The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a settlement with Purac America, Inc., doing business as Corbion, to address alleged violations of federal and state hazardous waste regulations at its facility in Tucker, Georgia.
Corbion produces resins for the medical and pharmaceutical industries, generating liquid hazardous waste such as spent acetone and filters. During a compliance evaluation inspection in March 2023 under the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the EPA identified potential violations of the Georgia Hazardous Waste Management Act concerning storage practices for hazardous waste in tanks and containers.
"It's important that generators of hazardous wastes follow federal and state regulations in order to protect human health and the environment," said Keriema Newman, Director of the Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division of the EPA’s Southeast Region. "As part of this settlement, the facility has agreed to make additional improvements to its hazardous waste management practices by implementing a Supplemental Environmental Project."
A Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) is an environmentally beneficial initiative that goes beyond legal requirements. As part of this settlement, Corbion will implement a SEP designed to prevent precipitation from entering and mixing with hazardous waste managed in its tank system by constructing a roof over the tank system and secondary containment area. The estimated cost of this SEP is $230,000.
In addition to performing the SEP, Corbion will pay a penalty totaling $332,000 and has certified that it has corrected all alleged noncompliance.
More information about EPA's hazardous waste program can be found here.
