MassDEP Fines Toby Realty Trust $31,000 for Cleanup Violations
Summary
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has fined Toby Realty Trust $31,000 for violating oil and hazardous materials cleanup regulations. The penalty was issued with a Unilateral Administrative Order requiring the trust to comply with a new schedule for cleanup actions at a Springfield property.
What changed
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has imposed a $31,000 penalty on Toby Realty Trust for failing to comply with environmental cleanup regulations at a property in Springfield. The trust, as the current owner, is obligated to address contamination from former underground storage tanks, a responsibility MassDEP states the company has repeatedly neglected despite multiple notifications and missed deadlines.
This enforcement action, accompanied by a Unilateral Administrative Order, mandates that Toby Realty Trust adhere to a new schedule to complete the required cleanup actions. Failure to comply with this order could result in further penalties or enforcement measures. Regulated entities with similar cleanup obligations should ensure they are actively managing and meeting all regulatory deadlines to avoid similar enforcement actions.
What to do next
- Review environmental cleanup obligations for properties owned.
- Ensure compliance with all regulatory deadlines for response actions.
- Consult with legal counsel regarding Unilateral Administrative Orders.
Penalties
$31,000
Source document (simplified)
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Press Release
Press Release MassDEP Penalizes Property Owner for Cleanup Violations in Springfield
For immediate release: 3/06/2026
- Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
Media Contact
Fabienne Alexis, Public Affairs Assistant Director / MassDEP
Phone
Call Fabienne Alexis, Public Affairs Assistant Director / MassDEP at 857-274-7522
Online
Email Fabienne Alexis, Public Affairs Assistant Director / MassDEP at fabienne.alexis@mass.gov
BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has issued a $31,000 penalty to Toby Realty Trust for violating oil and hazardous materials cleanup regulations at 274 Taylor Street in Springfield.
The property is the former location of the City of Springfield Department of Public Works garage. In 1990, multiple releases of gasoline from underground storage tanks on the site affected soil and groundwater. Toby Realty Trust acquired the property in 2000 and redeveloped it into an electrical equipment supplier.
Under state regulations requiring cleanup of contaminated properties, Toby Realty Trust, as the current owner, is legally obligated to continue response actions at the site, even if the contamination was discovered and reported by the previous owner. MassDEP has repeatedly notified Toby Realty Trust of its cleanup responsibilities, but the company has not completed the required actions or met key deadlines.
“MassDEP made multiple attempts to work with Toby Realty Trust and help bring the company into compliance with Massachusetts’ environmental regulations,” said Michael Gorski, director of the MassDEP Western Regional Office in Springfield. “Refusal to cooperate does not relieve property or business owners of responsibility. MassDEP remains committed to ensuring that liable parties take the necessary steps to clean up contaminated sites.”
The $31,000 penalty was issued with a Unilateral Administrative Order, which sets a new schedule for Toby Realty Trust to achieve compliance with the regulatory requirements for the property.
Media Contact
Fabienne Alexis, Public Affairs Assistant Director / MassDEP
+
Phone
Call Fabienne Alexis, Public Affairs Assistant Director / MassDEP at 857-274-7522
Online
Email Fabienne Alexis, Public Affairs Assistant Director / MassDEP at fabienne.alexis@mass.gov
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
MassDEP's mission is to protect and enhance the Commonwealth's natural resources - air, water, and land - to provide for the health, safety, and welfare of all people, and to ensure a clean and safe environment for future generations. In carrying out this mission MassDEP commits to address and advance environmental justice and equity for all people of the Commonwealth, provide meaningful, inclusive opportunities for people to participate in agency decisions that affect their lives; and ensure a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.
Media Contact
Fabienne Alexis, Public Affairs Assistant Director / MassDEP
Phone
Call Fabienne Alexis, Public Affairs Assistant Director / MassDEP at 857-274-7522
Online
Email Fabienne Alexis, Public Affairs Assistant Director / MassDEP at fabienne.alexis@mass.gov
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