Clean Water Act violations lead to civil penalties and settlements for two Arizona companies. Both companies have improved their pretreatment systems to comply with local and federal standards, but at the loss of over 118 thousand dollars in total and to the detriment of the city’s sewer system.

These companies failed to comply with the rules and regulations regarding wastewater. Take your training today to avoid violations like these tomorrow. Check out our full course catalog now.

U.S. EPA Settles with two Goodyear, Ariz.-based facilities over Clean Water Act violations

SAN FRANCISCO – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced settlements with two Goodyear, Ariz.-based companies to resolve Clean Water Act (CWA) violations. BioFlora, a fertilizer manufacturer, and Inventure Foods, a food manufacturer, will pay $39,000 and $79,957 in civil penalties, respectively. Each company has made improvements to their facilities’ wastewater pretreatment systems to achieve compliance with local and federal pretreatment standards.

“Pretreatment of industrial wastewater protects the downstream wastewater treatment system as well as local waterways,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Mike Stoker. “These agreements will prevent thousands of pounds of pollutants from entering Goodyear’s wastewater treatment plant.”

As part of negotiations with EPA, BioFlora installed a wastewater recycling system allowing it to become a zero-discharge facility. Inventure upgraded its wastewater system and operations procedures through an Administrative Order on Consent.

Improvements to the companies’ wastewater pretreatment systems will significantly reduce the volume of pollutants sent to Goodyear’s wastewater treatment system each year, including over 230,000 pounds of total dissolved solids, 44,000 pounds of oil and grease and 250 pounds of nutrients in the form of nitrogen and phosphorous.

During inspections in 2016 and 2017, EPA found that BioFlora and Inventure discharged wastewater violating local and federal standards from their manufacturing facilities into the City of Goodyear wastewater system. Municipal wastewater treatment facilities are not designed to treat industrial wastewater; as a result, industrial facilities are required under CWA to pretreat wastewater before it enters municipal drains.

Both facilities discharge industrial wastewater into Goodyear’s sewer system, which in turn flows to the city’s 157^th Avenue Water Reclamation Facility.

Are you falling victim to the most common RCRA violations? We’ve compiled a list of common violations to help you maintain compliance. Check out these common hazardous waste violations that have been cited by many state/tribal agencies and regional EPA inspectors.

Most Common RCRA Violations:

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News was released of a California wine company required to pay a $70,000 penalty for wastewater discharge violating the Clean Water Act.

U.S. EPA Reaches Agreement with Herzog Wine Cellars to Prevent Unlawful Wastewater Discharges 

SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced an agreement with Herzog Wine Cellars over violations of the federal Clean Water Act. The settlement requires the company to pay a $70,000 penalty after an EPA inspection found the company was discharging wastewater that violated local and federal standards from its production operations into the City of Oxnard’s sanitary sewer.

“To protect the environment, industrial facilities must treat their wastewater before they discharge it to local sewer systems,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Mike Stoker. “Discharges that exceed standards can harm downstream water quality, put plant workers at risk and jeopardize the treatment facility operations.”

Herzog Wine Cellars, also known as Royal Wine Corporation, produces kosher wine at its Ventura County facility. An EPA inspection in 2015 found that wastewater from cleaning and sterilizing operations exceeded the limits for total suspended solids. The facility also discharged acidic wastewater to the city of Oxnard’s sanitary sewer, which eventually enters the Pacific Ocean.

As part of a prior 2016 agreement with EPA, Herzog Wine Cellars upgraded its on-site wastewater treatment system to comply with the company’s industrial wastewater discharge permit requirements and prevent pretreatment violations. The company has since achieved consistent compliance with the applicable pretreatment standards.

To read the full release, click here.

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Spring cleaning has already kicked in and now that summer is upon us, new projects can mean new health hazards. Not just for humans, but for your pets, too. It’s important to keep your pets safe, just as you would your 2 legged family members. Here are some helpful cleaning tips to get you started on those summer projects of yours:

Kitchen and Bathroom Cleaning

– Always look for “non-toxic” and “pet friendly” cleaners. Thankfully, most products mark this very clearly on the label.

– Watch out for chemicals like ammonia, chlorine, formaldehyde, carbolic acid, hydroxybenzene, oxybenzene, and perchloroethylene. Most heavy cleaning products have one or more of these chemicals, so aim to avoid them whenever possible. This is especially important to people with birds, who are dangerously sensitive to aerosols.

– Pine oil is found in a number of cleaning products, especially those used to mop kitchen floors, but it is also terrible for cats. They are extremely sensitive to it, so make sure they are far away before breaking out the mop.

– Toilet bowl cleaners are a potent mixture of very dangerous chemicals, so keep the lid down while letting it sit, and if you use a clip on cleaner year round, NEVER let pets anywhere near it.

Bedrooms and Living Room Cleaning

– Beware carpet cleaners! – Make sure any house plants are pet friendly! Lilies are extremely poisonous to cats, while the Sago plant is deadly for dogs. Double check to make sure you aren’t harboring a dangerous plant inside.

Lawn and Garden

– Fertilizers are often bad news! Most fertilizers contain dangerous levels of chemicals, natural or not, that can linger for longer than you think. Make sure you check the ingredients and observe the proper waiting period before letting your loved ones frolic around in the lawn.

– Herbicides and pesticides are another major risk. If they haven’t been rinsed and dried properly, your pets can walk on them, and ingest them from licking their paws. Make sure you find the most animal friendly, and make sure it’s safe before letting them run around.

– Metaldehyde is a chemical found in slug and snail bait, and it is highly toxic for dogs and cats. Make sure to avoid using it, or keep your pets well clear of the bait if you do use it. This is one of the most dangerous items you may be using in your garden.

– Mouse and rat poison are also extremely dangerous for animals, so finding a humane way to fix your rodent problem is going to be the best way to protect your pets.

This is just a sample of tips found. But there are more out there, so pay attention for your and your pets’ safety. And remember to read labels so you can avoid any potential health hazards before they happen.

Need to know more about hazardous substances, chemicals and wastes? Check out our training catalog for all available courses that can help keep everyone safe.