-353-8547, [email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 09-OPA219

CHICAGO (Oct. 30, 2009) - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has settled with Usher Enterprises Inc. of Detroit, Mich., for alleged violations of federal hazardous waste regulations at two of its oil recycling facilities.

EPA's administrative order requires the company to spend $700,000 to upgrade two of its facilities at 10585 Grand River Ave. and 8900-9000 Roselawn Ave. by installing new tanks, upgrading secondary containment, and decontaminating and testing the integrity of other tanks. Usher will also pay a $19,700 penalty.

Usher Enterprises is a used oil processor operating two facilities in the Detroit area. It stored close to 1 million gallons of used oil at the Grand River location and had more than 50 tanks at the other location. Inspections were part of the Detroit Flyway Initiative, which focused on oil-related facilities that might have an impact on the Detroit River, a major nesting and feeding area for migratory birds.

Under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, EPA controls hazardous waste from its production to final disposal. The law is designed to avoid costly cleanups by requiring safe storage and disposal of hazardous waste.