A Practical Guide to Surviving Multimedia Inspections

June 1994
Citation:
24
ELR 10305
Issue
6
Author
Carol Barry

Editors' Summary: Facility owners and operators that have become accustomed to environmental regulatory inspections that focus on a single medium are in for a change. EPA is placing greater emphasis on conducting multimedia inspections. This new focus requires that facilities be better prepared in order to minimize potential penalties. Focusing on potential RCRA, FWPCA, and CAA violations, this Article provides background on multimedia inspections and suggests steps that facility owners and operators can take to enhance their chances of safely surviving a multimedia inspection. The Article introduces and explains various strategies that can be employed before, during, and after a multimedia inspection for the purpose of reducing anxiety and the likelihood of incurring significant penalties.

Carol Barry is assistant counsel in the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) in Springfield, IL. In addition to her J.D., she has a B.S. in chemical engineering. The views expressed here are her own and do not necessarily represent those of the IEPA. Ms. Barry thanks Dan Merriman for his assistance.

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