The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources has issued a judgment against Allen LaFlamme, owner of Allen’s Affordable Auto Salvage, Vershire, Vermont, for what it says is multiple violations of Vermont Salvage Yard and Hazardous Waste laws. LaFlamme must pay a $29,000 penalty and comply with corrective actions as a result of the order.
The state says the operation is an unpermitted salvage yard.
During inspections of the facility in 2011 and 2013, agency personnel say they found multiple hazardous waste violations. Both inspections revealed multiple areas of oil-stained soil surrounded by visibly stressed vegetation, which are indications of improperly managed oil, the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources says.
Agency personnel also discovered that wood chips used to absorb oil were burned in wood stoves at the salvage yard. According to the agency, the company also disposed of gasoline-contaminated water by evaporating the water portion in an open fire.
According to the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, LaFlamme has been operating the facility without a Certificate of Registration, which is required under state law, from the Vermont State Salvage Yard Program.
According to the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, LaFlamme estimates that his yard currently has more than 800 salvage vehicles on the property. A certificate of registration is required if four or more junk motor vehicles are on a property.
The agency issued a Notice of Alleged Violation (NOAV) to LaFlamme following each site visit. The NOAVs included instructions for bringing the business into compliance with the applicable salvage yard law, suggesting that LaFlamme hire a consultant to conduct a site investigation of the stained soils. To date, LaFlamme has neither obtained a Certificate of Registration nor completed the site investigation process, the agency says.
In August of 2015, the agency filed an administrative order with the Environmental Court against LaFlamme. When the parties were unable to reach a resolution, the court conducted a one-day trial Aug. 26, 2016. As a result of the evidence presented at trial, the Environmental Court upheld each of the violations alleged by the Agency. In the judgment order issued Sept. 1, 2016, the court imposed a penalty of $29,000.
In addition to the penalty, the court ordered LaFlamme to comply with all corrective actions contained in the agency’s administrative order within 60 calendar days.
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