Press Releases

Stratton Corporation And Winhall-Stratton Fire District To Pay $80,000 For Environmental Violations

CONTACT: Robert F. McDougall, Assistant Attorney General, (802) 828-3186

January 5, 2010

The Stratton Corporation (Stratton) and the Winhall-Stratton Fire District (District) will pay fifty five thousand dollars ($55,000) in civil penalties and twenty five thousand ($25,000) to fund a Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) under a Consent Order agreed to with the State of Vermont to settle claims that they violated their environmental permits in 2004 and 2008. “Those who receive environmental permits must comply with the terms of those permits,” said Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell. “Ski resorts hold a special place in Vermont’s culture and should be especially aware of the need to protect the Vermont environment that is so critical to their businesses,” Attorney General Sorrell added.

In the Consent Order entered by the Vermont Superior Court, Civil Division, Windham Unit, Stratton and the District admitted to two separate discharge incidents that violated the conditions of their Indirect Discharge Permits issued to them by the State:

In December of 2004, a discharge associated with 821,000 gallons of secondarily treated effluent was released through an open valve at a wastewater treatment facility owned by the District and operated by Stratton. Some of the effluent overflowed from a holding tank and eventually was discharged into a tributary of the Winhall River.

On January 7, 2008, a sewer manhole overflowed at the Stratton Mountain Resort, causing the release of raw sewage into an unnamed tributary which eventually flows into Stratton Lake.

The violations resulted from inspections by the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR). Since the incidents, Stratton and the District have taken corrective measures at their facilities to address the violations.

The SEP payments, subject to final approval by ANR, will be for the purpose of undertaking trail work to mitigate and prevent erosion into the watershed of Middle Brook in the Towns of Winhall and Stratton.

Related documents:

Stipulation for the Entry of Consent Order
Consent Order and Final Judgment Order