Source: Los Angeles Times, June 25, 2014
Posted on: http://envfpn.advisen.com
The Albertsons company was ordered Tuesday to pay more than $3 million to settle a lawsuit accusing the grocery chain of illegal disposal, transportation, storage and mismanagement of hazardous waste at its 188 California locations.
The company agreed to pay $3.4 million, including $2.7 million in civil penalties; $300,000 for the cost of the investigation; and $350,000 for supplemental environmental projects. The fines are the result of violations of the California Hazardous Waste Law, according to a news release from the Orange County district attorney’s office.
Albertsons did not admit fault or liability, according to the release.
Waste generated at the 188 retail stores and two distribution centers in the state included over-the-counter medications, pharmaceuticals, aerosol products, ignitable liquids, batteries, electronic devices, pool chemicals and other products that contain hazardous materials, according to the release.
The settlement is the result of enforcement action that began June 4 in Orange County on behalf of 11 agencies led by the district attorneys in Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Ventura counties, as well as the Los Angeles city attorney’s office.
In addition to the settlement costs, Albertsons is required to pay for development and enforcement of disposing of hazardous waste at its California facilities.