EPA v. S & K PLATING, INCORPORATED

Case summary

THE DEFENDANT IN THE PROPOSED CIVIL ACTION IS S & K PLATING, INC. S & K OWNS AND OPERATES AN ELECTROPLATING FACILITY LOCATED IN COMPTON, CA. THE FACILITY DISCHARGES PROCESS WASTEWATER INTO THE JOINT WATER POLLUTION CONTROL PL ANT (JWPCP) OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY SAN ITATION DISTRICTS (LACSD) WHERE IT IS TREATED PRIOR TO BEING DISCHARGED INTO THE PACIFIC OCEAN. THE JWPCP IS OPERATING U NDER EXISTING NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (NPDES) PERMIT # CA0053813. S & K IS NOT REQUIRED TO OBTAIN AN NPDES PERMIT FOR THE PLANT BECAUSE IT DISCHARGES INTO A PUBLICLY OWNED TREATMENT WORKS (POTW). S & K MUST COM PLY WITH PRETREATMENT REQUIREMENTS OF SECT. 307 OF THE CWA, 33 U.S.C. 1317. THE BASELINE MONITORING REPORT (BMR) S & K SUBMITTED TO LACSD INDICATES THAT S & K IS DISCHARGING HEAVY METALS INTO THE JWPCP IN EXCESS OF THE PRETREATMENT STANDARDS FOR EXISTING ELECTROPLATING FACILITIES. 40 C.F.R. 413. CHEMICA L ANALYSES PERFORMED ON S & K'S DISCHARGE CONFIRMED THE OCCURRENCE OF EFFLUENT VIOLATIONS FOR NICKEL, CHROMIUM, ZINC , CYANIDE AND TOTAL METALS. THE MOST FLAGRANT VIOLATIONS WE RE THE DISCHARGES OF CONSISTENTLY HIGH LEVELS OF ZINC AND CYANIDE. BASED ON SAMPLING DATA AND INSPECTION OF THE FACIL ITY, EPA BELIEVES THAT S & K WILL BE IN CONTINUOUS VIOLATION OF THE ELECTROPLATING PRETREATMENT STANDARDS UNTIL IT COM- PLETELY IMPLEMENTS ITS PROPOSED PRETREATMENT SYSTEM. THE DEADLINE FOR ACHIEVING FINAL COMPLIANCE WAS 04/27/84. TO DATE S & K IS NOT IN COMPLIANCE. THE RELIEF SOUGHT IN THE PROPOSED ACTION IS AN ORDER REQUIRING COMPLIANCE WITH THE ELECTROPLATING PRETREATMENT STANDARDS, STIPULATED PENALTIES IN THE EVENT OF FURTHER VIOLATIONS, AND PAYMENT OF AN APPROPRIATE CIVIL PENALTY.

Defendants (1)

• S & K PLATING, INCORPORATEDNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• S&K PLATING INCORPORATED

  2727 NORTH COMPTON AVENUE, COMPTON, CA, 90222

  Registry ID: 110000782537

Statutes cited

• CWA 301/307 — Effluent Limitations - NPDES Toxic & Pretreatment Effluent Standards

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• S & K PLATING, INC.entered 1989-07-06

  Primary law: CWA

  Federal penalty: $60,000

Timeline (8 milestones)

• 1985-06-19Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1985-08-20Referred To Headquarters
• 1985-09-16Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1985-12-03Complaint Filed With Court
• 1989-07-06Final Order Lodged
• 1989-07-06Final Order Entered
• 1989-07-06Concluded
• 1993-06-30Enforcement Action Closed