EPA v. HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INC.

Case summary

THE VIOLATIONS AT THESE SITES CONSIST PRIMARILY OF FAILURE TO EITHER OBTAIN PERMIT COVERAGE OR TO IMPLEMENT THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE APPLICABLE PERMIT. EPA, TOGETHER WITH LOCAL COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICTS, CONDUCTED INSPECTIONS AT THREE SITES IN PENNSYLVANIA. IN PARTICULAR, EROSION CONTROLS AT THE SITES WERE NOT BEING IMPLEMENTED AND/OR MAINTAINED. EPA SOUGHT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE CWA SECTION 308, ON THE CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES OF HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES IN THE REGION. HOVNANIAN'S RESPONSE TO THE 308 REQUEST PROVIDED EVIDENCE OF MORE VIOLATIONS: 45 OTHER CONSTRUCTION SITES WHICH WERE NEVER COVERED BY AN NPDES PERMIT, OR WHERE CONSTRUCTIONI ACTIVITY BEGAN BEFORE PERMIT COVERAGE WAS OBTAINED. BY FAILING TO OBTAIN COVERAGE UNDER, OR TO COMPLY WITH, AN NPDES STORMWATER PERMIT, HOVNANIAN HAS VIOLATED THE PROHIBITION OF SETION 301(A) OF THE CWA, 33 U.S.C. SECTION 1311(A), AGAINST UNAUTHORIZED DISCHARGES OF POLLUTANTS.

Defendants (1)

• HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INCNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (45)

• LAKE RIDGE CROSSING

  EVEREST PARK LAND AND SMOKETOWN ROAD, WOODBRIDGE, VA, 22193

  Registry ID: 110041220844

• BOWIE NEW TOWN CENTER

  MITCHELLVILLE RD & EVERST DR, BOWIE, MD, 20716

  Registry ID: 110041210828

• HIDDEN POND SINGLES

  HESKETT LANE AND CHARLESTOWN PIKE, PURCELLVILLE, VA, 20132

  Registry ID: 110041196693

• BELLEHAVEN ESTATES, SEC. 2

  ARWICK-ARDMORE ROADS, UPPER MARLBORO, MD, 20774

  Registry ID: 110041220247

• EAGLES POINT 5

  U.S. ROUTE 1 AND AMERICAN EAGLE BLVD, AMERICAN EAGLE BLVD, VA, 22193

  Registry ID: 110041212167

• MEADOWS OF CULPEPPER

  BELLE AVENUE, CULPEPPER, VA, 22701

  Registry ID: 110041220871

• WOODYARD, THE

  ROSARYVILLE & WOODYARD RDS, CLINTON, MD, 20735

  Registry ID: 110041198673

• WILLOUGHBY WOODS

  NICHOLAS SCHAR ROAD, CENTREVILLE, VA, 20120

  Registry ID: 110041221013

• ASHLAND 27

  SPRIGGS ROAD AND ROUTE 234, WOODBRIDGE, VA, 22193

  Registry ID: 110041220210

• LAKER TERRAPIN 5 AND REC CENTER

  LAKE TERRAPIN DRIVE AND DIAMONDBACK COURT, DUMPHRIES, VA, 22025

  Registry ID: 110041212185

• COVINGTON, PARCEL 5

  COLLINGTON RD/RTE 301, BOWIE, MD, 20716

  Registry ID: 110041196620

• POTOMAC STATION SECTIONS 8-D-F

  FT EVANS RD (773) AND VISTA RIDGE DRIVE, LEESBURG, VA, 20176

  Registry ID: 110041220880

• FOREST RUN II

  MARLBORO PIKE & WALTERS LANE, FORESTVILLE, MD, 20747

  Registry ID: 110041196639

• RUSTIC RIDGE, PH. 1 & 2

  LARGO ROAD, UPPER MARLBORO, MD, 20774

  Registry ID: 110041196764

• EAGLES POINT 1

  US ROUTE 1 AND AMERICAN EAGLE BLVD, WOODBRIDGE, VA, 22193

  Registry ID: 110041220817

• …and 30 more

Statutes cited

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

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• HOVNANIAN ENTERPRISES, INCentered 2010-08-05

  Primary law: CWA

  Federal penalty: $864,000 · State/local: $136,000

Timeline (7 milestones)

• 2005-09-30Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 2005-10-12Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2010-04-20Final Order Lodged
• 2010-04-20Complaint Filed With Court
• 2010-08-05Final Order Entered
• 2013-05-30Demand for Stipulated Penalties
• 2013-12-05Enforcement Action Closed