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CWA Public Notice - Nebraska Dept. of Roads and Hawkins Construction Co., Cass and Sarpy Counties, Nebraska
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 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") is providing notice of a proposed Administrative Penalty Assessment against the Nebraska Department of Roads and Hawkins Construction Company ("Respondents").
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 and Respondents have settled this matter before a complaint was filed. 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 Consent Agreement/Final Order alleges that Respondents violated Section 301 of the CWA, 33 U.S.C. § 1311, by failing to obtain a permit required pursuant to Section 404 of the CWA, 33 U.S.C. § 1344, and then, without the permit, discharging sand along the banks of the Platte River in Cass and Sarpy Counties, Nebraska, during construction of the I-80 bridge. The Consent Agreement/Final Order proposes a penalty of seventy-three thousand two hundred thirty-seven dollars and fifty cents ($73,237.50) for the above violation of the Clean Water Act. Respondents have agreed to pay eighteen thousand three hundred nine dollars and thirty-eight cents ($18,309.38) as a cash penalty and to perform a Supplemental Environmental Project, estimated to cost fifty-four thousand nine hundred twenty-eight dollars and twelve cents ($54,928.12), in the same watershed where the violations occurred.
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-07-2007-0041. 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.
| 6/28/07 Date |
/s/ Mary A. Tietjen Mindrup for William A. Spratlin Director Water, Wetlands, and Pesticides Division U.S. EPA, Region VII |
