EPA Settlement with Mack Trucks Inc. Protects Environment

[kscarbel2]

Newsroom - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) / November 13, 2014

In a settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Mack Trucks Inc. has agreed to properly manage the hazardous waste at its truck assembly plant in Macungie, Pa.

Mack Truck, located at 7000 Alburtis Road, Macungie, Pa., has also agreed to pay a $54,800 penalty to settle the alleged violations of hazardous waste regulations.

EPA cited Mack Trucks for violating the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the federal law governing the treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste. RCRA is designed to protect public health and the environment, and avoid costly cleanups, by requiring the safe, environmentally sound storage and disposal of hazardous waste.

After a facility inspection, EPA cited the company for several RCRA violations involving hazardous waste stored at the facility, including solvents and paint wastes. The alleged violations included: operating a hazardous waste storage facility without a permit or interim status; maintaining an open container of hazardous waste; failure to comply with regulations on hazardous waste marking and record-keeping; failure to comply with contingency planning safeguards; failure to provide hazardous waste training to employees; failure to maintain documents and records for hazardous waste training; failure to comply with contingency plan requirements; and failure to maintain a tank certification.

The settlement penalty reflects the companys compliance efforts, and its cooperation with EPA in the resolution of this matter. As part of the settlement, Mack Trucks has not admitted liability for the alleged violations, but has certified its compliance with applicable RCRA requirements.

For more information about hazardous waste and RCRA, visit http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/hazard/index.htm.

[kscarbel2]

Quite a long lost of environmental violations by Volvo. Clearly the Swedish truckmaker doesn't have the best interest of the Lehigh Valley's environment in mind. For Volvo to ignore so many U.S. EPA regulations (for the sake of profitability.........for as long as they can get away with it) isn't surprising though.

1. Operating a hazardous waste storage facility without a permit or interim status

2. Maintaining an open container of hazardous waste

3. Failure to comply with regulations on hazardous waste marking and record-keeping

4. Failure to comply with contingency planning safeguards

5. Failure to provide hazardous waste training to employees

6. Failure to maintain documents and records for hazardous waste training

7. Failure to comply with contingency plan requirements

8. Failure to maintain a tank certification.

[gicknordon]

This kind of surprises me because they were really touting all of the envirenmental certifications and energy saving equipment when i worked there this past summer..

[kscarbel2]

Typically arrogant Volvo stance.

Mack (Volvo Group) did not admit liability for the alleged violations, the EPA said.

"It's important to emphasize that these administrative errors did not harm our people, our neighbors or the environment," Mack spokesman Christopher Heffner said.

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/eastpenn/mc-mack-trucks-epa-settlment-20141113-story.html