Recent Enforcement Actions

This page provides access to enforcement cases taken at retail facilities.

(September 2011 - February 2012)

Titan Environmental Services to Pay $10,878 for Violations of Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act: Titan Environmental Services, Inc., of Kansas City, Mo., has agreed to pay a $10,878 civil penalty to the United States to settle a series of violations of the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act, including failures to provide required hands-on training to contractors and other renovation professionals who enrolled in some of its training courses.
Chinese Manufacturer to Pay $680,000 Penalty to Resolve Violations of the Clean Air Act / Settlement also requires a project to mitigate emissions from more than 7,000 non-compliant recreational vehicles: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a settlement with recreational vehicle manufacturers, Loncin (USA), Inc., Longting USA LLC, and Chongqing Longting Power Equipment Co., Ltd., to resolve violations of the Clean Air Act (CAA) related to the importation of 7,115 uncertified recreational vehicles into the United States. More than 7,000 of these vehicles were manufactured by Chongqing Longting Power Equipment Co., Ltd. and imported by companies such as The Pep Boys – Manny, Moe & Jack, Baja, Inc., and BMS Motorsports, Inc.
Maryland Company Settles Pesticides Violations: EPA alleged that PAMEX violated FIFRA by selling two unregistered pesticides, Fabuloso Aroma de Bebe and Clorox Magia Floral, from its distribution facility located at 7900 Parston Dr., Forestville, Md. Fabuloso Aroma de Bebe, marketed as an antibacterial product, was sold 161 times, and Clorox Magia Floral, marketed as a disinfectant, was sold once.
Eldo W.R.M.S., Inc., to Pay $23,900 Civil Penalty for Hazardous Waste Violations at Salvage Goods Facility in Grandview, Mo.: A commercial goods salvage wholesale and retail business, has agreed to pay a $23,900 civil penalty to the United States to settle a series of hazardous waste violations at its facility in Grandview, Mo.
Former Lupton, Ariz. truck stop owners to pay $80,000 penalty for violating hazardous waste laws: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency fined the former owners and operators of Speedy’s Truck Stop $80,000 for violating federal hazardous waste and community right-to-know laws.
Oregon pesticide vendors violated laws aimed at protecting consumers from mishandling products: Three Oregon companies violated federal pesticide laws designed to protect consumers, according to three separate settlements with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Nufarm Americas, Inc., Morrow County Grain Growers, Inc. and Grange Cooperative Supply Association will pay $127,000 for selling mislabeled pesticide products in Oregon.
Massachusetts and Japanese Companies Settle with EPA for Pesticide Violations : A Wakefield, Mass. company and a company from Nagoya, Japan have agreed to pay a total of $220,000 to settle claims by the US Environmental Protection Agency that they imported, distributed and sold silver-ion based antimicrobial pesticide products in violation of federal pesticide requirements.
United States Files Lawsuit Against MotorScience, Inc. for Alleged Violations of the Clean Air Act / Complaint claims that more than 24,000 uncertified vehicles were imported into the U.S.: The complaint alleges that MotorScience, an engine certification services consulting firm located in California, used false or incomplete information to obtain Clean Air Act certificates of conformity for four of its clients. The certificates allowed the importation and sale of more than 24,000 recreational vehicles in the United States. EPA previously voided 12 certificates submitted by MotorScience on behalf of the four clients.
EPA Warns New York City Residents about Dangers of Illegal Pesticides; Agency Sweep of Businesses in Several City Neighborhoods Reveals Illegal Products Are Easy to Find: Store owners and vendors found with the illegal pesticides were given a warning and told why selling these products are dangerous and illegal. Separate but related criminal investigations conducted by EPA with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the U.S Attorney’s Office, U.S. Customs, the U.S. Postal Service and the Manhattan District Attorney’s office produced similar results and several charges were made against individuals last week, resulting in 12 arrests.
Twelve Defendants Arrested for Involvement in the Illegal Distribution and Sale of Pesticides in New York’s Chinatown/Coordinated multi-agency effort results in seizure of thousands of packages of illegal pesticides from dozens of locations: federal criminal charges were made against two defendants, Chen Yan Huang and Jai Ping Chen, and state criminal charges against 10 defendants, for their respective roles in the illegal distribution and sale of unregistered and misbranded pesticides that were sold out of multiple locations in Manhattan.

