Fines for violating EPA guidelines have been raised significantly. Does your business have an effective waste management solution?
If your business generates hazardous waste, you may not have noticed this important new change to the law. On August 1st, new regulations took effect that significantly increased the fines associated with hazardous waste violations. These penalties were raised to match inflation as dictated by the 1990 Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act. Higher fines for non-compliance means the stakes for businesses without an effective waste management solution are higher than ever before.
The Adjustment Act
President Obama signed an amendment to the 1990 Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act in November 2015 to improve the effectiveness of fines in deterring offending behavior. This allowed federal agencies to hike the levels of civil penalties as well as giving them the ability to make subsequent adjustments every year according to the level of inflation. The agencies published the new fine levels by July 1, 2016, and the new penalties took effect on August 1st.
New EPA Penalties
The increase in fines for violations of EPA rules and regulations vary depending upon which law is violated. For sites subject to the Resource and Conservation and Recovery Act, the max civil fine has jumped over 85%, from $37,500 per day to $70,117 per day. Violations of the Clean Air Act result in fines nearly triple the previous maximum penalty, from $37,500 to $93,750. Maximum penalties for violating the Clean Water Act have risen from $37,500 to $51,570. It should also be noted that although the penalties took effect on August 1st, they can be retroactively applied to any violations that occurred after November 2, 2015, when President Obama signed the amendment.
What Does This Mean?
Quite simply, this means that companies that deal with hazardous waste need a disposal solution more than ever before. The stakes are simply too high now for a company to fall out of compliance now that the EPA has the authority to significantly increase fines and penalties. You need a company you can trust to manage and dispose of hazardous waste properly – a company like AEG Environmental.
We can help you with your hazardous waste disposal. Contact us today!
No matter what kind of environmental issue you may have, AEG Environmental can help. We handle every situation with care, dedication, and a commitment to exemplary customer service. When you have an emergency, you can rely on us! Need training? We can handle that too! We train in a wide variety of environmental management areas so that your company can remain compliant with EPA, DOT, and OSHA. Make sure to check out our blog for the latest and greatest in the waste management world! You should also follow us on social media for updates.
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