SOUTH HADLEY — A company that sells and repairs heavy construction equipment in South Hadley has been fined $22,000 by the state Department of Environmental Protection for violating hazardous waste procedures, air pollution control and wetland protections.
During an inspection at Quality Fleet Service Inc.’s location at 548 New Ludlow Road, the state environmental agency found the company had not followed proper storage and management of hazardous waste. The company also burned waste oil in a boiler without proper approval and worked on protected bordering vegetated wetland, according to a statement from MassDEP.
“Environmental regulations are in place to protect communities, neighborhoods, public health and the environment,” Michael Gorski, director of MassDEP’s Western Regional Office said in a statement. “MassDEP expects full compliance with these important requirements and will take enforcement action when they are not met.”
Quality Fleet Service agreed to pay $13,000 of the fine, and the state will waive the remaining $9,000 if the company corrects the violations, restores the wetland and updates procedures to prevent future infractions.
Quality Fleet Service owner Nicholas Moynihan said Monday that the company began to correct the violations before MassDEP released the news. In a statement, Moynihan said the employee responsible for improper oil burning has been fired, and the company has “strengthened its internal controls and processes to provide greater oversight moving forward.”
“Quality Fleet Service is committed to operating responsibly, meeting our environmental obligations and continuing to be a good neighbor in the South Hadley community,” Moynihan said.
The company will continue to work with the town of South Hadley and MassDEP to meet the remaining requirements of the consent order.
