Westbrook has fined Pike Industries $3,000 for blasting that violated restrictions set by a consent agreement reached by city officials, the company and neighbors of its quarry after years of negotiations.

The violations occurred last month while Pike was blasting to build an access road to its quarry off Spring Street.

A blast on May 17 violated vibration and noise limits set by the agreement. A seismograph measured ground vibration of 2.77 inches per second. The limit is 0.5 inches per second. The blast also exceed the 129-decibel noise limit, by 0.3 decibels.

Pike was fined the maximum $2,500 for the two violations.

Another blast, on May 20, was done about 40 minutes after the 3 p.m. daily deadline for blasting. The blast had been scheduled for earlier in the day but was delayed by an electrical problem.

Pike and city officials agreed at the time that it would be safer to blast after the deadline than leave live explosives in the ground.

The city fined Pike $500 for that violation.

Westbrook Code Enforcement Officer Rick Gouzie sent Pike a letter last week notifying the company of the fines.

In total, 10 blasts were done for the construction of the access road. Pike now must install berms and other buffers before it can begin blasting rock in the quarry. The consent agreement, reached last fall, allows Pike eight blasts per year for producing rock.

Pike’s attorney, Sigmund Schutz of Preti Flaherty, said future blasts are less likely to exceed the limits, because of the buffers.

“The road itself is part of the buffer, and behind the road is a substantial berm,” he said.

Gouzie said the city received about a half-dozen complaints last month from residents who said they could feel the blasts in their homes, and one who said pictures fell off shelves. He agreed that the blasts in the quarry are expected to be less noticeable.

Staff Writer Leslie Bridgers can be contacted at 791-6364 or at: lbridgers@mainetoday.com