Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M . Pacioni , along with the California Attorney General and nine other California District Attorneys , announced a settlement with Quest Diagnostics , Inc . , resolving allegations that the diagnostic laboratory company unlawfully disposed of hazardous waste , medical waste , and protected health information at its facilities statewide . As part of the settlement , Quest Diagnostics will be required to pay $4 , 999 , 500 in penalties , costs , and supplemental environmental projects and make significant changes to its operations and practices at its California facilities .
   Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine Pacioni stated: “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 . ”
   The settlement is the result of over 30 inspections conducted by the district attorneys ' offices at Quest Diagnostics laboratories and Patient Service Centers ( PSCs ) statewide , including in Monterey County . During those inspections ,  the district attorneys ' offices reviewed the contents of Quest Diagnostics’ compactors and dumpsters and found hundreds of containers of chemicals , as well as bleach , reagents , batteries , and electronic waste; unredacted medical information; medical waste such as used specimen containers for blood and urine; and hazardous waste such as used batteries , solvents , and flammable liquids . The unlawful disposals are alleged to violate the Hazardous Waste Control Law , Medical Waste Management Act , Unfair Competition Law , and civil laws prohibiting the unauthorized disclosure of personal health information .
   After being notified of the investigations , Quest Diagnostics implemented numerous changes to bring its facilities into compliance with California law , including hiring an independent environmental auditor to review the disposal of waste at its facilities and modifying its operating and training procedures to improve its handling , storage , and disposal of hazardous waste , medical waste , and personal health information at all four laboratories and over 600 PSCs in California .
   The settlement was filed in San Joaquin County and resolves the allegations above and requires Quest Diagnostics to pay $3 , 999 , 500 in civil penalties , $700 , 000 in costs , and $300 , 000 for a Supplemental Environmental Project to support environmental training and enforcement in California . The settlement also imposes injunctive terms ,  including requirements that Quest Diagnostics maintain an environmental compliance program , including hiring a third - party waste auditor , and report annually on its progress .  
   

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