Massachusetts Facility Violates Clean Water Act

Ranor Inc. and its owner Techprecision Corp. will pay more than $100,000 in penalties for environmental violations, in settlement of claims that their facility violated both the federal Clean Water Act and the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act (EPCRA).

The facility, which produces metal products for the military, nuclear, aerospace and commercial industries, violated Clean Water requirements by discharging storm water without a permit. Because the permitting requirements were not followed, the facility also failed to implement best management practices to address storm water discharge and to perform required monitoring that would show the quantity of pollutants being discharged into U.S. waters.

The facility's storm water discharges to a beaver pond and an unnamed perennial stream, both of which lead to other bodies of water. Activities that take place at industrial facilities, such as material handling and storage, are often exposed to the weather. As runoff from rain or snowmelt comes into contact with these materials, it picks up pollutants and transports them to nearby storm sewer systems, rivers, lakes or coastal waters. Storm water pollution is a significant source of water quality problems for the nation.

The facility also failed to file with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Toxic Release Inventory reporting forms for the years 2003 and 2004 as required by the EPCRA. The forms relate to the facility's processing of nickel, chromium and manganese. This failure to comply with chemical reporting requirements hampers the general public's ability to obtain accurate, quantifiable data about the type and amount of pollutants being released in neighborhoods.

The settlement includes a $90,635 penalty payment and an additional $15,000 for a supplemental environmental project to purchase chemical emergency response equipment that would be donated to the Westminster Fire Department.

"Protecting our environment is everybody's responsibility," said Robert W. Varney, regional administrator for the EPA's New England regional office. "It's important that people and businesses follow requirements designed to prevent pollution to our air, soil and water. TRI reporting gives the public important information about which chemicals are being released in and near their communities."

Source: EPA