Parker Hannifin pays $366K after EPA inspection finds hazardous waste violations
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reached an agreement with Parker Hannifin to settle allegations that the company violated the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. The EPA inspected the company’s Enumclaw, Washington, facility and uncovered over 12 violations. These violations include:
- Treating dangerous waste without a permit
- Failing to adequately train staff about the risks associated with the treatment, handling, and storage of hazardous materials
- Not following appropriate management standards for containers of hazardous waste
- Failing to conduct inspections of the facility
To settle its alleged violations, Parker Hannifin will pay $366,000 in penalties.
The company, which manufactures hydraulic equipment and other industrial products, has a history of environmental violations. In 2019, the Washington Department of Ecology cited the facility for multiple violations. In 2023, the EPA discovered that the violations had not been corrected and so increased the penalty to account for this history of non-compliance. Additionally, the Enumclaw facility was discovered to be in violation of the Clean Water Act, with multiple violations of the general industrial stormwater permit.
What people are saying
In a recent quote, Ed Kowalski, director of EPA Region 10’s Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division said, “Hazardous waste regulations are in place to protect people and our environment. It's particularly troubling when a state cites a company for violations and the company fails to take compliance seriously. This case is an example of how the partnership between EPA and state agencies is critical to holding repeat violators accountable and protecting people and the environment from hazardous wastes.”
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