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EPA Approves New EGT Permits with Strict Conditions
Release Date: 09/26/2011
Contact Information: Phillippa Cannon, 312-353-6218, [email protected] (media only)
CHICAGO (Sept. 26, 2011) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved permit applications by Environmental Geo-Technologies LLC (EGT) to operate two hazardous waste injection wells in Romulus, Mich. The new permits contain stricter conditions to protect the environment than previous permits that were granted to prior operators of the facility. EPA will require EGT to:
- Increase site security.
- Increase the frequency of mechanical integrity testing.
- Comply with stricter requirements for operator training including an annual continuing education requirement.
- Increase sampling and analysis of every waste load to better characterize the waste before it is injected into the wells.
- Undergo regular independent compliance audits.
- Make company information and reports readily available to the public on a website and at a public repository such as a library. Suggestions on the location of the public repository and what it should contain should be sent to Allan Batka, [email protected], EPA Region 5 (WU-16J), 77 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60604-3590.
In addition, EPA will work with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to conduct frequent inspections of the facility.
The wells were constructed in 2002 and initially operated by Environmental Disposal Systems (EDS). In 2007, EPA terminated EDS’ permits to operate the wells, citing poor recordkeeping, inexperienced and ill-trained operators, failure to perform emergency tests and failure to tell regulators that ownership had been passed to another company, RDD Operations LLC.
Interim owners RDD Operations LLC repaired and made changes to the facility, including lining the well cellars with leak-proof material and replacing both leaking and intact gaskets at the well entry point.
The permit is available on EPA’s website: https://www.epa.gov/region5/water/uic/egt .
Background documents about the wells and the permit application are available at the same website.
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