EPA v. MELLES GRIOT, INC.

Case summary

MELLES GRIOT, INC. OPERATES A FACILITY IN CARLSBAD THAT MANUFACTURES HELIUM NEON LASERS FOR USE IN APPLICATIONS SUCH AS SCANNING DEVICES AT GROCERY STORES. GLASS TUBES USED IN MAKING THE LASERS HAVE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WHICH ARE MADE FROM METALS SUCH AS NICKEL, IRON/COBALT, COPPER, ALUMINUM. AN ACID MIXTURE IS USED TO CHEMICALLY ETCH THE METAL ENDS. CHEMICAL ETCHING IS A PROCESS SUBJECT TO FEDERAL CATEGORICAL PRETREATMENT STANDARDS FOR METAL FINISHERS. MELLES GRIOT DISCHARGES INDUSTRIAL PROCESS WASTEWATER FROM ITS FACILITY TO THE ENCINA WATER POLLUTION CONTROL FACILITY. MELLES GRIOT BEGAN OPERATION IN 1987. SINCE FEBRUARY 15, 1986, NEW METAL FINISHERS THAT DISCHARGE TO SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS HAVE BEEN REQUIRED TO COMPLY WITH PRETREATMENT STANDARDS AT 40 C.F.R 433 GOVERNING THE CHARACTER OF THEIR INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER. MELLES GRIOT HAS VIOLATED LIMITS GOVERNING ITS WASTEWATER QUALITY RESULTING IN AT LEAST 674 DAYS OF VIOLATION. THESE REQUIREMENTS ARE SET OUT AT 40 C.F.R. 433.17. MELLES GRIOT ACHIEVED COMPLIANCE AT THE FACILITY SINCE FEBRUARY 1995 AFTER THE INSTALLATION OF A CHEMICAL PRECIPITATION AND SETTLING UNIT. BEFORE INSTALLATION OF TREATMENT MELLES GRIOT DID NOT DEMONSTRATE AN ABILITY TO CONSISTENTLY MEET ALL OF ITS STANDARDS. REGION 9 IS SEEKING A CONSENT DECREE THAT WILL ASSESS PENALTIES FOR MELLES GRIOT'S PAST VIOLATIONS. NO INJUNCTIVE RELIEF SHOULD BE NECESSARY, ASSUMING THAT MELLES GRIOT REMAINS IN COMPLIANCE.

Defendants (1)

• MELLES GRIOT, INC.Named in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• MELLES GRIOT LASER DIVISION

  2251 RUTHERFORD RD, CARLSBAD, CA, 92008

  Registry ID: 110009546848

Statutes cited

• CWA 309 — Violation of Existing AO
• CWA 301/307 — Effluent Limitations - NPDES Toxic & Pretreatment Effluent Standards

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• MELLES GRIOT, INC.entered 1996-10-04

  Primary law: CWA

  Federal penalty: $95,687

Timeline (7 milestones)

• 1995-07-17Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1995-09-29Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1996-10-04Final Order Lodged
• 1996-10-04Final Order Entered
• 1996-10-04Complaint Filed With Court
• 1996-10-04Concluded
• 1996-10-04Enforcement Action Closed