From the Lowellsun:

Pan Am Railways and three of its subsidiaries were arraigned in Middlesex Superior Court yesterday on charges they broke an environmental law by not reporting a massive diesel spill in Ayer in August 2006.

Attorney General Martha Coakley’s office is alleging that Pan Am Railways took part in a coverup to hide the spill.

Billerica-based Pan Am, formerly known as Guilford Rail Systems, was arraigned on two counts violating the Massachusetts Oil and Hazardous Material Release Prevention Act. Maine Central Railroad Co., Boston & Maine Corp., and Springfield Terminal Railroad Co. were arraigned on the same charges.

The companies were charged for each day they failed to report the spill.

Attorney Dennis Kelly pleaded not guilty on behalf of all four entities.

The law requires that the companies notify the Department of Environmental Protection within two hours when at least 10 gallons of oil or a hazardous material spills.

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