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Special Report: Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEPs), Fiscal Year 2004
| Enforcements Accomplishments 2004 Quick Finder | |||
Beyond Compliance: Supplemental Projects (SEPs) benefit environment, public health
Over $1,500,000 in Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEPs) are being spent by companies in the Pacific Southwest Region in addition to complying with environmental laws. As part of an enforcement settlement, a violator may voluntarily agree to do a SEP which benefits public health or environment. SEPs offer a unique opportunity to further our Nation’s goals of ensuring clean air and water, safe food, better water management, and expanding the public’s right to know about their environment.
EPA, Hawaii DOH announce completion of University of Hawaii environmental projects (photo of university coming from UH)
The University of Hawaii spent $1.2 million to complete environmental projects that were part of a February 2001 settlement with EPA and the Hawaii Department of Health for hazardous waste violations. The projects have reduced hazardous waste generation at the university by more than 13,000 pounds annually. The university also reduced the amount of chemicals it has to purchase and store, and reduced students' faculty and staff exposure to hazardous chemicals. Projects included a $140,000 effort that set up pollution-prevention and waste-reduction projects at UH campuses across the state. The university converted chemistry classrooms to microscale, which uses small amounts of chemicals and special glassware. The Honolulu Community college print shop was converted to a digital system, eliminating more than 11,000 pounds of silver-based developers, inks, solvents and other printing wastes. The University also replaced more than 1,300 pieces of equipment containing a total of about 10 pounds of highly toxic mercury, and adopted new technology to improve paint spraying in various campus auto body programs.
Tempe, Ariz., company pays air pollution fine; reduces air emissions
EPA fined a Tempe company $17,500 for excessive air toxics emissions from its degreasing operations. As part of an environmental project under the settlement, Triumph Corp. will stop using tirchloroethylene, or TCE, in its degreasing operations and begin using n-propyl bromide, which is not classified as a hazardous air pollutant. The company will spend $65,624 on the project, to ultimately reduce air toxic emissions by an average of 5.25 tons a year. EPA fined two other Arizona companies in 2003 for similar violations.
Richmond, Calif. company pays fine, installs pollution control equipment for right-to-know violations
The BOC Group, Inc. agreed to pay a penalty of $6,514 for failing to accurately report the amount of ammonia released from its Richmond, Calif., facility in violation of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act. In addition to the penalty, the company agreed to install pollution control equipment that may reduce ammonia emissions by up to seven and a half tons. The company uses ammonia to manufacture gases for industrial uses. Exposure to ammonia can severely burn the skin, eyes, throat and lungs.
Arizona propane company to pay fine, buy emergency equipment for fire department
EPA fined a Globe, Ariz., company $15,779 for failing to report the amount of propane its facility was storing from 2000 through 2003. Propane distributor Matlock Gas and Equipment Co. will also spend $12,400 on emergency response equipment for the Canyon Volunteer Fire Department. Propane is an extremely flammable hazardous chemical that can cause asphyxiation in an enclosed area.
Raceway on Gila River Tribal land to pay fine, perform two environmental projects
EPA fined the Firebird International Raceway $11,036 for hazardous waste violations at its facility on the Gila River Indian Community Reservation in Maricopa County, Ariz. Firebird is required to purchase equipment to reduce hazardous waste generation and also contract with an independent third party to perform monthly audits of the facility’s waste management practices for at least one year and provide environmental compliance training seminars to at least 15 professional racing teams participating in events at the raceway.
California water district pays fine, buys equipment for county fire department
The Alameda County Flood Control and Water Converservation District paid $10,912 in fines and $35,376 to buy new equipment for the county fire department for chemical release reporting violations at its Del Valle Water Treatment Plant in Livermore, Calif. The water treatment facility released about 39 pounds of chlorine in September 2003 without immediately reporting the chemical release to the appropriate authorities. The equipment includes thermal imaging cameras that allow firefighters discover a fire’s location or see through heavy smoke in order to find trapped people.