Seaman Paper Company Pays $2,500 Penalty for Violating Industrial Wastewater Requirements at Otter River Facility

Seaman Paper Company of Massachusetts, Inc., which operates a tissue paper manufacturing facility located at 51 Main Street in Otter River (Templeton), has paid the Commonwealth of Massachusetts a $2,500 administrative penalty for violating Industrial Wastewater regulations. 

During a routine inspection conducted by MassDEP personnel in June of 2007, it was determined that the company had not complied with the terms and conditions of its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. The company had failed to conduct required monitoring of the treatment system and failed to retain records of all monitoring information.

The company also allowed the operation of its treatment system by an individual who was not in possession of a valid certificate of competency issued by the Board of Certification of Operators of Wastewater Treatment Facilities. It also failed to keep a current operation and maintenance manual for the treatment works at the facility.

In a recently finalized consent order, the company agreed to comply with all applicable regulations and pay the administrative penalty. A follow-up inspection by MassDEP recently confirmed that the company had returned to compliance.

"NPDES permits are designed to protect our surface waters, and the monitoring and operating requirements are essential elements of compliance with those permits," said Martin Suuberg, director of MassDEP's Central Regional Office in Worcester. "In this case, the company acted quickly to correct the violations."

###