MIT Lincoln Laboratory Penalized $17,250 for
Air Quality Violations at its Lexington Facility

The Massachusetts Department of Environment (MassDEP) penalized MIT Lincoln Laboratory $17,725 in connection with air quality violations the company reported to the state earlier this year. MIT Lincoln Laboratory acknowledged this year that back in 2005 it installed an oil- powered emergency generator at its Lexington facility without prior approval.

The company admitted after an audit by the company's landlord that installation of the 2 megawatt generator at 224 Wood Street in Lexington was done prior to receiving the required, written MassDEP approval, a violation of the Massachusetts air pollution control regulations.

"Emergency generators serve an important role for private companies," said Richard Chalpin, director of MassDEP's Northeast Regional Office in Wilmington. "However, MassDEP needs companies to document important compliance issues before these generators are installed and operated. This is true not only to ensure that they are installed and operated properly, but so that their overall contribution in terms of emissions is tracked and properly regulated." 

After acknowledging the violation in January 2008, MIT Lincoln Laboratory submitted to MassDEP technical specifications about the generator, its placement, and its operating history.  The generator has experienced limited operation since it was installed, mostly to test its reliability should an immediate need arise due to a sudden power outage.

Upon completion of technical review and subsequent written MassDEP approval, the facility will be allowed to run the generator for up to 250 hours per year. MassDEP has agreed to suspend $7,250 of the penalty pending Lincoln Laboratory's full compliance with the consent order. 

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