The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reached a settlement with North Star Paving & Construction, Inc. of Soldotna for violations of federal drinking water protection laws at the company’s business. The EPA alleges that North Star violated the Safe Drinking Water Act’s Underground Injection Control regulations aimed at protecting groundwater sources of drinking water. An underground injection well, also known as a Motor Vehicle Waste Disposal Well, was found on the North Star business property.
Suzanne Skadowski, Public Affairs for the Environmental Protection Agency, confirmed to KSRM that prior to a potential upcoming purchase of the property, an environmental assessment was performed on the location in 2019. North Star owns and operates the vehicle maintenance shop, which performs automotive repair. In the December 2019 environmental site assessment, it was noted that an injection well was located at the vehicle and equipment maintenance shop on the property.
An investigation from the EPA found that North Star failed to safely maintain, and properly decommission the injection well at the shop. As of April 2000, all new construction of Motor Vehicle Waste Disposal Wells were banned. Also, all existing wells in the state were required to be permanently closed by January 2005. This was done in order to protect groundwater and drinking water sources. Vehicle shop floor drains flowing into underground wells could possibly contaminate what the state identifies as drinking water source protection areas. A groundwater sampling at the site found elevated concentrations of chemicals from motor vehicle fluids. North Star’s injection well was found to be above a protected drinking water aquifer for a community water system in Soldotna.
To resolve the violations, the company agreed to pay a $130,000 penalty. In paying the penalty, they also agreed to permanently close and decommission the well.
