Federal Facilities FY 2022 Annual Results
Federal Facilities are defined as buildings, installations, structures, land, public works, equipment, aircraft, vessels, other vehicles, and property, owned, constructed or manufactured for leasing to the Federal government. Federal agencies and their facilities must comply with environmental laws and requirements in the same manner and to the same extent as any other regulated facility. Below are some of the case highlights from the Federal Facilities portfolio.
On this page:
- Consent Agreement and Final Order with the U.S. Air Force regarding Eareckson Air Station
- Consent Agreement and Final Order with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regarding the Washington Aqueduct
- Improved Pollutant Discharge Permit Compliance at Federal Facilities
- Improved Process for Dispute Resolution at Federal Facility Superfund Sites
Consent Agreement and Final Order (CAFO) with the U.S. Air Force regarding Eareckson Air Station
On June 3, 2022, EPA signed a CAFO with the U.S. Air Force at Eareckson Air Station (Air Force) on Shemya Island, Alaska, for Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Subtitle C violations related to the mismanagement of 55,000 pounds of hazardous waste. In 2017, the Air Force began generating and storing more than 55,000 pounds of hazardous waste at the facility without the required RCRA storage permit and failed to properly manage universal waste. In addition to paying a $206,811 penalty, the Air Force agreed to ship off-site and properly dispose of the hazardous waste by June 2022. The Air Force also committed to improve its hazardous and universal waste management practices and conduct RCRA closure where hazardous waste was improperly stored. When the Air Station did not fully comply with the CAFO, EPA issued a Notice of Violation; the Air Force then submitted the required Hazardous Waste Storage Tank Closure Plan.
CAFO with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regarding the Washington Aqueduct
On May 4, 2022, EPA signed a CAFO with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps) at the Washington Aqueduct water treatment facility in Washington, D.C., for RCRA violations related to inspections, employee training, and failure to submit a biennial report. This was particularly important as the facility had conducted a large construction project that generated roughly 49 tons of lead grit, a RCRA hazardous waste. As part of the settlement, Army Corps certified its compliance with applicable RCRA requirements and agreed to a $60,191 penalty. Fortunately, RCRA violations at the facility did not impact drinking water quality.
Improved Pollutant Discharge Permit Compliance at Federal Facilities
In fiscal year (FY) 2022, EPA and the states continued efforts to address federal facilities that were in significant noncompliance with permits for pollutants discharged to waters of the U.S. EPA outreach and support helped federal agencies return these federal facilities to compliance and prevent future noncompliance, including at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Williams Creek National Fish Hatchery located at the Fort Apache Indian Reservation in Arizona, where the facility’s effluent water exceeded the phosphorous limit. EPA finalized a Federal Facilities Compliance Agreement requiring the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to take corrective actions to reduce the amount of phosphorous discharged to surface water. As a result of this and other efforts, the rate of federal facilities in significant noncompliance with these Clean Water Act permits dropped by 64 percent compared to the FY 2018 baseline, helping to improve water quality and to protect people’s health.
Improved Process for Dispute Resolution at Federal Facility Superfund Sites
In FY 2022, EPA resolved 10 Superfund disputes at federal facility sites. To more quickly resolve outstanding disputes, including disputes near or in communities with environmental justice concerns, EPA increased the frequency of outreach to involved parties, carefully considered all options for timely cleanup in a manner protective of the public, and helped to ensure adherence to dispute resolution timeframes. Efficient resolution of these Superfund disputes enables the expeditious and protective clean-up at federal facility Superfund sites, which are often the largest and most complex sites in the Superfund Program.