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Bill Willers, Norfolk, NE, and Shannon Kurpgeweit, Madison, NE
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
In accordance with Section 309(g)(4)(A) of the Clean Water Act (“CWA”), 33 U.S.C. § 1319(g)(4)(A), and 40 C.F.R. § 22.45 of the Consolidated Rules of Practice Governing the Administrative Assessment of Civil Penalties, Issuance of Compliance or Corrective Action Orders, and the Revocation, Termination or Suspension of Permits (“Consolidated Rules”), the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) is providing notice of a proposed Administrative Penalty Assessment against Bill Willers and Shannon Kurpgeweit. Mr. Willer's mailing address is 1415 Andrews Drive, Norfolk, Nebraska 68748. Mr. Kurpgeweit's mailing address is 83080 548th Avenue, Madison, Nebraska 68748. The administrative penalty is proposed for alleged violations near the South ½, Southwest ¼ of Section 34, Township 25 North, Range 1 East, Wayne County, Nebraska.
Under Section 309(g) of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1319(g), the EPA is authorized to issue orders assessing civil penalties for various violations of the Clean Water Act. The EPA may issue such orders after filing a Complaint commencing either a Class I or Class II penalty proceeding. The EPA provides notice of the proposed assessment of a Class II civil penalty pursuant to 33 U.S.C. § 1319(g)(4)(A). Class II proceedings are conducted under EPA's Consolidated Rules, 40 C.F.R. Part 22.
In this case, the EPA alleges that Respondents placed dredged and/or fill material into the waters of the United States, in violation of Sections 301 and 402 of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. §§ 1311 and 1344. The EPA alleges that Respondents discharged dredged and/or fill material into an unnamed tributary to Spring Branch Creek and adjacent wetlands in an attempt to dam the unnamed tributary, and that the dredge and fill activity occurred without obtaining a Section 404 permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Respondents have reached agreement with EPA on the terms of a proposed Consent Agreement/Final Order which would resolve this matter. Under the proposed Consent Agreement/Final Order, Respondents will pay a civil penalty of $30,000. Final approval of the proposed Consent Agreement/Final Order is subject to the requirements of 40 C.F.R. § 22.45.
The EPA will receive written comments on the proposed Administrative Penalty Assessment for a period of thirty (30) days from the date of publication of this notice. The procedures by which the public may submit written comments on a proposed Class II order or participate in a Class II proceeding, and the procedures by which a respondent may request a hearing, are set forth in the Consolidated Rules. Persons wishing to receive a copy of EPA's Consolidated Rules, review the Consent Agreement/Final Order, comment upon the proposed penalty assessment, or otherwise participate in the proceeding should contact Kathy Robinson, Regional Hearing Clerk, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region VII, 901 N. Fifth Street, Kansas City, Kansas 66101. Please reference Docket No. CWA-07-2010-0138. In order to provide opportunity for public comment, EPA will issue no final order assessing a penalty in this proceeding prior to forty (40) days from the date of this notice.
| 8/23/10 Date |
/s/ Karen A. Flournoy, Deputy Director for William A. Spratlin Division Director Water, Wetlands, and Pesticides Division U.S. EPA, Region VII |
