Northern Bedrooms Inc. was fined $9,000 by state regulators.

OXFORD – A manufacturer of bedroom furniture off Roller Rink Road was fined $9,000 by state regulators for environmental violations.

Northern Bedrooms Inc., 10 Park Road, was cited for improper storage, training, handling and disposal of hazardous wastes generated in its wood furniture business, according to a Department of Environmental Protection consent decree signed March 29 by Northern Bedrooms owner Barry Snyder.

Melissa Wakefield, safety coordinator for the 18-employee company, said a “disgruntled employee” in charge of waste-handling functions contacted the DEP.

“He did not handle the waste properly. We rely on our employees to perform certain functions without our oversight,” she said.

The company has been in business for at least 10 years, and is one of the last remaining wood-products manufacturers operating in the Oxford Hills.

The hazardous wastes cited included acetone and toluene-contaminated paint waste.

Staff from the DEP’s Bureau of Remediation and Waste Management conducted surprise inspections on Feb. 6, 2002, and found, among other violations, about 100 five-gallon containers outside the building, some containing ignitable paint; discarded rags soaked with hazardous wastes stored in a five-gallon container; and waste lacquer dust in the dumpster area.

The rags and paint booth filters were being disposed of by ABC Rubbish, which is not a licensed hazardous waste transporter, the consent decree said.

There were also numerous violations involving the proper labeling of hazardous waste and inspections were lacking, the DEP order stated.

Northern Bedrooms reported back to the DEP in December 2002 that it had cleared up the problems, but the DEP found repeat violations in an April 2003 follow-up inspection.

Wakefield said the company is now “fully in compliance” with the state’s hazardous waste management rules.