Brookside Equipment Sales, Inc.  Issued $8,000 Penalty for Failing to Immediately Notify MassDEP of Diesel Fuel Spill

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has issued an $8,000 penalty to Brookside Equipment Sales, Inc. of Phillipston for violating state regulations following a spill of diesel fuel at the Honey Farms service station in Orange in March 2007.   

The spill of approximately 70 gallons of diesel fuel occurred at about 5:30 p.m. on March 19, 2007. The spill occurred when the Brookside driver overfilled fuel tanks on a tractor-trailer truck he was operating. The driver had failed to monitor the hose during the filling operation. Diesel fuel impacted paved and dirt areas in the vicinity of the fueling area. After informing Honey Farms personnel of the spill, the driver left the scene. State regulations require that MassDEP be notified as soon as possible, but in no case greater than two hours after the truck driver caused the spill.  

Honey Farms personnel contained the spill, notified the local fire department and MassDEP, and arranged for cleanup of the spill to be performed by a private contractor. On March 20, the Orange Police Department reviewed video camera footage of the spill, and determined that the tractor-trailer truck was owned by Brookside.  

"Timely notification and cleanup is critical in spill situations to minimize impacts to the environment," said Michael Gorski, director of MassDEP's Western Regional Office in Springfield. "As part of our enforcement action, Brookside has agreed to train employees on environmental procedures, which should help prevent these kinds of delays from recurring.  Fortunately in this case, the property owner took immediate steps to contain the spill."  

As part of an agreement with MassDEP, Brookside will pay the $8,000 penalty, train its employees on responding to oil spills, and will perform an audit of its Phillipston facility to confirm the facility is in compliance with MassDEP regulations.

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