United States Army Agrees to Environmental Cleanup Actions at Devens

The United States Department of the Army, through its 94th Regional Support Command of the Army Reserve, will address hazardous waste violations cited by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) during an inspection of the Devens Reserve Forces Training Area last year. 

During a January 2007 inspection of the Devens installation, including the vehicle maintenance areas, MassDEP personnel observed several hazardous waste violations, including failure to ship hazardous waste (waste oil) off-site in a timely manner, failure to provide an impervious surface in the hazardous waste storage area and failure to provide emergency procedures and response information. Failing to remove waste oil within the prescribed time frame and provide emergency preparedness and response information near the hazardous waste storage areas are repeat violations of a 2004 order issued by MassDEP.

In a recently finalized consent order, the Army has agreed to comply with the regulations at its Devens location and pay a $12,960 penalty to the Commonwealth.    

"Establishing and implementing emergency response procedures and properly managing hazardous waste greatly reduces the potential for environmental release and contamination," said Martin Suuberg, director of MassDEP's Central Regional Office in Worcester.

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