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EPA SETTLES WITH HOOKSETT, LONDONDERRY COMPANIES

Release Date: 03/03/1998
Contact Information: Leo Kay, Press Office, (617) 918-4154

BOSTON -- The Environmental Protection Agency has reached a settlement with two businesses in Hooksett and Londonderry that requires the companies to pay penalties totaling $28,000 for violating the Clean Water Act.

Spartan Consolidated, Inc. of Londonderry will pay a penalty of $17,500 for an oil spill that took place in March that resulted in oil reaching the wetlands near the Little Cohas Brook, and for failing to maintain an oil spill prevention plan. C&J Trucking -- the owners' other business in Hooksett -- will pay $10,500 for failing to maintain an oil spill prevention plan.

"This settlement strikes a fair balance between the companies' mistakes, and their efforts to correct them," said John P. DeVillars, administrator of the EPA's New England office.

The EPA initially responded to an oil spill at Spartan that was caused by vandals. Investigators alleged the company failed to properly safeguard its oil tanks with secondary containment, and failed to maintain the required spill prevention plan. When investigators learned the owners also ran another company called C&J Trucking in Hooksett, they inspected that facility as well.

As a result of EPA action, both companies are currently in compliance with the oil pollution prevention requirements. Spartan has removed its large fuel tank, which eliminated the company's need to develop an oil spill plan for its facility. C&J Trucking has since installed a double-walled tank and prepared a spill prevention plan.

Under the federal Clean Water Act, facilities storing fuel are required to maintain documents that lay out a detailed prevention plan and cleanup measures should a spill occur. Among other things, spill prevention plans call for the construction of appropriate containment structures around the facility and the training of personnel in spill prevention.