WASHINGTON-Wireless carriers used to having their businesses governed by the Federal
Communications Commission have a new agency to contend with-the Environmental Protection Agency.
Last
month, three companies joined GTE Corp.-which went through a similar experience in 1997-in agreeing to fines for not
reporting the existence of sulfuric acid in backup batteries in switching centers. The companies are Convergys
Customer Management Group Inc., Cincinnati Bell Telephone Co. and PrimeCo Personal Communications,
L.P.
EPA on Jan. 25 filed complaints against the companies after self-audits revealed their batteries had more than
500 pounds of sulfuric acid, the limit before reports must be filed.
In Cincinnati Bell and Convergys’ case, consent
agreements were reached that reduced the fines from $619,835 and $42,757, respectively, to administrative amounts,
said officials for both companies.
Even though the companies reported the violations, EPA was required to file a
formal complaint because the agency does not have jurisdiction to impose fines. A consent decree and a proposed
consent order also were filed with the complaint and a decision is expected within the next month, said Chris Habel, an
outside counsel for Cincinnati Bell.
For its part, Cincinnati Bell has been “pretty proactive on hazardous
materials,” and does not have any problems with the reporting requirements, said Libby Korosec, a company
spokeswoman.
PrimeCo says reports of the GTE situation led it to examine its own facilities and discover 14
facilities with over-the-limit amounts of the sulfuric acid. “We pro-actively disclosed [to EPA the discovery] and
are now current,” said Stacy Swierenga, PrimeCo manager of corporate communications.
