Maryland Air National Guard Settles Hazardous Waste Violations at Baltimore Facility

Press release:

Maryland Air National Guard Settles Hazardous Waste Violations at Baltimore Facility

PHILADELPHIA (Oct. 18, 2012) -- In a consent agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Maryland Air National Guard (MDANG), 175^th Wing, has agreed to pay a $75,000 penalty to settle alleged violations of hazardous waste regulations at its facility at 2701 Eastern Blvd., Baltimore, Md.

EPA cited MDANG for violating the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the federal law governing the treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste. RCRA is designed to protect public health and the environment, and avoid costly cleanups, by requiring the safe, environmentally sound storage and disposal of hazardous waste.

The consent agreement resolves alleged violations discovered in an April 2011 inspection of the facility. According to EPA, MDANG stored hazardous waste for more than 90 days without a RCRA hazardous waste permit or interim status, failed to provide annual hazardous waste training to some of its employees for a three-year period, and violated RCRA rules on labeling and recordkeeping. The wastes involved in these alleged violations include lubricants, paints, sealants, cleaning solutions and adhesive wastes. These wastes are hazardous because they exhibited the characteristics of being ignitable, corrosive or toxic due to chromium, methyl ethyl ketone or other compounds.

The settlement penalty reflects the MDANG’s compliance efforts, and its cooperation with EPA in the resolution of this matter. As part of the settlement, MDANG has neither admitted nor denied liability for the alleged violations, but has certified its compliance with applicable RCRA requirements.

            For more information about hazardous waste and RCRA, visit http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/hazardindex.htm.