Eight organizations — including Widener University School of Law Harrisburg Campus in Harrisburg, Penn., and Waynesburg (Penn.) College — voluntarily disclosed and corrected environmental violations had penalties waived by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in October.
These recent self-audit cases handled by EPA’s mid-Atlantic regional office had potential penalties ranging from $1,000 to about $764,000 for environmental violations that the agency determined caused no harm to human health or the environment. Altogether, the organizations located in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia avoided about $1.2 million in fines.
EPA’s audit policy can cover most regulatory requirements under the agency’s environmental statutes, such as reporting on using or storing toxic chemicals, proper record keeping, oil spill prevention measures, and notifying residential tenants about the presence of lead-based paint. The recent self-audit cases include:
Widener University School of Law’s Harrisburg campus. In March 2004, Widener self-reported violations to EPA under three environmental statutes. EPA found three violations: non-compliance with three requirements for managing waste. A $1,650 penalty was waived.
Waynesburg College. Violations were found for failure to notify tenants about the presence of lead-based paint, not following the proper procedures for managing hazardous waste, and failure to follow necessary oil-spill-prevention requirements. Through an agreement with the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania, EPA encourages compliance and self-disclosure of violations. As a participant under that agreement and due to EPA’s self-audit policy, Waynesburg College received a $74,524 penalty waiver.
For information on audits and compliance assistance, visit www.epa.gov/compliance/incentives/index.html
