N.J. Recycler Settles with EPA

The company agreed to pay a penalty of $19,000.

According to G&S, it received PCB-contaminated electrical transformers for dismantling and metal recovery that had been drained of most of their fluid, but that still contained some leftover PCB-contaminated oil.

G&S removed this oil and stored it in a 500-gallon polyethylene tank. PCB-storage regulations require that such tanks be made of steel. The polyethylene tank noted by EPA inspectors was a recent replacement for another polyethylene tank used to store the PCB waste oil, which had melted in a fire.

EPA also charged that G&S failed to properly mark six drums of PCB-contaminated waste oil with the date the material was placed in the drums.

EPA alleged that these actions violated regulations of the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976, which banned new production of PCBs, and, because they still exist from older machinery and equipment, instituted requirements for dealing with them responsibly, including their proper transport, storage and disposal.

G&S records and waste shipment manifests indicated that the company was otherwise handling and disposing of PCB-contaminated materials in compliance with PCB requirements.