PORTLAND OR (1/14/2013) – Kelso, Wash.-based Anderson Environmental Contracting LLC has paid a $2,084 Oregon Department of Environmental Quality penalty for improperly identifying and managing hazardous waste dry cleaning solvent residues it generated during cleanup of the Alsco Linens site in north Portland in January 2012.
On Jan. 25, 2012, the company removed about 500 pounds of spent carbon contaminated with tetrachloroethylene dry cleaning solvent recovered from the soil vapor extraction system at the site. The company transported the waste to Hillsboro Landfill, where it was disposed of as a non-hazardous solid waste. These tetrachloroethylene residues are classified as hazardous and must be disposed of at a certified hazardous waste disposal facility. Anderson Environmental Contracting indicated in its paperwork to Hillsboro Landfill that the waste was not hazardous and was not generated at a cleanup site.
DEQ issued the penalty to Anderson Environmental because properly identifying and disposing of hazardous wastes is central to managing these wastes so they pose no environmental or public health harm. Chlorinated solvents, such as the contaminants in this case, can be discovered in well water, and typical solid waste landfills aren?t designed to secure them. Accurately determining and reporting wastes to the destination disposal facility is expected of all hazardous waste generators and especially of environmental professionals managing a site contaminated with dry cleaning solvents known to be hazardous waste when disposed.
DEQ also cited Anderson Environmental Contracting for failing to prepare a hazardous waste manifest when generating and transporting wastes generated from the Alsco Linens site, but did not assess a penalty for the violation. In investigating the transport of the waste to the landfill, DEQ determined that Waste Management and Hillsboro Landfill followed their waste acceptance procedures and were given inaccurate information about the waste materials. In addition, due to the small amount of waste disposed, DEQ will not require Waste Management to excavate and remove the hazardous waste from the landfill.
In assessing the final penalty amount, DEQ factored in Anderson Environmental Contracting?s cooperation and efforts to improve its procedures for properly identifying hazardous wastes in the future.
Contacts: Sarah Wheeler, Environmental Law Specialist, Portland, 503-229-6927; Jay Collins, Hazardous Waste Inspector, Portland, 503-229-5008
