EPA v. HAMMOND SD-ROBTSDAL

Case summary

REGION V HAS REFERRED A PROPOSED CASE AGAINST THE HAMMOND-MUNSTER SANITARY DISTRICT FOR DISCHARGING STORMWATER CONTAMINATED BY SANITARY WASTE INTO LAKE MICHIGAN WITHOUT A PERMIT. THIS DISCHARGE CAUSED POLLUTION OF THE LAKE AND CREATED A FEDERAL COMMON LAW NUISANCE IN THAT IT FORCED THE CLOSING OF CHICAGO'S BEACHES ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS BETWEEN JULY AND SEPTEMBER 1980. THE HALMMOND-MUNSTER SANITARY DISTRICT IS SUPPOSED TO MAINTAIN COMPLETELY SEPARATE STORMWATER AND SANITARY WASTE SEWER SYSTEMS. THERE ARE, HOWEVER, CONNECTORS BETWEEN THE TWO SYSTEMS AT VARIOUS POINTS, INCLUDING THE ROBERTSDALE PUMPING STATION. THE CONCRETE SEPARATING THE TWO SYSTEMS AT ONE OF THE CONNECTOR POINTS COLLAPSED ALLOWING UNTREATED SANITARY WASTE TO GO DIRECTLY INTO THE ADDITION, THE HAMMOND-MUNSTER SANITARY DISTRICT HAS DELIBERATELY PUMPED SANITARY WASTE TO LAKE MICHIGAN ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS THROUGH A BUTTERFLY VALVE AT THE PUMPING STATION. THE EVIDENCE GATHERED IS SO OVERWHELMING THAT REGION V WILL HAVE NO DIF- FICULTY PROVING ITS CASE.

Defendants (1)

• SANITARY DISTRICT OF HAMM-MUNSNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• SANITARY DISTRICT OF HAMMOND

  5143 COLUMBIA AVENUE, HAMMOND, IN, 46320

  Registry ID: 110020660578

Statutes cited

• CWA 301 — NPDES Discharge without a Permit

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• HAMMOND-MUNSTER, SANITARY DISTentered 1985-03-29

  Primary law: CWA

Timeline (8 milestones)

• 1980-09-19Referred To Headquarters
• 1980-09-25Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1980-09-26Referred TO U.S. Attorney
• 1980-09-29Complaint Filed With Court
• 1985-03-29Final Order Lodged
• 1985-03-29Final Order Entered
• 1985-03-29Concluded
• 1985-03-29Enforcement Action Closed