EPA's Region VII PCB Enforcement Actions Concerning PCB Treatment, Inc. and Environmental Resources Management, Inc.

In response to a congressional request, GAO discussed the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) enforcement activities regarding polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), focusing on two companies operating in one EPA region. EPA regulatory activities concerning PCB include: (1) approving PCB disposal and destruction processes developed by private companies; (2) inspecting the companies for compliance with PCB regulations; and (3) taking enforcement actions against violators. GAO reported that, with regard to the first company, EPA: (1) inspected its facilities on three occasions between February 1982 and July 1985 and found storage violations during two inspections; (2) denied its request in December 1983 for an extension to destroy PCB; and (3) performed six different inspections between August 1985 and March 1986 and found storage, disposal, and recordkeeping violations. GAO noted that this company stopped its disposal operations on March 31, 1987. With regard to the second company, GAO reported that EPA: (1) inspected its facilities in September 1984 and found two storage violations; (2) performed four inspections between September 1985 and March 1986 and found violations involving inadequate recordkeeping, improper operating procedures, and improperly marked materials; (3) inspected its facilities in August and September 1986 and found more than 31 violations; and (4) refused to renew its permit for the old site or issue a permit for a new site until it corrected all past violations. GAO also commented on the fines EPA imposed on both companies for their respective violations.