EPA fines Commonwealth Port Authority $32,500 for hazardous waste violations

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently settled with the Commonwealth Port Authority for $32,500 for hazardous waste treatment, handling, storage, and used oil disposal violations at its Saipan International Airport facility.

In March 2005, an EPA inspector working along with CNMI Division of Environmental Quality inspectors found the facility had open containers of hazardous waste and stored its hazardous waste and used oil in severely corroded and leaking containers. The EPA found the facility’s treatment, handling, storage, and disposal of motor oil, used motor oil, used oil-based paint, solvents, and other unknown solid and hazardous waste was an imminent and substantial endangerment to public health and the environment.

The facility treated, stored and disposed of hazardous waste without a permit and also failed to:

• Notify EPA of its waste activity;
• Transfer waste into containers in good condition, keep containers closed, and conduct weekly inspections;
• Determine the type of and minimize releases of hazardous wastes;
• Store used oil in non-leaking containers and label containers; and
• Respond to releases of used oil, and comply with oil pollution control requirements.

Operations at the airport facility include equipment maintenance and waste treatment and disposal. The facility historically accepted and burned solid and hazardous waste from airlines, law enforcement agencies, local businesses, and military vessels.