Attorney General Bonta announces $5 million settlement with Quest Diagnostics over illegal dumping claims
MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KION-TV)- The Monterey County District Attorney's Office and California Attorney General Rob Bonta's office announced that Quest Diagnostics agreed to a $5 million settlement with other counties including Monterey County.
The lawsuit had due to with illegal dumping. Quest Diagnostics which runs diagnostic laboratories across the state was alleged to have dumped hazardous waste along with protected health information.
“This settlement will help ensure that patients’ personally identifiable and private health information is protected and will protect worker safety and human health by ensuring that hazardous and medical wastes are properly managed and disposed of," Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine Pacioni said in a statement.
Bonta said the statement is a result of more than 30 inspections that were conducted by nine District Attorney's offices throughout the state including Monterey County.
In those inspections, hundreds of containers of chemicals were found, along with reagents, batteries and electronic waste. There was also unredacted medical information along with medical waste in the area.
Quest Diagnostics has implemented multiple changes after being notified of the investigations including evironmental auditior to review their waste disposal.
Quest has been ordered to pay $3.9 million in civil pentalites, $700,000 in costs and $300,000 for a "Supplemental Environmental Project" to support environmental training and enforcement in the state.
