EPA
U.S. Filter Westates
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY* REGION 9 • SAN FRANCISCO, CA • FEBRUARY2004
Compliance History of Westates 1992 - 2000
Westates is a hazardous waste storage
and treatment facility located on the Colo-
rado River Indian Reservation near Parker,
Arizona. At Westates, spent carbon is
treated in a carbon regeneration furnace.
To receive information on other topics
regarding Westates, please contact EPA.
Contact information is located below.
WHAT IS EPA'S INSPECTION AND
ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY?
EPA's authority to inspect and enforce at hazardous
waste facilities comes from the Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act (RCRA). EPAs inspections look for
compliance with the requirements of RCRA and EPA s
hazardous waste regulations. These regulations control
operations at hazardous waste storage and treatment
facilities such as Westates.
If EPA finds noncompliance at a hazardous waste
facility, we may take enforcement action. The three
main types of enforcement action are:
~	Administrative Actions
~	Civil Actions
~	Criminal Actions
EPA has also prepared a fact sheet providing
information about inspections conducted from
2001 to 2003. You may contact EPA if you
would like a copy of that fact sheet.
WHAT DOES EPA LOOK FOR
DURING AN INSPECTION?
¦S We review facility operations
-	integrity of tanks
-	proper storage of wastes
¦S We review facility records
-	personnel training records
-	daily inspection records
•S We check for proper implementa-
tion of facility plans
-	emergency response plan
-	waste analysis plan
¦S We review the wastes managed at
the facility
-	amount of waste received
-	type of waste received
CONTACT EPA:


If you have questions about Westates please contact:
Wenona Wilson
Community Involvement Coordinator
Phone: 415-972-3239
email: wilson.wenona@epa.gov


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Mail:


Wenona Wilson (SFD-3)
U.S. EPA, Region 9
75 Hawthorne Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
or call our
toll free number:
1-800-231-3075

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Compliance History of Westates 1992 - 2000
HOW HAS WESTATES PERFORMED ON
INSPECTIONS FROM 1992 - 2000?
Westates began operating in 1992. Between 1992 and
2000, EPA inspected Westates 8 times, and prepared
reports for 6 of those inspections. The results of these 6
inspections are noted to the right, beginning with the
most recent. From 1994 through 1998, Westates had
few violations. In 1993 Westates had many violations
and paid a fine of $5 7,515.
EPA coordinates with the Colorado River
Indian Tribes (CRIT) when conducting
inspections at Westates. Often,
representatives of CRIT accompany EPA
on these inspections.
WHY ARE THE VIOLATIONS CALLED
"POTENTIAL VIOLATIONS"?
After inspecting a hazardous waste facility, EPA provides
the facility with an opportunity to rebut any findings of
violation that EPAhas made. Therefore, in inspection
reports, EPA calls the findings "potential violations".
FOR INFORMATION IN ANOTHER
LANGUAGE
If you would like to receive materials about Westates in another
language, please contact Wenona Wilson at the toll free phone
number and address on the front of this fact sheet.
PARA INFORMACION EN ESPANOL
Westates es una empresa de tratamiento y almacenaje de residuos
peligrosos y esta ubicada cerca de Parker, Arizona. Si usted desea
recibir informacion en Espanol, por favor comuniquese con Wenona
Wilson al numero de telefono (800) - llamada gratuita - o a la
direccion al reverso de esta pagina.
WESTATES' INSPECTION
HISTORY FROM 1992 - 2000
=> The inspection in December 1998 found no
violations at Westates.
=> The inspection in September 1996 found no
violations at Westates.
=> The inspection in March 1995 found 2 potential
violations at Westates: failure to submit the 1993
biennial report by the deadline; and failure to accurately
report wastes generated. Westates addressed these
violations within 1 week.
=> The inspection in September 1994 found no
violations at Westates.
=> The inspection in March 1994 found 1 potential
violation at Westates: absence of a piece of documenta-
tion in the facility's personnel training files. Westates
addressed this violation within 6 weeks.
=> The inspection in August 1993 found 11 poten-
tial violations at Westates: failure to properly label and
date containers of hazardous waste; waste analysis plan
deficiencies; failure to follow waste analysis plan; failure
to remedy problems discovered during inspections in a
timely manner; failure to operate in a way that minimizes
the possibility of a hazardous waste release; contingency
plan deficiencies; operating record deficiencies; failure to
obtain tank assessments; failure to maintain secondary
containment for tanks free of cracks and gaps; failure to
conduct daily inspections of waste feed cutoff systems;
and storage of hazardous waste in an area not specified
in Part Aof the permit application. EPA took an Admin-
istrative Action, issuing Westates a Determination of
Violations and Complaint regarding these items in
February 1994.
Settlement of violations found in 1993: EPA negoti-
ated a Consent Agreement and Final Order with
Westates regarding the violations, which was finalized in
August 1995. As a result of the Order, Westates paid a
civil penalty of $5 7,515.

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