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Mass. Recycling Facility Facing Fines for Clean Water Violations

Release Date: 07/12/2006
Contact Information: David Deegan, (617) 918-1017

(Boston, Mass. - July 12, 2006) - Wood Waste of Boston, an Everett, Mass. construction and demolition debris recycling facility, is facing a fine of up to $157,500 and is required to take actions to prevent pollution from entering the Mystic River watershed.

An EPA complaint against Wood Waste alleges that the Everett company violated the federal Clean Water Act by discharging storm water from industrial activities on its site to the Island End River without a permit, and for failing to prepare a storm water pollution prevention plan.

EPA also issued a compliance order to the facility. Because storm water can contain potentially harmful pollutants, EPA’s order requires Wood Waste to apply for a storm water permit and to develop a storm water pollution prevention plan. The storm water plan will contain a series of “best management practices” designed to prevent or reduce the discharge of pollutants to the river, including oil and heavy metals. The company will also be required to do periodic monitoring of storm water discharges from the site and to submit reports to EPA.

EPA has been focusing on water pollution problems in the Lower Mystic River Area, including those caused by municipal and industrial storm water discharges. Storm water discharged from the Wood Waste facility flows into the Island End River, a tributary of the Mystic River. This action is one part of a larger, comprehensive effort by EPA to reduce the volume of pollutants discharged to the Lower Mystic River watershed thereby improving the environment and human health conditions in this historically disadvantaged area.

EPA will continue to investigate and address sources of pollution in the Lower Mystic Watershed. Citizens in the Lower Mystic River Watershed are encouraged to report possible environmental violations to EPA (epa.gov/region1/contact/enforcement.html) (or by calling 1-888-372-7341).

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