DEERFIELD — The state Department of Transportation and J.F. White Contracting Co. will pay a penalty to resolve federal allegations that they broke environmental protection laws during construction of the Interstate 91 bridges over the Deerfield River.

Both parties involved in the road and bridge construction project have agreed to pay a total penalty of $21,600 to resolve claims by the Environmental Protection Agency that they violated a construction permit, which is designed to minimize the impacts of stormwater discharges from a site that can harm surrounding waterways, the EPA’s New England regional office said in a press release.

J.F. White and MassDOT completed the $36 million bridge project last year, replacing two pairs of bridges and relocating a section of the northbound lanes of I-91, disturbing about 32 acres. Stormwater from the site discharges into the Deerfield River and then into the Connecticut River.

Any project that disturbs more than an acre of land and discharges stormwater from construction sites falls under The Clean Water Act, requiring a permit.

The act is in place to “protect the environment from the effects of construction projects, including rivers and streams being clogged with sediment and other pollutants,” the EPA said. The agency’s oversight helps ensure that companies working on roads, bridges or other construction projects take the necessary steps to limit stormwater pollution from affecting lakes, rivers and other water bodies.

According to the complaint, the claims “stemmed from a citizen complaint which led to an inspection” and a followup report. “EPA alleged that the DOT and J.F. White had failed to stabilize disturbed portions of the median and shoulder of the roads south of the Deerfield River from January through March 2016. In addition, EPA alleged that they had failed to ensure that all storm drain inlets were properly protected,” the statement continues.

The statement notes that the alleged violations could “lead to an increase in the amount of sediment that would be washed out of storm drains into the Deerfield River during the winter months.”

For more information, visit: https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/water-enforcement