BOSTON – The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) penalized The TJX Companies, Inc. of Framingham $7,187 for a waste site cleanup violation at its 162 Everett Avenue location in Chelsea.
The company was penalized for failing to notify MassDEP within two hours as required following the release of an estimated 15 gallons of hydraulic oil on July 12, 2013. MassDEP was notified four days later by a third-party, the Chelsea Emergency Management Office.
The release, which was subsequently cleaned up, impacted a nearby storm drain and catch-basin. The initial cause of the release has been attributed to an abraded or severed tube conveying oil within the mechanical trash compactor, which is located near the loading dock.
“The failure by a TJX facility to notify MassDEP following the release of oil reveals a lack of training or failure to establish adequate protocols for responding to this type of incident,” said Eric Worrall, director of MassDEP’s Northeast Regional Office in Wilmington. “Certainly, the goal is to prevent accidents from happening in the first place, but there has to be a plan, and training for how to respond appropriately when there is a release of oil or other emergency.”
Under a consent order with MassDEP, The TJX Companies Inc. has agreed to develop and implement an Oil and Hazardous Material Release Reporting and Response Plan within the next 45 days, and submit a copy to MassDEP. The Plan will be utilized by the company’s employees in reporting spills, conducting spill cleanup and submitting appropriate compliance documentation to MassDEP. The TJX Companies will pay $3,000 of the penalty, with the remaining $4,187 suspended pending compliance with the terms.
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.