Leominster Properties LLC has agreed to fund a local environmental project worth $82,500 after a faulty water infiltration basin on its property released large amounts of sediment into the nearby Nashua River and surrounding wetlands.

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) determined that Leominster Properties LLC violated the Wetlands Protection Act at its 198 New Lancaster Road property in Leominster during 2008 construction activities.

As part of the resolution of this case, the company must fund a local Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) with a value of $82,500.

In cooperation with the City of Leominster’s Conservation Commission, MassDEP personnel conducted an inspection of the property in September 2008 and observed large amounts of sediment that had deposited throughout Old Mine Brook, the Nashua River, and surrounding wetland resource areas. The sediment release and the subsequent alterations to wetland resources were caused by the collapse of an on-site storm water infiltration basin.

The company has made permanent repairs to the basin, and has completed necessary wetland resource area restoration activities.

The SEP will fund the installation of three rain gardens, four infiltration trenches, and erosion controls for discharges along Old Frog Stream in Leominster, with the goal of improving water quality in the stream.

"Maintaining storm water control structures is a critically important component of any construction project," said Martin Suuberg, director of MassDEP’s Central Regional office in Worcester. "The health and quality of the commonwealth’s waterways and wetlands depend on effectively functioning storm water management structures. The supplemental environmental project will help improve water quality."