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Information for Prisons and Correctional Institutions
United States Environmental Protection Agency, in partnership with state environmental agencies, is alerting prisons and correctional facilities throughout the mid-Atlantic states about their responsibility to comply with environmental laws and regulations.(See full Article)
To increase compliance and awareness, Samantha Phillips Beers, Esq., Director of EPA Mid-Atlantic Region's Office of Enforcement, Compliance and Environmental Justice announced this effort in a news release (Click for News Release).
Region III has over 100 prisons which have been found to commonly violate RCRA-C, SPCC and other environmental regulations. The Office of Enforcement, Compliance and Environmental Justice has targeted overcrowded, older facilities with industrial shops suspected of causing environmental damage. The integrated prison initiative combined outreach, compliance assistance, inspections and enforcement actions to improve the understanding of environmental requirements and compliance behavior of correctional facilities. Recently, the EPA Mid-Atlantic Region created a survey to determine the effectiveness of outreach in regards to the Region's Integrated Prison Initiative. The goal of this survey was to determine if any changes have occurred in the awareness of regulations and routine practices among Prison and Correctional Facilities, and to determine the effectiveness of EPA outreach efforts.
Mid-Atlantic Region Prison Enforcement Actions
- EPA Settles Multi-Facility Enforcement Action with the Virginia Department of Corrections - October 5, 2004
- Environmental Violations Found at Virginia's Greensville Correctional Center - Action is part of an EPA initiative at prisons - November 29, 2003
- Maryland
to Improve Environmental Management at 34 Prisons as Part of Jessup
Prison Settlement -
EPA Also Cites Mt. Olive Prison in West Virginia As Part of Ongoing Compliance Initiative - June 11, 2003 - Philadelphia Prison Settles Alleged Violations of Hazardous Waste Storage and Oil Spill Prevention Regulations - December 06, 2002
- EPA Cites Environmental Violations at Philadelphia and Smyrna, Del. Prisons - March 28, 2002
- EPA
Cites Environmental Violations at Jessup Prison - October 04, 2001
- Graterford
State Prison Cited for Alleged Violations of Environmental Laws - October 19, 2000
- District
Pays $20K for Lacking Oil Spill Safeguards at Lorton Prison - October
4, 1999
- Complete listing of all Mid-Atlantic Region Press Releases
Common Environmental Violations
Environmental problems at some prisons frequently include improper handling and disposal of hazardous waste materials, inadequate monitoring of underground storage tanks, and the failure to have Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure Plan in place. The EPA offers a wide variety of compliance assistance resources and tools designed to assist facilities in complying with federal and state environmental laws. These resources can help facilities understand their obligations, improve compliance and find cost-effective ways to comply through the use of pollution prevention and other innovative technologies. You may want to bookmark or have some of the following links and phone numbers added to your website for future reference:
EPA Websites
EPA offers a great deal of compliance assistance and other environmental information and materials on the following Websites:
| EPA’s Home Page |
| List of State Contacts |
| Enforcement Policy and Guidance |
| Compliance Assistance Home Page |
| Mid-Atlantic Region Enforcement and Compliance |
| Environmental Audits & Self-Disclosures |
Hotlines
EPA sponsors approximately 89 hotlines and clearinghouses that provide free and convenient avenues to obtain assistance with environmental requirements. Key hotlines that may be of interest to you include:
| RCRA/UST/CERCLA Hotline | (800) 424-9346 |
| Toxics Substances and Asbestos Information | (202) 554-1404 |
| Safe Drinking Water | (800) 426-4791 |
| Stratospheric Ozone/CFC Information | (800) 296-1996 |
| Clean Air Technical Center | (919) 541-0800 |
| Wetlands Hotline | (800) 832-7828 |
Compliance Assistance Centers
EPA has established national compliance assistance centers, in partnership with industry, academic institutions, and other federal and state agencies, that provide on-line and fax back assistance services in the following sectors which also may apply to multifaceted facilities.
| Access to All Centers |
| Agriculture (1-888-633-2155) |
Automotive (1-888-GRN-LINK)  |
| Chemical
Industry (1-800-672-6048) |
| Metal
Finishing (1-800-AT-NMFRC) |
| Local
Governments (1-877-TO-LGEAN) |
| Paints
and Coatings Center |
| Printing (1-888-USPNEAC) |
| Printed
Wiring Board Manufacturing |
| Transportation
Industry |
Compliance Policies
EPA’s Compliance
Incentives for Small Business Policy and Small
Communities Policy are intended to promote environmental compliance
among small businesses by providing incentives such as penalty waivers
and reductions for participation in compliance assistance programs, and
encouraging voluntary disclosure and prompt correction of violations.
These policies can not be applied to an enforcement action that has already
been initiated. Contact Ginger Gotliffe (202-564-2310) for information
on the Small Business Policy and Ken Harmon (202-564-2310) for information
on the Small Communities Policy
Additional Information
- Contact Betty Barnes (barnes.betty@epa.gov) at 215-814-3447.
- Public Information Hotline - 800-438-2474
- Business Assistance Hotline - 800-228-8711