EPA v. HAMMOND SANITARY DISTRICT(MUNSTER)

Case summary

THIS IS A CIVIL ACTION AGAINST THE SANITARY DISTRICT OF HAMMOND-MUNSTER (SDHM) FOR DISCHARGING SLUDGE AND SLUDGE RE- LATED WASTE FROM THE SLUDGE LAGOONS AT ITS WASTEWATER TREAT- MENT PLANT INTO THE GRAND CALUMET RIVER, IN VIOLATION OF ITS CURRENT NPDES PERMIT NO.IN0023060. SDHM OWNS AND OPERATES TWO SLUDGE LAGOONS IMMEDIATELY AD- JACENT TO THE GRAND CALUMET RIVER. THESE SLUDGE LAGOONS ARE AND HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY FULL SINCE AT LEAST FEBRUARY 1982, YET SDHM CONTINUES TO DISCHARGE SLUDGE TO THESE LAGOON AT THE RATE OF 120,000 GALLONS PER DAY. AS A RESULT, THE SLUDGE BEING DISCHARGED EITHER FLOWS OVER THE DIKES OR LEECHES FROM THESE LAGOONS INTO EROSION CHANNELS WHICH DIS- CHARGE DIRECTLY TO THE GRAND CALUMET RIVER. THIS RIVER NOW HAS AN EXTENSIVE BUILDUP OF SLUDGE ALONG ITS NORTH BANK WHICH IS CAUSING DETERIORATION OF WATER QUALITY IN THE RIVER STATE OF INDIANA MOVED TO REALIGN AS A PLAINTIFF.

Defendants (4)

• HAMMOND MUNSTER SANITARY DISTNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• HAMMOND, IN CITY OFNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• INDIANA, STATE OFNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• INDIANA, TOWN OF MUNSTERNamed 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 SANITARY DISTRICTentered 1986-12-16

  Primary law: CWA

  Federal penalty: $50,000

Timeline (8 milestones)

• 1983-02-03Referred To Headquarters
• 1983-03-14Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1983-06-27Referred TO U.S. Attorney
• 1983-07-06Complaint Filed With Court
• 1986-12-16Final Order Lodged
• 1986-12-16Final Order Entered
• 1986-12-16Concluded
• 1986-12-16Enforcement Action Closed