Vermont Business MagazineThe Agency of Natural Resource’s Department of Environmental Conservation today announced that it formally settled environmental violations involving the Burlington International Airport (BTV).The City of Burlington operates the airport.The settlement includes a $37,754 penalty.The airport, located in South Burlington, is subject to three underground injection control (UIC) permits, issued by the Department.The permits authorize BTV to discharge stormwater containing aircraft de-icing fluid to the groundwater via four injection wells.Under the UIC permits BTV is required to perform annual inspections of each injection well system, and biannual monitoring of the groundwater with submission of the required reports to the Department’s Underground Injection Control Program.After reviewing information provided by BTV, the Department determined that BTV had failed to comply with the conditions of the UIC permits for a period of four years.The airport is now in compliance.
“In January 2014, the Burlington International Airport brought the issue of non-compliance with Underground Injection Control Permits to the attention of the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) when voluntarily assisting with a related inquiry. We worked with DEC to bring us back into compliance. Fortunately, this issue was an administrative error, and there was no impact to the environment. BTV is a green airport committed to the preservation of Vermont’s environment, and we have implemented revisions to our internal procedures to ensure this never happens again," said BTV Aviation Director Gene Richards.
“Protecting water resources is our top priority,” said Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Alyssa Schuren. “I am pleased to see the airport come into compliance.”
The Department notified the City of the violations in January of 2015. After returning to compliance, BTV agreed to pay a $37,754 penalty. The settlement was reduced to an Assurance of Discontinuance, and adopted as an order by the Superior Court, Environmental Division.
Source:Department of Environmental Conservation 2.23.2016