Electric Boat Corp. to Manage Storm Water at Groton, Conn., Shipyard

The U.S EPA announced a settlement with Electric Boat Corp. to resolve alleged violations of the Clean Water Act (CWA) at Electric Boat’s Groton, Conn., submarine assembly facility. Under the settlement, Electric Boat is required to perform specific facility improvements to promote its compliance with EPA storm water management requirements. The company will also pay a civil penalty of $60,000 as part of the settlement.

Under the settlement, Electric Boat will install heavy metal filters on a select number of storm drains, outfit outdoor waste accumulation containers with covers, and develop and implement improved specific storm water management training for shipyard trades. These measures will reduce pollution that can be picked up by storm water and improve Electric Boat’s compliance with the company’s CWA storm water discharge permit.

During an April 2017 inspection, EPA found that Electric Boat had allegedly violated provisions of its CWA permit for storm water discharges by failing to adequately implement best management practices to minimize the impacts of storm water discharges on the Thames River. In addition, EPA inspectors observed that an Electric Boat employee had dumped used fiberglass resin into a storm drain.