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Hayden, Idaho Utilities and Contractors Fined for Storm Water Violations

Release Date: 07/23/2008
Contact Information: Kristine Karlson, Compliance & Enforcement (206) 553-0290 / karlson.kristine@epa.gov Suzanne Skadowski, Public Affairs (206) 553-6689 / skadowski.suzanne@epa.gov

(Seattle, Wash. – July 23, 2008) Lakes Highway District, SI Construction, and Hayden Lake Recreational Water and Sewer District, operators at a Hayden, Idaho construction site, recently paid $14,950 to settle a Clean Water Act (CWA) case filed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The case arose from an EPA storm water compliance inspection at the Lancaster Road Phase I construction site in March. EPA reviewed the site for compliance with the nationwide Construction General Permit, which is part of the CWA’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. Inspectors observed numerous violations at the site, including failure to adequately protect downstream surface waters by properly selecting, installing and maintaining storm water controls, and failure to conduct self-inspections as required by the permit. Of particular concern was the operators' failure to ensure that the highly erodible soils on the site were adequately stabilized before the wet season. One of the site’s operators had also failed to apply for permit coverage.

The three operators, Lakes Highway District, SI Construction, and Hayden Lake Recreational Water and Sewer District, settled the case for $14,950 under an Expedited Settlement Agreement, a streamlined enforcement process available to first-time violators with relatively few or minor violations.

“Operators need to be especially vigilant in northern Idaho, where steep slopes, a limited growing season, and highly erodible soils make erosion and sediment control more challenging,” said Kim Ogle, EPA’s Region 10 Compliance Unit Manager. “Permit compliance is even more important under these conditions, and EPA will take action to ensure water quality is protected.”

This is the fifth year in a long-term regional enforcement initiative to improve compliance with the Construction General permit. The permit requires construction site operators to proactively design, install, and maintain storm water controls to prevent polluted runoff from harming water quality. Common construction site pollutants include sediment, oil and grease, and high pH from concrete washout.

For more about EPA’s storm water Construction General permit, visit: https://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/home.cfm?program_id=6

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