February 2025 Enforcement Action Summary
This report includes formal enforcement actions issued or resolved by the Office of Compliance & Inspection (OC&I) for February 2025. 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.
February 3, 2025 – Underground Storage Tank File No. UST-24-37-01855 re: THE ORIGINAL BRADFORD SOAP WORKS, INC. for property located at 200 Providence Street, Assessor’s Plat 23, Lot 11 in West Warwick, Rhode Island. The property includes a manufacturing plant and a hazardous material storage and dispensing system (facility). Respondent is the owner of the property and the operator of the facility. One underground storage tank is installed on the property that is used for storage of a hazardous material. OC&I alleges that Respondent 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
February 13, 2025 – Hazardous Waste File No. HW-20-17re: Mahr, Inc. for property located at 1139 Eddy Street, Assessor’s Plat 57, Lot 326 in Providence, Rhode Island. The property includes a facility used for the manufacturing of precision measuring instruments. Respondent is the operator of the facility. Respondent is registered with RIDEM as a large quantity hazardous waste generator. OC&I alleges that Respondent violated Rhode Island’s Rules and Regulations for Hazardous Waste Management (250-RICR-141-10-1). View the NOV.
February 27, 2025 – Onsite Wastewater Treatment System File No. OCI-OWTS-14-201 re: Jerry Papitto and Lorraine Papitto for property located at 146 South Shore Avenue, Assessor’s Plat 334, Lot 431 in Warwick, Rhode Island. The property includes a single-family residence that was served by a cesspool. Respondents own the property. On June 28, 2023, OC&I issued a NOV to Respondents alleging that Respondents violated Rhode Island’s Cesspool Act of 2007 and Rules Establishing Minimum Standards Relating to Location, Design, Construction and Maintenance of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (250-RICR-150-10-6). View the NOV. Respondents filed an appeal of the NOV with AAD. Prior to an administrative hearing on the NOV, Respondents connected the property to the city sewerage system to satisfy the Order section of the NOV and paid a reduced penalty of $2,000 to fully resolve the NOV.
February 27, 2025 – Onsite Wastewater Treatment System File No. OCI-OWTS-14-214 re: Thomas M. Roach and Barbara J. Roach for a property located at 144 South Shore Avenue, Assessor’s Plat 334, Lot 432 in Warwick, Rhode Island. The property includes a single-family residence that was served by a cesspool. Respondents own the property. On June 28, 2023, OC&I issued a NOV to Respondents alleging that Respondents violated Rhode Island’s Cesspool Act of 2007 and Rules Establishing Minimum Standards Relating to Location, Design, Construction and Maintenance of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (250-RICR-150-10-6). View the NOV. Respondents filed an appeal of the NOV with AAD. Prior to an administrative hearing on the NOV, Respondents connected the property to the city sewerage system to satisfy the Order section of the NOV and paid a reduced penalty of $2,000 to fully resolve the NOV.
February 27, 2025 – Onsite Wastewater Treatment System File No. OCI-OWTS-14-282 re: Robert Morvillo for a property located at 142 South Shore Avenue, Assessor’s Plat 334, Lot 433 in Warwick, Rhode Island. The property includes a single-family residence that was served by a cesspool. Respondent owns the property. On June 6, 2023, OC&I issued a NOV to Respondent alleging that Respondent violated Rhode Island’s Cesspool Act of 2007 and Rules Establishing Minimum Standards Relating to Location, Design, Construction and Maintenance of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (250-RICR-150-10-6). View the NOV. Respondent filed an appeal of the NOV with AAD. Prior to an administrative hearing on the NOV, Respondent connected the property to the city sewerage system to satisfy the Order section of the NOV and paid a reduced penalty of $2,000 to fully resolve the NOV.
None filed this month.
February 3, 2025 – Hazardous Waste File No. OCI-HW-17-52 and Superior Court Case File No. PC-2024-01298 re: Plaintiff Terrence Gray, Director, RIDEM v. Defendant FIVE STAR AUTO SALVAGE, INC. for property located at 1348 Douglas Pike, Smithfield, Rhode Island. The property includes a facility used for general maintenance of automobiles and an auto salvage yard. Defendant is a small quantity handler of universal waste and a used oil generator at the facility. On September 20, 2018, OC&I issued a NOV to Defendant alleging that Defendant violated Rhode Island’s Rules and Regulations for the Management of Hazardous Waste. View the NOV. Defendant did not file an appeal of the NOV with AAD or comply with the NOV. On March 8, 2024, RIDEM filed a complaint in Superior Court against Defendant asking the Court to order Defendant to comply with the NOV. View the Complaint. Prior to a hearing on the complaint, Defendant complied with the Order section in the NOV and by agreement of the parties and permission of the Court an order was entered to resolve the complaint. Defendant shall pay $10,500 in administrative penalties. Defendant paid $1,500 upon execution of the order and shall pay the remaining balance in monthly payments of $1,000 per month. View the Order.
February 3, 2025 – Underground Storage Tank File No. OCI-UST-19-51 and LS 3205 and Superior Court File No. PC-2024-05259 re: Plaintiff, Terrence Gray, Director, RIDEM v. Defendant M & S PROPERTY MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES, LLC for property located at 491 Main Street, Plat 56-3, Lot 210 in South Kingstown, Rhode Island. Underground storage tanks were formerly located on the property, which tanks were used for storage of petroleum products. Defendant owns the Property. Defendant acquired the property on December 17, 1997. On April 19, 2021, OC&I issued a NOV to Defendant alleging that Defendant violated Rhode Island’s Rules and Regulations for Underground Storage Facilities Used for Petroleum Products and Hazardous Materials. View the NOV. Defendant did not file an appeal of the NOV with AAD and did not comply with the NOV. On September 25, 2024, RIDEM filed a complaint in Superior Court against Defendant asking the Court to order Defendant to comply with the NOV. View the Complaint. Prior to a hearing on the complaint, by agreement of the parties and permission of the Court an order was entered to resolve the complaint. View the Order.
February 24, 2025 – Underground Storage Tank File No. OCI-UST-22-18-02566 and Superior Court Case File No. PC-2024-05928 re: Plaintiff Terrence Gray, Director, RIDEM v. Defendants 125 ESTEN REALTY LLC and THE KITCHEN AND COUNTERTOP CENTER OF NEW ENGLAND, LLC for property located at 125 Esten Avenue, Assessor’s Plat 57, Lot 515 in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The property includes an industrial/commercial building, and an underground storage tank used to store #6 heating oil (facility). 125 ESTEN REALTY LLC owns the property. THE KITCHEN AND COUNTERTOP CENTER OF NEW ENGLAND, LLC operates the facility. On December 8, 2022, OC&I issued a NOV to Defendants alleging that Defendants 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. Defendants did not file an appeal of the NOV with AAD or comply with the NOV. On November 1, 2024, RIDEM filed a complaint in Superior Court against Defendants asking the Court to order Defendants to comply with the NOV. View the Complaint. Prior to a hearing on the complaint, by agreement of the parties and permission of the Court an order was entered to resolve the complaint. View the Order.