N.C. Suspends Storage At Apex EQ Facility

RALEIGH, N.C. — N.C. Division of Waste Management (DWM) officials Wednesday suspended until further notice hazardous waste storage at EQ Industrial Services in Apex, the site of a fire earlier this month. Plus, EQ officials must stop cleanup efforts until further notice.

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The hazardous waste disposal facility caught fire three weeks ago. sending clouds of toxic smoke into the atmosphere. Thousands of Apex residents had to leave their homes.

U.S. District Court Judge Terrence Boyle issued the order Wednesday after four Apex residents in a class action-lawsuit asked him to stop work to protect evidence and allow defense experts to enter the EQ property.

In a separate filing, EQ will not be permitted to bring or accept any additional hazardous or non-hazardous wastes of any type onto the site for storage, treatment or any other purpose for the duration of the order.

In a statement released to the media Wednesday afternoon, EQ said it would comply with both orders.

Because the facility and its hazardous waste management units were damaged in the fire, DWM determined that EQ is not able to manage hazardous waste in compliance with its permits and rules. There are also concerns about the facility's containment structures and the state cannot be assured that any new waste that enters the facility will be stored and secured appropriately.

Provisions of the Order of Immediate Suspension of Provisions of Hazardous Waste Management Permit include:

DWM is also requiring EQ to provide on-site security 24 hours a day, seven days a week, until further notice.

More information about the state's response and actions concerning the EQ site, cleanup and monitoring can be found

online

.