EPA v. New York State Office of Parks - Recreation and Historic Preservation

Case summary

Seeking injunctive relief and penalties against the Defendants under Section 1423(b) of the SDWA. Violations include noncompliance with the Act's Underground Injection Control (UIC) regulations, specifically with Class V UIC regulations that banned new and existing large-capacity cesspools nationwide as of April 5, 2005. Under the terms of the Agreement, the Defendants will close 54 large-capacity cesspools pursuant to an enforceable schedule set forth in the Agreement, at a cost of approximately $16 million; will perform a list of SEPs valued at $1 million; and pay a civil penalty of $150,000. The SEPs are intended to reduce the quantity of nutrients harmful to water quality, including nitrogen, from entering the local groundwater at seven parks on Long Island. The Amendment to Consent Judgment proposes to modify a constructed wetland SEP that Defendants agreed to perform at Captree State Park, in Suffolk County, New York. Under the Amendment, Defendants would install and operate an alternative waste treatment technology--a Nitrex System for sanitary waste treatment to benefit the Main Comfort Station and Restaurant.

Defendants (3)

• NYS Ofc of Parks, Rec. and Historic PreservationNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• State of New YorkNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• Palisades Interstate Parks CommissionNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (15)

• MONTAUK DOWNS STATE PARK

  50 SOUTH FAIRVIEW AVE, MONTAUK, NY, 11954

  Registry ID: 110069998922

• BENNINGTON BATTLEFIELD STATE HISTORIC SITE

  5179 NY 67, HOOSICK FALLS, NY, 12090

  Registry ID: 110069998914

• SAG HARBOR STATE GOLF COURSE

  BARCELONA POINT, PO BOX 463, SAG HARBOR, NY, 11963

  Registry ID: 110069998923

• HITHER HILLS STATE PARK

  164 OLD MONTAUK HWY, MONTAUK, NY, 11954

  Registry ID: 110019812087

• CONNETQUOT RIVER STATE PARK RESERVE

  3525 SUNRISE HIGHWAY, OAKDALE, NY, 11769

  Registry ID: 110069998921

• ORIENT BEACH STATE PARK

  ORIENT BEACH RD OFF ST RTE 25, ORIENT, NY, 11957

  Registry ID: 110019772012

• CALEB SMITH STATE PARK PRESERVE

  581 WEST JERICHO TURNPIKE, SMITHTOWN, NY, 11787

  Registry ID: 110069998920

• BAYARD CUTTING ARBORETUM STATE PARK

  440 MONTAUK HIGHWAY, GREAT RIVER, NY, 11793

  Registry ID: 110069998918

• TACONIC STATE PARK - COPAKE FALLS AREA

  235 ROUTE 344, COPAKE FALLS, NY, 12517

  Registry ID: 110069998916

• BETHPAGE STATE PARK

  99 QUAKER MEETING HOUSE ROAD, FARMINGDALE, NY, 11735

  Registry ID: 110069998919

• HARRIMAN STATE PARK

  2300 SEVEN LAKES DRIVE, BEAR MOUNTAIN, NY, 10911

  Registry ID: 110069998917

• MAX V SHAUL STATE PARK

  ROUTE 30, PO BOX 23, FULTONHAM, NY, 12071

  Registry ID: 110069998915

• MACOMB RESERVATION STATE PARK

  201 CAMPSITE RD, SCHUYLER FALLS, NY, 12985

  Registry ID: 110037038924

• PLANTING FIELDS ARBORETUM STATE HISTORIC PARK

  1395 PLANTING FIELDS RD, OYSTER BAY, NY, 11771

  Registry ID: 110019692812

• CHENANGO VALLEY STATE PARK

  153 STATE PARK RD, CHENANGO FORKS, NY, 13746

  Registry ID: 110004420868

Statutes cited

• SDWA 1422/1423 — UIC Regulations Classes I - V

Enforcement conclusions (2)

• New York State Office of Parks - Recreation and Historic Preservationentered 2017-04-03

  Primary law: SDWA

  Federal penalty: $150,000 · SEP: $1,170,000

• New York State Office of Parks - Recreation and Historic Preservationentered 2018-10-17

  Primary law: SDWA

Timeline (6 milestones)

• 2015-09-03Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 2015-09-22Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2016-12-19Complaint Filed With Court
• 2018-04-17Final Order Lodged
• 2018-10-17Final Order Entered
• 2021-10-06Enforcement Action Closed