EPA v. MAINE ELECTRONICS, INC.

Case summary

MAINE ELECTRONICS, INC. OF LISBON, ME, OPERATES A FACILITY FOR THE PRODUCTION OF PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARDS FOR USE IN ELEC TRONIC DEVICES. SINCE JAN. 1980 OR EARLIER, ME ELECTRONICS HAS BEEN DISCHARGING POLLUTANTS FROM ITS FACILITY INTO THE SABATTUS R. IN EXCESS OF ITS PERMITTED LEVELS. DISCHARGES HAVE AVERAGED OVER 150,000 GPD FOR THE PAST 4 1/2 YEARS AND CONTAIN SIZEABLE QUANTITIES OF SUSPENDED SOLIDS AND COPPER. THE PH IS CONSISTENTLY HIGH. FACILITY HAS OPERATED UNDER AN NPDES PERMIT SINCE OCT. 1, 1974, BUT HAS FAILED TO INSTALL THE TREATMENT PROCESSES NECESSARY TO COMPLY W/ITS EFFLUENT LIMITS. THEY HAVE ALSO FREQUENTLY FAILED TO COMPLY W/REPORT ING REQUIREMENTS OF ITS PERMIT. BETWEEN JULY 13 & JULY 19, 1983, ME ELECTRONICS HAD A SPILL WHICH DISCHARGED AT LEAST 2,328 LBS OF CUPRIC CHLORIDE, A DESIGNATED HAZARDOUS SUB- STANCE, FROM ITS FACILITY INTO THE SABATTUS RIVER. ME ELECTRONICS IS ON EPA'S FIXED LIST OF SIGNIFICANT VIO- LATORS AND IS VIOLATING SEC. 301 OF THE ACT, AND HAS VIOLAT- ED SEC. 311. THE COMPLAINT SEEKS CIVIL PENALTIES FOR THE VIOLATIONS AND AN INJUNCTION ORDERING THE COMPANY TO COMPLY WITH ITS NPDES PERMIT.

Defendants (1)

• MAINE ELECTRONICS, INCNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• MAINE ELECTRONICS INCORPORATED

  19 SAINT ANNE ST (FORMERLY RIVER ST), LISBON, ME, 04250

  Registry ID: 110006744087

Statutes cited

• CWA 309 — Violation of Existing AO
• CWA 311B — Oil & Hazardous Substances Discharge
• CWA 301A — Clean Water Act

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• MAINE ELECTRONICS, INCentered 1984-11-28

  Primary law: CWA

  Federal penalty: $78,500

Timeline (9 milestones)

• 1984-06-14Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1984-06-26Referred To Headquarters
• 1984-07-31Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1984-09-11Referred TO U.S. Attorney
• 1984-09-27Complaint Filed With Court
• 1984-11-28Final Order Lodged
• 1984-11-28Final Order Entered
• 1984-11-28Concluded
• 1987-12-22Enforcement Action Closed