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EPA Proposes $55,000 Penalty Against Rhode Island Company for PCB Violations in CT

Release Date: 10/07/04
Contact Information:

Contact: Peyton Fleming, EPA Press Office (617-918-1008)

For Immediate Release: Oct. 7, 2004; Release # 04-12-08

BOSTON - The US Environmental Protection Agency announced today it has proposed a penalty of $55,000 against a Rhode Island-based construction company for improper handling and disposal of PCBs in soils during a construction project in New Haven, CT in December 2003.

According to EPA's complaint, the Gilbane Building Co., based in Providence, RI, improperly disposed of 2,750 tons of soil containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Gilbane, a national company with offices around the country and in Glastonbury, CT, was construction manager for the New Haven project to install underground storage tanks used for preventing sewer overflows. Gilbane was responsible for excavating and disposing of contaminated material from the site.

According to EPA, on the project Gilbane was overseeing, soils with lower concentrations of PCBs were allegedly mixed with soils containing higher concentrations, in violation of rules that do not allow dilution of contaminated materials. Some of the soil excavated contained PCB concentrations of 191 parts per million, more than seven times the 25 ppm concentration allowed at the disposal site where the mixed soils were sent for disposal.

"PCB regulations are designed to protect employees, the public and the environment from being exposed to PCBs," said Robert W. Varney, regional administrator of EPA's New England Office. "Companies and other organizations that deal with PCBs must be responsible and meet the requirements of these regulations."

The action was taken under the federal Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) which regulates the manufacture, processing, distribution in commerce, use and disposal of PCBs.
For more information about PCBs and the regulations for handling PCB-laden materials, visit the agency’s web site at www.epa.gov/ne/topics/pollutants/pcbs.html

Related Information:
Cleanup Process
Cleanup in New England
PCB's