City Releases Untreated Sewage
Danbury
Connecticut, EPA Region 1
CWA violations: According to EPA, an inspection of the city’s wastewater collection system found many instances of releases of untreated sewage. The releases—also called bypasses—backed up into the basements of private homes and businesses and poured through manholes in the street.
Penalty: $30,000 fine
Developers Pay for Stormwater Violations
Hotel developers
Puerto Rico, EPA Region 2
Stormwater violations: During an inspection, EPA discovered that the developers had discharged stormwater into the San Juan stormwater sewer system from the construction sites without first applying for the required permit. EPA also found that the developers had discharged water used in the construction into the stormwater sewer system without the proper permit.
Penalty: $472,240 fine
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Battery Maker Pays for Pretreatment Problems
Battery manufacturer
Pennsylvania, EPA Region 3
CWA violations: The manufacturer exceeded its pretreatment permit discharge limits for lead and copper for at least 52 months, including 84 monthly average violations and 6 violations of daily maximum limits.
Penalty: $60,000 fine
Company Cited by OSHA
Grain storage facility
Nebraska, EPA Region 7
OSHA violations: According to OSHA, the facility willfully exposed workers to various hazards during grain bin entry.
Penalty: $132,000 fine
Firm Tampers with Samples
Precious metals manufacturer
Utah, EPA Region 8
CWA violations: According EPA, the Salt Lake facility had difficulty consistently complying with the selenium limit in its permit to discharge to the Central Valley Water Reclamation facility. The company’s auditor discovered that the facility had exceeded its permit limit for selenium and that employees had screened samples before submitting them to an outside laboratory for analysis.
Penalty: $3 million fine
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Costly Air Problems at Cement Plant
Building materials manufacturer
California, EPA Region 9
CAA violations: The government’s complaint alleges that the company made significant modifications to its plant, resulting in increased emissions of NOx, SO2, and carbon monoxide without first obtaining a CAA-required permit and without installing necessary pollution control equipment.
Penalty: $1.425 million fine
Fire Sparks Hefty Fine
Hazardous waste management facility
Washington, EPA Region 10
RCRA violations: The company was also cited for failing to store hazardous waste containers properly, storing incompatible wastes next to each other, faulty safety equipment, and inadequate signage.
Penalty: $275,000 fine