November 21, 2000
Vol. 30, No. 352

For more information, contact Donald White, Office of Information and Education, 302-739-4506, or email: dwhite@dnrec.state.de.us

DNREC Assesses Penalty to Maryland Company for False Statements on Hazardous Waste Permit Application

Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Secretary Nicholas A. DiPasquale issued a Notice of Administrative Penalty Assessment and Order with a penalty of $2,500 to Richland's Used Oil Company of North East, Md. on Nov. 17. The company was cited for providing false information about its environmental record in an application for a hazardous waste transporter permit.

DNREC's Solid and Hazardous Waste Management Branch received the permit request for transportation of used oil and spent antifreeze on Sept. 7, 1999. The application signed by Harold Coleman, owner of Richland's, indicated there were "no violations within the specified time period."

A background investigation to verify the information on the application revealed that Coleman had four prior environmental arrests by DNREC, two of which were in the last five years - the reporting period required by the application. By providing false information with regard to his enforcement history, Coleman interfered with DNREC's ability to adequately evaluate the permit application in violation of Delaware Law (7 Del. C., Section 6015). One arrest in February 1996 was for transporting hazardous waste without a valid permit; the second on the same date was for having an expired fuel tax stamp. At that time, Coleman was transporting in Delaware as an employee of Mid Atlantic Oil Management Service.

On Friday, Nov. 17, Coleman paid $625, or 25 percent of the penalty assessment as required by the Order. The remaining $1,875 is suspended based on and subject to Coleman's compliance with the following terms agreed upon Nov. 17.

• Submit to the Department a revised listing of all notices of violations, criminal citations, arrests, convictions, and criminal, civil or administrative penalties assessed against him, regardless of the State where the violations occurred, within 30 days.
• Accept a permit for a period of six months with an added condition that will require a report of any new environmental violations to the Department within 15 days of their occurrence for the duration of the permit.

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Document no. 40-01/00/11/12

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