Wachusett Mountain Associates, Inc. Assessed $8,500 For Air and Solid Waste Violations

Wachusett Mountain Associates, Inc. of Princeton has been assessed $8,500 in penalties by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) for Air Pollution Control and Solid Waste Management regulations that occurred at Wachusett Mountain in Princeton.

On April 26, 2007, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) District 8 Forest Fire Warden observed smoke from the Princeton Fire Tower. Upon further investigation by DCR and MassDEP, it was determined that an employee of the company had been burning a pile of debris including logs, construction material, pressure treated lumber, sod and plastics on a nearby site.  This activity violated open burning regulations and solid waste disposal regulations. While the company had an open burning permit from the local fire department, that permit did not authorize the burning of material other than forestry debris.  

In a recently finalized consent order, the company agreed to comply with applicable regulations and pay the $8,500 administrative penalty.     

"The rules governing open burning of brush during certain times of the year do not extend to the burning of other materials," said Lee Dillard Adams, deputy director of MassDEP's Central Regional Office in Worcester. "The mistake made in this case was to burn other types of material, including pressure treated lumber and non-wood materials. These provisions are in place to protect our air quality."

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