The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reached a consent agreement and final order with four companies in Massachusetts over alleged violations of the Clean Water Act (CWA). The companies involved are E.L. Harvey & Sons, Inc., Trojan Recycling, Inc., Nauset Disposal Holdings, Inc., and Arrowhead Environmental Partners LLC. These firms, which are indirect subsidiaries of Waste Connections U.S. Holdings, Inc., were accused of discharging industrial waste into U.S. waters without the necessary CWA permits.
According to EPA New England Administrator Mark Sanborn, "Under the Clean Water Act, the federal government, states, and tribes each have an essential role in protecting the quality of our nation's waters by reviewing applications and issuing permits addressing pollutants discharged into our waterbodies." He emphasized that clean water is crucial for health, the environment, and the economy.
The affected waters include several rivers and ponds such as the Paskamansett River and Hedges Pond. The companies have now obtained coverage under EPA's 2021 Multi-Sector General Permit for Stormwater Discharges Associated with Industrial Activity (MSGP) for all seven facilities involved. They have also agreed to pay a $170,000 penalty as part of the settlement.
In Massachusetts, where the state is not authorized to administer its own NPDES program, facilities must comply with EPA's MSGP requirements. This includes submitting a Notice of Intent for permit coverage and implementing measures to prevent stormwater pollution.
