EPA v. AMERIPRIDE LINEN

Case summary

AmeriPride rents and sells work apparel and also provides industrial and commercial laundering services. AmeriPride’s headquarters is located in Minnetonka, Minnesota. AmeriPride has over 190 production facilities and service centers and 6,000 employees throughout the United States and Canada. The violations alleged in this matter occurred at a branch location located in the City of Hartford, Connecticut (“the Facility”). AmeriPride’s operations at the Facility include washing and drying of uniforms, linens, shop towels, floormats and mops. AmeriPride services a variety of businesses including, but not limited to, automotive, healthcare and food services. AmeriPride introduces an average of 73,883 gallons per day of process wastewaters from the Facility to the Metropolitan District’s wastewater pollution control facility also located in Hartford, Connecticut ( the POTW ). From July of 2001 through March of 2008, AmeriPride's wastewater discharge to the POTW repeatedly violated the National Pretreatment Standard prohibiting the discharge of wastewaters with a pH lower than 5.0 Standard Units in violation of Section 307(d) of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1317(d). AmeriPride’s wastewater discharges to the POTW have also frequently violated industrial discharge limitations for pH, oil and grease, and total zinc, total lead and total copper imposed in a May 31, 2001 industrial discharge permit that the State of Connecticut issued to AmeriPride. Despite years of numerous violations, AmeriPride did not fully resolve its wastewater violations until March of 2008 when AmeriPride completed the installation of a new industrial wastewater treatment system. As a result of AmeriPride’s non-compliance, in particular its long delay in installing necessary wastewater treatment equipment, AmeriPride enjoyed a significant economic benefit. The effects of introducing acidic and/or alkaline industrial wastewaters into a sanitary sewer system and POTW are well documented. The introduction of acidic and/or alkaline industrial wastewaters into a sanitary sewer system has the potential to corrode piping and equipment in both the wastewater collection system and the POTW treatment plant itself and to create a dangerous working environment for sewage treatment plant workers. Sewer pipe corrosion from the introduction of acidic and or alkaline industrial wastewaters can cause disruptions in service, leakage of raw sewage to ground and surface waters, require the replacement of sewer lines and pumping stations, and result in casualties to sewer workers. The effects of the discharge of excessive amounts of oil and grease into a sanitary sewer system can be detrimental and costly to a municipality. If excessive amounts of oil and grease enter the wastewater collection system, it readily adheres to the inner surface of piping materials. The accrued layers harden into a crust as tough as baked clay, becoming a primary cause for clogs, backups, overflows and equipment failure, ultimately requiring replacement of the pipes. EPA will seek injunctive relief and penalties from AmeriPride to ensure that AmeriPride's compliance continues and that AmeriPride does not experience a competitive advantage as a result of its violations.

Defendants (1)

• AMERIPRIDE LINENNamed in complaint

Facilities (2)

• AMERIPRIDE SERVICES INC

  490 WETHERSFIELD AVENUE, HARTFORD, CT, 061141997

  Registry ID: 110016682794

• AMERIPRIDE SERVICES INC

  490 WETHERSFIELD AVENUE, HARTFORD, CT, 061141997

  Registry ID: 110016682794

Statutes cited

• CWA 301/307 — Effluent Limitations - NPDES Toxic & Pretreatment Effluent Standards

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• AMERIPRIDE LINENentered 2009-09-30

  Primary law: CWA

  Federal penalty: $525,000

Timeline (10 milestones)

• 2007-10-16Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2008-07-31Referred TO U.S. Attorney
• 2008-07-31Referred To Headquarters
• 2008-07-31Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 2009-08-24Complaint Filed With Court
• 2009-08-24Final Order Lodged
• 2009-09-30Concluded
• 2009-09-30Final Order Entered
• 2010-10-01Enforcement Action Closed
• 2010-10-01NPDES Closed