Brookline Investment Firm Penalized $14,500 for
 Solid Waste Violations at a Hyde Park Site 

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has penalized Berkshire Investments LLC $14,500 for solid waste and wetlands violations at 1 Fairmount Court in Boston. 

In response to a complaint, MassDEP inspected the property, which borders the Neponset River in the Hyde Park section, and found an area of 4,000 to 8,000 square feet being improperly used as a solid waste facility. Among the materials found included concrete rubble, piles of tires, and a dumpster with televisions and various appliances.  

Berkshire Investments, which is based in Brookline, owns the property at 1 Fairmount Court. Inspectors found the firm  had neither obtained a permit to operate a solid waste facility to process the material nor obtained approval to fill what is a wetlands buffer zone as defined under the Wetlands Protection Act.

"The use of this property as a solid waste facility was carried out without the proper approvals having been sought or obtained," said Richard Chalpin, director of MassDEP's Northeast Regional Office in Wilmington. "Property owners have a responsibility and a legal obligation to address the impacts their actions will have on their neighbors and the environment." 

Under the terms of today's agreement, Berkshire Investments has agreed to cease accepting solid waste until the fill material is tested. A proscribed removal plan and destination of the solid waste material will ultimately be based on the results of those tests. Within 60 days, Berkshire Investments will submit a plan outlining the steps it has taken, continue to take to complete the removal and document its work and analysis.

MassDEP has agreed to suspend $6,500 of the penalty provided the removal and restoration work is completed within the established guidelines.

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