Company illegally disposed of hazardous waste at its California facilities
OAKLAND, CA — Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley announced today that her office, along with fifteen other district attorneys and one city attorneys statewide, settled a case with Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) resolving allegations that the company failed to properly manage and dispose of hazardous waste at its facilities throughout the state.
ODFL, a trucking transportation company, is ordered to pay a total of $1.36 million in civil penalties, costs, and supplemental environmental projects. It is also ordered to implement an improved hazardous waste compliance program at its service centers and repair facilities in California.
The judgment, filed this week in Orange County, is the result of an investigation into numerous unlawful practices by ODFL, including illegal disposal of hazardous waste in ODFL trash receptacles, unlawful transport of hazardous waste out of state without proper documentation and without a transporter’s registration, and failure to train employees in the proper management of hazardous waste. These hazardous wastes included commercial chemical products, paint materials, electronic devices, batteries, ignitable liquids, aerosol products, cleaning agents, and other flammable, reactive, toxic, and corrosive materials.
“The protection of our community and the environment are top priorities of our office. Illegal disposal, transportation, and mismanagement of hazardous waste by untrained employees pose serious risks to the environment, public health, and worker safety,” said DA O’Malley. “We will continue to work with our partners in other offices around the state to serve the public by holding businesses accountable for violating these laws designed to ensure the environment and public are safe from harm caused by unlawful management and disposal of hazardous waste.”
Shortly after prosecutors brought these matters to ODFL’s attention, ODFL developed and implemented new policies, procedures, and training programs designed to properly manage and dispose of hazardous waste. ODFL cooperated with prosecutors throughout the investigation and evaluation of this matter.
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Contact: Public Information Officer Angela Ruggiero // Angela.Ruggiero@acgov.org // (510) 919-0081