(March 2011 – August 2011)

EPA Takes Action against Buffalo Area Gas Station Owner to Protect Ground Water: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has taken action against Schmitt Sales, Inc. of Buffalo for improperly managing underground tanks used to store gasoline and other fuels at two of its facilities in the Buffalo area and eight other locations throughout the state.
Miami Man Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Smuggling Refrigerant: U.S. District Court Judge Adalberto Jordan sentenced Brendan Clery, 34, to 18 months in prison and ordered him to pay a $40,000 criminal fine and forfeit illegal proceeds in the amount of $935,240. Clery pleaded guilty in April 2011 to knowingly importing approximately 278,256 kilograms of illegal hydrochlorofluorocarbon - 22 (HCFC-22, also known as R-22) into the United States.
Chevron Puerto Rico, LLC, Agrees to Improve Leak Detection at Puerto Rico Gas Stations: A settlement announced today between the United States and Chevron Puerto Rico, LLC resolves Resource Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA) violations at approximately 100 of Chevron’s underground storage tank facilities in Puerto Rico.
Companies in Vermont and Massachusetts face sanctions for failing to prevent oil spills: A Massachusetts and a Vermont company that each store significant amounts of oil are facing EPA penalties of up to $177,500 for failing to take adequate precautions meant to prevent and contain oil spills.
Maine Renovator Faces Penalty for Violations of Lead Renovation Rule: A Rockland, Maine renovator is facing penalties for allegedly violating requirements designed to protect children from exposure to lead-based paint during painting and other renovation activities.
Poulsbo, Wash. gas station agrees to pay over $11,000 for failure to monitor underground fuel tanks: Central Valley Grocery gas station in Poulsbo, Washington, has agreed to pay $11,356 for failing to properly monitor three underground storage tanks (USTs) for leaks for over a year.
Five eastern Washington gas stations fined over $8,000 for violating federal air rules on tribal land: Three companies operating five gas stations in eastern Washington will pay over $8,000 for violating federal air rules on tribal land, according to several orders issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Milford, Conn. Window and Siding Company to Pay Fine for Lead Notification Violations: A Milford, Conn. company has agreed to pay $30,702 to settle claims by EPA that it failed to provide lead hazard information to home owners or occupants before doing renovations that may have disturbed surfaces coated with lead-based paint.

(November 2010 - February 2011)

PowerTrain to Pay $2 Million for Selling Thousands of Engines that Failed to Meet Clean Air Act Standards / Settlement will reduce emissions that cause smog and respiratory issues by more than 4,500 tons: Mississippi-based PowerTrain, Inc. will pay a civil penalty of $2 million to resolve claims that the company imported and sold nearly 80,000 nonroad engines and equipment from China that did not meet standards under the Clean Air Act.
Tewksbury-based Supermarket Chain Faces EPA Penalty for Environmental Disclosure Violations: DeMoulas Super Markets, Inc. was charged in a complaint filed this month by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with violating the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know to Act by failing to follow federal reporting requirements at its Market Basket perishables distribution warehouse facility in Andover, Mass.
Large fine for Marukai Corporation for pesticide violations / Company runs chain of retail grocery stores on Oahu: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently fined the Marukai Corporation in Honolulu $222,030 for selling and distributing unregistered pesticides and improperly labeled pesticide devices.
Billerica, Mass. Company Fined for Pesticide Violations: A Billerica, Mass. company has agreed to pay $526,500 in civil penalties to settle allegations by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that it distributed and sold an unregistered pesticide and imported pesticides and pesticide devices without submitting the required forms to the EPA, in violation of federal environmental law.
Facilities Across the Southeast Ordered to Stop Discharging and Comply with Clean Water Act: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued Administrative Orders (AOs) against seven entities in North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky and South Carolina during the last quarter of 2010 for violations of the Clean Water Act (CWA).
Washington fertilizer distributors fined over $33,000 for failing to properly plan for chemical releases at eight facilities: Two Washington ammonia fertilizer distributors have agreed to pay over $33,000 for failing to update their plans for preventing chemical releases at eight facilities throughout Washington.
Hefty fine for So Cal Company's untested "nano" claims: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has fined Monterey Park, Calif.-based Kinetic Solutions Inc. - doing business as Rabbit Air - $82,400 for allegedly selling unregistered and misbranded pesticides and making unproven claims about their effectiveness.
Mass. Plumbing Supply Company Cited for Illegal Sales of Refrigerant: Based on the findings of an undercover inspector, EPA has proposed a penalty of $30,000 against a Fall River plumbing and supply company charged with selling ozone-depleting refrigerants in violation of federal regulations.
Six New England Companies Face Fines for Chemical Reporting Violations: Six companies in New England that store, manufacture or use chemicals in their operations have been charged by EPA with violating the federal right-to-know law meant to protect the health and safety of citizens and the nearby environment.
Pesticide distributors in Washington State fined over $35,000 for illegal imports and mislabeled products: Three pesticide distributors working in Washington State will be fined over $35,000 for mislabeling products and importing illegal pesticides, according to EPA orders.

Recent Enforcement Actions

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