Orange Company Penalized $1,575 for Air Pollution
and Hazardous Waste Management Violations

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) issued a $1,575 penalty and ordered PHA Industries, Inc. to correct violations for air quality and hazardous waste management regulations at its Orange facility.

Following a March 2008 multimedia inspection of the facility and a review of  records, MassDEP determined that the PHA Industries facility was generating hazardous waste in amounts greater than its registered status. The facility did not notify MassDEP of the change in its generator status as required by the Massachusetts Hazardous Waste Management regulations.

Additionally, on October 18, 2007, PHA Industries submitted a self-audit disclosure to MassDEP, indicating that the facility had installed and operated five chemical mixing tanks since January 2007, without a MassDEP approval.

PHA Industries will pay the $1,575 penalty. The company has cooperated with MassDEP by correcting the noncompliance issues immediately upon being notified.

"MassDEP has taken the self-disclosure by PHA Industries and their immediate corrective actions into consideration to significantly reduce the company's penalty exposure," said Michael J. Gorski, director of MassDEP's Western Regional Office in Springfield. "We strongly encourage facilities to continually assess their compliance with environmental obligations." 

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