CONCORD, N.H. (Legal Newsline) -- New Hampshire Attorney General Joseph Foster and Department of Environmental Services Commissioner Thomas Burack on Thursday announced a $50,000 settlement with a Newcastle-based marina that allegedly violated fuel safety regulations.
Pier People LLC and Spenser Epperson allegedly violated state regulations associated with the company's underground storage tank system and fueling operations at the Wentworth by the Sea Marina in Newcastle.
The defendants allegedly altered their UST system to engage in fast fueling.
The alleged alterations bypassed some of the required safety systems and increased the risk of uncontrolled releases of petroleum into the state's waters.
"We cannot put human health and the environment at risk," Foster said. "We are fortunate that nothing was spilled this time and we are going to make sure that this type of behavior does not occur in the future at this or any other facility in New Hampshire."
Pier People admitted it committed the violations but claimed the violations resulted from miscommunication. The DES previously emailed the defendants telling them the UST alterations were in direct violation of state regulations.