Two Phoenix Companies Meet Federal Requirements
for PCB Waste Storage
Phoenix, AZ— The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approved
two PCB waste storage facilities in Phoenix, Arizona on condition that
the two facilities meet conditions beyond federal requirements to ensure
that the community's health and the environment are protected.
Lighting Resources, Inc. and Earth Protection Services, Inc. have met
federal requirements to store more than 500 gallons of PCB waste at
any time.
"The public process was instrumental in developing these two approvals,"
said Enrique Manzanilla, the EPA Cross Media Division director for the
Pacific Southwest office. "We heard the public loud and clear.
We've included conditions in the approval to ensure that the surrounding
neighborhoods and the environment are protected."
As a result of the community's involvement and participation during
the comment period, the EPA has added two additional requirements into
the approvals that address potential hazards posed by accidental fires
and other unintentional releases to the environment. Each facility is
required to submit plans to the EPA that ensure PCBs are not swept,
diffused, or blown outside the facility and LRI is required to install
a sprinkler system on-site.
The two companies are also required to hire a third party contractor
to monitor indoor and outdoor air to ensure employees and the public
are adequately protected. Both facilities must also make available for
public review annual environmental reports and spill reports, and include
public notice requirements for major changes to the original approval.
LRI is allowed to store 70 55-gallon drums and 20 1 cubic-yard boxes
and EPSI is allowed to store 300 55-gallon drums and 48 1 cubic-yard
boxes of PCB waste. Both facilities recycle fluorescent light ballasts,
some of which were manufactured before 1978 and contain PCBs in capacitors
and potting material. The capacitors and potting material are disposed
of as hazardous waste at EPA-approved facilities and the metal is decontaminated
and recycled. EPSI is cleaning up an area behind its facility that was
contaminated with PCBs in September 2000.
If the facilities fail to comply with the plan or any other condition
of the approval, the EPA may suspend or terminate the approval, or deny
the application for renewal.
