The Agency of Natural Resources, which conducted inspections at the company’s Burlington and Rutland rail yards in 2008, discovered several violations of waste management laws, including the failure to properly store, label and manage hazardous wastes.
As part of the settlement, Vermont Railway will implement compliance measures to prevent hazardous material spills at its Vermont facilities, including the purchase of fire fighting materials and spill response equipment for four fire departments in areas of high rail traffic in the Vermont.
In addition, Vermont Railway will conduct a training exercise involving a simulated release of hazardous materials from a rail car under the Supplemental Environmental Project.
Vermont attorney general William Sorrell said that companies handling hazardous materials and wastes in Vermont must comply with the state environmental laws to protect the public and the environment and companies that fail to follow the law will be held accountable.
