EPA v. CITY OF LOS ANGELES

Case summary

THIS ACTION IS PROPSED AGAINST THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES UNDER SECTIONS 301 AND 307 OF THE CLEAN WATER ACT TO ADDRESS VIOLATIONS OF THE CITY'S NPDES PERMITS, IN PARTICULAR THE PERMITS' PRETREATMENT REQUIREMENTS. THE CITY HOLDS 4 NPDES PERMITS AUTHORIZING IT TO DISCHARGE TREATED SEWAGE FROM, RESPECTIVELY, THE HYPERION TREATMENT PLANT, THE TERMINAL ISLAND TREATMENT PLANT, THE TILLMAN WATER RECLAMATION PLANT, AND THE GLENDALE WATER RECLAMATION PLANT. THESE PERMITS PLACE CONDITIONS ON THE CHARACTER OF WASTE THE CITY IS AUTHORIZED TO DISCHARGE. THESE PERMITS ALSO REQUIRE THE CITY TO IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS TO REGULATE THE INDUSTRIAL WASTE THE CITY RECEIVES FROM INDUSTRIES THAT DISCHARGE WASTEWATER INTO THE CITY'S SEWER LINES. THE CITY HAS VIOLATED NUMEROUS PRETREATMENT REQUIREMENTS DESIGNED TO ENSURE THAT THE CITY'S INDUSTRIES PROPERLY LIMIT THE QUANTITIES OF POLLUTANTS THEY DISCHARGE INTO THE SEWER SYSTEM. THESE INCLUDE REQUIREMENTS THAT CITY MONITOR THE INDUSTRIES DISCHARGES, THAT THE CITY INFORM THE INDUSTRIES OF THE APPLICABLE LIMITS, AND THAT THE CITY ENSURE THAT THE INDUSTRIES COMPLY WITH THEIR LIMITS. THE CITY HAS ALSO VIOLATED PERMIT LIMITS REGULATING THE CHARACTER OF WASTE THE CITY IS AUTHORIZED TO DISCHARGE FROM THE TILLMAN, TERMINAL ISLAND AND GLENDALE PLANTS. THIS ACTION IS PROPOSED TO OBTAIN INJUNCTIVE RELIEF TO ENSURE THAT THE CITY COMPLIES WITH ITS PERMIT CONDITIONS, MOST PARTICULARLY THE PRETREATMENT CONDITIONS, AND TO OBTAIN AN APPROPRIATE CIVIL PENALTY FOR THE CITY'S PERMIT VIOLATIONS.

Defendants (8)

• BURBANK, CITY OFNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• CHEVRON EL SEGUNDONamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• CONTINENTAL CANNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• LOCKHEED BURBANKNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• LOS ANGELES, CITY OFNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• STAINLESS STEEL CORPNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• TELEDYNE MOICROELECTRONICSSNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• ZERO CORPNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• PLANNING DEPT LA CITY OF

  200 N SPRING ST ROOM 1021, LOS ANGELES, CA, 90012

  Registry ID: 110041974502

Statutes cited

• CWA 301/307 — Effluent Limitations - NPDES Toxic & Pretreatment Effluent Standards
• CWA 301 — NPDES Discharge without a Permit

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• LOS ANGELES ET ALIA - PRETREATMENT MATTERentered 2000-08-07

  Primary law: CWA

  Federal penalty: $236,000

Timeline (7 milestones)

• 1990-04-01Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1990-09-28Referred To Headquarters
• 1991-02-04Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1991-06-07Complaint Filed With Court
• 2000-07-07Final Order Lodged
• 2000-08-07Final Order Entered
• 2000-08-07Concluded