The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has fined Chemical Waste Management to comply with environmental laws after the facility failed to properly manage waste at its landfill near Kettleman City in the state of California.

Chemical Waste Management has agreed to pay a $400,000 fine and spend an estimated $600,000 to settle violations of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and the Toxic Substance Control Act.

EPA said an analysis of the landfill’s records showed that the plant’s laboratory had not been following proper quality control procedures since 2005.

The records also showed the facility disposed of waste that did not fully meet standards for treatment prior to disposal.

In addition, the facility disposed of hazardous waste leachate from the landfill without assuring the leachate met treatment standards.

EPA made a preliminary recommendation that the company switch to using an outside laboratory, which it has done since May 2010.

Under the settlement, the facility must use an outside laboratory for a minimum of two years to verify that its hazardous wastes meet treatment standards prior to disposal, and also make physical and operational changes in its leachate management system.

The facility is also required to install an advanced record management system, and purchase new equipment before it is allowed to perform all analyses in its own laboratory.

The facility handles the treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous waste, PCBs, and non-hazardous waste.