EPA v. HOUMA, CITY OF

Case summary

THE CITY OF HOUMA OPERATES TWO WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANT THE SUBJECT OF THE PRESENT REFERRAL IS THE SOUTH PLAN WHICH DISCHARGES INTO BAYOU CHAUVIN PERSUANT TO NPDES PERMIT NO LA0040274 (ATTACHMENT A OF THE LITIGATION REPORT). RAW SEWAGE HAS FREQUENTLY BYPASSED THE PLANT AND ENTERED THE BAYOU DUE TO INADEQUATE COLLECTION LINES; AND EFFLUENT DIS- CHARGED FROM THE PLANT HAS FREQUENTLY EXCEEDED PERMIT LIMIT ACTIONS FOR BOD AND TSS. HOUMA HAS CONSISTENTLY FAILED TO REPORT THESE BYPASSES AND EXCESSIVE FAILURES. ALL OF THESE FAILURES ARE IN VIOLATIONS OF THE PERMIT AND THE CLEAN WATER ACT. THE HOUMA VIOLATIONS ARE A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN A SERIOUS HEALTH AND ECONOMIC PROBLEM IN SOUTHERN LOUISANA. WATER CON TAMINATION HAS AFFECTED OYSTER BEDS, CAUSING ILLNESS IN HUN- DREDS OF PERSONS AND APPROXIMATELY $70,000,000 IN LOSSES TO THE FISHING INDUSTRY. THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL RESOURCES HAS APPEALED TO EPA FOR ASSISTANCE IN REMEDYING THESE PROBLEMS THROUGH FEDERAL ENFORCEMENT ACTION. ALTHOUGH HOUMA HAS BEGUN EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION, EPA REGION VI FEELS THAT THE CITY'S PRESENT PLANS ARE INADEQUATE AND INVOLVE TOO MUCH DELAY. SPECIFICALLY, EPA REGION VI HAS REQUESTED A MINIMUM CIVIL PENALTY IN ANY SETTLEMENT OF THIS ACTION OF $16,000 FOR THE PAST VIOLATIONS. AN ESTIMATED $1,035,000 OF IMPROVEMENTS ARE NEEDED TO ELIMINATE BYPASSES FROM THE COLLECTION LINES. A FEDERAL GRANT HAS BEEN REQUESTED FOR THIS WORK, AND IS EX- PECTED TO BE APPROVED BY JUNE 16,1983. A PROJECT IS UNDER WAY TO UPGRADE THE TREATMENT PLANT, WITH FUNDING FROM TERREBONE PARISH. EPA REGION VI FEELS, HOWEVER, THAT ADDIT- IONAL WORK WILL BE NEEDED, AND THAT THE CITY'S PRESENT SCHEDULE FOR COMPLETION OF THESE PROJECTS IS FAR TOO LONG AND SHOULD BE ACCELERATED.

Defendants (2)

• HOUMA, LA. CITY OFNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• LOUISIANNA, STATE OFNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• HOUMA CITY OF WASTEWATER PLANT

  WOODLAWN RANCH RD, HOUMA, LA, 70360

  Registry ID: 110010772887

Statutes cited

• CWA 402 — Clean Water Act
• CWA 301 — NPDES Discharge without a Permit

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• HOUMA, CITY OFentered 1987-09-08

  Primary law: CWA

  Federal penalty: $25,000

Timeline (9 milestones)

• 1983-03-18Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1983-05-05Referred To Headquarters
• 1983-06-07Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1983-08-15Referred TO U.S. Attorney
• 1983-08-31Complaint Filed With Court
• 1987-09-08Concluded
• 1987-09-08Enforcement Action Closed
• 1987-09-08Final Order Lodged
• 1987-09-08Final Order Entered