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 Jm 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 ------- 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. ------- |