The Environmental Protection Agency announced last month that Harcros Chemicals Inc. will pay a civil penalty in the amount of $139,745 and will be required to install a system to recover waste isopropyl alcohol from being emitted into the air or waterway. The system is expected to cost Harcros Chemicals around $600,000 but should reduce isopropyl alcohol releases by 196,000 pounds per year.
The penalty was issued following an investigation by EPA that discovered Harcros has been releasing significant quantities of vanadium pentoxide hazardous waste into the environment since as far back as the 1960s at the Kansas City, Kansas facility. Additionally, Harcros Chemicals is required to submit a proposal for EPA review and approval to perform hazardous waste determinations on vanadium pentoxide wastes.
Jim Gulliford, EPA Region 7 Administrator, stated “Unauthorized on-site management and off-site disposal of hazardous waste threaten human health and the environment. In this case, Harcros’ actions resulted in potential worker exposures and runoff into the facility’s stormwater and wastewater system. As a result of this settlement, on-site workers and the surrounding community will have greater protection from any potential releases from this facility.”
