MONTPELIER, Vt. (Legal Newsline) - The owner and operator of a West Dover ski resort has agreed to pay civil penalties to the state to settle claims brought by Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell.

Sorrell had alleged that Mount Snow, Ltd., which owns and operates Mount Snow Resort, had violated a number of the state's Hazardous Waste Management Rules at its facilities.

"Improper handling and mismanagement of hazardous materials are serious matters," Sorrell said.

"Vermont businesses that generate and handle hazardous materials are responsible for following the State's hazardous waste management regulations and will have to answer for the failure to do so."

The alleged violations at Mount Snow Resort were found in 2008 during inspections by the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources. The alleged violations included disposal of hazardous waste through evaporation, disposal of hazardous waste without certification, various storage-related violations, lack of annual training for employees and emergency preparedness violations.

After receiving notification from the Agency of Natural Resources, Mount Snow took corrective measures at its facilities to address the violations, Sorrell said.

Under terms of the settlement, Mount Snow will pay the state of Vermont $95,000 in civil penalties to settle the hazardous waste violations claims. The settlement was approved by Judge Geoffrey Crawford on Friday.