SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) — Bachem Americas Inc. and Crosby & Overton Inc. have agreed to pay a collective $130,000 to settle allegations of violating the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced. The facilities purportedly handled hazardous waste improperly.
“Whether a company generates its own hazardous waste or treats waste from offsite, the material must be handled correctly to keep surrounding communities safe,” said Kathleen Johnson, EPA’s Enforcement Division director for the Pacific Southwest. “EPA and the state are working together to improve oversight of these facilities, especially as we increase our focus on RCRA air emissions compliance.”
Bachem, a Swiss pharmaceutical company, allegedly failed to properly handle acetonitrile, a flammable and trifluoroacetic acid that is corrosive. Bachem will pay a $22,376 penalty and spend at least $29,000 on a supplemental environmental project.
Crosby & Overton purportedly failed to safely store broken batteries and failed to use proper equipment, such as a diaphragm pump for pumping paint waste. The facility has since corrected the alleged violations and will pay a $78,570 penalty.
The EPA RCRA program mandates the proper way hazardous substances must be stored and handled.