City of Quincy Penalized $28,125 for Wetlands Protection Act Violations for Installing Equalization Pipe

quincyBOSTON – The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) penalized the City of Quincy $28,125 for wetlands violations associated with the installation of an equalization pipe to address drainage and flooding near Faxon Field. The pipe, which is 12 inches in diameter and approximately 75 feet long, was installed by the city at 122 Russell Park without having obtained approval for work in an area that contains wetlands resources.

After determining that the pipe had been installed without approval, MassDEP required Quincy to document how flood-storage area at Faxon Field has not been compromised by flows entering into it from the installed pipe; and, to submit peak discharge rates for 2, 10, and 100 year storm events that would have occurred without the pipe, compared to what will now occur with the pipe installed.

Under the terms of this consent order, MassDEP requires Quincy to provide a narrative explaining how the alteration of approximately 200 square feet of bordering vegetated wetlands and 15 linear feet of bank associated with an intermittent stream, that occurred during the installation of this pipe, was done in a way that met the required performance standards.

“By installing the pipe without obtaining prior authorization, the city was clearly at fault, and they must now demonstrate that the continued presence of this equalization pipe will not exacerbate flooding,” said Eric Worrall, director of MassDEP’s Northeast Regional Office in Wilmington. “The city must also ensure that the installation was done in a manner that has not damaged the capacity of nearby wetlands resource areas to continue to function properly.”

The city must pay $9,000 of the penalty within 120 days, and MassDEP will suspend the remaining $19,125 provided the city fully complies with all terms of the order, and that there are no further wetlands violations.

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.