HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - Fines and penalties of more than $276,000 have been imposed on a rogue waste hauler for operating two illegal transfer stations in Stamford, Conn., by a Superior Court judge who also ordered that the facilities be permanently closed.

Joseph Cammarota was ordered by Superior Court Judge Robert Satter to pay a $200,000 penalty and $76,814 in outstanding penalties and interest relating to previous violations of state environmental and solid waste hauling laws.

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal obtained both the penalties and the closures while working in cooperation with Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Amey Marrella.

"This decision sends a powerful message to the solid waste industry," Marrella said. "The message is that if someone operates without permits, fails to abide by administrative orders and skirts the law, we will take actions necessary to bring them into compliance, require they clean-up their sites and seek large penalties against them."

Cammarota and his companies, Camm of Stamford, Inc., and Target Disposal Service, were also prohibited by Judge Satter from dumping solid waste at Cammarota's properties located at 14 Larkin Street and 29 Popular Street in Stamford.

"This decision is a huge victory for the environment and public health, imposing strong punishment - nearly $280,000 - against an unrepentant polluter," Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said. "This powerful penalty sends a potent message: carters who operate illegal transfer stations will pay a price. But it also shows that we must strongly enforce and enhance laws that stop transfer station polluters and illicit waste haulers. We have zero tolerance for transfer station operators who operate illegally without licenses, flouting state law and endangering public health. We will fight to enforce state laws protecting the environment and requiring licensing of transfer stations."

The penalties and closure order follow a lawsuit filed by Blumenthal in 2006 against Cammarota and his companies.