Big Y Foods Supermarket in Worcester Assessed $11,068 Penalty
for Environmental Violations Following Spill of Vegetable Oil

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) assessed an $11,068 penalty to Big Y Foods, Inc. for failing to provide notification, and for failing to perform a timely cleanup following a release of used vegetable oil that occurred at its Big Y Supermarket in Worcester.

On September 12, 2008, a representative of Big Y Foods notified MassDEP of a vegetable oil release at the supermarket located on Mayfield Street. Oil was released from an outdoor storage vat where used vegetable oil was stored while awaiting scheduled collections for disposal. Heavy rains caused severe flooding and standing water reached depths up to four feet behind the supermarket. Rain water overfilled the vat and displaced the oil contained in the vat, resulting in a release estimated to be between 90 and 120 gallons. The displaced oil impacted the pavement behind the supermarket, and flowed into the nearby Beaver Brook, causing an oil sheen in the stream.

Big Y's notification of the spill to MassDEP was performed well after the two-hour reporting period allowed under the regulations. 

Under the terms of the consent order, Big Y will pay $9,000 of the penalty, and review and revise its existing spill management plan in order to prevent similar events in the future. The remaining $2,068 penalty has been suspended provided that Big Y remains in compliance with applicable regulations for the next 12 months. 

"Prompt notification to MassDEP ensures that all proper steps are taken to immediately and completely address a release to the environment," said Martin Suuberg, director of MassDEP's Central Regional Office. "We appreciate that the release was ultimately cleaned up properly, and that Big Y has taken steps to prevent this from occurring again."

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