Pan Am settles EPA complaints at Maine, Massachusetts rail yards

Pan Am Railways has agreed to settle U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) allegations that the rail company violated the federal Clean Water Act at its yards in Maine and Massachusetts, the agency announced last week.

The railroad agreed to pay a $152,000 fine to resolve the violations, which involved yards in Waterville, Maine, and East Deerfield, Mass.

According to the EPA complaint, Pan Am’s stormwater pollution prevention plan for the Maine yard did not adequately describe control measures necessary to minimize the impact of stormwater running offsite to nearby surface waters. Debris piles were located on site without proper controls in place, and oil staining was observed throughout the site, EPA officials said in a press release.

The EPA’s complaint found similar violations at the Massachusetts facility.

In addition to the fine, the railroad agreed to undergo an "Environmental Culture Assessment," and develop and implement plans to improve the "existing environmental culture" at five of its New England facilities, EPA officials said.