Milford Company To Pay $895K Fine After Hazardous Waste Violations: EPA

MILFORD, MA — A Milford pharmaceutical manufacturing company will pay an $850,000 fine after federal regulators said it violated hazardous waste rules at two local facilities.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the settlement Tuesday with Nitto Denko Avecia Inc., resolving alleged violations of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and Massachusetts Hazardous Waste Management regulations at the company's Milford facilities, according to the EPA.

EPA officials said a hazardous waste compliance evaluation found multiple alleged violations involving hazardous waste air emissions, design and installation requirements for hazardous waste tank systems, equipment inspections, waste and storage area labeling and contingency planning.

"Safe management practices of hazardous waste and contingency planning with local responders are important to keeping our New England communities safe," EPA New England Regional Administrator Mark Sanborn said in the announcement.

As part of the agreement, Nitto Avecia agreed to return to compliance with hazardous waste management requirements, according to the EPA.

The company has implemented a leak detection and repair program for tanks and equipment that manage hazardous waste, has started daily visual inspections of RCRA-regulated tank systems, and has updated its hazardous waste contingency plan to reflect current conditions and emergency contacts, according to the EPA.

Nitto Denko Avecia is incorporated in Delaware and based in Milford at 125 Fortune Blvd.

The company employs about 400 people and manufactures oligonucleotides, while also conducting quality assurance, research and development and hazardous waste tank management operations, according to the EPA.

Nitto Denko Avecia confirmed to Patch that it has reached an agreement with the EPA.

“We are pleased to have reached an agreement with the EPA that affirms our commitment to protecting the environment and ensuring full compliance with all regulations," a spokesperson for the company wrote in a statement to Patch. "As detailed in the EPA’s press release, we have taken appropriate actions to resolve this matter.”

See Also:

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• Milford Special Olympics Athletes Win Medals At State Games