Clarification: MJD Real Estate Fined by DEP
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Editor's Note: The original headline on this article inadvertently referred to an existing trucking company. Adams Trucking Co. has no relation to MJD Real Estate, owned by Norman Dellaghelfa Jr., and has not violated any MassDEP regulations. iBerkshires regrets the error.
ADAMS, Mass. — A trucking company is being assessed a $1,000 penalty for failing to cleanup contamination on its property.
The state Department of Environmental Protection is fining Norman Dellaghelfa Jr. for environmental violation at his MJD Real Estate warehouse facility, located at 115 Howland Ave. MJD was cited for failure to meet regulatory deadlines for assessment and cleanup of a release of metals and semi-volatile organic compounds to soil at this location.
In December 2010, MassDEP received a preliminary environmental assessment report, which indicated that concentrations of metals and semi-volatile organic compounds in the soil exceeded applicable standards at the Howland Avenue address, formerly the Curtis Paper Mill site. In April 2011, MassDEP notified MJD of its responsibilities for cleanup of the site and established deadlines for submittals. However, MJD took no actions to implement a cleanup.
In order to resolve the violations, MJD entered into an agreement with MassDEP that establishes new cleanup deadlines. If MJD demonstrates that they do not have sufficient funds to perform the cleanup or pay the penalty by obtaining "Financial Inability Status," the agreement stipulates that MassDEP will suspend the penalty.
"MJD Real Estate failed to address the release of hazardous waste at this property, and repeatedly failed to respond to notices issued by MassDEP," said Michael Gorski, director of MassDEP's Western Regional Office in Springfield. "We recognize that the cleanup of environmental contamination might be beyond the financial ability of a responsible party and offer an application and approval process to suspend response action deadlines based on financial inability."
MJD purchased the property for $15,000 from the defunct paper company in 2009. It had been in hot water with the town for couple years when it repeatedly failed to meet a payment plan for back taxes negotiated with the town. It has since met its obligations.
MassDEP is responsible for ensuring clean air and water, safe management and recycling of solid and hazardous wastes, timely cleanup of hazardous waste sites and spills and the preservation of wetlands and coastal resources.
Tags: cleanup, fines, MassDEP,
