EPA v. NORTH BROOKFIELD

Case summary

On October 5, 2023, EPA issued a Clean Water Act Administrative Order (AO) to the Town of North Brookfield, Massachusetts, for alleged violations of the total aluminum, total copper, and total zinc limits in its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. The Town owns and operates a wastewater treatment facility (WWTF) that is covered by the General Permit for Small Wastewater Treatment Facilities authorizing the discharge of pollutants to the Forget-me-not River. The AO requires the Town to implement a construction schedule for upgrades to its WWTF and to achieve compliance with its NPDES permit limits by May 29, 2025. The upgrades will cost approximately $13 million. The AO also includes interim effluent limits for total aluminum, total copper and total zinc. Massachusetts has not been delegated the Clean Water Act program, but EPA worked in close coordination with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection on this matter.

Defendants (1)

• North Brookfield, MANamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• NORTH BROOKFIELD WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT

  59 EAST BROOKFIELD RD, NORTH BROOKFIELD, MA, 01535

  Registry ID: 110006618892

Statutes cited

• CWA 301/402 — NPDES Permit Violations

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• NORTH BROOKFIELDentered 2023-10-05

  Primary law: CWA

Timeline (3 milestones)

• 2023-10-05Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 2023-10-05Final Order Issued
• 2023-10-11Enforcement Action Data Entered