BOSTON (Legal Newsline) — Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey announced a lawsuit July 25 against Commonwealth Tank Inc. (CommTank) and President Kevin Hoag for allegations of illegally generating and storing hazardous waste and discharging pollutants into an unpermitted well at its facility.
“Hazardous waste and asbestos are strictly regulated because they pose a significant risk to the public and the environment,” Healey said. “Given that this company is in the business of handling hazardous waste, the alleged violations are especially egregious. We will vigorously prosecute those companies that ignore environmental laws put in place to protect the health and safety of our communities.”
The defendants allegedly reported the wrong hazardous waste generator status to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) for a facility in Wakefield. The defendants needed to have registered the facility as a small quantity generator of hazardous waste because of the more than 220 pounds of hazardous waste per month, but never did so.
The defendants also purportedly violated state law by conducting asbestos removal work on an unoccupied building in Newbury Street in Boston without complying to asbestos abatement work practices.
“Licensed asbestos contractors are an essential requirement to protect workers and the public from exposure to asbestos fibers,” said MassDEP Commissioner Martin Suuberg. “Mass DEP will continue to conduct inspections and will enforce against violators that put the environment and the public at risk.”