Enforcing environmental laws is one of EPA’s fundamental responsibilities and helps keep our water safe, our land clean, and our air clear,” said Ed Kowalski, director of EPA Region 10 Compliance and Enforcement. “Vigorous and fair enforcement provides the protection our communities expect and the certainty sought by business and industry.”
EPA enforcement helps deter violators who might otherwise gain an unfair business advantage over their competitors who are environmentally compliant. Penalties vary depending on the severity of the violations, how quickly violations are corrected, and if there is a history of past violations. Compliance Orders direct violators to bring their activities into compliance with the rules, but do not include penalties. In October, November and December, EPA Region 10 assessed more than $630,000 in federal penalties against the violators.
EPA Region 10 enforcement actions from October through December 2012 are summarized below.
State
Location
Name
Violation
Penalty
Date
AK
Kenai
2-Go Mart Tesoro #206
Violated underground storage tank (UST) rules
$210
10/09/2012
AK
Wasilla
Holiday Stationstore #650
Violated underground storage tank (UST) rules
$420
10/11/2012
AK
Fairbanks
Holiday Stationstore #626
Violated underground storage tank (UST) rules
$210
10/11/2012
AK
Anchorage
Ted Stevens Anchorage Airport
Violated underground storage tank (UST) rules
$1,260
10/11/2012
AK
North Slope Borough
Conoco Philips Alaska, Inc.
Spilled oil at Kuparuk River field (CWA)
$45,000
10/17/2012
AK
Healy
Golden Valley Electric and Alaska Industrial Development
Violated air permitting requirements at Healy power plant (CAA)
$115,000
11/19/2012
AK
Glacier Bay NP
Princess Cruise Lines
Violated wastewater discharge permit (CWA)
$20,000
12/17/2012
ID
Emmett
City of Emmett
Violated wastewater discharge permit (CWA)
Compliance Order
10/9/2012
ID
Jerome
Rite Stuff Foods, Inc.
Violated risk management program (RMP) rules
$2,000
10/11/2012
ID
Cottonwood
Valley Paving & Asphalt, Inc.
Operated asphalt plant without air permit (FARR)
$36,360
10/15/2012
ID
Boise
Residential Property Management
Violated lead-based paint disclosure rules (TSCA)
$6,800
10/15/2012
ID
Donnelly
David Callister
Filled wetlands without permit (CWA)
Compliance Order
10/18/2012
ID
Grand View
Black Sands Marina Resort
Violated spill prevention, control and countermeasures (SPCC) rules
$2,500
10/24/2012
ID
Lenmore
Brad Grimm
Burned debris outdoors without air permit (FARR)
$300
11/01/2012
ID
Boise
HD Power Systems
Violated non-road engine rules (CAA)
$24,000
11/13/2012
ID
Inkom
City of Inkom
Violated wastewater discharge permit (CWA)
$28,160
11/26/2012
ID
Caldwell
Caldwell Housing Authority
Violated wastewater discharge permit (CWA)
Compliance Order
11/27/2012
ID
Pierce
City of Pierce – Wastewater Treatment Plant
Violated wastewater discharge permit (CWA)
$4,800
12/12/2012
ID
Pierce
City of Pierce – Water Treatment Plant
Violated wastewater discharge permit (CWA)
$2,100
12/12/2012
ID
Rexburg
Mother Hibbard’s Co. Store
Violated underground storage tank (UST) rules
$420
12/18/2012
OR
Klamath Falls
Ferrell’s Fuel Network
Violated spill prevention, control and countermeasures (SPCC) rules
$28,200
11/09/2012
OR
Eugene
Down to Earth
Imported unregistered pesticides (FIFRA)
Compliance Order
11/21/2012
WA
Olympia
Nisqually Automotive Towing
Violated underground storage tank (UST) rules
$490
10/02/2012
WA
Longview
Mint Valley Golf Course
Violated underground storage tank (UST) rules
$210
10/09/2012
WA
Bellingham
Lakeway Chevron
Violated underground storage tank (UST) rules
$210
10/11/2012
WA
Fife
Fife Sand & Gravel, LLC
Violated underground storage tank (UST) rules
$840
10/11/2012
WA
Chehalis
Pacific Pride 2
Violated underground storage tank (UST) rules
$420
10/22/2012
WA
Moxee
Olympic Fruit Co.
Violated risk management program (RMP) rules
$33,964
10/22/2012
WA
Bellingham
King Street Shell
Violated underground storage tank (UST) rules
$210
10/29/2012
WA
Tacoma
Gardner-Fields, Inc.
Sold misbranded wood preservatives (FIFRA)
$35,336
11/06/2012
WA
Olympia
U.S. Gas
Violated underground storage tank (UST) rules
$840
11/07/2012
WA
Seattle
Briggs and Stratton Corp.
Violated non-road engine regulations (CAA)
$80,000
11/13/2012
WA
Moses Lake
AmeriCold Moses Lake Plant
Violated risk management program (RMP) rules
$2,340
11/20/2012
WA
Clallam Bay
Wash. Dept. of Corrections
Violated underground storage tank (UST) rules
$1,260
11/29/2012
WA
Seattle
CertainTeed/Saint-Gobain
Violated toxics chemical release inventory reporting rules (EPCRA)
$42,300
12/05/2012
WA
Seattle
General Biodiesel, Inc.
Violated hazardous chemical emergency planning rules (EPCRA)
$62,985
12/12/2012
WA
Yelm
Park Place
Violated underground storage tank (UST) rules
$70
12/12/2012
WA
Moses Lake
National Frozen Foods Corp.
Violated risk management program (RMP) rules
$4,500
12/17/2012
WA
Marysville
Totem Grocery & Gas
Violated underground storage tank (UST) rules
$48,078
12/28/2012
Environmental rules and regulations referenced in the case summaries above:
CAA – Clean Air Act
CWA – Clean Water Act
EPCRA – Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act
FARR – Federal Air Rules for Reservations
FIFRA – Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act
RMP – Risk Management Plan
SPCC – Spill, Prevention, Control, and Countermeasures
TSCA – Toxic Substances Control Act
UST – Underground Storage Tank
More about EPA compliance and enforcement actions: http://www.epa.gov/enforcement/basics.html
