EPA v. HUSSEY/LIBERTAS COPPER, LLC

Case summary

On November 29, 2021, a federal court in western Pennsylvania entered a federal-state consent decree (CD) resolving alleged CWA violations at the Hussey Copper smelting facility in Leetsdale, PA. The CD will resolve CWA and parallel state violations including exceedances of numeric effluent limit for copper, chromium, nickel, oil and grease, lead, pH, TSS, and zinc, and violations of the narrative standard for oil sheens. The CD requires Hussey Copper to: (1) conduct a comprehensive review of its wastewater treatment system to identify the critical operating variables and determine appropriate operating ranges; (2) hire a third party auditor to evaluate environmental and implement appropriate corrective measures; (3) implement a tiered violation response system to correct NPDES discharge violations; (4) conduct annual compliance training for employees and contractors; (5) to hire a third party consultant to review and update the facility?s environmental management system (EMS); (6) hire another third party consultant to audit EMS implementation; and (7) pay stipulated penalties on demand for CD non-compliance and non-compliance with NPDES effluent limits. In addition to this injunctive relief, the CD includes a $861,500 civil penalty, to be split between the United States and PADEP. (In December 2020, Hussey Copper entered into a plea agreement in a parallel criminal proceeding relating to different claims involving falsified DMRs and related submissions.)

Defendants (1)

• LIBERTAS COPPER, LLC, d/b/a HUSSEY COPPERNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (4)

• HUSSEY COPPER LIMITED

  100 WASHINGTON STREET, LEETSDALE, PA, 15056

  Registry ID: 110000328994

• HUSSEY COPPER LIMITED

  100 WASHINGTON STREET, LEETSDALE, PA, 15056

  Registry ID: 110000328994

• LEETSDALE PLT

  100 WASHINGTON ST, LEETSDALE, PA, 15056-1000

  Registry ID: 110000328994

• LEETSDALE PLT

  100 WASHINGTON ST, LEETSDALE, PA, 15056-1000

  Registry ID: 110000328994

Statutes cited

• CWA 301/307 — Effluent Limitations - NPDES Toxic & Pretreatment Effluent Standards
• CWA 301/402 — NPDES Permit Violations
• CWA 301 — NPDES Discharge without a Permit

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• HUSSEY/LIBERTAS COPPER, LLCentered 2021-11-22

  Primary law: CWA

  Federal penalty: $430,750 · State/local: $430,750

Timeline (5 milestones)

• 2018-08-28Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 2018-09-14Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2021-07-30Complaint Filed With Court
• 2021-08-02Final Order Lodged
• 2021-11-22Final Order Entered