Hazardous Materials

The U.S. attorney's office in Los Angeles is conducting a criminal investigation into Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s handling of merchandise classified as hazardous waste. The world's largest retailer said in a regulatory filing that prosecutors were probing potential violations of the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, which regulates the transportation, handling and disposal of waste.

The Environmental Protection Agency, using Coast Guard personnel, today will begin a cleanup of large drums of hazardous waste left behind when a photo-engraving company was evicted from its building on the city's east side. Patrick Denny, a spokesman for the city, said the E.C. Kraemer Co. was cited 18 months ago by the city for storing about 170 steel drums of hazardous material behind the building at 1010 E. Lacy Ave. The case is still pending, he said.

It's spring cleaning time and householders who have accumulated partially filled paint cans, used motor oil, pesticides, pool chemicals, solvents or similar products can dispose of them at four Household Hazardous Waste Round-Ups beginning April 28 in Pasadena. The Pasadena collection point will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Rose Bowl Parking Lot K at Arroyo Boulevard and Seco Street.

One month after a leak of cancer-causing material at a chemical plant forced the evacuation of about 300 people, the Orange City Council on Tuesday tentatively approved a measure requiring businesses to disclose any hazardous materials they handle. Irvine is the only other city in Orange County to have such an ordinance, which is designed to make it easier for authorities to respond to spills and fires involving hazardous substances.

At GA Technologies, officials work hard never to have a chemical spill or other incident involving hazardous materials. But if there is one, they have their own emergency crews on hand around the clock to minimize potential dangers. "After all, a major fire could put us out of business," said T.R. Colandrea, director of quality assurance at the 1,700-employee firm specializing in nuclear fusion research. GA is the nation's largest privately owned fusion research company.

Long Beach is doing a poor job of policing companies that handle hazardous materials and is itself a major violator of some environmental regulations, according to a city auditor's report released Friday. During a six-month review of Long Beach's hazardous materials programs, City Auditor Robert E. Fronke found that lax enforcement of environmental regulations was commonplace.

A resident walking his dog past a Union Oil Co. facility recently noticed what he thought was an increase in the number of 55-gallon drums at the Brea site. The resident's report piqued the interest of city officials. Friday, Union Oil, a subsidiary of Unocal Corp., was the first to report an inventory of its materials at the request of the city, which plans to ask all industries that store hazardous materials to inventory their stock.

The Los Angeles city attorney's office has accused a North Hollywood firm, which tests to determine if companies are violating hazardous-materials laws, with violating hazardous-materials laws. Twelve misdemeanor criminal charges were filed Thursday against Ensotech Inc. and its owner, Inderjit Sabherwal, the city attorney's office reported in a release. The charges include operating a laboratory without a permit and storing volatile chemicals in a residential building.

Residents who want to dispose of motor oil, car batteries, pesticides and other hazardous materials for free are asked to call a local waste management company to make appointments. On Oct. 21, Santa Ana and Great Western Reclamation will sponsor a household hazardous waste collection day at the city's corporate yard, 220 S. Daisy Ave., from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Appointments must be made in advance, and the city has openings for up to 1,000 residents.

The USA Patriot Act gave the government expanded powers to spy on citizens, lock up immigrants and freeze the assets of charities. Now, it is generating some real controversy. On Friday, 18 months after the anti-terrorism law was enacted, transportation security officials finally announced implementation of one of its last major features: criminal background checks for truck drivers who haul hazardous materials. The requirement was inserted in the law after Sept.