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U.S. EPA Issues Violation Notice to Los Angeles Land Developer for Failing to Comply With Runoff Regulations

Release Date: 6/2/2003
Contact Information: Mark Merchant, (415) 947-4297

LOS ANGELES -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today that has ordered Shapell Monteverde Partnership to comply with stormwater runoff regulations at two properties under development in Los Angeles County.

Federal and state regulations require that construction sites have erosion and sediment control devises in place, however, during inspections at the two properties Shapell is developing, EPA inspectors found insufficient controls in place.

The inspections of the developments on both sides of Plum Canyon Road in unincorporated northern Los Angles County took place on April 18 and May 12. In addition, in 2002 and 2003 the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board inspected each of these sites twice and noted the same erosion and sediment control problems. The LARQCB has issued Shapell four violation notices.

"Stormwater runoff is one of the biggest causes of water pollution in the greater Los Angeles area. Complying with permit requirements -- by the largest and smallest companies -- is needed to lessen this problem in the greater L.A. area,” said Catherine Kuhlman, acting director of the EPA’s Water Division in its San Francisco office. "This company’s lack of response to the LARWQCB is a serious concern to the U.S. EPA."

The EPA order requires the Shapell to immediately put in place sediment and erosion control practices at these two sites and to document these actions with the EPA. Failure to comply with this order could make the company liable for civil penalties by the EPA of $27,500 per day.

For more information on U.S. EPA stormwater regulations, visit:www.epa.gov/ebtpages/watestormwater.html