The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued Administrative Orders (AOs) against nine entities throughout the Southeast during the last quarter of 2009 for violations of the Clean Water Act (CWA).
"By taking these enforcement actions, we are sending a strong message about the importance of protecting rivers, lakes and streams across the Southeast,” said Stan Meiburg, EPA Region 4 acting regional administrator. “To protect our region’s waters, these regulated entities must comply with the Clean Water Act and promptly take the steps needed to resolve the violations noted in our inspections.”
Six entities were cited for alleged storm water-related violations of the CWA. Polluted storm water runoff is a leading cause of impairment to the nearly 40% of surveyed U.S. water bodies that do not meet water quality standards. Over land or via storm sewer systems, polluted runoff is discharged, often untreated, directly into local water bodies. Four of the entities cited and their associated violations include:
• Mississippi Department of Transportation, for violations along State Route 19 between the Lauderdale County line and State Route 492 in Collinsville, Miss.;
• Pontotoc Union Lee Alliance, Eutlaw Construction Company, Inc. and L & T Construction, Inc., for violations along the Blue Springs Rail Spur and Blue Springs North Loop Interchange in Blue Spring, Miss.;
• Trinity Development Group, Ltd., for violations at the Cypress Landing subdivision in Gautier, Miss.; and
• Wrigleyville Development Company Inc. for violations at Wrigleyville subdivision in Gulfport, Miss.
EPA issued AOs requiring each of the four violators to revise their Notice of Intent for Permit coverage, modify their Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan, institute an inspection program, and address areas of potential discharges.
Another company, Kings Mountain Landing Inc. was cited for alleged storm water-related violations at Kings Mountain Landing subdivision in Lake Hartwell, Ga. EPA issued an AO requiring Kings Mountain Landing to properly design, install and maintain best management practices; conduct adequate self-inspections; monitor turbidity; and cease the discharge of off site sediment into an unnamed tributary to Lake Hartwell.
