June 29

A Federal Court in Alaska has ordered Nancy and James Oliver, doing business as Safety Waste Incineration in Wasilla, Alaska, to stop receiving, incinerating or handling hospital, medical and infectious waste after July 1, according to the U.S. EPA.

Judge John W. Sedwick, of the U.S. District Court of Alaska, issued a permanent injunction in a case brought by the EPA to get Safety Waste to comply with requirements of the U.S. Clean Air Act.

Last year, the court ruled that the Olivers had been violating the Clean Air Act and the Federal Plan Requirements for Hospital/Medical/Infectious Waste Incinerators since October 2002. This past March, the court held a five-day trial to determine the appropriate remedy for Safety Waste’s long-standing violations. Besides granting the permanent injunction, the court imposed a penalty of $75,000, the EPA said.

Bringing Safety Waste Incineration into compliance will reduce the public´s exposure to hydrogen chloride, dioxins and heavy metals, the EPA added.

The court found that Olivers’ violations were "willful" and highlighted the EPA’s numerous, sustained efforts to get Safety Waste into compliance before resorting to court action.

Contact Waste & Recycling News senior reporter Bruce Geiselman at 330-865-6172 or bgeiselman@crain.com

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