ADEQ Director Owens, Attorney General Goddard Announce $90,000 Fine for Flagstaff Facility

(Phoenix, Ariz. – July 2, 2004)  Attorney General Terry Goddard and ADEQ Director Steve Owens today announced a settlement with Delaware-based W.L. Gore & Associates for $90,000 after its Flagstaff facility was cited for numerous hazardous waste rules violations in 2003.  The facility manufactured a number of products, including medical devices, industrial, fabric and electronic products.  

The violations were discovered during a 2003 inspection by the ADEQ Hazardous Waste Inspection and Compliance Unit.  Inspectors discovered violations concerning the storage and handling of hazardous waste.  The facility accumulated waste in containers well past the 90-day limit for storage of hazardous materials, and also had improperly labeled and stored a number of hazardous waste containers.  Gore has since corrected the violations.   

In addition to the storage violations, Gore officials did not have documentation that the company had provided required hazardous waste training to its employees, and had an inadequate contingency and emergency response plan. 

“The settlement shows that hazardous waste violations are very serious,” Goddard said.  “Companies that are not careful in their handling of hazardous waste will pay a penalty.”   

The state filed a Consent Judgment in Maricopa County Superior Court to end the dispute, which provides for the $90,000 to be paid within ten days.