June 27, 2019 

By City News Service 

 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced a settlement with two waste-oil management firms for improperly treating hazardous waste at facilities in Compton and Vernon.

 

Under the agreement, DeMenno-Kerdoon and D/K Environmental will spend $167,967 on an environmental project to reduce air pollution in local classrooms and pay a $39,092 penalty stemming from violations at the World Oil Recycling facility in Compton and the World Oil Terminals in Vernon, according to EPA.

 

“EPA will continue to work with these companies to ensure they comply with hazardous waste requirements and can thereby protect surrounding communities,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Mike Stoker.

 

“We are pleased they will support our continuing investment in bringing air filters to local classrooms.”

 

The Compton facility stores and treats used oil, waste oil, oily water, and used anti-freeze and ships hazardous waste to off-site disposal facilities. The Vernon facility also stores and transfers hazardous waste.

 

The EPA’s 2017 inspections identified violations of federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act regulations. RCRA rules require the safe management of hazardous waste to protect public health and the environment and to prevent the need for costly and extensive cleanups.

 

In addition to paying the penalty, the companies will fund the installation of an air filtration system to improve indoor air quality in classrooms in a nearby school or schools. The project will also provide three years of replacement air filters, which are expected to remove more than 90 percent of ultra-fine particulate matter and black carbon from indoor air, according to EPA. 

Category: Community