March 22, 2021 – The Agency of Natural Resources Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced today that Nationstar Mortgage LLC d/b/a Mr. Cooper was fined $13,500 for violating Vermont waste management regulations after failing to promptly remove trash and other waste that was accumulating on a property it owned in West Fairlee.
Nationstar is one of the largest home-loan servicers in the country, and in August 2019, it became record owner of a residential property in West Fairlee. Beginning in April 2020 and continuing through October 2020, an environmental enforcement officer with the DEC observed that trash and other waste materials were being deposited on the property. Nationstar then failed to act when asked multiple times to remove the discarded waste and consider restricting public access to the property.
Trash that has been dumped illegally must be cleaned up to prevent toxic chemicals from seeping into the soil and contaminating water supplies, attracting wildlife, and littering neighboring properties.
“For anyone who is unsure of how to get rid of recyclables, waste, or other objects on their property, DEC has free resources and support to help residents and property owners determine what to do,” says DEC Commissioner Peter Walke. “Ignoring the problem is not the solution.”
After Nationstar failed to timely clean up the property, the Agency issued an Administrative Order directing Nationstar to pay a $13,500 penalty. The Order also requires the company to remove and properly dispose of all waste material on the property and, if needed, take appropriate action to clean up and prevent future unauthorized dumping. The Administrative Order was approved by the Vermont Superior Court, Environmental Division in an order dated March 17, 2021.
For more information about properly managing a variety of wastes, visit https://dec.vermont.gov/waste-management/solid/materials-mgmt. Vermonters can also contact their Waste District or town for local information and resources.