K-B Plating, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, has agreed to an $85,000 civil penalty assessed by the Ohio EPA to settle hazardous waste violations stemming from an inspection in 2006. The company also promised to upgrade its hazardous waste tank system and perform a facility-wide assessment to identify additional pollution-prevention opportunities.

In March 2006, an Ohio EPA inspector found K-B violated Ohio's hazardous waste laws by storing 37 containers of hazardous waste on site at its facility, located on 3685 E. 78th Street, without a permit. Other documented violations included failing to:

• Comply with the hazardous waste tank system requirements;
• evaluate waste to determine if it was hazardous waste;
• label, date and close hazardous waste containers; and
• complete a personnel training program and facility contingency plan for handling hazardous waste.

During the visit, inspectors did not observe any releases of hazardous waste.

K-B's electroplating facility qualifies as a "large quantity" generator of hazardous waste, including spent acid, chromate and pickling solutions; cadmium and cyanide bath and rinse waters; cyanide sludge and electroplating wastewater treatment sludge. Once the company installs the new tank system and submits the required assessments and certifications, it will have addressed all the documented violations and will operate in compliance with Ohio’s hazardous waste laws.

The settlement includes $56,000 to Ohio’s hazardous waste cleanup fund; $14,000 to Ohio EPA’s clean diesel school bus program; and $15,000 to fund the company’s pollution prevention assessment.

Source: U.S. Fed News