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RCRA Penalty Explorer

Browse curated RCRA hazardous waste penalty examples and EPA enforcement context by violation type, state, and citation.

RCRA 3008(g) Penalty Ceiling

$93,058/day per violation

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Facility TypeLocationCitationPrimary ViolationPenalty
Regional Logistics Hub
Region 5 Ohio
40 CFR 262.20(a)(1) / e-ManifestLQG/SQG failure to register and maintain an e-Manifest account (effective Jan. 22, 2025)$32,400
Industrial Paint Shop
Region 4 South Carolina
40 CFR 262.15 / 262.16 / 262.17Missing "Hazardous Waste" labels on 12 drums$62,000
Systemic Waste Services
Federal HQ / Nationwide
40 CFR 262.20Systemic nationwide manifest violations$9,500,000
Chemical Manufacturer
Region 10 Oregon
40 CFR 262.17Systemic storage and permit violations$500,000
Tech Hardware Corp
Region 9 California
40 CFR 262.11Failing to make accurate waste determinations$261,283
Paint & Coatings Mfg
Region 4 Florida
40 CFR 262.17(a)(1)(v)Failure to perform and document weekly CAA inspections$213,750
Rubber Manufacturing
Region 7 Nebraska
40 CFR 270.1Operating without a permit (Unpermitted storage)$153,174
Plastic Packaging Co
Region 7 Kansas
40 CFR 262.11Failure to make hazardous waste determinations$182,879
Industrial Parts Washer
Region 4 North Carolina
40 CFR 262.42Failure to file manifest Exception Report$42,500
Aerospace Manufacturer
Region 8 Colorado
40 CFR 262.17Storage time limit exceeded (90-day rule)$93,058
University Chemistry Lab
Region 1 Massachusetts
40 CFR 262.15 / 262.17(a)(1)(v)Open SAA containers & failure to document weekly CAA inspections$112,400
Metal Finishing Plant
Region 9 California
40 CFR 262.11Failure to make hazardous waste determination$245,000
Automotive Parts Supplier
Region 5 Michigan
40 CFR 262.42Failure to investigate or file Exception Report for unreturned manifest$68,200
Retail Distribution Center
Region 4 Georgia
40 CFR 262.17Failure to provide annual refresher training$42,500
Electronics Recycler
Region 6 Texas
40 CFR 262.11Failure to perform waste determination on CRTs$185,000

Examples are curated from public EPA enforcement materials and ECHO/RCRAInfo penalty data. Amounts reflect civil penalties or settlement examples; anonymized rows are provided for educational context. As of January 8, 2025, RCRA 3008(g) penalties can reach $93,058 per day, per violation.

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Why are RCRA fines so high?

The EPA uses "Economic Benefit" and "Gravity" calculations to determine penalties. Even small administrative errors can scale quickly.

Daily Accrual

RCRA fines accrue daily. A 10-day storage delay isn't one violation—it is 10 violations, each carrying a potential $93k penalty.

Multi-Media Inspections

Inspectors rarely stop at waste. Once they find a labeling error, they will audit your Air, Water, and EPCRA records too.

Personal Liability

Under certain conditions, the EPA can hold individual EHS managers personally liable for knowing and willful violations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about EPA enforcement and penalties.

How does the EPA calculate civil penalties?

RCRA penalty calculations generally start with gravity-based factors, add any appropriate multi-day component, adjust for case-specific facts such as good faith or ability to pay, and add economic benefit from noncompliance where applicable.

Can individuals be held personally liable?

Yes. Under the RCRA criminal provisions, corporate officers and EHS managers can face personal fines and imprisonment if they "knowingly" transport, treat, or store hazardous waste in violation of the law.

What is the BEN model?

BEN is a computer model used by the EPA to calculate the economic benefit of noncompliance. It ensures that a facility doesn't gain a competitive advantage by delaying or avoiding compliance costs.

Don't be a statistic.

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