W.R. Recycling settles hazardous waste case with EPA
EPA Regional Administrator Judith A. Enck (Credit: http://youtu.be/pjk-_C3sbls)
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reached a legal settlement with W.R. Recycling of Cabo Rojo, the owner and operator of an auto crushing and scrap recycling business, resolving alleged violations of federal hazardous waste law.
As part of the settlement, W.R. Recycling will make a range of site improvements to control runoff and invest $133,000 in a project to purchase and install equipment that will ensure the clean extraction, removal and storage of harmful liquids from all the vehicles it handles.
These upgrades will benefit the environment and the community and are not legally required to bring the company into compliance. In addition, W.R. Recycling will come into compliance with all federal laws and pay a $29,000 penalty.
“Recycling old cars has many benefits, but the process must be done in a way that does not cause pollution,” said EPA Regional Administrator Judith A. Enck. “This agreement will modernize the car recycling operation in Cabo Rojo, ensuring that the facility is complying with all environmental laws.
Under the settlement’s terms, W.R. Recycling will construct a sealed concrete pad, with a drainage collection system and an oil water separator, on which all vehicles it handles will be processed, crushed, and stored prior to shipping of the crushed cars for metal recovery, among other investments.
On three occasions from 2009 to 2012, the EPA inspected W.R. Recycling’s facility to determine its compliance with federal hazardous waste regulations. As a result of these inspections, the EPA issued a legal complaint to the company.
Among the violations cited in the complaint were the company’s failure to make hazardous waste determinations for the fluids and discarded materials it generates, its failure to minimize the releases of hazardous materials, the disposal of hazardous waste without a permit, the improper disposal of used oil, and the failure to label used oil storage containers, the agency said.
