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Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection

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Air Quality At 'Unhealthy' Levels In Mass As Canadian Wildfire Smoke Moves East Air Quality At 'Unhealthy' Levels In Mass As Canadian Wildfire Smoke Moves East
Air Quality At 'Unhealthy' Levels In Mass As Canadian Wildfire Smoke Moves East Smoke from Canadian wildfires darkened Massachusetts skies on Tuesday, June 6, as clouds of it moved across the East Coast, and state officials said things would not improve Wednesday.  The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection issued a warning on Monday that the smoke would make the air quality "unhealthy" for sensitive groups. Those include young children, older adults, and people with respiratory or heart conditions. The agency said they should avoid outdoor activities.  Everyone else should limit their time outside and choose less strenuous activities while outdoors.  T…

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by Josh Lanier
News
Asbestos Removal Violations At Former Springfield YMCA Leads To $43K Fines Asbestos Removal Violations At Former Springfield YMCA Leads To $43K Fines
Asbestos Removal Violations At Former Springfield YMCA Leads To $43K Fines The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection said it fined a Quincy company more than $43,000 for violations while removing asbestos from the former Springfield YMCA location.  Inspectors made multiple unannounced visits to the 275 Chestnut Street job site last year and observed Karma Environmental Services workers commit multiple violations, MassDEP said in a news release.  Those violations included Applying water in amounts, which caused run-off and leakage outdoors and indoors  Breeches in the outermost boundary of the work area  Failure of the…

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by Josh Lanier
Weather
List Of All Massachusetts Cities, Towns With Outdoor Water Use Restrictions List Of All Massachusetts Cities, Towns With Outdoor Water Use Restrictions
List Of All Massachusetts Cities, Towns With Outdoor Water Use Restrictions With about 25% of Massachusetts now experiencing extreme drought conditions, many cities and towns in the Commonwealth are limiting outdoor water use to reduce water consumption.  The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) says these restrictions could vary but often include:  Limitations on the hours of the day you may water Limitations on the number of days per week you may water Restrictions to automatic sprinklers or irrigation systems A complete ban on outdoor watering There are about 160 cities and towns that have issued restrictions and a majority of them ar…

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by David Cifarelli
Weather
List Of All Massachusetts Cities, Towns With Outdoor Water Use Restrictions List Of All Massachusetts Cities, Towns With Outdoor Water Use Restrictions
List Of All Massachusetts Cities, Towns With Outdoor Water Use Restrictions With all of Massachusetts now experiencing noticeable drought conditions, many cities and towns in the Commonwealth are limiting outdoor water use to reduce water consumption.  The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) says these restrictions could vary but often include:  Limitations on the hours of the day you may water Limitations on the number of days per week you may water Restrictions to automatic sprinklers or irrigation systems A complete ban on outdoor watering There are about 160 cities and towns that have issued restrictions and a majority of them are m…

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by David Cifarelli
News
Western Mass Homeowner, Building Contractor Fined For Dumping On Residential Property Western Mass Homeowner, Building Contractor Fined For Dumping On Residential Property
Western Mass Homeowner, Building Contractor Fined For Dumping On Residential Property A contractor in Massachusetts is facing thousands of dollars in fines for allegedly illegally dumping waste on a residential property near the Housatonic River, officials announced. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) announced it has fined both Pittsfield-based general contractor Diplacon Builders Inc. and an employee, Jose Saldana, for violations of the state’s solid waste, asbestos, and wetlands regulations for dumping that occurred at a property owned by Saldana on Taylor Street in Pittsfield. MassDEP received a complaint from a local resident through the…

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by Zak Failla
News
DEP Fines Local Businesses Nearly $100K For Environmental Violations This Year DEP Fines Local Businesses Nearly $100K For Environmental Violations This Year
DEP Fines Local Businesses Nearly $100K For Environmental Violations This Year A Central Massachusetts man has been assessed the largest fine from the state’s Department of Environmental Protection so far in 2021. Nathaniel Odell of Upton has been fined a little over $40,000 for allegedly demolishing a Franklin residence without proper care for asbestos, according to a Feb. 8 “notice of intent to assess a civil administrative penalty.” Odell has a right to challenge the allegations and appeal the fine through a hearing. While Odell has been assessed the highest fine yet this year, he is not the only local company to receive a hefty penalty from the Massachusetts Dep…

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by Kristin Palpini
Business
DEP Fines These Local Businesses Over Alleged Environmental Violations DEP Fines These Local Businesses Over Alleged Environmental Violations
DEP Fines These Local Businesses Over Alleged Environmental Violations In January, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection fined 8 local businesses for failure to comply with previous enforcement orders. The DEP issued 79 enforcement orders statewide in January, according to the department’s database. Only 8 of those orders resulted in fines for Western Mass companies. There were no fines assessed in January for Central Massachusetts or Berkshire's businesses.  All of the Western Mass businesses that were fined were disciplined for the same alleged violation and were issued the enforcement orders on the same day (Jan. 22). The violation w…

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by Kristin Palpini
News
Septage Co. Accused Of Dumping Waste Into Town's Sewers Is Fined $500K Septage Co. Accused Of Dumping Waste Into Town's Sewers Is Fined $500K
Septage Co. Accused Of Dumping Waste Into Town's Sewers Is Fined $500K A Massachusetts sewage disposal company has agreed to pay up to $500,000, among other concessions, to settle allegations that it illegally dumped excrement and waste into the public sewer system. On Friday, Nov. 13, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey announced the settlement between the state and Midstate Sewerage of Millbury. The AG had sued the disposal company in 2018 alleging it had violated the state’s Clean Water Act. Midstate is registered to Thomas M. Stratford with Peter C. Stratford as president, according to the business license filed with the Massachusetts Secretary of S…

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by Kristin Palpini