Three companies settle with EPA
Three area companies were among seven in New England that paid penalties ranging from $3,000 to $9,500 to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last month to settle claims that they violated federal laws meant to prevent oil spills, the agency said.
While companies in four New England states agreed to pay fines, the Massachusetts companies were located in the Greater Worcester and MetroWest areas.
L.S. Starrett of Athol paid a $5,400 penalty to settle claims that it didn’t have a spill prevention plan. Additionally, Lakeside Oil Co. of Marlborough and Richards Oil Co. in Northborough, which share ownership, paid a combined $4,000 penalty following allegations that they did not have a required oil spill prevention plan, according to the EPA.
“Each of these companies stores oils in volumes that require proper contingency planning to prevent spills or minimize damages from spills,” Curt Spalding, administrator of EPA’s New England office said in a statement. “Companies that store oil have a responsibility to follow the rules designed to protect the public and the environment. Companies storing oil must prepare spill prevention plans in accordance with federal clean water regulations.”
The EPA said all seven companies have created or updated spill prevention plans and are now complying with federal oil pollution prevention laws.
Attempts to reach the companies this morning were unsuccessful.
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