Curtiss-Wright Corporation to pay $209,991 for disposal law violation

Trenton, NJ— Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell announced that Curtiss-Wright Corporation of Wood-Ridge, Bergen County will pay the state of New Jersey $209,991 to settle violations of state hazardous waste disposal laws and groundwater contamination.

“The message here is clear,” said Acting Governor Richard J. Codey. “Play by the rules or suffer the penalties. We will not tolerate companies that threaten our environment and jeopardize public health.”

Curtiss-Wright treats and cleans groundwater by removing oil and other contaminants. From January 1999 to March 2002, Curtiss-Wright disposed of 33,000 gallons of contaminated oil, which is considered hazardous waste, by sending it to facilities not authorized to handle hazardous waste. Failing to identify waste as hazardous violates state regulations and jeopardizes public health and the environment.

Curtiss-Wright on February 9, 2005 agreed to settle its hazardous waste violations by paying a $109,991 fine. This figure includes an assessment of the $4,991 economic benefit that Curtiss-Wright realized by improperly disposing of the hazardous waste.

In addition, more than 70 underground storage tanks leaked solvents and fuel oil into groundwater at the Curtiss-Wright facility in Wood-Ridge. Curtiss-Wright is conducting a groundwater cleanup at the site and will pay an additional, initial $100,000 in Natural Resource Damages to address the groundwater contamination. Additional Natural Resource Damage claims may be assessed.

Curtiss Wright also agreed to regularly ship its groundwater cleanup waste to appropriate disposal facilities in the future.