EPA v. Camino Real Regional Utility Authority

Case summary

Sunland Park and Santa Teresa Water Systems combined to make Camino Real Regional Utility Authority (CRRUA) in 2013. CRRUA is a public water system serving nearly 21,000 people in Sunland Park and Santa Teresa, New Mexico, adjacent to El Paso, TX. CRRUA includes two arsenic treatment plants (TPs): The Industrial Park Arsenic TP and the Sunland Park Arsenic TP. Arsenic is naturally occurring in groundwater in this area, but likely sources of contamination also include runoff from orchards, as well as glass and electronics production waste. On May 7, 2014, New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez announced that CRRUA would receive $1.75 million for water-related projects. However, CRRUA has experienced multiple leadership changes in the last several years and several of the 7-member board of city, county, and state representatives have recently stated that they were unaware of the pervasive arsenic issues. Two Administrative Orders (AOs) for arsenic Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) were issued in 2008 to Sunland Park and Santa Teresa Water Systems. Although CRRUA was not a system at the time the AOs were issued and the AOs were never combined, the AOs are currently associated with CRRUA, yet CRRUA remains non-compliant. On August 1, 2016, EPA Region 6 issued an Administrative Order under its authority pursuant to 1412, 42 U.S.C. ? 300g-1, to Camino Real Regional Utility Authority, located in Sunland Park, New Mexico. The AO was issued in response to violations of the MCL for arsenic.

Defendants (1)

• Camino Real Regional Utility AuthorityNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• CAMINO REAL REGIONAL UTILITY AUTHORITY

  PO BOX 429, SUNLAND PARK, NM, 88063

  Registry ID: 110069492454

Statutes cited

• SDWA 1412 — Nat'l Drinking Water Compliance Schedule - Effective Date
• SDWA 1414G — PWS - Violation of 1414(g) AO
• SDWA 1412/1414 — National Drinking Water Regulations

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• Camino Real Regional Utility Authorityentered 2016-08-01

  Primary law: SDWA

Timeline (3 milestones)

• 2016-08-01Final Order Issued
• 2016-08-22Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2023-10-03Enforcement Action Closed