Latest news with #BarlettaHeavyDivisionInc.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Route 6/10 contractor settles environmental violations with state for $11M; criminal charges dropped
Signs pointing towards Routes 6 and 10, along with Interstate 95, in Providence's Silver Lake neighborhood. The neighborhood is one of three where children will have priority for dental care with funds secured by Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha in a settlement with Barletta Heavy Division Inc. of Canton, Mass. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current) The Massachusetts company accused of dumping thousands of tons of contaminated soil during construction of the Route 6/10 Interchange in Providence and lying about it has paid $11 million to settle criminal charges set to go to trial next month. Nearly all the money will go toward funding dental care for Providence children living in neighborhoods near the highway, Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said in announcing the settlement with Barletta Heavy Division Inc. during a news conference at his Providence office Wednesday. The settlement was signed May 15. Complaints over contaminated soil surfaced in the summer of 2020 after workers voiced concerns about excessive dust. Barletta, based in Canton, Massachusetts, claims such allegations were the result of a scheme involving extortion and bribery by its now-defunct competitor, Cardi Corp. The AG's office filed criminal charges against Barletta in early 2023 after the company had agreed to pay $1.5 million to settle federal charges over the issue. The state charged Barletta with two counts of illegal disposal of solid waste, one count of operating a solid waste management facility without a license, and one count of providing a false document to a public official. Neronha said the $1.5 million federal fine wasn't enough to deter future use of contaminated fill in Rhode Island. 'For there to be any hope that Barletta learned their lesson, they would have to pay a lot more,' Neronha said. Under the settlement, Barletta will contribute $10 million toward a newly-created Attorney General's 6/10 Children's Fund, which will be managed by the Rhode Island Foundation to address health needs and concerns of children in Providence. Priority will be given to children living in the Olneyville, Silver Lake and West End neighborhoods. Rhode Island Foundation CEO David Cicilline lauded the state's settlement agreement, noting that Neronha's goal is central to the nonprofit's work. 'Focusing the funding on neighborhoods where health disparities are high won't just close gaps in access to care; the benefits will spill over into their everyday lives,' Cicilline said in a statement. 'Children who are healthy can concentrate on school, enjoy play and contribute to their communities, creating pathways to a brighter future.' Another $750,000 will go to the AG's office to pay for investigation and prosecution expenses. The remaining $250,000 will go to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, which investigated the contamination claims. 'Getting them to this point was not easy,' Neronha said. 'Barletta knew what it did a long time ago, and it was not necessary for them to take this long.' Under the terms of the settlement, Barletta admitted to all the claims made in a civil complaint filed on Tuesday. The state alleged that Barletta dumped more than 4,500 tons of stone and soil containing arsenic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from the Pawtucket/Central Falls Commuter Rail Station and a stockpile from Boston's Jamaica Plain neighborhood at the Route 6/10 Interchange construction project. The Route 6/10 project reconstructed the interchange at Interstate 95 and involved replacing or removing seven structurally deficient bridges. The Rhode Island Department of Transportation awarded Barletta a $247 million in 2017 contract to rebuild the interchange. 'It wasn't hazardous, but it was contaminated for certain,' Neronha said of the soil. Barletta attorney Shannon Reilly said the company is eager to move forward from the case, which was scheduled to head to trial in Providence County Superior Court June 9. The case is now permanently closed and cannot be brought back to court. 'With today's settlement agreement and the dismissal with prejudice of all criminal and civil charges in this case, Barletta is pleased to put this matter behind us and looks forward to continuing our long history of successfully and responsibly delivering world class public infrastructure projects,' she said in an emailed statement. 'We will not have any further comment on this matter.' Barletta has claimed it is no longer able to obtain work in Rhode Island because of the use of contaminated soil on the 6/10 project. Neronha cited a 2024 Providence Journal article on rising tooth decay among children in low-income and immigrant neighborhoods in Providence as his motivation for using the settlement funds toward a grant program. 'There's no child in Rhode Island that should face that experience,' Neronha said. 'I want every kid to be proud of their smile.' Neronha said he chose to have money administered by the Rhode Island Foundation rather than go to the state's general fund because he felt Barletta's impact was neighborhood specific, rather than an entire state issue. '$10 million is a lot of money, and I wanted it to be used for kids who are facing a crisis but live in that area,' Neronha said. Unlike multistate lawsuits, the Barletta settlement does not have to go directly into state coffers, Neronha said. He noted his predecessor Peter Kilmartin disbursed proceeds to nonprofit environmental groups from the state's 2017 settlement with Volkswagen over misrepresenting emissions. Neronha said he hopes funds from the Barletta settlement will start covering kids' dental care before his term as the state's top prosecutor wraps up in 2026. 