The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reached a settlement with the Sherwin-Williams Company, operating as Engineered Polymer Solutions, over violations of federal hazardous waste regulations at its manufacturing site in Commerce, California.

The facility has been ordered to pay a civil penalty of $306,436 and take corrective actions to return to compliance with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).

According to the EPA, a routine inspection revealed several violations of hazardous waste laws. These included the facility’s failure to properly identify and classify hazardous waste materials such as xylene, toluene, and butanol. The agency also found that the company did not comply with air emission standards for equipment and waste storage tanks, lacked adequate secondary containment systems, and failed to carry out required daily inspections of hazardous waste storage areas.

In addition, the facility had not determined whether some of its waste required treatment prior to disposal, as mandated by federal law. Under the terms of the settlement, Sherwin-Williams must provide documentation to EPA confirming the classification of its waste and its compliance with air emission regulations for certain equipment and tanks.

The Commerce facility manufactures resin products that serve as base materials for paints. These processes can produce hazardous byproducts that must be managed under strict federal guidelines to prevent harm to workers, nearby communities, and the environment.

The RCRA statute, enacted in 1976, establishes the framework for proper hazardous waste management in the United States. EPA’s enforcement of these regulations aims to ensure that facilities handling dangerous materials do so in a manner that protects public health and environmental safety.