Northern Sealcoating & Paving Inc. has been penalized $17,250 by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) for environmental violations the company’s facility at 20 Candlewood Lane in Dennis.

Some of the more significant violations included:

• The unpermitted discharge from an oil/water separator to an adjacent surface water/wetland resource area.
• A violation of the underground injection control program for having a floor drain in a vehicle maintenance garage, which can discharge fluids to the groundwater.
• The installation of an unpermitted on-site septic system, installed in 2008, without approvals from the town of Dennis.
• Violations of the hazardous waste regulations regarding storage and management of waste oil in the garage.

"The actual and potential discharge of contaminated fluids to both surface and ground waters can be a significant environmental problem and is not acceptable," said David Johnston, director of MassDEP’s Southeast Regional Office in Lakeville. "In addition to the potential harm posed by these discharges and management of waste oil, a responsible business owner should know that cleanup costs are going to be higher than complying with the laws, at both the local and state levels, which are intended to protect public health and the environment."

Northern Sealcoating & Paving has agreed to bring the facility into compliance with the surface water discharge regulations, the underground injection control program, the Title 5 regulations and the hazardous waste regulations, according to a statement.