'I've got 18 months to go. I want to see movement,' Neronha told reporters. Details for how the money will be disbursed are still to be determined. Greg Stepka, a North Smithfield-based dentist who attended the press conference, told Rhode Island Current he would like to see the $10 million go toward more community health centers and dental buses that visit schools, along with the creation of a centralized surgical center. 'This is a win-win,' he said. 'The kids need this.' Barletta is among 13 contractors the state is suing for negligent work on the westbound Washington Bridge. Seven defendants, including Barletta, tried to get the case dismissed, but Judge Brian Stern denied their petitions on Feb. 27. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Massachusetts construction company to pay $11M in illegal dumping case
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Rhode Island's top legal chief announced Wednesday that a Massachusetts construction company has agreed to pay $11 million to settle criminal charges that it illegally dumped thousands of tons of contaminated fill in the Ocean State's Capitol city during a highway construction project. According to Attorney General Peter Neronha's office, Barletta Heavy Division Inc. of Canton not only violated state law when it disposed the contaminated fill in Rhode Island but also 'deceived state regulators' when pressed about the source of the fill. Neronha filed state criminal charges against Barletta in early 2023 after the company agreed to pay $1.5 million in a settlement with the federal government over the same construction fill. 'When the federal case against Barletta was resolved some time ago, I strongly believed that Rhode Islanders deserved a better outcome, and so we proceeded with our state case," Neronha said in a statement. 'I am pleased that now, because of our demonstrated willingness to take this case to trial, Barletta has paid an unprecedented monetary amount of $11 million dollars to resolve our case.' Barletta oversaw a $247 million project, that started in 2018, to rebuild the Route 6/10 interchange. The charges involved construction-fill disposal that took place in 2020, where investigators say the company transported backfill from other projects to the Route 6/10 site. The project has since been completed. 'With today's settlement agreement and the dismissal with prejudice of all criminal and civil charges in this case, Barletta is pleased to put this matter behind us and looks forward to continuing our long history of successfully and responsibly delivering world class public infrastructure projects," said Shannon Reilly, an attorney representing Barletta. When the state criminal charges were filed, the company said the soil was 'urban fill " — commonly found in city settings throughout the U.S. The attorney general's office maintained that the fill contained hazardous materials and the company disposed more than 4,500 tons in Rhode Island. "Whether Barletta learns from this experience remains to be seen. But they have paid a heavy price for their unlawful, irresponsible, and deceptive behavior, and deservedly so,' Neronha said. Proceeds of the $11 million settlement will be used to fund dental care services for Providence city youth, Neronha added.
21-05-2025
- Business
Massachusetts construction company to pay $11M in illegal dumping case
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Rhode Island's top legal chief announced Wednesday that a Massachusetts construction company has agreed to pay $11 million to settle criminal charges that it illegally dumped thousands of tons of contaminated fill in the Ocean State's Capitol city during a highway construction project. According to Attorney General Peter Neronha's office, Barletta Heavy Division Inc. of Canton not only violated state law when it disposed the contaminated fill in Rhode Island but also 'deceived state regulators' when pressed about the source of the fill. Neronha filed state criminal charges against Barletta in early 2023 after the company agreed to pay $1.5 million in a settlement with the federal government over the same construction fill. 'When the federal case against Barletta was resolved some time ago, I strongly believed that Rhode Islanders deserved a better outcome, and so we proceeded with our state case," Neronha said in a statement. 'I am pleased that now, because of our demonstrated willingness to take this case to trial, Barletta has paid an unprecedented monetary amount of $11 million dollars to resolve our case.' Barletta oversaw a $247 million project, that started in 2018, to rebuild the Route 6/10 interchange. The charges involved construction-fill disposal that took place in 2020, where investigators say the company transported backfill from other projects to the Route 6/10 site. The project has since been completed. 'With today's settlement agreement and the dismissal with prejudice of all criminal and civil charges in this case, Barletta is pleased to put this matter behind us and looks forward to continuing our long history of successfully and responsibly delivering world class public infrastructure projects," said Shannon Reilly, an attorney representing Barletta. When the state criminal charges were filed, the company said the soil was 'urban fill" — commonly found in city settings throughout the U.S. The attorney general's office maintained that the fill contained hazardous materials and the company disposed more than 4,500 tons in Rhode Island. "Whether Barletta learns from this experience remains to be seen. But they have paid a heavy price for their unlawful, irresponsible, and deceptive behavior, and deservedly so,' Neronha said. Proceeds of the $11 million settlement will be used to fund dental care services for Providence city youth, Neronha added.
