The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) in has issued a notice of administrative penalty and secretary’s order to the DuPont Experimental Station in Wilmington, Delaware, for violations of state laws and regulations governing hazardous waste, with DuPont ordered to pay a penalty of $53,600 along with $3,350 in cost recovery for the department’s investigation.
DuPont operates the Experimental Station, a research and development facility. Components of the facility include a hazardous waste incinerator and hazardous waste storage pads. Because of its operations, the DuPont Experimental Station is classified as a large quantity generator of hazardous waste and a permitted storage facility.
On May 16, 2017, representatives from DNREC’s division of waste and hazardous substances conducted a compliance assessment at the DuPont Experimental Station. The assessment identified two violations of Delaware’s regulations governing hazardous waste, including storing waste over the one-year storage limit and failing to properly identify hazardous waste. The waste identified during the May assessment was generated by Chemours, a global chemical company headquartered in Wilmington, but was received by DuPont and stored on DuPont’s permitted storage pads. As such, the waste was in DuPont’s possession and compliance responsibilities remain with DuPont.
On July 11, 2017, DNREC representatives conducted a second compliance assessment at the facility. This assessment identified a third violation of storing hazardous waste for more than the one-year storage limit. The waste identified in the July assessment was generated by DuPont and was stored on DuPont’s permitted storage pads.
The secretary’s order can be found on the DNREC website at www.dnrec.delaware.gov/Info/Pages/SecOrders_Enforcement.aspx. DuPont has 30 days to appeal the order.