NEWARK, CA Officials with California Department of Toxic Substances Control announced that they are seeking penalties of tens of thousand of dollars from a company that handles hazardous waste in Newark.
Safety-Kleen at 680 Smith Ave. is being fined $25,000 to $70,000 each day by regulators. Clean Harbors is also facing penalties for violations of waste regulations in Los Angeles County.
In connection to violations at a used-oil recycler Clean Harbors sold four years ago to Emerald Transformer, regulators have also taken legal action against Emerald Transformer Los Angeles LLC as well as Clean Harbors Environmental Services Inc.
Meredith Williams, Director at DTSC, stated that companies that handle hazardous waste in California have to do so safely and must adhere to the laws that protect the public. “We will continue to inspect these types operations and will file enforcement action when necessary.”
Safety-Kleen, an alleged Newark company, allegedly placed thousands of gallons of hazardous waste liquids in a concrete basin below ground that was not permitted for storage.
The company allegedly moved 3400 gallons worth of oily water to a container not allowed for it. Safety-Kleen is also accused of allowing oil to leak from pipes.
According to the DTSC, the company did not receive approval to install a filtration unit or tanks.
According to the company, it filed a required report four months late, failed collect and analyze required samples, as well as submitted tank certifications late.
It is not clear how much Clean Harbor must pay.
Sanford Nax, a spokesperson for DTSC, stated that “the judge will ultimately determine this figure based upon evidence presented at trial.”
Clean Harbors operates in the U.S.A., Canada and Mexico. The Los Angeles County facility and Newark offer hazardous waste disposal services.
Clean Harbors representatives did not respond Friday morning to a request for comment. Emerald Transformer did no immediate respond to a request.
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