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EPA: CONNECTICUT STEEL MANUFACTURER PAYS ENVIRONMENTAL FINE

Release Date: 04/03/1996
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BOSTON -- Theis Precision Steel Corporation of Bristol, Connecticut, has paid a $21,250 civil environmental penalty for violations of federal hazardous waste management laws, the New England office of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today.

"The people who live and work in Bristol have a right to know about the hazardous waste that's in their community," said John DeVillars, administrator for EPA's New England office. "It's critical that companies report hazardous waste so that EPA, the state and the public can be prepared to handle pollution problems that might arise. EPA has an obligation to ensure that New England's businesses act like good environmental neighbors."

Theis manufactures steel coil-related products for commercial use at its Broad Street location in Bristol. The facility was inspected after EPA investigators observed 55-gallon containers stored at this location while working nearby. EPA had no record of this facility in its database, indicating that Theis had not identified itself as a generator of hazardous waste.

EPA's inspection of Theis' manufacturing operations determined that the following hazardous wastes were generated at the facility: kerosene, solvents, acetone, oils, and lead-contaminated dusts, rags, and filter bags.

Federal law requires every company that generates a waste from their manufacturing operations to determine whether or not that waste is hazardous. According to EPA, Theis failed to determine that wastes produced by its operations were hazardous and subsequently failed to notify EPA as required under the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.