MassDEP Penalizes ADESA Inc. of Framingham $30,000 for Numerous Hazardous Waste Management, Air Quality Violations

adesaBOSTON – The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has penalized ADESA, Inc. $30,000 for violations found during an inspection of its facility at 63 Western Avenue in Framingham. The company, which is based in Carmel, Indiana, operates in Framingham under the name ADESA Auctions Boston.

MassDEP inspected the facility, a registered small quantity generator of hazardous waste and a large quantity generator of waste oil, on August 6, 2013 and found numerous hazardous waste management and air quality violations.

“This facility was not managing its hazardous waste properly on numerous fronts,” said Eric Worrall, director of MassDEP’s Northeast Office in Wilmington. “It is critically important that facility owners ensure their workers comply with hazardous waste management regulations in order to protect public health, safety and the environment.”

Among the hazardous waste management violations were the following: the main accumulation area had three rusted drums, two dented drums, inadequate aisle space, and inaccurate signage; records of the required weekly inspections did not accurately represent conditions observed at the facility; and there was no record that the employees were trained in hazardous waste management. In addition, waste batteries and mercury-containing bulbs were improperly stored in the accumulation area, a 30-gallon drum of solvent was improperly labeled, the waste-oil accumulation area was not delineated and the fill pipe was open and improperly covered with tape.

The air quality violations included a natural gas-fired emergency generator that was not properly designed to prevent a condition of air pollution and potential public health impacts as wells as a rubber gasket on an underground storage tank was missing, which is a vapor recovery violation.

The company has agreed to correct the violations, including immediate compliance with the hazardous waste management regulations and the replacement of the rubber gasket. Within 90 days, the facility will have completed the modification of the emergency generator’s stack height so that the stack is vertical and terminates at least 10 feet above the roofline. MassDEP has agreed to suspend $15,000 of the penalty pending demonstrated compliance with today’s order.

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.