Agawam Company Assessed $14,000 for Environmental Violations

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has issued a $14,000 penalty to Ben Franklin Design and Manufacturing Company, Inc., an Agawam-based machining company, for violations of the Massachusetts regulations governing hazardous waste. 

MassDEP conducted an inspection of the company's former facility located at 168 Elm Street in Agawam on August 24, 2006, after being notified that a release of hazardous materials had occurred. Inspectors found evidence of oil staining on soil and on a building on the site. During the course of the inspection and follow-up investigations, MassDEP determined that the company had improperly collected, accumulated, and stored waste machining fluids on the site.  The property was subsequently cleaned up and the hazardous waste removed from the site to an appropriate disposal facility.

"Proper management of these waste materials is protective of the environment and the company's bottom line," said Michael Gorski, director of MassDEP's Western Regional Office in Springfield. "In this instance, abandoned wastes resulted in a release, which required remediation of the site."

Based on the terms of an agreement with MassDEP, the company will pay $8,000 of the penalty.  The remaining $6,000 will be suspended under the condition that the company complies with the terms and conditions of the agreement. Additionally, the company agreed to perform a Supplemental Environmental Project in the amount of $7,500. The money will be designated for the purchase of equipment for the Agawam Fire Department's use in responding to hazardous-materials incidents.

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