Tesla Fined for Hazardous Waste and Emissions Problems
FREMONT, CA—Tesla Motors violated hazardous-waste and air-emissions standards at its electric-car assembly plant here and will pay $86,000 in penalties and equipment costs as part of a settlement, the Environmental Protection Agency announced Monday.
The EPA said it conducted unannounced inspections of the plant in 2017 and found that Tesla was failing to properly manage hazardous wastes, was not adequately determining whether some of its solid wastes were hazardous, and was violating air emissions standards for equipment leaks. The state Department of Toxic Substances Control and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District also took part in the inspection.
The company has now corrected those violations and has provided training in hazardous waste management to more than 1,100 paint shop workers, technicians and supervisors, the EPA said.
In the settlement announced Monday, the EPA said Tesla would pay a $31,000 penalty, spend $55,000 on emergency response equipment for the Fremont Fire Department, and take further steps to improve waste management at the factory.
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