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EPA fines UH
$505,000 for handling
of hazardous waste

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Star-Bulletin staff

The University of Hawaii has been penalized $505,000 and will be required to undergo a $1.2 million system-wide audit of hazardous-waste disposal, under a settlement reached with the Environmental Protection Agency.

The settlement, announced yesterday, is one of the largest ever for hazardous-waste violations in the Pacific Southwest.

"The university had significant violations of hazardous-waste requirements for storing and disposing of chemicals," said Jeff Scott, with the EPA's hazardous waste division for the Pacific Southwest. "This clearly teaches the wrong lesson about hazardous waste and chemical safety."

Bruce Anderson, State Health director, said the university has cooperated with the state's investigation since 1997. "This, however, does not excuse the past lack of attention to the problem."

The EPA and State Department of Health found hundreds of hazardous chemicals and explosives improperly stored in corroding and leaking containers at UH locations in Manoa, Kauai and Hilo.

Under the settlement, $120,000 of the penalty goes to the U.S. government; $385,000 to the state.