Contact: Jeanne Garcia
818.551.2176
Ron Baker
916.324.3142
California Department of Toxic Substance Control
Los Angeles, CA – March 9, 2005
The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) announced it has reached a settlement with Mel Bernie and Company, Inc. (MB&C), which also does business as 1928 Jewelry
Company, for hazardous waste violations at its facility at 3000 Empire Avenue in Burbank, Los Angeles County.
Under terms of a Stipulation and Order (Order), signed on February 24, 2005, MB&C will pay a total of $25,000 as an administrative penalty to DTSC. A copy of the Order formalizing the settlement is available on the DTSC?s Web site at Order.
The settlement stems from violations observed by DTSC inspectors during an inspection at the facility on
August 15, 2001. The violations noted were:
? Treating cyanide-bearing hazardous waste residues from the bottom of electroplating baths without first obtaining the proper permit or grant of authorization from DTSC
? Failing to immediately remove from service a leaking hazardous waste storage tank system
? Failing to remove liquid from the secondary containment for the hazardous waste storage tank system within 24 hours, or in as timely a manner as possible
? Failing to apply to DTSC for a facility identification number for a temporary offsite facility owned and
operated by MB&C located at 2721 Empire Avenue in Burbank, Los Angeles County where hazardous waste was generated
? Failing to label three 55-gallon waste storage containers used for onsite accumulation of hazardous
waste
? Failing to mark 13 empty containers with the date they were emptied
? Failing to adequately label hazardous waste containers
? Failing to manage recyclable scrap metals as hazardous waste by collecting scrap metals in containers that were not properly labeled
As part of the settlement, MB&C has also agreed to send two of its employees to hazardous waste
management courses at the California Compliance School (CCS). CCS provides students with ?hands-on? instruction on how to comply with hazardous waste statutes and regulations. MB&C must submit certificates of satisfactory completion for Modules I through V from CCS for its two employees to DTSC within 185 days of the effective date of the Order.
MB&C has corrected all violations noted during the inspection.
