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Rhode Island Shipbuilder Faces Fine for Clean Air Violations

Release Date: 10/06/2008
Contact Information: David Deegan, (617) 918-1017

(Boston, Mass. – Oct. 6, 2008) – The Southeastern New England Shipbuilding Corp. (Senesco), of North Kingstown, R.I., faces a significant EPA penalty for several violations of both federal and state Clean Air regulations.

A recent EPA complaint alleges that Senesco violated federal air quality requirements outlined in the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) specifically for Ship Building and Repair Facilities, by failing to submit notifications and reports, by failing to keep records, and by using paints with hazardous air pollutant contents greater than the allowable limits.

EPA also alleges that Senesco violated “Title V” Operating Permit requirements under the federal Clean Air Act, by failing to apply for a Title V permit despite having potential xylene emissions greater than 10 tons per year. Finally, Senesco failed to comply with Rhode Island’s “State Implementation Plan” for air quality by failing to apply for a new source review permit before commencing construction of its facility.

EPA has proposed a fine of $378,700 for the violations.

Since EPA brought the violations to their attention, Senesco has obtained the new source review permit from R.I. Dept. of Environmental Management and has submitted a Title V application.

More information:

- EPA clean air enforcement in New England (http://epa.gov/ne/enforcement/air/index.html)

- Shipbuilding and repair NESHAP requirements (https://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/shipb/shipbpg.html)