The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently fined Pacific Galvanizing, Inc., $13,900 for violations of federal hazardous waste laws at its facility in Oakland, Calif.

EPA inspectors discovered a number of violations at Pacific Galvanizing during a routine inspection in March of 2004, including hazardous waste stored without a permit; inadequate hazardous waste training programs for employees; and failure to maintain a complete contingency plan in case of a hazardous waste release. In addition, the company had not been performing the requisite weekly inspections of its hazardous waste storage area.

These are violations of the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, which regulates hazardous waste storage and handling.

Pacific Galvanizing, a zinc galvanizer of steel parts, generates two federally regulated hazardous wastes: floor sweepings contaminated with chromium and lead, and solvent waste from parts washing.