EPA v. NICOR NATIONAL LOUISIANA, INC.

Case summary

NICOR NATIONAL LOUISIANA, INC. OWNS AND OPERATES A SHIP- YARD AT WHICH IT CLEANS AND REPAIRS BARGES, TUGS, AND OIL FIELD SUPPLY BOATS ON BAYOU ROAD IN BELLE CHASSE, LOUISIANA TYPICAL OPERATIONS INCLUDE SANBLASTING, PAINTING, GAS-FREE- ING, AND BILGE CLEANING . THE FACILITY DISCHARGES WASTE- WATER TO BAYOU BARATARIA IN THE UPPER REACHES OF THE BARATARIA BASIN, ONE OF THE COUNTRY' MOST PRODUCTIVE ESTUARINE FISHERIES. ALTHOUGH IT BEGAN DISCHARGING WAST- WATER ON OCT 18, 1985, NICOR DID NOT PPLY FOR A NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (NPDES) PERMIT UNTIL JULY 5, 1988. MOREOVER NICOR'S DISCHARGES DURING THAT PERIOD WOULD HAVE VIOLATED WATER QUALITY BASED EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS EPA WOULD HAVE IMPOSED IN AN NPDES PERMIT, HAD NICOR APPLIED FOR ONE. EPA NOW REQUESTS THT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE INSTITUTE A CIVIL ACTION AGAINST NICOR, SEEKING A CIVIL PENALTY NOT TO EXCEED $2, 230,000.

Defendants (1)

• NICOR NATIONAL LOUISIANA, INC.Named in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (2)

• ELMWOOD MARINE SVC INC BELLE CHASSE

  222 BAYOU RD, BELLE CHASSE, LA, 70037

  Registry ID: 110009576912

• ELMWOOD MARINE SVC INC BELLE CHASSE

  222 BAYOU RD, BELLE CHASSE, LA, 70037

  Registry ID: 110009576912

Statutes cited

• CWA 301 — NPDES Discharge without a Permit

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• NICOR NATIONAL LOUISIANA, INC.entered 1993-01-12

  Primary law: CWA

  Federal penalty: $225,000

Timeline (8 milestones)

• 1989-02-08Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1989-06-02Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1992-03-11Referred TO U.S. Attorney
• 1992-03-18Complaint Filed With Court
• 1993-01-12Final Order Lodged
• 1993-01-12Final Order Entered
• 1993-01-12Concluded
• 1994-03-03Enforcement Action Closed