Winnipeg Free Press
21-05-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Massachusetts construction company to pay $11M in illegal dumping case
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Rhode Island's top legal chief announced Wednesday that a Massachusetts construction company has agreed to pay $11 million to settle criminal charges that it illegally dumped thousands of tons of contaminated fill in the Ocean State's Capitol city during a highway construction project. According to Attorney General Peter Neronha's office, Barletta Heavy Division Inc. of Canton not only violated state law when it disposed the contaminated fill in Rhode Island but also 'deceived state regulators' when pressed about the source of the fill. Neronha filed state criminal charges against Barletta in early 2023 after the company agreed to pay $1.5 million in a settlement with the federal government over the same construction fill. 'When the federal case against Barletta was resolved some time ago, I strongly believed that Rhode Islanders deserved a better outcome, and so we proceeded with our state case,' Neronha said in a statement. 'I am pleased that now, because of our demonstrated willingness to take this case to trial, Barletta has paid an unprecedented monetary amount of $11 million dollars to resolve our case.' Barletta oversaw a $247 million project, that started in 2018, to rebuild the Route 6/10 interchange. The charges involved construction-fill disposal that took place in 2020, where investigators say the company transported backfill from other projects to the Route 6/10 site. The project has since been completed. 'With today's settlement agreement and the dismissal with prejudice of all criminal and civil charges in this case, Barletta is pleased to put this matter behind us and looks forward to continuing our long history of successfully and responsibly delivering world class public infrastructure projects,' said Shannon Reilly, an attorney representing Barletta. When the state criminal charges were filed, the company said the soil was 'urban fill ' — commonly found in city settings throughout the U.S. The attorney general's office maintained that the fill contained hazardous materials and the company disposed more than 4,500 tons in Rhode Island. 'Whether Barletta learns from this experience remains to be seen. But they have paid a heavy price for their unlawful, irresponsible, and deceptive behavior, and deservedly so,' Neronha said. Proceeds of the $11 million settlement will be used to fund dental care services for Providence city youth, Neronha added.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Massachusetts construction company to pay $11M in illegal dumping case
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Rhode Island's top legal chief announced Wednesday that a Massachusetts construction company has agreed to pay $11 million to settle criminal charges that it illegally dumped thousands of tons of contaminated fill in the Ocean State's Capitol city during a highway construction project. According to Attorney General Peter Neronha's office, Barletta Heavy Division Inc. of Canton not only violated state law when it disposed the contaminated fill in Rhode Island but also 'deceived state regulators' when pressed about the source of the fill. Neronha filed state criminal charges against Barletta in early 2023 after the company agreed to pay $1.5 million in a settlement with the federal government over the same construction fill. 'When the federal case against Barletta was resolved some time ago, I strongly believed that Rhode Islanders deserved a better outcome, and so we proceeded with our state case," Neronha said in a statement. 'I am pleased that now, because of our demonstrated willingness to take this case to trial, Barletta has paid an unprecedented monetary amount of $11 million dollars to resolve our case.' Barletta oversaw a $247 million project, that started in 2018, to rebuild the Route 6/10 interchange. The charges involved construction-fill disposal that took place in 2020, where investigators say the company transported backfill from other projects to the Route 6/10 site. The project has since been completed. 'With today's settlement agreement and the dismissal with prejudice of all criminal and civil charges in this case, Barletta is pleased to put this matter behind us and looks forward to continuing our long history of successfully and responsibly delivering world class public infrastructure projects," said Shannon Reilly, an attorney representing Barletta. When the state criminal charges were filed, the company said the soil was 'urban fill " — commonly found in city settings throughout the U.S. The attorney general's office maintained that the fill contained hazardous materials and the company disposed more than 4,500 tons in Rhode Island. "Whether Barletta learns from this experience remains to be seen. But they have paid a heavy price for their unlawful, irresponsible, and deceptive behavior, and deservedly so,' Neronha said. Proceeds of the $11 million settlement will be used to fund dental care services for Providence city youth, Neronha added. The Associated Press Sign in to access your portfolio
