The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reached a settlement with Edwards Lifesciences LLC regarding alleged violations of hazardous waste regulations at the company's Irvine, California facility. As part of the agreement, Edwards Lifesciences will pay a civil penalty of $250,000 and confirm compliance with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).
"We will hold companies accountable if they fail to properly manage dangerous substances. It's a clear matter of public safety," stated EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. "This settlement with Edwards Lifesciences helps protect workers, the community, and the environment in the greater Los Angeles region."
Edwards Lifesciences manufactures medical devices at its Irvine location, where it also generates hazardous waste that is stored temporarily on-site. Following an inspection in September 2021, the EPA discovered that the company had violated air emission standards under RCRA. The findings included non-compliance with rules for hazardous waste storage tanks, absence of a proper leak detection and secondary containment system, and failure to record daily inspections of a hazardous waste tank. Additionally, the company did not adhere to hazardous waste air emissions standards by neglecting to monitor a tank for fugitive solvent emissions.
Solvents release volatile organic compounds when emitted, which can combine with nitrogen oxides in sunlight to form ground-level ozone—a significant component of smog. This ozone can damage crops and ecosystems while exacerbating respiratory issues like asthma and bronchitis in humans. Prolonged exposure may lead to chronic respiratory diseases and diminished lung function.
Improperly managed hazardous waste presents serious risks to human health and the environment. The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act was established in 1976 to create guidelines for proper hazardous waste management. It mandates effective monitoring and control of air emissions from various equipment associated with hazardous waste storage.
