EPA v. COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICTS OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY

Case summary

THE COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICTS OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY (CSDLAC) OPERATES THE JOINT WATER POLLUTION CONTROL PLANT IN CARSON, CA. THE PLANT IS AN ADVANCED PRIMARY SEWAGE TREATMENT WORKS, AND DISCHARGES TO SANTA MONICA BAY. CSDLAC IS IN VIOLATION OF CWA AS A RESULT OF ITS FAILURE TO ACHIEVE THE EFFLUENT LIMITS OF ITS PERMIT RELATED TO SECONDARY TREATMENT. CSDLAC IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR VIOLATIONS OF ITS PERMIT CONDITIONS RELATED TO THE ACHIEVEMENT OF WATER QUALITY STANDARDS IN SANTA MONICA BAY. CSDLAC IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR CWA VIOLATIONS RESULTING FROM SPILLS FROM ITS SEWAGE COLLECTION SYSTEM, AND FOR UNAUTHORIZED DISCHARGES OF CENTRATE FROM ITS OUTFALLS BETWEEN JUNE AND DECEMBER 1988. REGION 9 IS SEEKING A DECREE REQUIRING CSDLAC TO CONSTRUCT SECONDARY TREATMENT FACILITIES AND TO IMPROVE ITS PROGRAM FOR PREVENTING AND CONTROLLING SPILLS FROM ITS SEWAGE COLLECTION SYSTEM, AND ASSESSING PENALTIES FOR ITS PAST VIOLATIONS.

Defendants (1)

• COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICTS OF L.A. COUNNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (2)

• JOINT WATER POLLUTION CONTROL PLANT

  24501 SOUTH FIGUEROA STREET, CARSON, CA, 907456390

  Registry ID: 110000526468

• JOINT WATER POLLUTION CONTROL PLANT

  24501 SOUTH FIGUEROA STREET, CARSON, CA, 907456390

  Registry ID: 110000526468

Statutes cited

• CWA 309 — Violation of Existing AO
• CWA 402 — Clean Water Act
• CWA 301 — NPDES Discharge without a Permit

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICTSentered 1994-06-08

  Primary law: CWA

  Federal penalty: $300,000 · State/local: $200,000

Timeline (7 milestones)

• 1990-12-01Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1991-09-27Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1992-01-06Complaint Filed With Court
• 1994-06-08Final Order Lodged
• 1994-06-08Final Order Entered
• 1994-06-08Concluded
• 1994-10-05Enforcement Action Closed