MassDEP Issues $4,000 Penalty to Covanta Springfield's
Waste Combustor Facility for Air Quality Violations

Covanta Springfield, LLC in Agawam has been assessed a $4,000 penalty by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) for air pollution control violations.

In November 2008, Covanta Springfield self-reported the violations to MassDEP. The municipal waste combustor facility, located at 188 M Street, reported that it did not maintain the appropriate carbon injection rate to one of its combustor units. In addition, an alarm failed to sound when the activated carbon flow to the combustor unit stopped. The activated carbon filters air emissions from the unit.

Other violations identified included a failure to submit air quality modeling results in a timely manner, and failure to provide MassDEP with correct information on its monthly reports. 

Covanta Springfield has cooperated with MassDEP to address the noncompliance issues, and has entered into a consent agreement to fully correct the violations and agreed to pay a penalty of $4,000. The company has also agreed to install and operate an "oxygen continuous emission monitoring" system to improve the facility's air quality monitoring capability.

"Air pollution control equipment must be operated and maintained as permitted to achieve the maximum emissions reduction. These controls are critical to ensuring a safe environment and MassDEP will vigorously enforce air quality requirements," said Michael Gorski, director of MassDEP's Western Regional Office in Springfield.

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