Contact: Michael Globetti, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902
DNREC issues Penalty Assessment Order to Pat’s Aircraft, LLC
for hazardous waste and air pollution violations at Georgetown facility
DOVER (Jan. 13, 2011) – Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Secretary Collin O’Mara has issued a Notice of Administrative Penalty Assessment and Secretary’s Order to Pat’s Aircraft, LLC, for violations of Delaware’s Regulations Governing Hazardous Waste as well as violations of its permit issued by the Division of Air Quality. The penalty order totals $23,000, which includes cost recovery reimbursement to DNREC for expenses associated with the department’s investigation.
Pat’s Aircraft, located at 21652 Nanticoke Avenue, operates an aircraft systems manufacturing facility in Georgetown. The manufacturing process generates hazardous waste, which subjects the facility to requirements of Delaware’s Regulations Governing Hazardous Waste. The company is also subject to a synthetic minor permit issued by the Division of Air Quality for its aerospace coating operations, which has the potential to emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
DNREC’s Divisions of Waste and Hazardous Substances and Air Quality both conducted independent inspections and investigations of the facility that resulted in the discovery of multiple violations. DNREC issued a notice of violation to Pat’s dated January 4, 2010 for hazardous waste violations.
The violations covered by this order include but are not limited to: failure to notify the Department of a regulated status change, storing hazardous waste in open containers, improperly labeling containers of hazardous waste, and failing to conduct inspections of hazardous waste accumulation areas, in addition to other violations. The air-related violations include storing cloth or paper impregnated with VOCs in open containers, storing spent or fresh VOCs in open containers, and failure to maintain and operate the facility in a manner consistent with good air pollution control practice for minimizing emissions.
Pat’s has 30 days to request a public hearing. The Secretary’s order can be found online at http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/Info/Pages/SecOrders.aspx.
Vol. 41, No. 11
