EPA v. CONAGRA INC

Case summary

THE ARMOUR CIVIL REFERRAL INVOLVES APPROXIMATELY 620 DAYS OF VIOLATION OF THE CWA. THE COMPLAINT ALLEGES THAT CONAGRA'S ARMOUR PLANT IN NAMPA, IDAHO, FROM JANUARY 1992 TO DECEMBER 1994, DISCHARGED WASTEWATER WITH POLLUTANTS IN CONCENTRATIONS EXCEEDING NPDES PERMIT LIMITS INTO INDIAN CREEK, A TRIBUTARY OF THE BOISE RIVER. THE POLLUTANTS INCLUDED AMMONIA, CHLORINE, FECAL COLIFORM, PH, OIL, GREASE, AND SUSPENDED SOLIDS. THE COMPLAINT ALSO ALLEGES THAT CONAGRA FAILED TO MEET A NUMBER OF PERMIT REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO MONITORING AND RECORDKEEPING, AND THAT THERE WERE A NUMBER OF UNPERMITTED DISCHARGES (SPILLS).

Defendants (2)

• Armour Fresh Meats IncNamed in complaint
• Conagra Inc (Parent Company)Named in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (4)

• SWIFT & COMPANY BEEF

  3611 E AMITY AVE, NAMPA, ID, 83653

  Registry ID: 110000468627

• XL FOUR STAR BEEF INC

  3611 EAST AMITY AVE, NAMPA, ID, 83687

  Registry ID: 110000468627

• SWIFT & COMPANY BEEF

  3611 E AMITY AVE, NAMPA, ID, 83653

  Registry ID: 110000468627

• XL FOUR STAR BEEF INC

  3611 EAST AMITY AVE, NAMPA, ID, 83687

  Registry ID: 110000468627

Statutes cited

• CWA 301/402 — NPDES Permit Violations
• CWA 301 — NPDES Discharge without a Permit

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• CONAGRA INCentered 1998-10-01

  Primary law: CWA

  Federal penalty: $1,000,000

Timeline (7 milestones)

• 1994-03-01Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 1995-04-02Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1996-03-28Complaint Filed With Court
• 1998-09-19Final Order Lodged
• 1998-10-01Final Order Entered
• 1998-10-01Concluded
• 2001-08-07Enforcement Action Closed