BOSTON – The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) penalized Triumvirate Environmental (Merrimack), Inc. $17,250 for hazardous waste management violations found at the company’s hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal facility at 263 Howard Street in Lowell.
On September 21, 2011, a MassDEP inspection found: a double-stacked pallet of hazardous waste that was not stored in a safe manner, with the front of the top pallet suspended in the air and not supported; hazardous wastes that were deemed incompatible (e.g. ignitable) were stored in close proximity instead of having a physical separation such as a berm, a wall or other protective device; quadruple-stacked five-gallon containers of hazardous waste, whereas the facility’s license allows for no more than triple-stacking for this type of container; and, six hazardous waste containers that were not properly labeled in Building One and Building Two.
“A facility that is licensed to transport, store and treat hazardous waste has a responsibility to ensure public safety and environmental protection,” said Eric Worrall, director of MassDEP’s Northeast Regional office in Wilmington. “Failure to maintain compliance within that facility is not acceptable given the potential for harm or damage.”
Triumvirate has initiated steps to return the facility to compliance and will pay $15,000 of the penalty within 30 days. MassDEP will suspend the remaining $2,250 provided the company has no further violations over the next year.
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.