ROME, NY – Premier Aviation Overhaul Center LTD, an aircraft maintenance and painting facility in Rome, New York, has been penalized for improperly handling and concealing hazardous chromium waste, according to court documents unsealed this week. The company pled guilty in November 2017 to a federal crime stemming from a 2014 incident where waste materials exceeded legal limits by a significant margin.
The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Criminal Investigation Division (CID) discovered that in February 2014, Premier Aviation employees disposed of large sheets of plastic contaminated with chromium – a byproduct of the airplane paint stripping process – into a trash compactor. Crucially, the company failed to update the compactor’s labeling to reflect the presence of the hazardous waste. This omission constituted a deliberate attempt to mask the illegal storage and disposal of dangerous materials.
Investigators found that the chromium levels on the plastic sheets within the compactor were approximately 23 times higher than the legally permissible limit. The waste remained improperly contained for roughly two weeks before being seized by law enforcement. The facility’s actions not only presented a potential environmental hazard but also a clear violation of federal regulations governing hazardous waste management. Premier Aviation ultimately admitted to being an accessory after the fact to the environmental crime, acknowledging their failure to report the illegal storage.
Legal Ramifications
Premier Aviation was sentenced by United States Magistrate Judge Thérèse Wiley Dancks to pay a $40,000 fine for violating Title 18 U.S. Criminal Code, specifically 18 U.S.C. 3, which addresses obstruction of justice and concealing material facts. The plea agreement extended beyond a monetary penalty, requiring the company to implement significant changes to its waste management protocols.
Compliance & Monitoring
As part of the agreement, Premier Aviation is mandated to provide the EPA with quarterly reports detailing hazardous waste generation, storage, and disposal. All employees involved in paint stripping or hazardous material handling must undergo specialized waste and emergency response training. Furthermore, the company was required to draft and adhere to a Hazardous Waste Reduction Plan, vetted and approved by both the EPA and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).
Ongoing Oversight
Perhaps most significantly, Premier Aviation agreed to allow unannounced inspections by both the EPA-CID and DEC until September 30, 2018, ensuring continuous monitoring of their compliance with the plea agreement and all relevant environmental laws. This level of oversight underscores the seriousness of the offense and the agency’s commitment to holding companies accountable for environmental violations.
Key Facts
- Defendant: Premier Aviation Overhaul Center LTD
- Location: Rome, New York
- Crime: Improper disposal of hazardous chromium waste and failure to report
- Statutes Violated: 18 U.S.C. 3 (Title 18 U.S. Criminal Code)
- Penalty: $40,000 fine
- Corrective Actions: Quarterly reporting, employee training, Hazardous Waste Reduction Plan, unannounced inspections.
- Timeline: Incident occurred February 2014; guilty plea November 1, 2017
GrimyTimes will continue to follow this case and report on any further developments regarding Premier Aviation’s compliance with environmental regulations.
Source: EPA ECHO Enforcement Case Database
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