WEverett company fined $24,000 for hazardous waste violations

Washington State Department of Ecology

Department of Ecology News Release - March 30, 2009

09-074

Everett company fined $24,000 for hazardous waste violations

BELLEVUE – The Department of Ecology (Ecology) has fined TC Systems, an Everett metal-working firm, $24,000 for repeated failures to properly manage its hazardous waste.

Ecology also has issued an order directing the company to take a series of steps to correct the problems and provide better protection of public safety, health and the environment.

“Over the past dozen years we’ve found violations, seen the company correct them, and then found violations again,” said K Seiler, who manages Ecology’s hazardous waste and toxics reduction program. “It’s important for the company to responsibly manage hazardous materials, just as other businesses in Washington do, so people and the environment are safe.”

Ecology has inspected TC Systems – located at 1032 W. Marine View Drive – six times from 1997 through 2008. The fines apply to violations found in 2007 and 2008, most of which are repeat violations found in earlier inspections:

Illegal disposal of dangerous waste: Spilled compressor oil was allowed to enter soil and a storm drain. Paint waste solvents were set out to evaporate.
Negligent labeling: neglected to identify whether waste materials were hazardous and required special handling, storage and disposal.
Failure to keep dangerous waste containers closed, which prevents spills and evaporation of volatile liquids to the air.
Failure to label dangerous waste containers: Labels identify the contents and the specific risks, and help prevent mishandling of the materials.
Failure to date containers: Dangerous waste containers must be dated to demonstrate they have not remained on site longer than 90 days.
Absence of a training plan: Employees must have up-to-date training on proper handling of dangerous wastes to protect themselves and the environment.

Ecology’s order requires four sets of corrective actions and sets several deadlines:

Establish an employee training program, subject to Ecology’s approval.
Set up an internal compliance monitoring program, and submit regular reports to Ecology.
Submit a corrected 2007 dangerous waste annual report, and prepare the 2008 report, using assistance from Ecology’s Annual Reporting Hotline.
Bring its wastewater pre-treatment system into compliance with City of Everett permit requirements for discharge to the city’s sanitary sewer.

TC Systems may appeal the penalty, the order or both to Ecology or to the Washington State Pollution Control Hearings Board within 30 days.

Hazardous waste compliance is a critical part of Ecology’s priorities to reduce toxic threats to people and the environment and to restore and protect water quality in Puget Sound.

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Media Contacts:
Kim Schmanke, Ecology media relations, 360-407-6239
Daylin Davidson, Ecology hazardous waste and toxics reduction program, 425-649-7090

For more information: www.ecy.wa.gov/pubs/0501055/0501055_hwtr.pdf