Toxic Dumps Firm to Pay $3.2 Million in Sanctions

The International Technology Corp., operator of two of the state’s few remaining sites for dumping the most hazardous toxic wastes, has agreed to pay a record $2.1 million in fines and make $1.1 million in improvements at its facilities in Northern California, state health officials announced Wednesday.

The $3.2-million settlement figure exceeds the total of all the fines collected under California’s hazardous waste disposal laws to date, said Susan Bertken, staff attorney with the state Department of Health Services.

The agreement came in response to findings of investigations by the department and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency into violations at the company’s facilities near Benecia and Martinez, northeast of San Francisco Bay.

Deukmejian Administration officials hailed the settlement as a sign of its commitment to tough enforcement of state environmental laws.

“This is a very significant settlement and is indicative of our stringent and aggressive surveillance program,” Dr. Kenneth W. Kizer, director of health services, said in a prepared statement.

Form of Agreement

In agreeing to a series of payments and corrective actions, the company did not admit to any wrongdoing, according to papers filed in Contra Costa Superior Court.

However, as part of the settlement, the company did agree to put up an additional $300,000 if other serious violations are found at either of the two sites in the future.

Under state law that calls for fines of up to $25,000 a day per violation, the company might have faced penalties totaling as much as $12 million had the case not been settled, Bertken estimated.

The International Technology plants are among the four remaining “class one” sites in California where industry can dispose of the most toxic hazardous wastes. Studies have concluded that all these dumps are leaking. These and other problems caused closure of the Benecia site in December, Bertken said.

Inspectors’ Complaints

After inspections at the dump sites, state and federal inspectors complained that the company failed to operate the facilities in a way that would “minimize the possibility of a fire, explosion, or any unplanned, sudden, or nonsudden release of hazardous waste” into the environment, court documents said.

One of the more serious allegations involved the operation of an unlawful tank for storing toxic waste that was not on the grounds of licensed facilities.

Local government officials have long complained about the potential threat that the facilities pose to neighboring communities.

Under the binding agreement the company will spend $1.1 million on emergency response equipment at each site and in aid to medical facilities in the surrounding area, as well as repairs and fencing to improve safety.