All News Releases By Date

EPA Cites Six Municipal Facilities in New England for Oil Spill Prevention Deficiencies

Release Date: 10/11/2002
Contact Information: Andrew Spejewski, EPA Press Office, (617- 918-1014)

BOSTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today it has filed complaints against four municipal department of public works garages and two water treatment facilities in New England for failing to complete required oil spill prevention measures.

“Oil spills at public facilities can have major environmental impacts, which is why oil spill prevention plans are so important,” said Robert W. Varney, regional administrator for EPA’s New England Office. “With these complaints, future inspections and compliance assistance, we’re making sure that there are good plans and protections in place.”

The facilities that received complaints include:

• Manchester, CT, public works garage
• Bristol, RI, public works garage
• Taunton, MA, public works garage
• Fall River, MA, public works garage
• New Bedford, MA drinking water treatment plant
• Kennebunkport, ME waste water treatment facility

Under the Clean Water Act, all facilities storing significant amounts of oil are required to create and implement a Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure Plan (SPCC) to minimize environmental risks from oil spills from onsite tanks (due to spills during filling, or tank failures from improper maintenance, vandalism or other accidents).

Many of the cited facilities are located adjacent to water bodies or have stormwater collection systems that drain into water bodies, so that in the event of an oil or gasoline spill, the likelihood of oil reaching the water is high.

The allegations against the six facilities stem from inspections between fall 2001 and spring of this year. Several of the facilities have already come into compliance.

The facilities are required to come into compliance and face possible penalties for the alleged violations ranging up to $27,500 per facility.

Municipal facility managers with questions about SPCC requirements can contact Don Grant, the Regional Oil Spill and SPCC Coordinator at 617-918-1768.