Last week, the Environmental Protection Agency reported that it had reached an agreement with Powercon Corporation in Severn, MD to resolve several hazardous waste violations and bring the company into compliance with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).

The RCRA addresses requirements for the proper storage, treatment and storage of hazardous waste to minimize the impact to the environment as well as protecting the public from exposure. Powercon, a manufacturer of custom switchgear and electrical power distribution equipment, had been cited by the EPA for a number of RCRA violations, including failures to meet record keeping requirements, provide proper training for personnel, and conduct timely inspections of their hazardous waste storage, among other things. The settlement agreement, in which Powercon admits no wrongdoing, does address these issues to bring the company into compliance. As part of the settlement, the company will install a system that will enable the reuse and recycling of some of the chemicals used in manufacturing, greatly reducing its hazardous waste in the process. The company has also agreed to pay a penalty of $40,000.

Given the EPA’s ever increasing standards, it is critical for companies like Powercon to remain vigilant in making sure they are in compliance. It is worth noting that the majority of violations mentioned in this case actually had more to do with faulty record keeping and inspection schedules than whether hazardous waste was being improperly stored or disposed of. This case underscores the fact that the government is serious about compliance, not only in best practices but in documentation, nor does it consider oversight a viable reason for avoiding serious penalties or costly fines.

ProComplianceWare (PCW) was designed specifically to help companies avoid situations like these. For only $250 per month, our web-basedcompliance management system (which is accessible from any computer, tablet or smartphone) helps streamline important tasks like inspections, reporting and training to ensure your business stays well within the boundaries of EPA compliance, keeping critical records instantly accessible and reducing the risk of incurring penalties.

Most businesses that find themselves in violation of government regulations aren’t doing so deliberately. Even so, the challenge of keeping up with monitoring and tracking compliance can often distract from the work at hand. PCW simplifies this process so you can focus on your business with increased peace of mind. To learn more about how our system can help your business, fill out this online form or call us at 1-800-832-8508.