LOCAL NEWS
Saturday, November 5, 2005
DEQ penalizes
disposal facility
By the East Oregonian
HERMISTON -- The Oregon
Department of Environmental Quality has issued penalties totaling $25,800
to the Washington Demilitarization Co. for a series of hazardous waste handling
violations at the Umatilla Chemical Agent Disposal Facility.
Washington Demilitarization Co. has 20 days to either pay or appeal the
penalties.
Washington Demilitarization Co. and the U.S. Army operate the facility,
which is responsible for incinerating the chemical weapons stockpile at the
Umatilla Chemical Depot. The facility began incinerating munitions in September
2004 under a hazardous waste storage and treatment facility permit issued
by DEQ.
The violations were based on inspections DEQ conducted at the facility in
March and April this year, as well as the facility's self reporting of permit
and federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act violations during the first
quarter of 2005.
In all, DEQ cited 19 violations of three separate hazardous waste management
requirements. Key violations included:
- Failing to mark
accumulation start dates on containers of hazardous waste on at least six
occasions during the quarter ($10,800 penalty). These wastes include contaminated
items associated with the handling of chemical weapons at the disposal facility,
such as filters, personal protective equipment, munition tags, demilitarization
residue and used spill pads.
During one
inspection, DEQ found one 55-gallon drum of waste labeled with the wrong
accumulation start date.
- Failing to properly
mark accumulation start dates on multiple containers of hazardous waste
on at least three occasions during the quarter ($6,000 penalty).
- Failing to mark
containers of waste as "hazardous waste" on at least five occasions during
the quarter ($4,500 penalty).
- Failing to keep
several hazardous waste containers closed on at least five occasions ($4,500
penalty).
Properly labeling hazardous waste containers with accumulation start dates
is important because it establishes a date by which the waste must be shipped
for disposal and prevents releases to the environment by ensuring timely waste
disposal, according to the DEQ. Also, waste drums not identified as containing
hazardous waste are more likely to be mishandled and may lead to improper
disposal.
Waste generated at the depot and disposal facility is stored at the facility
and eventually disposed of in the facility's incinerators.
In calculating the severity of the penalties, DEQ took into account past
Washington Demilitarization Co. hazardous waste violations at the facility.
In November 2004, DEQ issued penalties totaling $2,400 against the company
for the same type of violations involving improper hazardous waste container
labeling and handling at the facility.
While the company has corrected past violations, it has allowed similar
violations to re-occur, DEQ enforcement officials noted.