08/23/2013: Hazardous Waste Settlement Leads to School Cleanups in 60 Schools in R.I. Page 1 of 3

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CA. Search this collection of releases I or search Hazardous Waste Settlement Leads to School Cleanups in 60 Schools all news releases in R.I. and Mass. Get news releases by email /iew selected historical press releases Release Date: 08/23/2013 from 1970 to 1998 in the EPA History website. Contact Information: David Deegan, (617) 918-1017

(Boston, Mass. — August 23, 2013) — A commercial waste handler in Rhode Island has agreed to pay a fine of $58,278 and Recent additions to spend $252,152 to clean hazardous chemicals out of approximately 60 schools in Rhode Island and in order to settle EPA claims that the company violated state and federal hazardous waste laws at a facility in Providence, R.I. 08/23/2013 EPA Proposes Plan to Address Contaminated Northland Environmental and its owner, PSC Environmental Services, will remove chemicals from 60 high schools and Soils and Ground Water at middle schools within a 50-mile radius of their Providence facility at 275 Aliens Ave. where the violations occurred. The Maywood Chemical Company Superfund Site in companies have agreed to pack up and properly dispose of both hazardous and non-hazardous wastes stored at the Maywood and Rochelle schools; to do hazardous waste training for science and art teachers; and to purchase safety equipment such as storage Park, New Jersey; Cleanup cabinets for flammable chemicals, eye washes and deluge showers for classrooms where hazardous chemicals are used. Estimated to Cost $17 This project will be done over 18 months during times when the schools are closed. Million' Plan Will Address Contamination at Former Maywood Chemical Works EPA alleged that Northland/PSC Environmental Services violated the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act 08/23/2013 Hazardous VVaste (RCRA) and state hazardous waste laws by failing to properly identify certain hazardous wastes and failing to properly Settlement Leads to School maintain hazardous waste tanks and containers. These alleged violations could have resulted in the release of hazardous Cleat upsin 60 Schools in wastes to the environment. The company also stored incompatible hazardous wastes next to one another, creating a R-LPO potential for fire or explosions. The company quickly came into compliance after the violations were identified. 08/22/2013 EPA Chief Gina McCarthy will visit Alaska to highlight climate action plan and tour "All facilities that generate or manage hazardous wastes have an obligation to make sure they carefully adhere to the Bristol Bay environmental requirements that result in safer, cleaner communities," said Curt Spalding, regional administrator of EPA's 08/22/2013 EPA Awards $1 Million New England office. "This case will have a positive outcome, since the projects under this settlement will help provide safer Brownfield Grant to classrooms at many schools in Rhode Island and Massachusetts." Downriver Community Conference in Southeast Michigan The school clean outs will involve removing outdated and unwanted chemicals from schools at no cost to the participating 08/22/2013 U.S. EPA Announces schools. Chemical management is often a low priority for schools and it is not uncommon for school science departments to Brownfield Grants for have outdated and unneeded stock chemicals present. Genesee County and Mott Community College in Flint "I want to thank the EPA and the Cranston School Department for working cooperatively to provide a safe environment for our students," said City of Cranston Mayor Allan Fung.

"We are pleased to see funds from EPA actions like this reinvested in making Rhode Island a cleaner and safer place," said Terrence Gray, P.E., Associate Director for Air, Waste and Compliance at the RI Department of Environmental Management. "For many years, DEM has directly supported school districts across Rhode Island by removing old and unnecessary chemicals, but that effort has always been limited by the resources we have available. This recent investment extends this important initiative so that more of these dangerous materials can be taken out of our schools, providing a much safer environment for students and educators."

"The science classroom environment is of the utmost importance as we work to support teaching and learning for students and teachers. Safety is our first concern so we were delighted to have a partnership with the EPA Integrated Chemical Management Program (ICM) who worked with our science teachers to inventory, organize chemicals, with regards to safety and to the benefit of classroom use. Working with this program provided our teachers with invaluable insights with regards to managing chemical supplies. The ultimate goal is to maximize safety and learning of science inquiry in Cranston Public Schools," said Dr. Judith Lundsten, Superintendant Cranston Public Schools.

Rhode Island schools within a 50-mile radius of the Northland facility were sent emails letting them know of this opportunity to have toxic, hazardous, or chemicals prohibited by the state removed by participating in this project. Schools that were interested provided a list of the chemicals that need to be removed. Cranston, R.I. is using the opportunity to provide both East and West High School with chemical cleanouts before school starts on Aug. 27.

In addition to paying the fine and completing the environmental project, Northland/PSC has agreed to make sure the Providence facility remains in compliance with federal and state hazardous waste management regulations.

Northland/PSC's Providence facility accepts and handles a broad spectrum of wastes including acids, alkalis, flammable wastes, water reactive wastes, cyanides, sulfides, oxidizers, toxic wastes, oily wastes, photochemical wastes and laboratory packs. Hazardous and non-hazardous wastes are received, stored and or consolidated and then shipped off site for treatment or disposal.

More information on hazardous waste management: htt.://www.e.a. oy/r of 1/enforcer n dex.html

http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/dOcf6618525a9efb85257359003fb69d/3e7aea67.. . 8/23/2013 08/23/2013: Hazardous Waste Settlement Leads to School Cleanups in 60 Schools in R.I. ... Page 2 of 3

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Attachment: List of Schools provided with hazardous waste cleanup under this settlement:

RHODE ISLAND

Barrington High School Barrington Mt. Hope High School Bristol Our Lady of Mount Carmel Bristol Central Falls Senior High School Central Falls Cranston High School East Cranston Cranston High School West Cranston New England Laborers'/Cranston Public Schools Construction Career Academy Cranston Joseph McCourt Middle School Cumberland East Providence High School East Providence Burrillville High School Harrisville Burrillville Middle School Harrisville Johnston Senior High School Johnston Lincoln Senior High School Lincoln William M. Davies, Jr Career and Technical High School Lincoln Rogers High School Newport North Providence High School North Providence Ponaganset High School North Scituate North Smithfield High School North Smithfield Blackstone Academy Charter School Pawtucket William E. Tolman Senior High School Pawtucket Portsmouth High School Portsmouth DelSesto Middle School Providence Mount Pleasant High School Providence School One Providence Smithfield High School Smithfield Tiverton High School Tiverton Curtis Corner Middle School Wakefield Toll Gate High School Warwick Pilgrim High School Warwick Warwick Veterans Memorial HS Warwick Chariho Regional High School Wood River Junction Exeter-West Greenwich Regional High School West Greenwich Westerly High School Westerly

MASSACHUSETTS

Braintree High School Braintree Brockton B.M.C. Durfee High School Fall River Malden Medford High School Medford Middleborough High School Middleborough Plymouth North High School Plymouth Plymouth South High School Plymouth Quincy Quincy High School Quincy Randolph High School Randolph Revere High School Revere Saugus High School Saugus Walpole Waltham - Burncoat Middle School Worcester - Forest Grove Middle School Worcester - Dr. Arthur F. Sullivan Middle School Worcester - Worcester East Middle School Worcester - Worcester - Claremont Academy Worcester - Doherty Memorial High School Worcester - North High School Worcester - South High Community School Worcester - University Park Campus School Worcester - Worcester Technical High School Worcester

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