DEP Fines Raytheon $45K for Andover Wetlands Violation

File photograph. (Image licensed by Ingram Image.)

A wetlands violation on the grounds of Raytheon’s Andover facility cost the U.S. defense contractor $45,000. (File photograph)

Raytheon must pay a fine to the state Department of Environmental Protection as a penalty for unauthorized destruction of approximately 5,000 square feet of wetlands during recent work completed at the office space in Andover.

In a statement issued this week, the DEP said Raytheon petitioned the Andover Conservation Commission for an emergency allowance to clear an obstruction—a beaver dam—from a designated wetland area, arguing that potential flooding could pose a public safety threat. The town board granted the emergency certification in April and the state DEP received a complaint five weeks later that contended Raytheon violated the order.

“The authorization of any work performed in a wetlands resource area is prescribed; it is not a blank check to do additional work,” the DEP’s Eric Worrall said in a statement. “To its credit, the company quickly recognized that the work was not authorized and has agreed to restore the impacted area and pay an appropriate penalty.”

Raytheon has ceased work around the wetland and agreed to install erosion controls to prevent further damage, the DEP said. Work must be completed to the state agency’s satisfaction by May 31 and monitored for five years.

The DEP has agreed to suspend $25,750 of the fine if the Waltham-based U.S. defense contractor pays $20,000 of the penalty.