EPA v. JEFFERSON COUNTY/CAHABA RIVER

Case summary

IMPACT: ON OCTOBER 28, 1994, THE REGION REFERRED TO HQ AND DOJ VIOLATIONS BY JEFFERSON COUNTY, AL OF PROVISIONS OF THE CLEAN WATER ACT APPLICABLE TO ALL 11 OF ITS WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS. THE REFERRAL SEEKS A CIVIL JUDICIAL PENALTY. BACKGROUND: IN NOVEMBER 1993 AND APRIL 1994, TWO CITIZENS' GROUPS FILED CITIZEN SUIT COMPLAINTS AGAINST JEFFERSON COUNTY IN FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE CWA, INCLUDING EFFLUENT LIMITATION VIOLATIONS, SANITARY SEWER OVERFLOWS AND BYPASSES OCCURRING AT 7 OF THE WWTPS. ALL PARTIES, INCLUDING JEFFERSON COUNTY, HAVE FILED MOTIONS FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT IN THE CASE WHICH ARE STILL PENDING. ON OCTOBER 7, 1994, DOJ AT REGION IV'S REQUEST, FILED AN AMICUS CURIAE BRIEF WITH THE COURT. THE 10/28/94, REFERRAL ADDRESS 4 CATEGORIES OF CWA VIOLATIONS: (1) EFFLUENT VIOLATIONS AT 10 WWTPS; (2) DISCHARGING AT AN UNPERMITTED SOURCE (BYPASSES) AT 6 WWTPS; (3) DISCHARGING AT AN UNPERMITTED SOURCE (SANITARY SEWER OVERFLOWS); (4) DISCHARGING WITHOUT A VALID NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (NPDES) PERMIT. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF VIOLATIONS UNDER SECTION 301 AND 402 OF THE CWA IS 14,686. THE CIVIL PENALTY AMOUNT OF $208703,000 IS BASED ON A GRAVITY CALCULATION OF $7,022,000 AND ECONOMIC BENEFIT OF $273,681,000.

Defendants (3)

• JEFFERSON COUNTY ALABAMANamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• JEFFERSON COUNTY ALABAMA COMMISSIONNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• ALABAMA, STATE OFNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (40)

• TURKEY CREEK WWTP

  7137 DIPOSAL PLANT RD, PINSON, AL, 35126

  Registry ID: 110006787860

• VALLEY CREEK WRF

  3923 CLEARWATER DRIVE, BESSEMER, AL, 35023

  Registry ID: 110000513187

• VALLEY CREEK WWTP

  SEWER PLANT RD, BESSEMER, AL, 35020

  Registry ID: 110000513187

• WARRIOR WWTP

  CANE CREEK RD W, WARRIOR, AL, 35180

  Registry ID: 110010617190

• VALLEY CREEK WWTP

  SEWER PLANT RD, BESSEMER, AL, 35020

  Registry ID: 110000513187

• TURKEY CREEK WWTP

  7137 DIPOSAL PLANT RD, PINSON, AL, 35126

  Registry ID: 110006787860

• VALLEY CREEK WRF

  3923 CLEARWATER DRIVE, BESSEMER, AL, 35023

  Registry ID: 110000513187

• VALLEY CREEK WRF

  3923 CLEARWATER DRIVE, BESSEMER, AL, 35023

  Registry ID: 110000513187

• CANABA RIVER WWTP

  VEONA DANIELS DR, HOOVER, AL, 98899

  Registry ID: 110000513249

• PRUDES CREEK WWTP

  5TH ST NE, GRAYSVILLE, AL, 35073

  Registry ID: 110064257931

• CANABA RIVER WWTP

  VEONA DANIELS DR, HOOVER, AL, 98899

  Registry ID: 110000513249

• VALLEY CREEK WRF

  3923 CLEARWATER DRIVE, BESSEMER, AL, 35023

  Registry ID: 110000513187

• VALLEY CREEK WRF

  3923 CLEARWATER DRIVE, BESSEMER, AL, 35023

  Registry ID: 110000513187

• VALLEY CREEK WWTP

  SEWER PLANT RD, BESSEMER, AL, 35020

  Registry ID: 110000513187

• FIVE MILE CREEK WWTP

  885 LOWER COALBURG ROAD, FULTONDALE, AL, 35068

  Registry ID: 110037221262

• …and 25 more

Statutes cited

• CWA 301/402 — NPDES Permit Violations

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• JEFFERSON COUNTY, ALABAMAentered 1996-12-09

  Primary law: CWA

  Federal penalty: $750,000 · SEP: $30,000,000

Timeline (8 milestones)

• 1993-11-01Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1994-10-28Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1994-12-06Complaint Filed With Court
• 1996-12-09Final Order Lodged
• 1996-12-09Concluded
• 1996-12-09Final Order Entered
• 2024-09-05Enforcement Action Closed
• 2024-09-05NPDES Closed