Dudley packaging company to pay $100K fine
After allegedly discharging hazardous material into the French River in December 2011, Dudley-based Shield Packaging Company Inc. has agreed to pay a $100,000 fine and implement new protocol for preventing future violations, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s office said Tuesday.
Coakley’s office alleges that a Shield employee discovered that more than 50 gallons of wastewater had leaked into a containment area from one of several above ground-storage tanks at the Dudley facility.
After consulting with management, Coakley’s office claims the employee illegally pumped the wastewater out of the containment area and into a series of catch basins that emptied into the French River.
According to Coakley, the wastewater contained mineral spirits, a petroleum-based hazardous waste used in manufacturing. The discharged mineral spirits caused a large sheen visible along the river. Shield did not report the release to MassDEP within two hours, as required by law, the AG’s office said. The local fire department notified the agency instead, according to Coakley.
“We expect companies handling hazardous materials to take proper precautions to prevent releases, to educate employees about the risks, and to alert the MassDEP promptly if such a release occurs,” Coakley said in a statement.
A company official could not be reached for comment immediately Tuesday morning.
As part of the protocol, Shield will designate a compliance officer to inspect and test all storm water runoff collected at the facility as a safety precaution, Coakley’s office said. Shield is prohibited from discharging collected stormwater that contains oil or hazardous material, hazardous waste or pollutants and must properly dispose of such material in accordance with the Massachusetts Clean Waters Act, the federal Clean Water Act and all other applicable state and federal laws.
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