Southern Maine violated state hazardous waste laws as well as the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act by improper storage, labeling and other management of hazardous waste, as well as by not providing adequate employee training, according to the settlement between EPA and the company.
The complaint grew out of an inspection of a metal finishing and electroplating facility in Saco, Maine, in January 2010 by EPA.
After the inspection, Southern Maine brought its facility into compliance with state and federal waste management laws.
EPA discovered that Southern Maine failed to determine whether waste generated on-site was hazardous, and it stored containers of hazardous waste next to incompatible material.
In addition, the company failed to manage hazardous wastes in accordance with requirements by storing two 55-gallon containers of sodium hydroxide sludge together, in excess of the 55-gallon limit for hazardous waste accumulation areas.
