EPA v. JOINT MEETING: RUTHERFORD, E.RUTH., CARL

Case summary

THE PERMITTEE TREATS DOMESTIC AND INDUSTRIAL SEWAGE IN A SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT THAT IS SO DETERIORATED THAT THE ONCE SECONDARY TREATMENT PLANT NO LONGER PROVIDES EVEN GOOD PRI- MARY TREATMENT. IT HAS FAILED TO OPERATE AND MAINTAIN THE PLANT PROPERLY AND HAS NOT CARRIED OUT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF ITS PLAN TO MAXIMIZE TREATMENT WITH MINIMAL EXPENDITURES. IT HAS FAILED TO COMPLY WITH INTERIM PERMIT LIMITATIONS BASED ON PRIMARY TREATMENT. FURTHER, IT HAS FAILED TO CON- VEY ITS SEWAGE TO THE BERGEN COUNTY UTILITIES AUTHORITY (WHICH COULD PROVIDE SECONDARY TREATMENT), AS REQUIRED BY ITS PERMIT. THE RELIEF SOUGHT INCLUDES A PENALTY IN THE AREA OF FIVE FIGURES AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF INCLUDING CONVEYANCE OF ALL FLOWS TO THE BERGEN COUNTY UTILITIES AUTHORITY, THE IMPLE- MENTATION OF CORRECTIVE ACTIONS AT THE SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT ITSELF, AND A BAN ON ADDITIONAL CONNECTIONS TO THE SEWAGE COLLECTION SYSTEMS AND THE DISCHARGE OF HIGHER VOLUMES OF POLLUTANTS FROM PRESENT CONTRIBUTORS. IN ADDITION TO THE JOINT MEETING, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE ACTION BE DIRECTED AGAINST THE BOROUGHS OF RUTHERFORD, EAST RUTHERFORD AND CARLSTADT. THE JOINT MEETING IS SIMPLY A CONTRACTUAL ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN THESE BOROUGHS, UNDER WHICH THE BOROUGHS BUILT AND OPERATE THE SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT. ** SEE CASE #02-86-E241 - CIVIL CONTEMPT CASE AGAINST JOINT MEETING.

Defendants (5)

• EAST RUTHERFORD, BORO OFNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• JOINT MEETING- RUTHERFORD, E. RUTH, CARLNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• CARLSTADT, BORO OFNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• NEW JERSEY, STATE OFNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• RUTHERFORD, BORO OFNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• JOINT MEETING STP

  FOOT OF BOROUGH ST., EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ, 07073

  Registry ID: 110010600368

Statutes cited

• CWA 402 — Clean Water Act
• CWA 309 — Violation of Existing AO

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• JOINT MEETING:RUTHERFORD, CARLentered 1985-11-14

  Primary law: CWA

  Federal penalty: $150,000

Timeline (8 milestones)

• 1984-03-29Referred To Headquarters
• 1984-04-25Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1984-06-24Referred TO U.S. Attorney
• 1984-07-11Complaint Filed With Court
• 1985-11-14Final Order Lodged
• 1985-11-14Final Order Entered
• 1985-11-14Concluded
• 1989-03-31Enforcement Action Closed