Lead battery recycler Ecobat has agreed to pay $315,000 to settle a violations case brought by the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) at the State of California’s Environmental Protection Agency.
The alleged violations relate to Ecobat’s City of Industry facility in Los Angeles. They include:
- storing hazardous waste in a wastewater treatment plant without authorisation.
It also failed to:
- have a valid tank assessment after moving a tank
- identify appropriate problems to be looked for during inspections in 2019–20
- remedy deteriorating/malfunctioning equipment or structures
- record required information
- inspect tanks at least once each operating day for corrosion or releases of hazardous waste.
There is no right of hearing or appeal. Ecobat said in a statement: “DTSC allegations relate to four technical aspects of Ecobat’s operations that DTSC alleged failed to comply with applicable regulatory requirements.
“None of these issues relate to any release of hazardous substances from the facility, and in each instance, while Ecobat did not fully agree with DTSC’s assessment, Ecobat took prompt corrective action to address DTSC’s concerns, including the implementation of enhanced training to ensure that issues like this do not arise in the future.”
It continued: “Ecobat is proud of its continued focus on compliance. We work to comply with all applicable regulations, and we endeavour to resolve any identified issues as promptly as possible.”
Ecobat said it has gone five years without DTSC finding any significant (Class 1) violations during its annual facility inspections.
As part of the settlement, Ecobat agreed to pay $157,500 in civil penalties to DTSC and $157,500 to the California School-Based Health Alliance, a non-profit organisation, for a neighbouring community health programme.
Ecobat gained a draft hazardous waste facility operation permit from DTSC in July 2024 to keep the recycling plant going. Neighbouring communities have campaigned to shut it down.
Ecobat formerly operated at the same location under the name of Quemetco. In May 2020, it was fined $600,000. There had been complaints for years and we reported DTSC forced the plant to partially close in 2016 for non-compliance.
