(KRON) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Tuesday that it has settled claims of hazardous waste violations at an Apple microchip factory in Santa Clara.
In August 2023 and January 2024, federal regulators inspected Apple’s facility at 3250 Scott Boulevard after receiving a tip from the public. The inspections, according to the EPA, uncovered multiple violations, including failures of:
- Controlling air emissions from a solvent waste tank
- Properly characterizing hazardous waste
- Following hazardous waste container management standards
- Maintaining a permit to store hazardous waste for more than 90 days
- Properly labeling and dating hazardous waste containers
- Performing and documenting daily inspections of hazardous waste tanks
To remedy the violations, Apple updated its solvent waste management standards and installed a device that controls air emissions from its solvent tank, the EPA said. It has since returned to compliance with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.
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The agency also levied a penalty of $261,283 against Apple over the waste violation claims.
“EPA’s actions will protect human health and the environment in the community of Santa Clara from the risk of hazardous waste,” said Amy Miller, director of EPA’s Pacific Southwest Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division…