Document 06e9keG33LeODRzoqqd3X9OxJ
Inspection Entry Date/Time Inspection Exit Date/Time
Regulatory Program Type of Inspection
EPA REGION 6 Enforcement Division
INSPECTION REPORT
05/23/2024 10:30 (CT)
Announced: No
05/23/2024 11:30 (CT)
Access: Granted
RCRA Focused Compliance Inspection (FCI)
Facility or Site Name Facility/Site Identifier Facility/Site Physical Address City, State, Zip Code County/Borough Generator Status NAICS Type of Operation Geographic Coordinates
GV Launch Services None 802 Bishop Rd Ingleside, TX 78362 San Patricio County N/A None GV Launch performs lightering services and launch services at its docks. 27.857015, -97.171622
Additional Persons Participating in Inspection:
Name
Title
Organization
Cameron Tanaka Erin Young-Dahl
Contractor Inspector
Eastern Research Group (ERG) EPA REGION 6
John Penland
Inspector
EPA REGION 6
Email Cameron.Tanaka@erg.com
YoungDahl.Erin@epa.gov Penland.John@epa.gov
Phone (508) 314-6432
(214) 665-3166 (214) 665-9717
Lead Inspector: Brook McKeown
ERG
Brook.McKeown@erg.com
09/03/2024 (410) 459-5811
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GV Launch Services
SECTION I - INTRODUCTION Site Entry and Purpose of the Inspection
Inspection Date: 05/23/2024
The Port of Corpus Christi and surrounding facilities were selected for inspection based on an Environmental Justice and Regional initiative to evaluate facilities at ports receiving or transporting Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)-regulated hazardous wastes, and/or have an International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) Annex V Certificate of Adequacy (COA) issued by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG).
This report is based on information supplied by the facility representatives, inspector observations, and other records, including photographs taken (see Appendix 1), verbal or written statements made during or after the on-site inspection, and/or materials shown, demonstrated, or submitted to the EPA during or after the on-site inspection. In addition, information gathered prior to or after the inspection from a review of EPA, State, and public records may be included in this report.
Attendees
Title/Organization Lead Inspector/ Contractor/ERG RCRA Inspector/ Contractor/ERG Inspector/Enforcement Officer/EPA Region 6 Inspector/Enforcement Officer/EPA Region 6
Name
Phone
Email
Opening Closing Conf. Conf.
Brook McKeown (410) 459-5811 Brook.McKeown@erg.com Yes
No
Cameron Tanaka (508) 314-6432 Cameron.Tanaka@erg.com Yes
No
Erin Young-Dahl (214) 665-3166 YoungDahl.Erin@epa.gov Yes
Yes
John Penland (214) 665-9717 Penland.John@epa.gov Yes
Yes
Facility General Description
Tenant/Area GV Launch Services
Inspection Date
05/23/24
Process Description GV Launch Services (GV Launch) performs lightering services and launch services at its docks. Lightering services include transferring APHIS regulated garbage, used oil, incinerator ash, and general trash from vessels to their own vessel, then transferring the waste to either vessels or trucks owned by Nature Environmental or ACCP, Inc. GV Launch transports this waste from vessels on the water to their vessel or unload wastes at their dock to take to another location. The company performs maintenance on its own vessel and generates used oil. GV Launch does not maintain a MARPOL COA.
