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EPA Takes Action to Ensure that Puerto Rico Highway Authority and Contractors Meet Stormwater Controls

Release Date: 03/17/2004
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(#04035) New York, N.Y. -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that it has taken action on a large number of highway construction sites in Puerto Rico to ensure that the environmental regulations of the Clean Water Act are being met. EPA evaluated sites in Puerto Rico and issued Administrative Orders to those contractors that failed to submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) to obtain a Stormwater Construction General Permit (CGP) for construction sites. Based on information provided by the Highway Authority, there are many ongoing construction projects throughout Puerto Rico at which NOIs were not submitted by their contractors. The Administrative Orders could require that the Puerto Rico Transportation and Highway Authority and their contractors stop such activities as clearing, grading and excavating, until the work is authorized by a CGP. Sites that already submitted NOIs and have implemented all requirements, but did so late, may continue clearing, grading and excavating. "When left uncontrolled, stormwater runoff can contaminate drinking water supplies and damage recreational waterways," said Jane M. Kenny, EPA Regional Administrator. "We are making progress to ensure that erosion and stormwater runoff from construction sites is controlled so as not to impair area waters. We will continue to enforce the law at other construction sites at which there is a failure to comply with the Clean Water Act." These Administrative Orders are being issued to the Puerto Rico Transportation and Highway Authority and the following contractors: Construcciones Jose Carro SE, Contructora Fortis, Inc., Misener Construction, Inc., Tamrio Inc., Unique Builders, Kaiser Construction, Eng. Jose J. San Miguel, Del Valle Group Engineers & Contractors, L. Reyes Contractors, Cabimar SE, Eng. Jose Jimenez, MP Antilles Construction, Carro & Carro Contractor I Melendez, DBA Construction, Gurimar Construction, Rio Construction Corp., Rolbes Asphalt Co., Construction Inc. Las Piedras Construction & Demolition, Inc. These orders also require that each operator submit, implement and certify a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan. This is necessary to make certain that erosion and stormwater from construction sites is controlled so they do not impair water bodies.