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March 25, 2002
The Department of Health (DOH) has filed a complaint and order
against the United States Marine Corps alleging violations of the
state’s hazardous waste and used oil rules. The violations
occurred at facilities located at Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH) in
Kaneohe. MCBH faces a potential penalty of $62,800.
MCBH is a large quantity generator of hazardous waste. DOH inspected
MCBH four (4) times from June 2000 to July 2001. Despite repeated
assurances from MCBH that certain hazardous waste violations were
corrected, similar violations continued to be found at different
locations throughout the base.
DOH cited MCBH with four counts: 1) failure to make a hazardous
waste determination and disposal of hazardous waste without a permit;
2) storage of hazardous waste without a permit; 3) failure to properly
mark containers; and 4) failure to label containers of used oil.
All generators of hazardous waste have a responsibility to identify
and determine whether they have a hazardous waste and to properly
dispose of it. Since 1990, MCBH failed to make a hazardous waste
determination on the barrier paper used to line the floors in their
Corrosion Control Hangar. DOH inspectors questioned MCBH on why this
was not done, since analytical results from filters used in the hangar
indicated high levels of chromium, a hazardous waste.
When MCBH sampled the barrier paper, pursuant to DOH instructions,
they found that the barrier paper, being disposed of in the regular
dumpster for several years, was in fact hazardous for chromium.
All large quantity generators of hazardous waste have 90 days to
properly dispose of their waste or require a permit for extended, safe
storage. MCBH stored hazardous waste for longer than 90 days without
the required permit.
For identification purposes, all containers of hazardous waste must
be properly marked in accordance with state hazardous waste
regulations. During all of the inspections and throughout the entire
base, containers of hazardous waste were not labeled or were improperly
labeled.
In addition to paying the penalty, MCBH has been ordered to comply
with State hazardous waste and used oil rules for the cited violations
according to a schedule established by the State.
MCBH has twenty days to respond to the order.
For more information contact the DOH Solid and Hazardous Waste
Branch at 586-4226.
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