June 2024 Enforcement Action Summary

This report includes formal enforcement actions issued or resolved by the Office of Compliance & Inspection (OC&I) for June 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.

June 6, 2024 – Multimedia – Dam Operations, Freshwater Wetlands, and Water Quality – File No. OCI-FW-21-7 re: SOSCIA HOLDINGS, LLC for a dam identified as Flat River Reservoir Dam, State Identification Number 167, located in Coventry, Rhode Island. Respondent formerly owned the dam.  OC&I alleges that Respondent violated Rhode Island’s Dam Operation Permit Act, Freshwater Wetlands Act, Rules and Regulations Governing the Administration and Enforcement of the Freshwater Wetlands Act (250-RICR-150-15-3), Water Quality Regulations (250-RICR-150-05-1), and Rules and Regulations for Dam Operation Permits (250-RICR-130-10-1). View the NOV. 

June 6, 2024 – Solid Waste File No. OCI-SW-12-25 re:  The Estate of Thomas E. Gonyea for a property located at 95 Ross Road, Assessor’s Plat 173, Lot 1 in Burrillville, Rhode Island.  Respondent owns the property.  OC&I alleges that Respondent violated Rhode Island’s Refuse Disposal Act, Rules and Regulations for Solid Waste Management Facilities and Organic Waste Management Facilities (250-RICR-140-05), and Rules and Regulations for Hazardous Waste Management (250-RICR-140-10). View the NOV.  

June 6, 2024 – Underground Storage Tank File No. OCI-UST-23-57-03036 re: Elie Abdilmasih for a property located at 1400 Diamond Hill Road, Assessor’s Plat 16, Lot 570 in Cumberland, Rhode Island. The property includes an automobile service station and petroleum product storage and dispensing system.  Respondent owns the property. 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. 

June 10, 2024 – Dam Safety File No. OCI-DAMS-23-28 re: SOSCIA HOLDINGS, LLC for a dam identified as Flat River Reservoir Dam, State Identification Number 167, located in Coventry, Rhode Island. Respondent formerly owned the dam.  The dam is classified by RIDEM as High Hazard.  OC&I alleges that Respondent violated Rhode Island’s Rules and Regulations for Dam Safety (250-RICR-130-05-1). View the NOV.

June 27, 2024 – Dam Safety File No. OCI-DAMS-23-12 re: Town of Johnston for a dam identified as Oak Swamp Reservoir Dam, State Identification Number 168, located approximately 1.9 miles west of Johnston Senior High School and 1.4 miles north of Central Landfill in Johnston, Rhode Island. Respondent owns the dam.  The dam is classified by RIDEM as High Hazard.  OC&I alleges that Respondent violated Rhode Island’s Rules and Regulations for Dam Safety (250-RICR-130-05-1). View the NOV.  

June 26, 2024 – Underground Storage Tank File No. OCI-UST-19-25-00766 re: ANERI REALTY, INC., AISHA, LLC and AMINIA, LLC for a property located at 1100 Main Street, Assessor’s Plat 45, Lot 45 in Coventry, Rhode Island. The property includes a convenience store and a motor fuel storage and dispensing system (facility). ANERI REALTY, INC. owns the property. AISHA, LLC and AMINIA, LLC operate the facility. On May 26, 2020, OC&I issued a NOV to Respondents alleging 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.  Respondents did not file an appeal of the NOV with AAD.  Respondents complied with the Order section of the NOV, but did not pay the administrative penalty assessed in the NOV.   RIDEM referred collection of the penalty to the Department of Revenue (DOR), and DOR collected the full penalty owed.    

June 13, 2024 – Site Remediation File No. 16-6 and Superior Court File No. PC-2024-03415 re:  Plaintiff, Terrence Gray, Director, RIDEM vs. Defendant Michael Vayl for a property located at 82 Nautilus Street, Assessor’s Plat 5, Lot 327 in Jamestown, Rhode Island. Defendant owns the property. On April 5, 2017, OC&I issued a NOV to Defendant alleging that Defendant violated Rhode Island’s Water Pollution Act, Oil Pollution Control Act, Water Quality Regulations, Groundwater Quality Rules, and Oil Pollution Control Regulations.  View the NOV. Defendant did not file an appeal of the NOV and did not comply with the NOV.  On June 13, 2024, RIDEM filed a complaint in Superior Court against Defendant asking the Court to order Defendant to comply with the NOV.  View the Complaint. 

None settled or resolved this month.