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News Release RI Department of Environmental Management 235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908 (401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
DEM ANNOUNCES THAT NINE FELONY COUNTS OF ILLEGAL DISCHARGE OF WASTE OIL AND ANTIFREEZE HAVE BEEN FILED AGAINST N.E. ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC., ITS PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT Representatives of N.E. Environmental Services, Inc., currently of 30 Industrial Drive, Cumberland; its president, Peter J. Beauregard, 53, of 61 Saint Cecile Ave., Woonsocket; and vice-president, Todd L. Smith, 44, of 117 Thomas Leighton Blvd, Cumberland, will be arraigned in 6th District Court on September 8 before Magistrate McAtee. The parties have each been charged with one count of placing pollutants where they would likely enter the state's waters; one count of installing or making a modification or addition to, an industrial, commercial, or other establishment, which may result in the discharge of pollutants into the state's waters; and one count of causing or permitting the discharge of oil into the state's waters or land between April 1, 2004 and February 23, 2005. Each violation is punishable by a fine up to $25,000 or by imprisonment up to five years. If found guilty, each party will be deemed guilty of a separate and distinct offense for each day during which the violation is repeated or continued. In November and December of 2004 and February of 2005, DEM received numerous complaints from residents of strong odors associated with glycol coming from the vicinity of the N. E. Environmental Services, Inc. facility on Douglas Pike. Following the complaints, inspectors from DEM's Office of Compliance and Inspection conducted inspections of the property and detected glycol odors at the site. DEM inspectors also obtained samples of seepage behind the building and in monitoring wells located on property. Analytical samples confirmed that ethylene glycol pollutants, at levels in excess of EPA standards, were entering the waters. On May 20, 2005, DEM conducted an additional inspection of the property and took samples of seepage found at the bottom of an embankment leading to a stream behind the facility. This sample confirmed the presence of beryllium, cadmium, copper, lead and zinc in excess of EPA standards. Additional samples taken from seepage found at the bottom of the embankment and going into the groundwaters confirmed the presence of oil at levels above EPA standards. In June 2005, DEM's Office of Criminal Investigation received consent to search the site from PJS Properties, the property owner. PJS Properties has been cooperative throughout the investigation. Samples were taken from a leech field pipe and from effluent, and oil samples were taken from the ground. In addition to the criminal charges, DEM also issued a Notice of Violation to N.E. Environmental Services, Inc. and its principals related to the numerous violations of the state Water Pollution Act. The Department has ordered the company to remediate the site and has imposed an $82,047 penalty. -30- |
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