EPA v. Cemex Concretos, Inc. et al.

Case summary

The complaint alleged violations at eighteen facilities and the settlement requires measures to be taken to bring nine active facilities into compliance. Between 2007 and 2011, the EPA conducted numerous inspections of the Defendants' facilities to assess their compliance with their Clean Water Act permits that govern discharges into the water. Based on these inspections and requests for information sent to the Defendants, the EPA found numerous permit violations of the 2008 MSGP. The violations included failure to implement best management practices at the facilities to properly operate and maintain storm water control measures, conduct required inspections, and keep up to date stormwater pollution prevention plans as required by the general permit for stormwater discharges from industrial facilities. The EPA reached an agreement with the Defendants to settle the companies? violations of requirements to control stormwater discharges under the Clean Water Act. As part of the settlement, the Defendants will pay a cash penalty of $360,000, implement a SEP which includes the donation of 401 acres of land. The land will be turned over to the Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources to manage and preserve. The land, which is located in the north Karst region of Puerto Rico at the Espinosa and Maricao Wards of the municipality of Vega Alta, is estimated to have a market value of nearly $2.4 million. The Defendants will also implement injunctive relief consisting of comprehensive compliance measures taken at each of its nine active facilities and at any new facility the Defendants initiate ready-mix concrete operation after January 1, 2014. Accordingly, the Defendants will establish an environmental management structure that includes an Environmental Director, Environmental Coordinator and on-site managers to ensure compliance with stormwater requirements of the Clean Water Act.

Defendants (2)

• Cemex Concretos, Inc.Named in complaintNamed in settlement
• Cemex de Puerto Rico, Inc.Named in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (21)

• CEMEX PONCE II READY MIX SITE

  STATE RD 1 KM. 122.7, BARRIO VAYA TORRES(MERCEDITA, PONCE, PR, 00715

  Registry ID: 110043478616

• CEMEX CONCRETOS - AGUAS BUENAS

  STATE ROAD 173, KM. 5.4, BARRIO SUMIDERO, AGUAS BUENAS, PR, 00703

  Registry ID: 110042372759

• CEMEX CONCRETOS - FAJARDO

  STATE RD 194, KM 0.9, FAJARDO, PR, 00738

  Registry ID: 110042372688

• CEMEX CONCRETOS - HUMACAO READY MIX SITE

  STATE RD 931, BARRIO BUENA VISTA, HUMACAO, PR, 00738

  Registry ID: 110042392737

• CEMEX PONCE I READY MIX SITE

  STATE RD 123, KM. 8, BARRIO, PONCE, PR, 00733

  Registry ID: 110022868413

• CEMEX GUAYNABO I READY MIX SITE

  STATE RD 28, PUEBLO VIEJO, GUAYNABO, PR, 00936

  Registry ID: 110054203553

• CEMEX CONCRETOS - GUAYAMA

  STATE RD 3, KM 146.5 BARIO CORAO, GUAYAMA, PR, 000784

  Registry ID: 110042392746

• CEMEX CAROLINA I READY MIX SITE

  STATE RD 887, KM. 3, ZONA INDUSTRIAL MARTINEZ GONZ, CAROLINA, PR, 00984

  Registry ID: 110064878075

• CEMEX PONCE I READY MIX SITE

  STATE RD 123, KM. 8, BARRIO, PONCE, PR, 00733

  Registry ID: 110022868413

• CEMEX VEGA BAJA I READY MIX SITE

  STATE RD 2, KM. 42.1 BARRIO ALGARROBO, VEGA BAJA, PR, 00936

  Registry ID: 110043478643

• CEMEX MAYAGUEZ READY MIX SITE

  STATE RD 102, KM. 0.5 BARRIO ALGARROBO, MAYAGUEZ, PR, 00680

  Registry ID: 110043478634

• CEMEX CONCRETOS - GURABO READY MIX SITE

  STATE RD 931, KM 7.1, BARRIO NAVARRO, GURABO, PR, 00778

  Registry ID: 110042372704

• CEMEX CONCRETOS - PATILLAS

  STATE RD 3, KM 124.6, PATILLAS, PR, 00723

  Registry ID: 110042372660

• CEMEX CONCRETOS - CAGUAS

  STATE RD 30, KM 2.9, CAGUAS, PR, 00725

  Registry ID: 110042372679

• CEMEX CONCRETOS - SAN GERMAN 11

  STATE ROAD 2, KM 176, SAN GERMAN, PR, 00683

  Registry ID: 110042372740

• …and 6 more

Statutes cited

• CWA 301 — NPDES Discharge without a Permit
• CWA 308 — Information Request, Records, Entry
• CWA 301/402 — NPDES Permit Violations

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• Cemex Concretos, Inc. et al.entered 2014-07-23

  Primary law: CWA

  Federal penalty: $360,000 · SEP: $2,360,000

Timeline (8 milestones)

• 2011-09-29Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 2011-10-05Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2014-05-13Final Order Lodged
• 2014-05-13Complaint Filed With Court
• 2014-07-23Final Order Entered
• 2014-07-23Concluded
• 2025-10-10NPDES Closed
• 2025-10-10Enforcement Action Closed