Town of Auburn Enters into Agreement with MassDEP to Correct
Violations of the Surface Water Discharge Requirements

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) and the Town of Auburn have entered into an Administrative Consent Order resulting from a sanitary sewer overflow incident that occurred from the municipal sewer system in the area of Brooks Road in Auburn in May of 2007. The overflow resulted in the release of untreated wastewater into Kettle Brook. 

The town failed to notify MassDEP of the incident in a timely manner and failed to follow a previously approved spill response plan to notify downstream communities. Shortly after being notified, MassDEP conducted stream sampling to assess the water quality impacts to Kettle Brook.

Under the terms of the consent order, the town has agreed to comply with the notification procedures in the approved spill response plan, and to conduct inspections and submit a report to MassDEP assessing the condition of the town sewer system and its manholes. The town will also provide repairs to the system, and upgrade sewer manhole covers as necessary.

Under the terms of the settlement, the town will provide $5,000 as a Supplemental Environmental Project to pay publication costs of the Blackstone River Coalition's pamphlet titled "A Homeowner's Guide to Protecting Water Quality in the Blackstone River Watershed."

"Having an upgraded infrastructure and a standby notification procedure that town employees are familiar with will better protect the watershed," said Martin Suuberg, director of MassDEP's Central Regional Office in Worcester. 

MassDEP is responsible for ensuring clean air and water, safe management and recycling of solid and hazardous wastes, timely cleanup of hazardous waste sites and spills, and the preservation of wetlands and coastal resources.

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