BURRILLVILLE – The estate of a deceased man that state officials say has held piles of trash for more than a decade – including some items considered hazardous – has been fined nearly $13,000 by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management.
A notice of violation addressed to the estate of Thomas Gonyea and signed by Deputy Administrator Christina Hoefsmit of the RIDEM Office of Compliance and Inspection was issued for 95 Ross Road on Thursday, June 6, according to records filed with the Burrillville Town Clerk.
RIDEM notes that the late Thomas Gonyea, who died in 2010, owned the property beginning in 2008, although town property appear to show ownership dating back much further.
The notice states that an inspector from RIDEM first visited the lot in 2012.
“The inspection revealed approximately 281 cubic yards of solid waste deposited on the ground, which consisted of multiple piles of construction and demolition debris, wood waste, a discarded boat, plastic waste, metal waste, approximately 2,100 used rubber tires, two trailer frames, a partly dismantled truck and other mixed solid waste,” the violation notes.
A second inspection in 2019 revealed that the pile had grown and was now estimated at 289 cubic yards containing ten unregistered and inoperable motor vehicles, an abandoned camper, LCD monitors and a steel tank.
“Ash and partially burnt waste was inside a steel tank,” notes the violation.
The pile had shrunk to 258 cubic yards by an inspection in 2021, but now included old windows and four cathode ray tube monitors. According to Rhode Island Hazardous Waste regulations, such discarded electronics must be marked and stored indoors.
A final inspection in 2023 put the pile at 264 cubic yards.
The notice states that RIDEM met with Attorney Kevin Heitke and Daniel Gonyea, the owner of abutting 97 Ross Road, in 2019, and the pair stated they did not believe the estate was responsible for the violations. Property records show that Heitke, the executor of Thomas Gonyea’s estate, deeded the lot at 97 Ross Road to Danial Gonyea in 2016, but no such records appear to exist for the neighboring 95 Ross Road, which has had multiple liens over the years due to unpaid taxes.
The estate was charged for two violations, disposal of solid waste and operation of a solid waste management facility without a license, with fines of $6,250 each. RIDEM also assessed fines for the economic benefit derived from non-compliance, estimated at $444. Both are considered Type 1 violations under state law, directly related to protecting health, safety, welfare or environment.
The full charge of $12,944 is due within 30 days.
The violation orders that the owner of the lot immediately put the cathode ray tubes inside an enclosed structure, and remove and properly dispose of the CRTS within 30 days. The remainder of waste must be removed within 60 days or risk additional fines, according to RIDEM.
Ok. Who owns the lot? Don’t believe the heirs have to assume the liability for cleanup. Man has been dead since 2010? Who has been paying the taxes? Who has been dumping? Lot of questions and no answers