TLT Construction Corp. faces an administrative penalty of up to $157,500 for violating requirements of the federal Clean Water Act at a construction site in Reading, Mass.
In May 2004, TLT began construction of the town of Reading’s new high school. In April 2007, a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) inspector inspected TLT’s construction site and observed failed construction and storm water erosion and sediment controls, as well as construction debris in the Aberjona River.
The EPA determined that TLT was discharging storm water from the site to U.S. waters without authorization. TLT failed to apply for coverage under the EPA’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Permit for Storm Water Discharges from Construction Activities. The EPA also determined that TLT failed to update its storm water pollution prevention plan, document construction site erosion and sediment control inspections and maintain records. Finally, the EPA found that TLT failed to comply with state and local wetlands bylaws.
Storm water runoff from construction activities has the potential to significantly impact the water quality of receiving waters. As storm water flows over a construction site, it can pick up and transport certain pollutants, such as oil and grease from petroleum products, metals from paints and sealants, sand and aggregate from unstable material stockpiles, solvents and construction debris. Contaminated storm water runoff can harm or kill fish and or other aquatic wildlife. Uncontrolled storm water runoff from a construction site can affect an aquatic habitat and cause streambank erosion and flooding.
Storm water from TLT’s construction site discharged in to the Aberjona River, which flows into the Upper and Lower Mystic Lakes, which in turn flow into the Mystic River and, finally, to the Boston Harbor.
