U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 5 has recently filed civil administrative complaints against Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Co. (3M) facilities in Hutchinson, St. Paul, and Cottage Grove, Minn., for hazardous waste violations.
EPA and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency discovered these violations during compliance inspections conducted under the Resource and Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA).
The most violations were found at the Hutchinson plant.
This facility was cited on three counts of hazardous waste storage without a permit; failure to implement a leak detection program, and storing hazardous waste in open containers.
The St. Paul facility was cited for two counts of hazardous waste storage without a permit; failure to implement a leak detection program, and an air emissions control program for tanks.
The Cottage Grove facility was cited for one count of failure to implement an air emissions control program.
All three facilities handle hazardous wastes that contain volatile organic compounds which, if not stored properly, can be released into the environment.
Under RCRA, facilities that generate, treat, store, transport or dispose of hazardous waste must ensure that it does not present a threat to human health or the environment.
3M has 30 days to respond to EPA's complaints.