DEQ fines W.R. Grace & Co. $6,600 for hazardous waste transport violations
Albany, OR – The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has fined W.R. Grace & Co. $6,600 for illegally transporting hazardous waste to its Albany facility.
On June 10, 2015, the company directed a hazardous waste transporter to bring a number of hazardous waste chemicals from a Portland warehouse to W.R. Grace & Co.’s Albany facility. The company didn’t prepare a uniform hazardous waste manifest designating a facility permitted to handle hazardous waste for the transport or delivery of the materials. The W.R. Grace facility is not permitted to store, treat or dispose of hazardous waste on site.
W.R. Grace & Co. was also cited for violating an emergency preparedness requirement by failing to maintain adequate aisle space to allow access for emergency personnel and equipment. That citation did not carry a fine.
The proper handling, storage, tracking and transport of hazardous waste ensure safe cradle-to-grave management of hazardous waste.
The company has until April 28 to appeal the penalty.
View the enforcement letter: https://www.oregon.gov/deq/nr/042016graceE.pdf
Contact:
Sarah Wheeler, Environmental Law Specialist, Portland, 503-229-6927, wheeler.sarah@deq.state.or.us
Susan Shewczyk, Hazardous Waste Compliance Inspector, Salem, 503- 378-5310, shewczyk.susan@deq.state.or.us
