Murrieta Target Stores Part of $22.5-Million Suit

The Target Corporation was ordered today to pay $22.5 million for improperly handling hazardous waste. Fourteen Target stores in Riverside County, , were among 240 stores statewide found in violation.

The Minnesota-based corporation was ordered by a Northern California judge to pay the fines as a part of the settlement in the civil environmental suit, said John Hall, spokesman for the Riverside County District Attorney's office. Of that, $637,000 in civil penalties and $40,000 in costs will come from Riverside County.

In Riverside County, some form of violation of unlawful handling and/or disposal of hazardous wastes was found at all Target stores, Hall said in a news release.

"During their investigation, Riverside County district attorney investigators determined that some Target stores in the county dumped hazardous wastes into Riverside County landfills, including highly flammable fireworks products," Hall said.

Riverside County District Attorney Paul Zellerbach joined in an annoucement about the matter today with the state Attorney General, 20 other county district attorneys statewide and city attorneys in San Diego and Los Angeles.

“This judgment holds Target, one of the largest chain stores in Riverside County, accountable for systematically ignoring laws just to cut costs,” Zellerbach said in a news release. “The terms of this injunction help ensure that the residents of Riverside County are protected from any further illegal dumping by Target of hazardous wastes into the environment.”

According to Hall, the judgment announced today is the culmination of a civil enforcement lawsuit filed in June 2009 in Alameda County alleging that more than 240 Target stores statewide improperly handled and disposed of hazardous wastes.

The types of items dumped by Target included pesticides, herbicides, solvents, aerosols, batteries, degreasers, pool chemicals and stain removers, Hall said.

"These chemical wastes can destroy landfill linings and leach down into the water table," Hall said.

California law (Title 22 of the state Code of Regulations and Chapter 6.5 of the state Health and Safety Code) requires companies to properly handle, store, and dispose of hazardous wastes to prevent harming people and the environment.

"That was not being done by Target stores which had not only violated or ignored the law, but the corporation also failed to diligently follow any hazardous wastes program to ensure employees were following the law. Instead, employees were simply throwing hazardous wastes into company compactors for disposal."

As a result of this civil prosecution, Target stores in California must now make sure that hazardous wastes are being properly accounted for, handled and disposed of to prevent illegal dumping in landfills.

"Those actions will help to ensure the safety of their employees, the public and the environment," Hall said.

Sarah Bakken, a spokeswoman for Target, issued this statement:

"Target has a comprehensive program to ensure our handling, storage, disposal and documentation of hazardous materials complies with California law, and we train our store teams regularly as part of this program. We will continue to devote substantial resources in order to remain a responsible corporate steward of the environment," Bakken said. 

A breakdown of the $22.5 million settlement consists of $17 million in civil penalties, $3 million in costs and $2.5 million in supplemental environmental projects.

The Targets in Murrieta are located on California Oaks Road and Clinton Keith Road.