Press Release  MassDEP Issues Fine for Oil Spill Impacting Assabet River in Hudson

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has assessed a $21,000 penalty to N.R. Underwood & Sons Enterprises, Inc., for violating state cleanup regulations at its hardware store at 31 Washington Street in Hudson.

Instead of promptly notifying MassDEP of an oil spill as required by state regulations, N.R. Underwood waited four days to report a release of waste oil — from a ruptured storage tank — that impacted the Assabet River. The company also violated oil and hazardous material cleanup regulations by beginning cleanup and waste remediation management without a health and safety plan, without a Licensed Site Professional (LSP), and without prior MassDEP approval.

"Timely communication of a waste oil release and coordination with professionals on cleanup is required to safeguard workers, the public, and the environment," said Andrea Briggs, acting regional director of the MassDEP Central Regional Office in Worcester. "Delays can increase risk and result in fines and enforcement actions. We urge business and property owners to follow these important regulatory standards carefully."

N.R. Underwood has since properly completed cleanup of the spill and submitted documentation to MassDEP confirming that remediation is complete and meets the standard of no significant risk to public health, safety, or the environment.

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