On April 26, 2017, Region III entered into a Consent Agreement with, and issued a Final Order to Potomac Electric Power Company ( PEPCO ), settling alleged violations of RCRA Subtitle C that EPA inspectors observed during an inspection of the company's facility in Washington, D.C. ( Facility ). The settlement will ensure that lead and mercury contaminated waste will be properly contained and managed in the future. The Facility serves as a maintenance and construction base for PEPCO's electric transmission and distribution system in the District of Columbia. Because of the lead and mercury contaminated waste stored there, the PEPCO is required to comply with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and the federally-authorized D.C. Hazardous Waste Regulations at the Facility. RCRA is designed to protect human health and the environment by providing for the safe management of such hazardous wastes.
During the inspection of the Facility, and through subsequent communications, the EPA Inspector observed that the PEPCO: (1) operated a hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal facility without a permit or interim status; (2) failed to keep hazardous waste containers closed; (3) failed to conduct effective inspections of hazardous waste storage areas; (4) failed to maintain fire protection equipment; and (5) failed to maintain an adequate contingency plan. The Company has agreed to pay a penalty of $54,000 to settle the enforcement action. The Consent Agreement