Attorney General Joseph A. Foster and NH Department of Environmental Services ("NHDES") Commissioner Thomas S. Burack announced that the Hillsborough County Superior Court South approved a consent decree between the State and Bronze Craft Corporation ("Bronze Craft") for violations associated with the Hazardous Waste Management Act at Bronze Craft's facility in Nashua. The decree assesses a civil penalty of $131,115, to be paid in monthly increments of $10,926.25.

Bronze Craft is a notified generator of hazardous waste that manufactures custom cast metal parts such as window latches. In its manufacturing activities, Bronze Craft operates a permitted on-site hazardous wastewater treatment unit designed to remove heavy metals from its wastewaters before they are discharged to the Nashua Wastewater Treatment Facility.

The settlement resolves allegations that Bronze Craft generated hazardous wastewater containing selenium from its metal finishing operations, and that Bronze Craft failed to determine the hazardous characteristics of the wastewater before it discharged it to the on-site wastewater treatment unit. Bronze Craft was not permitted to treat selenium in its wastewater treatment unit. Additionally, the wastewater treatment unit was not designed to treat for selenium, resulting in the discharge of selenium to the Nashua Wastewater Treatment Facility. The State's complaint also alleged that Bronze Craft failed to identify the hazardous waste containing selenium in its hazardous waste treatment permit applications.

"The hazardous waste permitting system is designed to protect human health and the environment from the effects of hazardous chemicals. It is important for regulated entities to accurately complete permit applications and comply with State issued permits to assist in the protection of our environment," said Thomas Burack, NHDES Commissioner.

The violations alleged by the State were discovered during a NHDES inspection in April of 2012. Bronze Craft quickly corrected the problems once identified by NHDES and was cooperative throughout the investigation.

Copies of the settlement agreement are available upon request.