EPA v. NORTHLAND GOLD DREDGING LTD

Case summary

NORTHLAND GOLD DREDGING, OPERATES A PLACER MINING FACILITY NEAR NYAK, ALASKA. ITS MAIN PURPOSE IS TO RECOVER GOLD FROM NEAR SURFACE PLACER DEPOSITS THROUGH THE USE OF A FLOATING BUCKET DREDGE WITH A 250 YDS/HR CAPACITY. EPA CONDUCTED AN UNANNOUNCED INSPECTION OF NORTHLAND ON AUGUST 30 AND SEPTEMBER 8, 1982 AND FOUND SERIOUS VIOLATIONS OF THE CWA AND A 309 ORDER ISSUED TO NORTHLAND. ALTHOUGH THEY FILED AN APPLICATION FOR AN NPDES PERMIT, ONE HAS NEVER BEEN ISSUED TO NORTHLAND. THE 309 ORDER ISSUED TO NORTHLAND REQUIRED THAT ALL POLLUTANTS DISCHARGED FROM THIS FACILITY BE REDUCED OR LIMITED TO A CERTAIN LEVEL. NORTHLAND DID NOT HAVE ANY WATER POLLUTION CONTROL SYSTEM IN PLACE DURING THE THE INSPECTIONS. THE CO ALSO FAILED TO SUBMIT THE MONITOR- ING RESULTS AND OPERATING PLAN REQUIRED BY THE ORDER.

Defendants (1)

• NORTHLAND GOLD DREDGING, LTDNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• NORTHLAND GOLD DREDGING LTD FISHER JOSEPH

  T10N R61W SM S1 THRU 3 8 THRU 12 & 15 THRU 17, NYAC, AK, 99642

  Registry ID: 110010690877

Statutes cited

• CWA 402 — Clean Water Act
• CWA 301 — NPDES Discharge without a Permit

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• NORTHLAND GOLD DREDGINGentered 1984-05-30

  Primary law: CWA

  Federal penalty: $25,000

Timeline (9 milestones)

• 1982-06-01Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1983-05-10Referred To Headquarters
• 1983-06-09Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1983-06-22Referred TO U.S. Attorney
• 1983-07-11Complaint Filed With Court
• 1984-05-30Final Order Lodged
• 1984-05-30Final Order Entered
• 1984-05-30Concluded
• 1987-10-13Enforcement Action Closed