EPA v. FALL RIVER WWTP

Case summary

On December 17, 2021, EPA Region 1 entered into an administrative order on consent with the City of Fall River, Massachusetts to address Clean Water Act violations. The Order requires the City to continue implementing an agreed-upon spending plan for the next five years to reduce CSO discharges, rehabilitate the City's wastewater treatment plan (including preparing for expected nitrogen removal requirements), optimize existing CSO chlorination facilities, evaluate new CSO screening disinfection options, and update its integrated plan (IP) within five years. The City is expected to spend $126 million on implementing these projects under the plan. Fall River is a significant Environmental Justice (EJ) community, with low income and high minority population. EPA's GIS Office used the EJ screening tool to evaluate the area in Fall River most impacted by CSOs and found that this area exceeded the 80th percentile nationally for 'Traffic Proximity and Volume' and the 'Wastewater Discharge Indicator'. The current spending plan will result in improved water quality, reduced flooding, and rates which are affordable to the community. EPA implements the Clean Water Act program in Massachusetts but coordinated with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection on this matter.

Defendants (1)

• Fall River, City of, MANamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (2)

• FALL RIVER W W T P

  1979 BAY STREET, FALL RIVER, MA, 02724

  Registry ID: 110000732592

• FALL RIVER W W T P

  1979 BAY STREET, FALL RIVER, MA, 02724

  Registry ID: 110000732592

Statutes cited

• CWA 301/402 — NPDES Permit Violations

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• FALL RIVER WWTPentered 2021-12-17

  Primary law: CWA

Timeline (3 milestones)

• 2021-12-17Final Order Issued
• 2021-12-17Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2021-12-17Complaint Filed/Proposed Order