Va. Developer Settles Clean Water Act Violations at Equestrian Estates

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that developer Dominion Boulevard Partners LLC has settled alleged violations of the Clean Water Act designed to protect waterways from polluted storm water.

Dominion will pay a $51,000 penalty for allegedly allowing storm water runoff from Equestrian Estates North in Chesapeake, Va., to run off into a tributary of the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River.

After an inspection by EPA on June 14, 2010, and another inspection by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation on Dec. 14, 2010, EPA cited Dominion for failing to:

• Stabilize a large stockpile of sand on the site as required in the permit;
• Properly install and/or maintain sediment controls, such as silt fencing and rock dams;
• Conduct inspections after rain events; and
• Maintain an updated storm water pollution prevention plan as required by law.

Uncontrolled storm water runoff from construction sites often contains chemicals, nitrogen, phosphorus, sediment, trash and other pollutants. The Clean Water Act requires owners of construction operations to obtain a permit before discharging storm water runoff into waterways.

Source: U.S. EPA