Turnpike to pay $100,000 fine to EPA for waste rule violations

PORTLAND – The Maine Turnpike Authority has agreed to pay a $100,000 penalty as part of a settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for violating federal and state hazardous waste regulations.

The settlement is the result of violations that were uncovered during an EPA inspection in July 2000 at Maine Turnpike maintenance facilities. There were no releases of hazardous materials and no environmental harm.

The violations included failing to conduct daily hazardous waste inspections; storing hazardous wastes more than 90 days without a license; not maintaining a hazardous waste training plan; failing to properly label hazardous water containers; and transporting hazardous wastes without a license.

The settlement also calls for the turnpike authority to spend $184,000 on equipment for a new hazardous materials spills response team that is being formed by the Maine Emergency Management Agency in southern Maine.

Robert Varney, regional administrator of EPA’s New England office, said the turnpike authority has corrected all the violations.

Paul Violette, executive director of the turnpike, said the turnpike authority has since hired a full-time environmental services coordinator to assure that all turnpike operations comply with environmental regulations.