WASHINGTON, DC, July 13, 2004 (ENS) – Struggling under the burden of bankruptcy, United Airlines, Inc. has been hit with a $850,000 civil penalty to resolve violations of state and federal hazardous waste laws at its San Francisco International Airport facility.
The Department of Justice, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the State of California announced the fine on Monday.
The facility is United's only aircraft maintenance center in the nation. It currently employs 5,200 people and operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. As part of the settlement, United worked with the EPA to develop an environmental compliance management system for the facility.
During inspections conducted by the EPA in 1999 and 2001, inspectors found violations of hazardous waste regulations throughout the United aircraft maintenance center. The violations included failure to close hazardous waste containers, improper labeling of hazardous waste containers, and storage of hazardous waste for longer than the allowable limits.
"Hazardous wastes must be handled safely and within the guidelines of the law to prevent any harm to human health and the environment," said Wayne Nastri, administrator of the EPA's Pacific Southwest region. "We are pleased that United Airlines has committed to improve hazardous waste management at its maintenance facility."
Tom Sansonetti, assistant attorney general for the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division said that in addition, United has agreed to conduct an independent audit at the facility of its Environmental Compliance Management System to further promote compliance.
"The resolution of this case demonstrates that state, federal and local agencies can work together to achieve compliance with laws regulating hazardous waste," said Ed Lowry, Director of California's Department of Toxic Substances Control.
The settlement agreement is subject to approval by a federal bankruptcy court. United Airlines executives said Monday that the airline is cutting costs in its ground operations and considering cuts elsewhere as the company attempts to arrange bankruptcy exit financing.
Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2004. All Rights Reserved.
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