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Oil Spill Enforcement: Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Penalty Assessment Addressing Hudson Hardware Store

January 07, 2026

By: Walter G. Wright

Category: Arkansas Environmental, Energy, and Water Law

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The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (“MassDEP”) issued a December 29, 2025 news release stating that a penalty was assessed to N.R. Underwood & Sons Enterprises, Inc. (“Underwood”) for allegedly violating Massachusetts cleanup regulations.

Underwood is stated to operate a hardware store in Hudson, Massachusetts.

The hardware store is stated to have had a release of waste oil from a ruptured storage tank that impacted the Assabet River.

MassDEP alleges the following violations:

  • Failure to promptly notify MassDEP of an oil spill as required by state regulations.
  • Beginning cleanup and waste remediation management without a health and safety plan.
  • Beginning cleanup and waste remediation management without a Licensed Site Professional (LSP).
  • Beginning cleanup and waste remediation management without prior MassDEP approval.

Underwood is stated to have since properly completed cleanup of the spill and submitted documentation to MassDEP confirming that remediation is complete and meets the standard of no significant risk to public health, safety, or the environment.

A civil penalty of $21,000.00 is assessed.

A copy of the news release can be found here.

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