April 26, 2017
By:
Walter G. Wright
Category:
Arkansas Environmental, Energy, and Water Law
Arkansas Environmental, Energy, and Water Law
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Thirty-two California District Attorneys entered into the settlement of a civil-environmental prosecution with Dolgen California and its subsidiary corporations to address alleged violations associated with hazardous waste management.
Dolgen and its subsidiary corporations own and operate Dollar General stores and a distribution center in California.
A Consent Judgment resolves allegations that the District Attorneys made in a civil enforcement lawsuit that had been filed on April 11, 2017 in California. The lawsuit alleged that Dollar General retail stores throughout the state and the company’s distribution center unlawfully handled and disposed of various hazardous wastes and materials over a five year period. The hazardous wastes allegedly addressed include:
- Automotive fluids
- Alkaline batteries
- Electronic wastes
- Aerosol cans
- Expired over-the-counter medications
- Other toxic, ignitable and corrosive wastes
News releases from two of the District Attorneys’ offices state that inspectors and environmental regulators conducted a series of undercover inspections of waste bins in Dollar General retail stores and facilities. The inspections allegedly revealed that Dollar General retail stores and their distribution center had been sending hazardous wastes to local landfills through California that were not permitted to receive those wastes.
Dollar General is stated to have been cooperative throughout the investigation and quickly responsive to a request to enhance its policies and procedures designed to eliminate the improper disposal of hazardous waste products in California stores.
The settlement requires that Dollar General:
- Label hazardous wastes
- Package and stores hazardous wastes to minimize risk of exposure to employees and customers
A $1.125 million dollar civil penalty is assessed.
A copy of news releases from two District Attorney offices referencing settlement can be downloaded here.
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