PHILADELPHIA (Legal Newsline) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Thursday that the U.S. Navy has agreed to pay a $32,800 civil penalty to settle alleged violations of hazardous waste regulations.
The alleged violations of underground storage tank regulations at the Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story facility in Virginia Beach, Va.
The Navy was cited for violating the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, which is the federal law governing the treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous waste. The RCRA regulates underground storage tanks with the emphasis on preventing releases which can cause serious contamination to groundwater.
The Navy facility, which provides housing and training for the nation's expeditionary forces, allegedly violated RCRA several provisions of the law. Allegedly, it: failed to determine if the waste was hazardous; stored hazardous waste at the facility; failed to label containers with date and contents; failed to have functioning spill and over fill equipment for two of the storage tanks; and failed to notify the state when a new oil-containing UST was installed.
The EPA said the settlement penalty reflects the Navy's compliance efforts, and its cooperation with EPA in the investigation and resolution of this matter. The facility has made significant improvements to come into compliance.