DuPont to pay $250,000 to settle hazardous waste violations

PHILADELPHIA — DuPont has agreed to pay a $250,000 civil penalty to settle alleged violations of hazardous waste regulations at its wastewater treatment facility in Deepwater, N.J., according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

DuPont’s Secured Environmental Treatment (SET) facility in Deepwater, N.J., is a hazardous waste treatment facility operating under a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) permit from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP).

EPA’s investigation of DuPont’s facility was prompted by a separate enforcement matter involving GEO Specialty Chemicals, Inc. of Cleveland, Ohio. GEO operated a production line in Franklin, Va., from 2001 through 2009. According to EPA, from 2001 through at least 2008, GEO transported highly caustic waste slurry by railcar from its Virginia facility to DuPont’s facility in New Jersey. These railcars were left on a rail siding outside the DuPont facility for up to 45 days.

In addition to the $250,000 penalty, the company agreed to implement measures to prevent or minimize railcar leaks to the environment.