On March 12, 2015 Region 5 executed a Consent Agreement and Final Order (CAFO) with Microlink Devices, Inc. of Niles, Illinois. The company manufactures custom designed structures which are used in microwave and optical communication products.
At the time of Region 5's compliance inspection, Microlink Devices was storing waste hydrochloric acid generated from a chemical spill for over 3 months beyond the 90 days allowed under the RCRA regulations. Microlink also failed to: mark and date hazardous waste storage containers; maintain adequate aisle space in the hazardous waste storage area; implement an adequate training program; store waste lamps in containers or packages; label or mark containers of waste lamps; and ship waste lamps off-site within a year. Microlink subsequently sent the waste materials off-site, and corrected all of the alleged violations.