EPA Region 7 has issued an administrative order against the owner-operators of Truck Wholesale, a Wellsville, Kan., truck salvage business and the Kansas Department of Transportation. The order requires a series of immediate actions at the facility to address hazardous waste issues and prevent discharges of oil and other pollutants from the site into a nearby waterway.

The order also applies to KDOT, which was authorized five years ago to clean up the property; to property owners Mark Lambeth and Joel Lambeth; and to former salvage operator Danny Lambeth; all of whom are listed as respondents to the order.

The order requires KDOT and the Lambeths to take the following series of actions:

Immediately develop and implement a plan to prevent discharges of oil and other pollutants into Rock Creek.

Identify all solid and hazardous wastes currently being generated at the facility.

Restrict access to areas where oil, solid and hazardous wastes have been disposed.

Obtain a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit from the State of Kansas.

Develop a plan to determine where hazardous wastes have been disposed at the facility, including an investigation to determine the extent of off-site migration of waste.

Clean up the property and any surrounding areas that may be contaminated.

The order notes that on at least four occasions between March 10, 2009, and July 24, 2009, EPA representatives visited the site to investigate reports of releases of diesel fuel, antifreeze, oils, battery wastes and other hazardous wastes on the property, and discharges of polluted stormwater from the site into nearby drainage ditches and Rock Creek.

On at least three occasions during that time, the order says, EPA or the Kansas Department of Health and Environment directed KDOT and its contractor to take specific actions to contain the wastes and keep them from moving off the property.

But on a September 22, 2009, return visit, EPA representatives witnessed scrap metal, tires, wheels, truck parts, used oil and fuel filters, and dismantled batteries still littering the site or in drainage ditches, as well as oily sheens in puddles, and stormwater discharging from the site into ditches flowing into Rock Creek. EPA believes that soil and stormwater runoff from the property may be contaminated with various hazardous materials.

Under the order, the respondents have five days to certify to EPA how their waste storage and management activities are being conducted in compliance with the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The respondents are prohibited from resuming any waste handling, excavation, grading or other salvage activities until EPA has reviewed and approved the RCRA certification.

Within seven days, the respondents must select an EPA-approved contractor to carry out the cleanup of the property, and within 30 days, they must submit to EPA a Site Characterization Work Plan to assess on-site contamination and off-site migration of waste, along with a schedule for completing the work. The respondents are also required to submit a final report to EPA within 45 days of all cleanup work being done.

The respondents could face civil penalties of up to $6,500 per day for any violation of the order.

Pull-A-Part, a used auto part superstore, has received the first Conserve Georgia Recycling Award. The award recognizes outstanding achievements to minimize the impact of waste and promote recycling.

The company also received the 2009 Partnership for a Sustainable Georgia Sustainability Award, recognizing extraordinary achievements by a Partner to reduce their environmental footprint and create a model of sustainable practices.

Two of Pull-A-Part’s Georgia locations are among the 11 total Gold Level NEPT Partners. Gov. Perdue made the announcement during Conserve Georgia’s Natural Leaders Awards program where businesses and organizations were recognized for outstanding conservation achievements.

The Conserve Georgia Awards recognize those helping to create a culture of conservation through energy, land, wildlife and water conservation; the improvement of air quality; the prevention of litter; and the promotion of recycling.

The Partnership for a Sustainable Georgia Awards, meanwhile, recognize Partners, including businesses, organizations and municipalities, for excellence in leading the way to a sustainable Georgia.

LKQ Corp. announced that it has acquired Greenleaf Auto Recyclers LLC from Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. Additionally, Schnitzer Steel has acquired from LKQ four retail oriented self-service recycling facilities in Oregon and Washington.

Aleris International, Inc. promoted K. Alan Dick to president of its Rolled Products North America business unit and been named an executive VP of the company.