August 2024 Enforcement Action Summary

This report includes formal enforcement actions issued or resolved by the Office of Compliance & Inspection (OC&I) for August 2024. This report is intended to inform the public of certain compliance/enforcement activities performed in the preceding month to protect the public's health, safety, welfare, and the environment.

Formal enforcement actions are taken to achieve compliance with law/regulations; remediate environmental damage; restore natural resources to appropriate conditions; impose penalties that capture the gravity of the situation and any economic benefit gained by the alleged violator; and deter similar actions in the future. Formal enforcement is generally in the form of a Notice of Violation (NOV) that alleges certain facts and violations, contains orders to resolve the alleged violations, contains an assessed penalty with supporting documentation regarding what factors the OC&I used to determine the penalty, and, by law, allows a respondent the ability to appeal or contest the NOV to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) Administrative Adjudication Division (AAD). Since most NOVs are contested cases, the OC&I does not generally discuss the case with the public while the matter is awaiting hearing or pending negotiated settlement. NOVs are subject to release under the Access to Public Records law in Rhode Island. A copy of an individual NOV may be obtained through the RIDEM's Office of Customer and Technical Assistance. The OC&I often resolve formal enforcement actions through negotiated settlement agreements prior to hearing before the AAD.

Media Inquiries: Direct questions to dem.communications@dem.ri.gov. File Reviews: Requests for public records should be emailed to Angela Spadoni or visit dem.ri.gov/filereview for more on the APRA request process.

Please note that formal case names appearing in blue text are linked to a PDF version of the unsigned document.

August 16, 2024 – Underground Storage Tank File No. OCI-UST-24-1-00637 re: Joseph Mitri d/b/a 100 NOOSENECK HILL ROAD LLC and 95 SUNOCO, INC. for a property located at 100 Nooseneck Hill Road, Assessor’s Map 6, Lot 33.1 in West Greenwich, Rhode Island. The property includes a convenience store and a motor fuel storage and dispensing system (facility).  100 NOOSENECK HILL ROAD LLC owns the property. The Certificate of Organization/Registration for the company was revoked by the Rhode Island Secretary of State on September 11, 2023.  Joseph Mitri is the last known authorized person for the company.  95 SUNOCO, INC. operates the facility.  OC&I alleges that Respondents violated Rhode Island’s Rules and Regulations for Underground Storage Facilities Used for Regulated Substances and Hazardous Materials (250-RICR-140-25-1).  View the NOV.

August 15, 2024 - Water Pollution File No. OCI-WP-20-48 X. ref RIPDES Permit RIG250021 re: Twin Oaks Restaurant for a restaurant located at 100 Sabra Street in Cranston, Rhode Island. Respondent owns the restaurant.  On October 1, 2021, OC&I issued a NOV to Respondent alleging that Respondent violated Rhode Island's Water Pollution Act, Water Quality Regulations and Regulations for the Rhode Island Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. View the NOV. Respondent did not file an appeal of the NOV with AAD and did not comply with the NOV.  RIDEM referred collection of the penalty to the Department of Revenue (DOR).    As part of settlement, Respondent permanently ceased the discharge to comply with the Order section of the NOV and paid a reduced penalty of $2,500. 

None filed this month.

None settled or resolved this month.