The fines stem from violations of the Clean Water Act in which the city discharged vehicle maintenance wastewater into sanitary sewers and storm sewers without the treatment required under state fDepartment of Environmental Protection permits.

Clarence Corbin, director of public works, said the fines are a result of violations from 1999, and regards the fine as minimal.

"The fine definitely could have been bigger.

"When the city found out that they had to comply, we were proactive in getting a consultant to assess the situation, and we conducted a self-evalua

tion," Corbin said. "We went into city garages and other vehicle maintenance facilities and provided a report."

According to Corbin, the fine was imposed because the city missed the date of compliance.

"We never had the funding.

"It was $5 million to come into compliance, and we had to put together an environmental fund," Corbin said.

He said the issues took the involvement ofseveral city departments to solve.

Corbin said the regulations have been in place for years but some of the equipment used had been in place even longer.

He said solving the issues involved several city departments and required the efforts of all to help solve the problems.

In a press release issued by the New England Office of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, city departments included the department of public works, the water department, the fire department, and the department of parks and recreation.

The release also said that the violations stem from the city’s failure to get the proper permits for wastewater discharges from its vehicle-washing operations at various city facilities to its stormwater collection system, which discharges into Willow Brook and ultimately to the Mattabasset River.

Lisa Carver, Mayor Timothy Stewart’s chief of staff said that the city is in compliance and the low fine is a real testament to the hard work of Corbin.

"This fine could’ve been so much higher, but thanks to Clarence and his dedication to helping to bring the city to compliance the fine is not near what it could be," Carver said.

"Everything is pretty much completed."

Franchone Fraser-Ben Reuben Bey can be reached at ffraser@newbritainherald.com or by calling (860) 225-4601, Ext. 221.