Alaska’s transportation department has agreed to pay $332,000 for violations of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act.
The department also has agreed to close and sample 55 motor vehicle waste disposals well at state vehicle repair and maintenance facilities across Alaska by 2018 as part of the settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
EPA says the wells are outdated and some posed a risk to groundwater used for drinking water.
The wells, according to an EPA release, were used to dispose of storm water, snowmelt and water used to wash vehicles.
Transportation department spokesman Jeremy Woodrow says efforts have been underway to decommission the wells for some time. The release says six have already been closed.
Woodrow says his department will need to request funding for closure-related costs.
