Politics & Government
CVS Inc. Ordered to Pay Up Over Storage, Waste Violations
The alleged violations occurred over a 7-year period at hundreds of California CVS stores, including Long's Drug Stores that CVS Pharmacy, Inc. acquired and converted to its brand.
Sonoma County District Attorney Jill Ravitch announced yesterday a settlement in a civil law enforcement action against CVS Pharmacy, Inc. that the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office participated in along with 43 other California District Attorneys and the City Attorneys in San Diego and Los Angeles,
The lawsuit and settlement resolves allegations that CVS, headquartered in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, violated California laws for the safe storage, handling and disposal of sharps waste, pharmaceutical and pharmacy waste, photo waste containing silver, and hazardous waste generated from spills and customer returns of hazardous products.
The California investigation of CVS followed an investigation by environmental enforcement officials with the State of Connecticut. Inspectors with the Ventura County Environmental Health Division then conducted a compliance review at local CVS stores and found evidence of improper storage, handling and disposal of hazardous waste and pharmaceutical waste products.
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Ventura County District Attorney Gregory Totten led the suit. Ventura County District Attorney Investigators teamed up with these inspectors, as well as the California Department of Toxic Substances Control and other district attorney investigators from around the State, to work cooperatively with CVS to address findings of statewide violations of law at CVS stores.
As a result of the investigation and prosecution, regulated wastes produced by California CVS stores must now be properly stored, handled, transported, and disposed of at proper facilities with appropriate records kept documenting compliance with lawful procedures.
Find out what's happening in Sonoma Valleyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The alleged violations occurred over a seven-year period at hundreds of California CVS stores, pharmacies and distribution stores, including Long’s Drug Stores that CVS acquired and converted to its brand. There is a on West Napa St.
Under the Final Judgment signed by Ventura County Superior Court Judge Barbara Lane, CVS must pay $13.75 million in civil penalties, costs and for supplemental environmental projects furthering consumer protection and environmental enforcement in the State, and will be bound under the terms of a permanent injunction prohibiting similar future alleged violations of law.
CVS is ordered to pay $82,500 in civil penalties and $2,125 in costs to the following local agencies: Sonoma County Fire & Emergency Services, Santa Rosa Fire Department, the Petaluma Fire Department, the Healdsburg/Sebastopol Joint Powers Association, and the District Attorney’s Office.
