US EPA Enforcement & Compliance conducted 3 onsite inspections of Apple's fab facility in 8/2023 + 1/2024. US EPA noted at least *19* potential violations of the RCRA hazardous waste statute.
I just posted US EPA's report for public access. Dropbox link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/312oqvretg7yyhfx0ohx4/AGZduVXs0_1geqIyi0NA9nE?rlkey=3aa2tw15ek3trqlbdh7pw9erh&st=e7pg1cpp&dl=0
After discovering what Apple did, I then spent three months requesting records & digging through regulatory filings to learn more - which led me to file a complaint to US EPA in June 2023. I met with EPA's investigators & sent them everything I discovered.
I told EPA I didn't want my whistleblowing to be anonymous, and instead, that if EPA shows up to inspect the plant, when they do, please have the EPA cops tell Apple: "Ashley says hi." 💀
Because Apple wasn't monitoring its solvent emissions, & had no permit, its unclear just how much toxic waste Apple dumped into our bedrooms.
Also, it gets worse. Between 2020-23, Apple did monitor the air for vapors with an ad hoc, handheld, calibrated gas detector...ONE TIME.
Apple failed to calibrate the tool in all other tests. However, Apple did calibrate the tool a few times, but each time Apple then failed to actually use the tool to test anything. Great work, Apple.
We previously discussed how Apple didn't change its carbon filters for around five years (per Apple's manifests); so those filters were probably useless and doing nothing to control the gas/vapor emissions.
But there's more! US EPA also noticed that when Apple did start changing the filters in 12/2020 (after I reported my chemical induced illness next to the building), Apple then unilaterally claimed solvent drenched charcoal is not haz waste, & proceeded to illegally dispose of it.
We're not done, you guys. There's more!! However, if you feel like you just got a strong whiff of Apple's poison gases & you need a moment to catch your breath; I'll just leave this right here as a reminder of how important it is that we look out for each other and feel a sense of duty to the community around us.
It's a tale as old as time that industry will poison communities as much as it can, as long as it can, until every day people come together to demand to not be slowly murdered.
The US EPA inspector noticed Apple had a 55-gallon container of corrosive liquid chemicals sitting in Apple's "Chemical Bunker," & the container's cap was removed
EPA said: hey Apple, why is that haz waste container left open?
Apple responded: its open so the vapors can vent, you know, so it doesn't explode
EPA said: you need to buy containers designed for these types of chemicals
If you're thinking, ok that all sounds very dangerous, but I'm sure Apple was keeping an eye on things...
The facility operated 24/7 but only M-F.
On the weekends it was unattended & Apple didn't monitor their waste or waste treatment systems.
Apple also stopped their weekly inspections in Feb 2023 after I learned what they were doing at the factory.
Finally, lets talk about Apple's factory exhaust into the ambient air next to thousands of homes and two public parks.
Much of Apple's solvent exhaust was vented out "as is" (unabated) from the main system.
The illegal solvent treatment tank exhaust did go through the untested carbon boxes, but then it was released out of a tiny vent pointed *down* at the building. Any gases heavier then air would be directed to the ground level to pool into toxic vapor plumes.
There were no permits.
My civil lawsuit against Apple includes 2 toxic tort claims for what theyre doing at this factory. I alleged Nuisance + Ultrahazardous Activities. The US Judge is letting me proceed with both claims.
https://casetext.com/case/gjovik-v-apple-inc-1
Apple can keep flailing around, but we're in US court now & they will be forced to face the music. I'm also waiting to hear from US Dept of Labor Judge if I can add RCRA, Clean Air Act, & TSCA retaliation claims.
Finally, its also possible DOJ could pursue criminal charges.
Thanks for bringing this to our attention. Wow. Just wow. In the worst of ways.
@ashleygjovik this story is insane. Wow! This should hit the official news soon! I'm so sorry you needed to go through this all... Do you believe you still have permanent damage from whatever you inhaled?
Can you also inform several big news outlets about this? Or is it too soon?
Yet another reason not to buy Apple products that's for sure.
I need to download this to check it out later:
Calling @Chartodon Spine ...
It's enraging ... all of it ... and I hope you take them to the cleaners, and justice is served.
CC: @ashleygjovik
@ShadSterling My 3250 Scott claims in the civil lawsuit are toxic torts, not statutory claims. One of them is strict liability so I don't even have to prove negligence. The civil lawsuit should proceed just fine.
However, my US Dept of Labor environmental whistleblower lawsuit is completely statutory and could potentially be derailed if Apple's feeling rowdy. NLRB too.
@ashleygjovik
Strip mining the public environment is never a great look, but when it's a company with the image and resources of Apple doing it to living quarters, that's the kind of thing that should shift public perception.
I feel less incensed about "missing paperwork," although to be fair, the paperwork is there to avoid the toxic pollution in the first place, so it's just as v bad in practice.
@ashleygjovik I understand your point, tho for outsiders it might seem different,
I think hackernews is kinda on the better side, stuff on Reddit etc. might be even worse
For anyone jumping into this topic(like me, seeing this first just a couple weeks ago) its such a mess,
One thing for what I could wish for is just clearing up how when stuff is said, I kinda got a headache reading this 😅 https://www.ashleygjovik.com/3250scott.html
Like in the middle I started feeling as if I was reading stuff twice in a single post
... *cocks head* Man I step away from here for a day and ... why does Apple have a... chemical bunker??
@ashleygjovik yikes...
People got their doors kicked in and had to pay for a full #HAZMAT team deployment for way less sketchy shite in my hometown...
Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek (Grassy Narrows First Nation) has been subject to mercury poisoning since the 1960s and the mill responsible is still dumping high levels of sulfate and organic matter into the river.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/grassy-narrows-first-nation-methylmercury-study-1.7211750
A new study suggests historic problems in northwestern Ontario from mercury contamination in the 1960s and 70s are being made worse by ongoing industrial pollution. Researchers at the University of Western Ontario have released the results of a study which found that discharge from the Dryden Paper Mill is combining with mercury dumped into the English-Wabigoon river decades ago to create an even more toxic compound: methylmercury.
@ashleygjovik
From the movie, Dark Waters,
Ashley M. Gjøvik, JD
Francis 🏴☠️ Gulotta
Morgunin
MarkAssPandi
Melroy van den Berg
Daniel Collins
Bob Blaskiewicz 🇺🇦 🇨🇦 🇬🇱
cek
Pamela Barroway – Biz Editor
Cdnpup
Colin the Mathmo
ShadSterling
Darnell Clayton 
Very Human Robot
lina
Julie Webgirl
Óscar Morales Vivó
Kevin Karhan 
vxo
KoraunuiPakeha
balletproof vest
Eric Lawton
Joe Stewart
Mast0b1t
Artemis
D2
gazergirl
LennStar_de
Matt
Krupo
Nini
Coles Street Pothole
Reese Ricci Armstrong 