NORWAY — MaineHealth Stephens Memorial Hospital will pay a $22,740 fine for several violations related to hazardous waste management under a consent agreement approved Thursday by the Maine Board of Environmental Protection.

During a September 2024 inspection by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, inspectors found the hospital had 14 violations ranging from improper signs to improper storage of hazardous materials. 

The inspection uncovered failures such as missing “Hazardous Waste” labels, inadequate aisle space in its universal waste room, and missing “Danger: Unauthorized Personnel Keep Out” and “No Smoking” signs in areas with flammable waste, according to the consent agreement. 

Training for employees handling hazardous and universal waste did not meet regulatory standards, the document said. The hospital was also missing a required Resource Conservation and Recovery Act contingency plan specific to hazardous waste management.

Annual mutual aid agreements were found to have been missing since 2022, according to the document.

The most common problem, according to the documented violations, were universal waste issues. Several lamp and battery containers had missing accumulation start dates, a box of lamps was found open and the hospital did not maintain an inventory system, which is required for small universal waste generators. 

Many of the issues were corrected during the inspection or shortly after, but did not negate the violations.

“MaineHealth Stephens Hospital has corrected all identified violations and remains fully committed to meeting all regulatory requirements,” said Thomas Hatch, MaineHealth System safety adviser. “The findings resulted from a routine inspection process, and none presented any acute risk or concern to patients, staff, or the community.”

DEP staff told the board Thursday that the hospital fully cooperated, submitting corrective documentation for updated waste management plans and training materials in early November 2024. Further corrections were submitted in March 2025.

The consent agreement, signed by the hospital and the BEP board after a vote, requires the hospital to pay a $22,740 administrative penalty.

It will also have to comply with a set of corrective actions that prevent future violations. Steps include maintaining signs, documenting weekly inspections of hazardous waste areas, properly labeling containers, keeping universal waste containers closed and dated, maintaining an inventory tracking system, implementing an Resource Conservation and Recovery Act contingency plan and ensuring updated training for all relevant staff.