NMED News:
SANTA FE —The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) announced Monday that is has has reached settlement with MCT Industries (MCT) concerning hazardous waste storage practices.
The $12,600 penalty collected funds NMED’s emergency response across the state.
During NMED’s inspection July 20, 2020, the Department cited MCT for the following alleged violations:
- Failure to perform hazardous waste determinations;
- Failure to properly establish and label hazardous waste accumulation areas within the facility;
- Failure to keep containers of hazardous waste closed and sealed;
- Failure to properly post emergency information for employees and first responders;
- Failure to ensure all employees were familiar with proper hazardous waste handling;
- Failure to label containers of used oil; and
- Failure to properly manage wastes like fluorescent lightbulbs in a manner to ensure safe disposal.
MCT promptly corrected the alleged violations and will pay a final penalty of $12,600 as a result of these alleged violations. MCT agreed to further improve their hazardous waste management program with enhanced recycling practices and better container management.
NMED’s Hazardous Waste Bureau continues to aggressively assure compliance with rules that govern the cradle-to-grave management of hazardous waste. NMED’s Hazardous Waste Bureau also offers Compliance Assistance for small businesses to comply with hazardous waste regulations, and regularly offers outreach opportunities to the regulated community.
NMED publishes a quarterly performance assessment that includes aggregate data on the percentage of facilities in compliance compared to in violation for most of the regulatory programs the Department administers. In the first quarter of fiscal year 2022 (July 1, 2021 to Sept. 30, 2021), approximately 56 percent of the hazardous waste facilities inspected were in violation of applicable requirements.
