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U.S. EPA fines Santa Fe Springs company $16,500 for hazardous waste generator violations

Release Date: 9/19/2005
Contact Information: Francisco Arcaute, (213) 244-1815, Cell: (213) 798-1404

LOS ANGELES -- The U.S. Environmental Protection today announced it has fined Associated Plating Co., $16,500 for storing hazardous waste without a permit and other violations of federal hazardous waste regulations at its Santa Fe Springs, Calif. Facility.

Associated Plating, located at 936 Ann St., will pay a $16,500 penalty to resolve six violations of the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act discovered by the EPA during a routine inspection in November 2003.

"All facilities, including metal plating shops, are required to properly manage their hazardous materials," said Jeff Scott, director of the EPA's Waste Management Division for the Pacific Southwest region. "Associated Plating owned up to these violations and now complies with the law."

* Associated Plating was cited with:
* Storing hazardous waste without a permit;
* Failing to have an alarm or communication system in the waste storage area;
* Inadequate aisle space separating hazardous waste containers;
* Failing to make a hazardous waste determination;
* Failing to close hazardous waste containers; and
* Incomplete emergency contingency plans.

The facility has worked with the EPA to correct the violations and is now in full compliance with federal hazardous waste storage regulations.

Associated Plating Co. specializes in nickel metal plating as well as plating with copper, tin, tin-lead alloys, gold and silver. California law exempts certain hazardous waste generating companies from permit requirements provided the companies comply with container labeling and length of storage requirements. Because the facility was out of compliance with the California requirements it could no longer claim the hazardous waste permit exemption.

For more information about the hazardous waste handling regulations part of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act go to:
https://www.epa.gov/Region9/waste/rcra/ca/rcrainfo.htm