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EPA Orders Maine Microwave Antenna Company to Comply with Environmental Laws

Release Date: 06/17/2002
Contact Information: Peyton Fleming, EPA Press Office, 617-918-1008

BOSTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced that it has ordered a Scarborough, Maine microwave antenna manufacturer to come into immediate compliance with federal wastewater regulations.

Gabriel Electronics Inc., located on Manson Libby Road, has been sending its metal finishing wastewater to the Town of Scarborough's wastewater treatment plant since 1980.

Based on inspections conducted by EPA, with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, and the company's own self-monitoring data, EPA discovered the following violations:

• Prior to December 2001, the company failed to submit a required Baseline Monitoring Report (BMR).
  
• Between August 1983 to November 2001, Gabriel failed to submit semi-annual reports on periodic compliance to EPA.
  
• From December 2001 to February 2002, Gabriel periodically introduced wastewater into the wastewater treatment plant that contained pollutants in excess of EPA regulations for the metal finishing industry. These pollutants included total copper, total lead, and total zinc.

EPA's order requires Gabriel to complete an engineering study specifying actions it will take to achieve long-term compliance for all industrial wastewater sent to Scarborough's wastewater treatment facility. The company also will be required to show that the necessary work has been completed.

The order also increases the frequency of Gabriel's self-monitoring for all industrial wastewater discharged to the wastewater treatment facility.