CPA pays $32,500 fine for airport waste violations

The Commonwealth Ports Authority has reached a settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over violations of hazardous waste laws at Saipan International Airport after an enforcement effort that spanned nearly three years, yet CPA must still address contamination at the site.

“There’s still a lot of work to be done,” acting CPA director Lee Cabrera said in an interview Tuesday. “Although we would have preferred the penalty was less, it’s still something we can work with. We’re also pleased by our working relationship with EPA.”

As part of the settlement, CPA paid EPA a fine of $32,500 stemming from the 2005 citation.

At issue are the waste management practices of an airport facility tasked with equipment maintenance, solid waste incineration and waste disposal. The facility handles waste from airlines, the military, private sector businesses and law enforcement, EPA said in a statement.

In March 2005, an EPA inspector working with inspectors from the CNMI Division of Environmental Quality found open containers of hazardous waste and used oil in severely corroded and leaking containers at the airport.

The EPA found the facility’s treatment, handling, storage, and disposal of motor oil, used motor oil, used oil-based paint, solvents, and other unknown solid and hazardous waste was “an imminent and substantial endangerment to public health and the environment.”

In addition, the airport was managing hazardous waste without a permit, EPA said, adding the airport had failed to conduct inspections on the waste containers, nor did it respond to spills, move waste into non-leaking containers or notify EPA on its activities.

In addition to the fine levied against CPA, Cabrera said, the agency’s agreement with federal regulators requires it to clean up soil on the site contaminated by fuel and oil spills, improve environmental monitoring at the airport’s incinerator and provide added training for staff.

“We are serious about protecting the community, workers and the environment from improper management of hazardous wastes,” said Jeff Scott, director of Waste Programs for the EPA Pacific Southwest region. “Facilities face serious fines for not meeting regulatory requirements and must safely dispose of all wastes.”

Cabrera noted that soil on the site will have to be treated before it is disposed at the Marpi landfill.

The EPA’s hazardous waste rules require facilities to properly store, label and seal hazardous waste containers. Facilities must also have properly trained staff, as improperly stored hazardous waste can potentially spill and pose a risk to workers and the environment. Proper disposal of hazardous waste is required at a permitted disposal site with the proper permits and notifications made to the EPA. (with Kristi Eaton)