Two Electrical Transmission Repair Contractors Penalized
a Total of $8,500 for Environmental Violations at Pelham Site

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) issued penalties totaling $8,500 to two electricity transmission line contracting companies for violations of the Massachusetts Clean Waters Act while the firms conducted transmission line repair work in Pelham.

In July 2008, MassDEP received information indicating that both Par Electrical Contractors, Inc. of Kansas City, Missouri, and Northern Land Clearing, Inc. of Palmer, were conducting work in a wetland area without the required MassDEP permits.

Par Electrical Contractors and Northern Land Clearing had mobilized equipment and personnel to the Pelham site to place 10,000 square feet of swamp mats within surface waters of the Commonwealth without receiving the required Water Quality Certificate from MassDEP.  Northern had submitted an application for the certificate on June 16, 2008, however, both Par and Northern commenced work prior to MassDEP issuing the permit.

MassDEP issued a penalty of $3,750 to Par Electrical and $4,750 to Northern Land Clearing for the violations. Both contractors were also issued orders from MassDEP that could result in additional penalties, if new environmental violations were to occur.

"Utility maintenance is critical to long-term reliability of the system," said Michael Gorski, director of MassDEP's Western Regional Office in Springfield. "However, necessary permits must be in place before the start of any work in a protected area." 

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