BOSTON (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Dec. 13 that manufacturing facilities in Massachusetts, subsidiaries of a multinational building materials company, have taken steps to comply with federal clean water laws.
The facilities are Saint-Gobain Abrasives Inc. and Saint-Gobain Ceramics & Plastics Inc., at 1 New Bond St. in Worcester, and CertainTeed Corp. and Bird Inc., at 1077 Pleasant St. in Norwood, all subsidiaries of Saint-Gobain Corp.
The steps come after allegations that the facilities discharged stormwater and contaminated groundwater in violation of permits. They also violated federal oil spill prevention and discharge laws.
The facilities agreed to pay more than $250,000 in penalties and $200,000 to support environmental projects.
"The actions taken by these manufacturing plants resulting from these settlements will help protect our waterways, part of New England's critical natural environment," said Curt Spalding, regional administrator of EPA's New England office. "This action should also encourage other companies to make sure they comply with their water discharge permits and spill prevention plans."
The case stemmed from EPA inspections in June 2013 at the Worcester facility and November 2012 at the Norwood facility.