Area of Concern
Yes
Page 2 of 4
GV Launch Services SECTION II - OBSERVATIONS
Inspection Date: 05/23/2024
Tenant: GV Launch Services
Section: 2.1
Date: 05/23/24, 10:30 AM Contains AOC: Yes Contains CBI: No
Lead Inspector: Brook McKeown
Attendees: Debbie Parker (Office Manager), Mark Seamone (Owner)
GV Launch Services (GV Launch) performs lightering services and launch services at its docks, which the company leases from the Valls Port Terminal Dock. GV Launch has one vessel. Lightering services include transferring APHIS regulated garbage, used oil, oily water, incinerator ash, and general trash from vessels to their own vessel, then transferring the waste to either vessels or trucks owned by Nature Environmental or ACCP, Inc. They transport this waste from vessels on the water to their vessel or unload wastes at their dock to take to another location. GV Launch does not store any waste on its docks, since the waste is immediately transferred to another transporter, which takes the waste to its destination facility. The facility maintains records of used oil transports with USDA manifests, and the used oil it transports is typically delivered to Nature Environmental or ACCP, Inc. Shipping agents, such as Valls Ship Agency, GAC Shipping, Max Shipping, and Gulf Harbor Shipping, contact GV Launch to perform loadouts. GV Launch also loads supplies such as water, groceries, and parts onto other vessels. The company performs maintenance on its own vessel and generates used oil.
GV Launch does not maintain a MARPOL COA. The facility does not have an EPA ID. The inspection team reviewed several of the company's exchange tickets, which act as transfer manifests, and noted no issues. The inspection team noted that these tickets documented the amounts and contents of the materials GV Launch was transferring. Some of the tickets showed that incinerator ash was being transferred from GV Launch's vessel to a landing company on the shore or over the water.
The inspection team performed a visual inspection of the facility's general yard area, warehouse, and dock area. In the general yard area outside of the warehouse, the inspection team observed seven used oil containers that did not have labels (see Appendix 1 - Photo 1) [AOC #1 - GV Launch did not clearly label containers used to store used oil with the words "Used Oil" - 40 CFR 279.22(c)(1)]. Six of these used oil containers were 225-gallon totes and one was a 350-gallon tote. In her follow-up email from 05/29/24 (see Appendix 2), Ms. Parker included photographs of each of these used oil containers, which had been labeled as "waste oil" since the inspection (see Appendix 3).
A closing conference was conducted at approximately 11:30 PM with GV Launch personnel. The AOC was communicated to GV Launch during the closing conference; however, further EPA review may change or add to their potential AOCs.
Page 3 of 4
GV Launch Services
Inspection Date: 05/23/2024
SECTION III - RECORDS REVIEW No RCRA-regulated records were reviewed during this focused onsite inspection.
SECTION IV - AREAS OF CONCERN
The presentation of Area(s) of Concern does not constitute a formal compliance determination or violation. Tenant: GV Launch Services
AOC #1 - GV Launch did not clearly label containers used to store used oil with the words "Used Oil."
Citation: 40 CFR 279.22(c)(1)
Section: 2.1
SECTION V - FOLLOW UP
Any facility follow-up items are as discussed in the observations in Section II. Documents or files provided by the facility were transmitted via email and included responses to AOCs or provision of documents requested.
Communication Log During and after the inspection, additional information was emailed to EPA including: 1. 05/29/24 GV Launch email - Debbie Parker sent an email containing photographs of each of the used oil containers with labels.
SECTION VI - LIST OF APPENDICES Appendix 1. Photograph Log Appendix 2. Follow-Up Email from GV Launch Appendix 3. Follow-Up Photographs from GV Launch
Page 4 of 4
APPENDIX 1. PHOTOGRAPH LOG
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Photograph Log
Location: GV Launch Services City: Ingleside
Photo No. 1 County/Parish: San Patricio
State: Texas
Photo File Name: DSCN1123 Date of Photo: 05/23/2024 Time of Photo: 11:27 hrs. Photographer: Cameron Tanaka Description: View of seven used oil containers without labels in the general yard area outside of the warehouse. Six of these used oil containers were 225-gallon totes and one was a 350-gallon tote.
APPENDIX 2. FOLLOW-UP EMAIL FROM GV LAUNCH
Appendix 2 Page 1 of 2
Appendix 2 Page 2 of 2
APPENDIX 3. FOLLOW-UP PHOTOGRAPHS FROM GV LAUNCH
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