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CPA cited for poor handling of used oil, hazardous waste
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Posted on Jun 01 2005
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has recently ordered the Commonwealth Port Authority to clean up and improve its hazardous waste management system.
CPA was ordered to improve its treatment, handling, storage and disposal of used oil and hazardous waste at the Saipan International Airport, said U.S. EPA press officer Dean Higuchi.
In an inspection last March, EPA inspectors found containers of hazardous waste that were left open, allowing the waste to evaporate, Higuchi said, adding that hazardous waste and used oil were also stored in severely corroded and leaking containers.
Higuchi said they found the CPA facility’s treatment, handling, storage and disposal of motor oil, use motor oil, used oil-based paints, solvents and other unknown solid and hazardous waste could present an “imminent and substantial endangerment to public health and the environment.”
EPA has ordered CPA to take some actions in this regard, said Higuchi, including an immediate stop to all “un-permitted” burning of waste at the Waste Burning Facility. The CPA was also instructed to refrain from all “un-permitted” burning of solid waste at any time in the future.
EPA said that CPA should transfer all motor oil, used motor oil, aviation gas, solvents, used paint, and any other solid or hazardous waste stored in corroded or leaking containers to containers in good condition that could be closed securely.
They must also submit a determination report of each of the waste materials generated and stored at the Maintenance and Waste Burning Facilities, including corroded and leaking containers and a plan and schedule for disposal of such waste material.
EPA also ordered CPA to dispose of the waste material generated and stored at the Maintenance and Waste Burning Facilities, including corroded and leaking containers within 10 days upon EPS’ approval of the waste determination and disposal plan and schedule.
Lastly, CPA should submit a work plan to investigate and clean up releases of all hazardous waste at the Maintenance and Waste Burning Facilities at the airport.
