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Electroplating Shop In Hudson, Mass Pays $42,000 Fine For Wastewater Violations

Release Date: 01/02/2001
Contact Information: Andrew Spejewski, EPA Press Office (617-918-1014)

BOSTON -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced that H. LaRosee & Sons, Inc, an electroplating shop in Hudson, has agreed to pay a $42,000 penalty to settle an enforcement case stemming from the company's violations of federal wastewater pretreatment regulations. The company discharges wastewater to town sewers.

During a routine inspection in 1997, EPA found that LaRosee was discharging untreated wastewater from its electroplating operations directly to the sewer system, with the wastewater violating federal limits for acidity and metals. Extremely acidic wastewater --as was found in LaRosee's discharges-- can potentially damage pipes and interfere with the proper operation of the municipal sewage treatment facility. The wastewater discharges also had15 times the allowable limit of cadmium and twice the allowable limit of lead. These metals could pass through the sewage treatment facility and be discharged into the Assabet River. LaRosee also violated reporting requirements and failed to comply with EPA requests for information.

At the time of the inspection, the company had never had any treatment for its wastewater. Since the violations were uncovered, LaRosee has implemented a treatment system for its wastewater, and the company is no longer in violation of pretreatment standards.

"The wastewater from the LaRosee operations posed a significant risk to Hudson's sewer system and treatment plant, as well as the Assabet River," said Mindy S. Lubber, regional administrator for EPA's New England office. "I'm encouraged that as a result of this case, LaRosee & Sons is now doing their part to protect the river by meeting all treatment standards. EPA will continue to make sure that all businesses in New England are similarly fulfilling their environmental responsibilities."