The former president and CEO of Concord Chemical Co. Inc. (Concord), Miguel Castillo, was recently indicted for illegally storing hazardous waste at Concord’s Camden, New Jersey facility, and for making false statements to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Castillo was president of the company from 2003-2011. The charge was based on a violation of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). Enacted in 1976, RCRA protects human health and environment by prohibiting the storage, treatment, and disposal of any hazardous wastes without a permit.
Concord manufactured and distributed a wide spectrum of chemical products such as cresylic acids, pipe lubricants, and emulsions. Some products and the raw materials used to manufacture them were classified as hazardous to human health and the environment. The Camden facility stopped operating as of March 2010.
During a site visit by the EPA in August 2010, drums containing hazardous waste were found in the basement. It was determined that Concord did not have a permit to store hazardous waste on their site. Under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), the EPA was authorized to remove the drums of hazardous waste from the site and hold responsible parties liable for the associated costs.
In total, the former president and CEO was accused of one count of illegal storage of hazardous waste and two counts of false statements to the EPA. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Compliance with safety standards ensures better protection for a company’s most valuable assets – its people. Decision makers should not try to cut corners and save costs by putting their employees in a potentially hazardous situation. Ultimately, companies can only benefit from complying with regulatory safety standards.
Remember to always complete a Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest form when transporting hazardous waste from your site. Quantum’s Waste Manifest Web Application can automate this tedious data entry process for you. It allows users to store unlimited Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest forms for future use and to search those forms using simple key words via the web or intranet.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]
