The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that Royal Caribbean Cruises LTD will pay a civil penalty of $473,685 for not notifying the EPA about alleged waste handling and management activities. The announcement was made from Dallas, Texas, on October 10, 2024.
Regional Administrator Dr. Earthea Nance emphasized the importance of waste management in environmental protection. She stated, “Waste management is an important aspect of environmental protection. Improper waste management practices can lead to environmental and community challenges for decades.” Dr. Nance further highlighted that this settlement underscores the EPA's commitment to ensuring compliance with Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) regulations.
The issue came to light following an inspection by the EPA on December 6, 2022, at the Port of Galveston, Texas. It was discovered that Pier 10 was used to allegedly offload waste from eight different Royal Caribbean Cruises LTD vessels into the United States. After reviewing reports and correspondence from RCL, who cooperated during the settlement process, it was determined that solid and hazardous waste materials were offloaded between July 2019 and July 2024 without proper notifications or records.
The EPA alleged several violations by RCL including failure to revise its RCRA 3010 notifications, file accurate biennial reports, maintain adequate records of hazardous waste determinations, comply with land disposal restrictions for incinerator ash, and fulfill obligations as a large quantity generator.
As part of the settlement terms, Royal Caribbean Cruises LTD is required to keep proper documentation of wastes offloaded from its vessels for final disposal/disposition. They must accurately manifest hazardous waste amounts at U.S. ports and ensure segregation aligns with RCRA regulations. Additionally, RCL will update its Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and submit them for review by EPA Region 6.
The agreement includes stipulated penalties to ensure timely compliance with the Consent Agreement and Final Order (CAFO). Over a period of 180 days, RCL must successfully implement various waste handling and management programs to prevent future noncompliance patterns.
For more details on the CAFO or RCRA regulations, individuals are encouraged to visit the EPA's enforcement webpage or their homepage.
