EPA Compliance Data
Unlike OSHA, EPA does not publish a single official ranked "top cited standards" list. The five program areas below are compiled from EPA enforcement summaries and inspection-reported violation patterns across the agency's major statutes, with a summary and regulation citation for each.
Source: epa.gov/enforcement annual results and inspection data
Hazardous waste violations are the most frequently cited environmental compliance issue nationwide. Common findings include unlabeled or improperly closed containers, missing or incomplete weekly inspection logs, lapsed personnel training records, and inadequate contingency planning — gaps that surface even at facilities that believe their waste programs are current.
Facilities storing above-ground oil in sufficient quantity must maintain a certified SPCC Plan. Frequent violations include outdated plans that don't reflect current tank capacity, missing secondary containment, deferred equipment inspections, and staff who have never been trained on the facility's own spill response procedures.
Covers permitted air emission sources and hazardous air pollutant standards. The most common citations involve installing or modifying emission-generating equipment without the required permit, and failing to properly operate, maintain, or monitor air pollution control equipment as the permit requires.
Requires facilities storing hazardous chemicals above threshold quantities to file annual Tier II inventory reports, and larger facilities to report releases to the Toxics Release Inventory. Common violations include missed annual deadlines, outdated chemical inventories, and incomplete or inaccurate release reporting.
Facilities with industrial activity exposed to stormwater generally need NPDES permit coverage and a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan. Frequent violations include discharging without permit coverage, missing required monitoring and sampling, and SWPPPs that were never updated after facility or process changes.
Where Qualia CIH Inc. Can Help
Chemical inventory management, hazardous material handling assessments, and written program development — the same technical work behind Qualia CIH Inc.'s HazCom and safety program services — directly support RCRA container/labeling compliance and EPCRA Tier II inventory accuracy, the two areas above most likely to overlap with an industrial hygiene engagement.
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Share which of these areas concern you most, and I'll follow up with a scoped gap assessment proposal.