Region 9: Compliance and Enforcement

Upgrading Sewage Systems to Protect Public Health–three major urban areas settle with EPA

Three Southern California cases involving pollution from municipal sewage systems were settled. The responsible local government agencies committed a record $2.9 billion for sewer system upgrades to improve sewage collection and prevent future spills.

$2 billion Los Angeles sewage settlement will prevent spills, overflows

In one of the largest sewage cases in U.S. history, EPA, the Department of Justice, the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board, Santa Monica Baykeeper and a coalition of Los Angeles community groups reached a $2 billion settlement with Los Angeles over years of sewage spills. Under the terms of the historic agreement, Los Angeles will rebuild at least 488 miles of sewer lines, clean 2,800 miles of sewers annually, enhance its program to control restaurant grease discharges, increase the sewage system's capacity, and plan for future expansion. The city will also spend $8.5 million on environmental projects to restore streams and wetlands and to capture and treat polluted storm drain flows. With approximately 6,500 miles of sewer lines serving almost four million residents, Los Angeles operates the largest wastewater collection system in the country.

EPA, Orange County announces $600 million sewage treatment upgrade

In Orange County, the sanitation district which serves 2.5 million people will spend $600 million upgrading its two sewage treatment plants which discharge treated wastewater into coastal waters. The voluntary upgrade will result in discharge reductions of approximately 9,400 metric tons of solids and approximately 14,700 metric tons of oxygen-depleting nutrients. The district’s 10-year plan includes spending $450 million on sewer pipe upgrades to prevent future spills and overflows.

EPA, San Diego announces $187 million sewage system agreement

EPA, Surfrider Foundation, and San Diego Baykeeper reached a $187 million settlement with the city of San Diego that requires improvements in the city’s sewage collection system. EPA issued an administrative order three years ago that resulted in the city enhancing its sewage collection system maintenance and capital improvement programs. Under this agreement, the city will continue their enhanced inspection and maintenance programs; system-wide cleaning, root control, sewer pipe inspection, repair or replacement; and grease control blockage program. All parties to the agreement will continue to work on a long-term agreement to prevent future spills of raw sewage from San Diego’s system.

Oil companies pay EPA to settle Santa Monica MTBE cleanup costs

Oil companies responsible for the groundwater additive, methyl tertiary butyl ether, (MTBE) contamination into a groundwater aquifer used by the city of Santa Monica agreed to pay EPA $1.5 million in response costs. EPA has been working with the city of Santa Monica and regional water authorities to require cleanup of the MTBE contamination since 1996.

Storm water runoff is a major threat to our water systems and wildlife

EPA has put major facilities on notice that they must meet storm water requirements sending a clear deterrent message to major industry groups, developers and public agencies.

 

EPA settles water violations with Seven-Up Bottling’s Sacramento, Calif., facility

EPA reached a settlement agreement with the Seven-Up Bottling Co. to resolve storm water and wastewater violations of the federal Clean Water Act at its Sacramento facility. Seven-Up paid a $95,000 fine and spent $135,700 on an environmental project to buy alternative fuel vehicles, including propane-powered forklifts, to replace the existing fleet of gasoline vehicles used at its Sacramento plant.

EPA began an aggressive enforcement program for oil spill prevention and discharge violations

EPA settles with Hawaii Department of Transportation for oil spill prevention

EPA reached an agreement with the Hawaii Department of Transportation for $157,500 in fines for oil spill prevention plan violations at four of its facilities. EPA requires that facilities fully carry out oil spill prevention plans, drainage controls and secondary containment for fuel storage. The department has since prepared and submitted plans to EPA for each of the facilities. Oil spills and other contamination from onshore sources can pollute coral reefs and harm marine life. Federal regulations require onshore oil storage facilities to develop and implement spill prevention, control and countermeasure plans, certified by a professional engineer, to prevent oil discharges into the ocean..

Pyramid Lake oil spill, multi-agency cleanup effort

A landslide ruptured a Pacific Energy oil pipeline at Pyramid Lake, a recreation site and drinking water reservoir in the mountains north of Los Angeles. Acting under a cleanup order issued by EPA, Pacific Energy cooperated in a multi-agency effort to clean up the spill. The broken pipeline discharged approximately 3,400 barrels of oil into the lake. EPA's investigation into the integrity of the pipeline before the release and the environmental damage to the lake are ongoing.

Kinder Morgan buys emergency response equipment, pays penalty for failing to conduct emergency oil drills

Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, the nation’s largest petroleum transporter, purchased emergency response equipment for the Truckee, Calif. Fire District, and paid EPA a $26,630 penalty for failing to conduct emergency exercises at its Sparks, Nev., oil-storage and terminal facility. EPA cited Kinder Morgan in December 2004 for failing to conduct at least 10 emergency notification exercises – required quarterly – over the past five years and for failing to conduct two oil spill response exercises – required annually. EPA discovered the alleged violations in Sparks, Nev., during an oil spill response exercise on the Truckee River in July, 2004.

Dairy farmers must ensure waste management to protect water quality, public health

EPA orders five Chino dairy operators to comply with their wastewater permits

EPA ordered five dairies located in Southern California to comply with wastewater requirements. Violations included failure to build a spillway berm, or containment structure for the dairy waste. Wastewater discharges from dairies can threaten water quality in nearby rivers and streams. EPA requires dairies to comply with their permit requirements to protect public health and water quality.

Wetlands violations leads to conservation project, penalty

A Santa Barbara County farming company agreed to pay EPA $1.12 million in penalties and conservation projects for wetlands violations. Adam Brothers Farming unlawfully filled 79 acres of federally-regulated waters in the late 1990's. The settlement protects Orcutt Creek and permanently preserves nearby wetlands.

EPA and Hawaii join together to close state’s cesspools to protect drinking water, streams, beaches

EPA and the Hawaii Department of Health joined forces to address the federal deadline for closure of large capacity cesspools by April 2005. Large capacity cesspools, which are used more widely in Hawaii than in any other state, allow the direct discharge of raw sewage into the ground and pose environmental and public health risks. There are an estimated 4,000 large capacity cesspools in Hawaii, many owned by the counties, the state and the federal government as well as restaurants, hotels and office complexes. EPA signed formal agreements with more than a dozen public and private entities to properly close almost 600 cesspools, and received compliance plans and schedules from hundreds of other cesspool owners. EPA also coordinated closely with Hawaii DOH to significantly streamline their processes for approving alternate systems and closure plans, both critical elements for the hundreds of property owners seeking to comply with EPA's regulations.

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