UPS Pays EPA $5.3M and Agrees to Fix Hazardous Waste Violations at 1,160 Locations

UPS has agreed to pay the EPA $5.3 million and to fix hazardous waste violations at 1,160 locations across the country.

The Environmental Protection Agency has reached a settlement with the United Parcel Service to finally fix violations of hazardous waste regulations at over 1,100 facilities across 45 states and Puerto Rico.

“This settlement is another example of EPA’s commitment to protecting communities from the dangers of hazardous waste,” said Larry Starfield, EPA’s acting assistant administrator for enforcement and compliance assurance. The settlement requires UPS to address illegal actions at all of its facilities and “implement policies that prevent future non-compliance,” Starfield said.

The agreement comes after numerous alleged violations, including failure to make land disposal determinations, conducting proper on-site management of hazardous waste, and more. The company now has three years to reach compliance across the 1,160 locations and will pay the EPA a penalty of $5.3 million.

UPS generates hazardous waste when a package that contains certain hazardous materials is damaged and in certain maintenance operations.

Last year, the EPA reached another settlement with UPS for facilities in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Texas. After that, the EPA expanded its investigation across the country, which is what brought them to the current settlement. UPS implemented compliance strategies in those facilities, and now they will need to do this with their 1,160 other locations.

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