Blumenthal
HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal has been granted a contempt of court order against a North Branford-based junkyard after the owner refused to cleanup environmental waste.
In addition to cleaning up the junkyard site, the order requires the businesses owner, Joseph Salg, to cease accepting new materials, as well as meet specific benchmarks and submit records verifying cleanup every 30-60 days, according to Blumenthal.
"The court's contempt order imposes a powerful enforcement tool that will provide strong penalties if there is failure to follow our strict and strenuous cleanup plan," Blumenthal said.
"The contempt order recognizes Mr. Salg's abject and appalling failure to comply with the original judgment years ago, but offers the prospect now of prompt cleanup.
"The cleanup approved by the court includes robust, rigorous benchmarks and oversight, ensuring complete compliance. The owner must pay the remainder of his fine, in accordance with previous court orders."
Salg also must pay $6,500 by Dec. 31, the unpaid balance of an $8,000 fine the State imposed in 2004 for environmental violations at the site.
The State had previously requested that Salg be imprisoned if he failed to reach a cleanup agreement.
The court order was obtained in conjunction with the State's Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Amy Marella.