EPA Fines Alaska Developer for Tainting Creek

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has commenced an administrative penalty action against Anthony Lerma for federal Clean Water Act violations alleged to have occurred at his construction site in Anchorage, Alaska. Under the Clean Water Act, EPA may assess administrative civil penalties within a range of up to $157,500.

EPA alleged that Lerma violated the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, Storm Water Construction General Permit (CGP). CGP authorization is required for discharges of storm water from any construction site with at least one acre of disturbed land.

Violations included failure to: prepare and implement an adequate storm water pollution prevention plan; have sufficient storm water control measures, conduct inspections and properly implement stabilization measures.

"Storm water runoff from construction sites can significantly harm water quality," said Marcia Combes, Alaska Operations Office Director for EPA. "Managing storm water responsibly at construction sites should be a key part of every developer's site plan."

The receiving water for the storm water discharges from the site is Campbell Creek, a tributary of Campbell Lake. Campbell Creek and Lake are "navigable waters" of the U.S.

Source: U.S. EPA