An act of vandalism on equipment at a donated site has resulted, indirectly, in a $2,000 fine against the YMCA in Albany.

Tuesday the federal Environmental Protection Agency announced it had fined the Y for improper storage of a hazardous substance.

According to YMCA director Jim Asleson, in December 2006 vandals stripped metal from a furnace on property that had been donated to the YMCA by Papé Truck Leasing in 2003. The vandalism caused a 30-gallon oil spill that contained polychlorinated bi-phenyls (PCBs).

Asleson said the YMCA had no knowledge of the contaminants prior to the spill, which was immediately reported to the EPA.

"It's unfortunate we have to take resources that otherwise would be directed toward services and programs and take care of a situation that really was not of our making," said Asleson.

EPA inspections led to the fines, which included $20,000 in penalties against Papé for improper storage of PCBs in an industrial building. Papé, then Industrial Finance Company of Oregon, donated the site in 2003.

The settlement resolves alleged federal Toxic Substances Control Act violations related to improper storage of PCB waste. The YMCA's $2,000 fine was based on its ability to pay, according to the EPA. Shortly after receiving the spill report, EPA conducted two formal inspections on the property and oversaw the cleanup.

The property had an industrial furnace and related pieces of equipment that contained high levels of PCBs, according to the EPA. Papé (as IFCO) did not properly notify EPA that they were handling and storing the equipment.

"We immediately reported the incident and corrected the situation," said Asleson. "The PCB equipment has been disposed of and the site is clean."

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Asleson said the settlement has been in the works for about a year.

"We worked through it," he said. "We did the responsible thing and now we are concerned about getting back to providing services to our membership and the community."