Colonna's Shipyard, which last year paid a $40,000 fine for mishandling toxic boat paint, faces more state actions for environmental violations at its facilities on the Elizabeth River.For numerous problems at its main repair yard off Indian River Road in Norfolk, Colonna's has agreed to pay a $5,000 penalty and to improve its housekeeping, reporting and training programs.Also, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality is eyeing heavier penalties for illegal discharges of tainted wastewater that Colonna's initially denied, then acknowledged, at its yacht-repair yard near the Campostella Bridge in Norfolk, according to state records. That case has not been finalized because regulators are weighing an appropriate fine, records show.In one e-mail, a state enforcement chief wrote that company officials "lied about the discharges " - estimated at more than 75,000 gallons of oily and paint-splattered wastewater - "and apparently weren't going to say anything about them until we requested the records. Tsk tsk tsk."The first environmental case, the details of which were released publicly this week, is scheduled to be reviewed by the State Water Control Board next month in Richmond. A proposed settlement is expected to be approved then.According to records, an inspector found oil leaks from a tank missing a plug, spray-painting occurring without protective curtains in place, and a fire hose leaking water onto piles of grit and debris that led to river pollution."The fact that this facility has operated for over 100 years and that much of the technology and original equipment remain in service... must be considered when inspections are performed and compliance assessed," said Frank Wheatley, the company's environmental director, in a letter to the state.
In several earlier memos to the state, he explained that many problems were minor and questioned why the inspector noted them.Still, the yard pledged to clean up its work areas and "implement all feasible measures to control these potential discharges during operations," Wheatley wrote. Attempts to contact Wheatley were unsuccessful Wednesday.The second set of violations occurred when Wheatley was on vacation. Starting just before Memorial Day, Colonna's relocated a floating dry dock to its yacht yard without informing state regulators, as required, records show.Wheatley returned to work days later, noticed the dry dock was missing, and immediately called the state, knowing that any wastes generated there could be considered illegal, according to records and officials.At the time, Colonna's was doing business under a state settlement to other environmental violations in 2003 and 2004 involving the misuse of TBT, or tributyltin, a highly toxic paint additive.
The yard settled the complaint last year by paying a $40,000 fine and certifying that it would train workers on the best ways to control TBT.Colonna's was two months late in posting its certification, and the state sent an inspector to the yard the next month, which in turn led to the latest environmental case.
