The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today fined Del Monte Fresh Produce Co., which used to operate a pineapple growing facility in Kunia, $190,000 for hazardous waste storage, handling and used oil management violations.

In August 2007, EPA inspectors found open and unlabeled containers of hazardous waste at the facility and evidence of a release of used oil, an EPA news release said. "Companies must properly store and handle hazardous waste to protect the community, workers and the environment," said Jeff Scott, director of Waste Programs for the EPA's Pacific Southwest region, in a news release. "I am pleased that Del Monte has corrected the violations and that the facility no longer presents a potential risk to human health and the environment." Additionally, the EPA found the facility had stored containers of hazardous waste without a permit and stored hazardous waste for longer than the 90 days allowed by the EPA's hazardous waste storage rules, the release said. At the time of the inspection, the company had ceased its pineapple growing operations. The EPA said the facility also failed to: