Waste Management Statement Regarding USEPA Notice of Violation
Kettleman City, CA, April 8, 2010 — In response to the Notice of Violation (NOV) Waste Management’s Kettleman Hills Facility received from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), Bob Henry, senior district manager for the facility, issued the following statement:
“USEPA detected very low-level levels of PCBs confined to the inside of a PCB storage and flushing building and a small area of soil adjacent to the storage building. The inside of the building has already been cleaned according to EPA standards and the affected soil will be immediately cleaned to meet EPA requirements. EPA also noted three paperwork violations which have already been addressed.
Recently completed monitoring of air soil and vegetation at the site has confirmed that PCBs stored and treated at the Kettleman Hills Facility have no impact on human health and the environment.
The health and safety of Kettleman City residents – and all Kings County residents – are our highest priority. For nearly three decades, we have worked diligently with the USEPA and numerous other state and local government regulators to sustain our long tradition of safety and environmental protection.
The Kettleman Hills Facility remains fully operational and continues to be highly regulated by agencies at all levels of government. Waste Management and the 60 employees at the Kettleman Hills site are committed to the protection of the environment and the health and safety of the community.”
CONTACT: Jennifer Andrews
(619) 890-4698
jandrews@wm.com
Waste Management’s (WM) Kettleman Hills Facility has been an integral part of the Kings County Community for more than 28 years. The facility is permitted to handle municipal solid waste and hazardous waste, both of which are heavily regulated, monitored and controlled by more than 10 local, state and federal government agencies. The facility’s staff includes 60 full-time employees, many of whom are active in the community. In addition to its community contributions and significant volunteer efforts, Waste Management provides a benefit to the local economy of more than $17million annually with a $3.7 million annual payroll. WM also contributes nearly $3 million per year directly to the Kings County General Fund through disposal fees. For more information, visit our website at www.kettlemanhillsfacts.com.