The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has issued a $31,000 penalty to a Montague property owner for failing to properly clean up an oil spill.

Jeanne Golrick, former owner of a vacant, two-family residence at 34 East Main St. in the Miller Falls section of Montague violated the hazardous waste management regulations, according to MassDEP. Golrick failed to complete the cleanup of an oil spill from an aboveground storage tank and failed to eliminate the potential for spills of oil from other storage tanks and drums present at the property.

In September 2010, MassDEP staff inspected Golrick’s property at the request of the Montague Board of Health and Fire Department. According to town officials, a detached garage at the property was being used by Golrick’s son to repair vehicles. MassDEP staff observed six, 275-gallon aboveground fuel oil storage tanks and five, 55-gallon drums, believed to contain oil, located in the basement at the property. The legs of one of the aboveground storage tanks had sunk into the dirt basement floor, and oil was leaking from the tank.

MassDEP issued a notice to Golrick in October 2010, requiring her to take immediate steps to empty the drums and aboveground storage tanks, and clean up oil-contaminated soil in the basement. Massachusetts’ regulations require that the recipient of such a notice submit written notification and cleanup plans for review to MassDEP within 60 days. Golrick failed to submit the required documentation, and failed to respond to a Notice of Noncompliance, issued in January 2011 that allowed an extension of the deadline to submit the required information.

Golrick also failed to attend a meeting with MassDEP in October 2011 to discuss the violations. Therefore, MassDEP has issued a penalty to Golrick in the amount of $31,000.

Subsequent to MassDEP’s initial inspection of the property, the town of Montague has taken ownership of the property for non-payment of taxes. MassDEP is currently working with town officials to assist them with completing the required cleanup.

"MassDEP made an effort to assist Ms. Golrick in completing the required cleanup, but that effort was unsuccessful," said Michael Gorski, director of MassDEP’s Western Regional Office in Springfield. "It is unfortunate that MassDEP has been required to take this enforcement action; completing the cleanup at the site would have been less costly. We will continue to work with the town of Montague to ensure the property is cleaned up and returned to active use."