Sherwin-Williams Agrees to $570,000 EPA Fine

Sherwin-Williams Co. has agreed to pay a $570,000 fine for alleged hazardous waste violations at a Baltimore paint manufacturing facility.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency cited Sherwin-Williams for violating the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) involving hazardous waste stored at the facility, including waste paint, waste resin and used aerosol cans, the agency said in a news release.

Specifically, EPA alleged the following violations: Storage of 55-gallon drums of waste paint for greater than 90 days; failure to date and properly label hazardous waste containers; failure to properly close and prevent hazardous waste containers from leaking; failure to comply with certain inspection requirements for hazardous waste containers; and failure to immediately respond to a release at the facility.

The agency said the $570,000 settlement penalty reflects the company’s compliance efforts and its cooperation with EPA. As part of the settlement, Sherwin-Williams has neither admitted nor denied liability for the alleged violations, but has certified its compliance with applicable RCRA requirements.