EPA and Nevada DEP propose permit modification to allow expansion at US Ecology near Beatty

From EPA Region 9:

For Immediate Release:   April 29, 2016

News Brief: EPA and Nevada DEP propose permit modification to allow expansion at US Ecology near Beatty

SAN FRANCISCO — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection have proposed modifications to two permits that would allow a 47.3-acre expansion of US Ecology’s hazardous waste facility 11 miles outside Beatty, Nev.

The permit modifications, if approved, would allow US Ecology to construct and operate a new 47.3 acre landfill for disposal of hazardous waste and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).  The 47.3 acre landfill would be constructed within the 480 acre property.  The public comment period for both permits begins today and ends on June 10, 2016.  Both agencies will consider public comments received and notify interested citizens of the final decision. 

US Ecology treats, stores, and disposes of many types of hazardous wastes including solvents, pesticides, chlorinated hydrocarbons, metals, remediation wastes and PCBs.  These wastes originate from a wide variety of sources including industrial operations and environmental cleanup sites. 

US Ecology is required to ensure the placement of waste is secure and to monitor for environmental contamination.

In October 2015, a fire occurred on a part of the property not managed by US Ecology. The fire was caused by rainwater seepage that reacted with metallic sodium in a subsurface landfill.

For more information, please visit: https://www3.epa.gov/region9/pcbs/usecology/ and http://ndep.nv.gov/admin/public.htm#waste

Media Contact: Margot Perez-Sullivan, perezsullivan.margot@epa.gov