Vanderhoef Builders, a construction company based in Boise, Idaho, has resolved a federal Clean Water Act enforcement case with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by paying a $14,125 penalty.

The EPA discovered the alleged violations when it conducted a storm water inspection at Vanderhoef Builders' 1.5-acre construction site on Payette Lake near McCall, Idaho, last April. The EPA inspected the site after receiving complaints that muddy water was leaving it and entering Payette Lake.

According to Kim Ogle, manager of EPA's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Compliance Unit, since the Vanderhoef site is close to Payette Lake, one of Idaho's "special resource waters" construction managers needed to be especially vigilant.

"Being this close to Payette Lake, builders need to take special care," Ogle said. 'Payette Lake and all of Idaho's waters deserve our protection. Storm water from construction sites must be responsibly managed or enforcement action will be taken."

EPA's storm water general construction permit authorizes storm water discharges from construction sites and requires construction site operators--usually developers and general contractors--to plan, implement and monitor storm water controls to prevent pollutants from reaching Idaho's lakes, rivers and streams. Without proper controls, common construction site pollutants like sediment, oil, grease and concrete washout can easily wash into nearby waterways anytime it rains.

During the inspection, EPA found that Vanderhoef Builders failed to include required information in its storm water pollution prevention plan; conduct regular self-inspections; and properly install and maintain storm water controls.

As part of the settlement, Vanderhoef Builders must send EPA information demonstrating compliance with the permit and paying the $14,125 penalty. Prior to EPA's enforcement action, the inspected site was also subject to close scrutiny by the city of McCall for failing to comply with local erosion and sediment control ordinances.

Source: EPA