PHILADELPHIA (April 29, 2024) - Max Environmental Technologies, Inc. (MAX) has agreed to several actions to ensure compliance with federal and state hazardous waste safeguards at the company’s waste facility in Yukon, PA, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today. MAX owns and operates a 160-acre facility, surrounded by agricultural and residential properties, about 30 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, PA in Westmoreland County. According to EPA, this site is an area with potential environmental justice concerns.
EPA officials inspected the facility in March 20-24, 2023, to determine MAX’s compliance with environmental regulations, including the terms of its PA DEP-issued Clean Water Act (CWA) and Resource Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA) permits. The inspectors documented several RCRA permit violations, including unlawful disposal of hazardous waste in the solid waste landfill, failure to maintain a containment building, and failure to keep hazardous waste containers closed to prevent releases.
The Consent Order announced today addresses RCRA and state hazardous waste requirements. MAX has agreed to immediate measures to eliminate the potential release of waste into the environment and ensure ongoing operations do not contribute to releases at the facility. The requirements include the prohibition of disposal of untreated and treated hazardous waste in the landfill without third-party review, retention of a Professional Engineer for evaluation and recommendations, monitoring of residential wells, and reporting progress to EPA.
"EPA worked closely with PA DEP in investigating conditions and negotiating this consent order that addresses compliance with RCRA and state hazardous waste compliance," stated the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. EPA and PA DEP are currently reviewing MAX’s compliance with its CWA permit.
