Sacramento, CA – July 23, 2003
The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) today
announced a $135,000 settlement with Econco Broadcast Service, Inc. (EBS) for hazardous waste violations at its facility at 1318 Commerce Avenue in Woodland.
Under terms of the settlement, signed on July 14, 2003, EBS will pay a total penalty of $135,000, of which $6,246.37 represents costs incurred by DTSC. A copy of the consent order, which
formalizes the settlement, is available on the DTSC website at Econco Broadcast Service.
The settlement stems from administrative and operational violations revealed during inspections
by DTSC on July 25 and July 26, 2002. DTSC inspectors noted the following violations:
?Failure to obtain a written assessment from an independent engineer for three hazardous waste tank systems used to manage and treat hazardous waste, including cyanidebearing
waste.
?Treatment of aqueous hazardous waste containing dissolved metal from electroplating operations in a fixed treatment unit without proper permit or grant of authorization from DTSC or the authorized local Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA).
?Failure to submit notification of a claim of exemption from permitting requirements for the recycling of two hazardous waste streams (wastewater containing cyanide and wastewater containing dissolved metals).
?Failure to label two fixed treatment units used to recycle hazardous wastewater from electroplating operations and one fixed treatment unit used to evaporate hazardous wastewater from electroplating operations and failure to label nine containers holding
hazardous waste, including cyanide-bearing waste, as required by regulation.
?Failure to make a waste determination for waste sand blasting dust used to sand blast copper pots, transferal of custody of hazardous waste polishing dust to a transporter who does not hold a valid registration issued by the DTSC, transfer of hazardous polishing
dust waste to a county sanitary landfill that does not hold a valid hazardous waste disposal permit, and failure to complete a uniform hazardous waste transport manifest to track the transfer of hazardous waste polishing dust to an offsite facility.
?Failure to adequately train employees occupying positions related to hazardous waste management.
As part of the settlement, DTSC will reduce EBS?s penalty by $5,000 if at least three EBS employees whose duties involve hazardous waste management, complete and obtain a certificate of satisfactory completion of California Compliance School (CCS) training. CCS
training provides students with ?hands-on? instruction on how to comply with hazardous waste statutes and regulations. EBS must submit certificates of satisfactory completion of CCS to DTSC within 180 days of the effective date of this Consent Order to receive the penalty reduction.
Although the violations stated above have been corrected, DTSC is not limited from taking appropriate enforcement actions against EBS for future violations at this facility.
The Department of Toxic Substances Control?s mission is to restore, protect, and enhance the
environment and ensure public health, environmental quality and economic vitality by regulating hazardous waste, conducting and overseeing cleanups, and developing and promoting pollution prevention.
?The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to take immediate action to reduce energy
consumption. For a list of simple ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our Web-site at
California Department of Toxic Substance Control.?
