Local businesses fined by state
By Melissa Muntz Contributing Writer

Shrewsbury - Two Shrewsbury businesses have been fined by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for various hazardous material infractions. The companies are Road Scholar Transport Inc., of Pennsylvania, and Industrial Polymers and Chemicals Inc.

Road Scholar Transport, which owns property at 864 Hartford Turnpike, has been fined $13,942.50 following the release of hazardous material at its site March 29, 2005.

The incident occurred when a forklift at the site punctured a 55- gallon drum of methyl naphthalene #5, releasing the contents of the drum into the ground. According to the DEP, the accident aff ected a nearby storm drain and wetlands.

The company was fined not only for the accident, but also for failing to report the release to the DEP within the required two-hour time frame, conducting response actions without the approval of the DEP, and failing to provide information about the accident at the request of the environmental agency.

DEP officials said the company's failure to report the incident was unacceptable.

"Notification of a sudden release of oil or hazardous materials within two hours is vital to ensure MassDEP-approved … containment actions are conducted and public health concerns are fully addressed," said Martin Suuberg, director of the Central Regional Office in Worcester.

Industrial Polymers and Chemicals, located at 508 Boston Turnpike, is facing $17,150 in fines after several infractions were discovered during a routine inspection of the facility in March 2006.

According to the DEP, the company allowed excessive air emissions, failed to cover mixing vessels filled with hazardous materials, failed to properly mark and label hazardous waste containers, accumulated more than an acceptable amount of hazardous waste, failed to maintain air pollution monitoring and control equipment, failed to provide required employee training, and failed to keep sufficient records.

Industrial Polymers and Chemicals has agreed to pay the assessed fine, and has agreed to comply with all DEP regulations.