EPA Issues Imminent, Substantial Endangerment Order to Nebraska Railcar Cleaning Services, LLC in Omaha, Neb.
11/10/2016
Contact Information:
Angela Brees (brees.angela@epa.gov)
913-551-7940
Environmental News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Lenexa, Kan., Nov. 10, 2016) - EPA Region 7 issued a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Imminent and Substantial Endangerment Administrative Order to Nebraska Railcar Cleaning Services, LLC, in Omaha, Neb., for failure to identify, handle, and dispose of waste that presents a potential danger to public health and the environment. “The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act helps ensure that companies working with or producing hazardous waste are taking the necessary steps to protect the health of their communities and workers, and the environment,” said Becky Weber, director of the Air and Waste Management Division. “This enforcement action requires Nebraska Railcar Cleaning Services to take immediate action in addressing hazardous waste risks.”
Nebraska Railcar Cleaning Services, with multiple facilities in Omaha, works with waste materials such as crude oil, fertilizer, denatured alcohol, methanol, herbicides and others through its railroad car cleaning business.
EPA estimates the company generates approximately 2,600 kilograms (5,700 lbs.) of solid crude oil, 1,800 kilograms (4,000 lbs.) of liquid crude oil, and an unknown quantity of ethanol and methanol waste per month. These materials and others are highly volatile, as demonstrated by low flash points and a deadly explosion in April 2015 involving these materials.
On-site inspections and information requests indicate that the company continues to improperly manage its hazardous waste, contrary to RCRA requirements. Nebraska Railcar Cleaning Services’ ongoing generation and storage of crude oil and ethanol wastes in open, unmarked containers could lead to fires and explosions, which would also allow benzene, a known carcinogen, to be dispersed into the environment, potentially exposing those who live and work nearby.
To ensure that immediate steps are taken to protect public health and the environment, the administrative order requires the company to engage in comprehensive hazardous waste determinations on its wastes, as required by RCRA, and properly dispose of waste as required by law. It also requires Nebraska Railcar Cleaning Services to provide regular reports of its hazardous waste determinations and disposal practices to EPA Region 7.
If the company fails to abide by the order, civil penalties of at least $14,023 per violation per day may be levied. A copy of the order is available upon request.