Norwood, Westfield Companies To Pay $185K In Pollution Settlement

NORWOOD, MA — A Norwood company and a Westfield company have to pay a total of $185,000 as part of separate settlements reached with Attorney General Maura Healey’s Office over allegations that the companies illegally discharged polluted industrial stormwater into local rivers.

Most of the money will fund projects improving local water quality.

The consent decrees were filed with the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts and settle allegations that the UAVE LLC in Norwood and Cargill, Inc. and Salt City, Inc. in Westfield violated the federal Clean Water Act when they illegally discharged industrial stormwater into storm drain systems flowing to cold-water fisheries.

The settlements include a total of $130,000 that will be paid to local watershed associations to improve water quality in the vicinity of the facilities and a total of $55,000 to offset the costs of the AG’s enforcement efforts and for future monitoring of the companies’ compliance with the consent decrees.

“Stormwater pollution is causing serious harm to our state’s waterways and wetlands, which are critical natural resources that provide flood control and habitats for wildlife,” AG Healey said.

In a separate matter, the AG’s Office alleges that UAVE of Norwood, a construction material mining facility, was unlawfully discharging industrial stormwater containing sediment into a storm drain leading to Purgatory Brook, a tributary of the Neponset River. Sedimentary material such as sand or silt that is discharged into waterways destroys habitat, harms aquatic organisms, and can contribute to flooding.

Under the terms of the settlement, UAVE has agreed to eliminate stormwater discharges from the facility during rain events and to otherwise control and monitor stormwater discharges as is required by the stormwater permit. UAVE will pay $50,000 to the Neponset River Watershed Association for projects to improve water quality around Purgatory Brook and will reimburse the AG’s Office for costs incurred in bringing the case.