EPA Settles with Vanderhoef Builders for McCall Storm Water Violations
Vanderhoef Builders, a construction company based in Boise, Idaho,
has resolved a federal Clean Water Act enforcement case with the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by paying a $14,125 penalty.
EPA discovered the alleged violations when it conducted a
storm water inspection at Vanderhoef Builders’ 1.5 acre construction
site on Payette Lake near McCall last April. EPA inspected the site
after receiving complaints that muddy water was leaving the site and
entering Payette Lake.
According to Kim Ogle, Manager of EPA’s NPDES Compliance Unit,
since the Vanderhoef site is close to Payette Lake, one of Idaho’s
“Special Resource Waters,” construction managers need to be especially
vigilant.
“Being this close to Payette Lake, builders need to take
special care,” Ogle said. “Payette Lake and all of Idaho’s waters
deserve our protection. Storm water from construction sites must be
responsibly managed or enforcement action will be taken.”
EPA’s storm water General Construction Permit authorizes
storm water discharges from construction sites, and requires
construction site operators (usually developers and general
contractors) to plan, implement, and monitor storm water controls to
prevent pollutants from reaching Idaho’s lakes, rivers and streams.
Without proper controls, common construction site pollutants, like
sediment, oil and grease, and concrete washout, can easily wash into
nearby waterways anytime it rains.
During the inspection, EPA found that Vanderhoef Builders failed to:
• Include required information in its Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan,
• Conduct regular self-inspections, and
• Properly install and maintain storm water controls.
As part of the settlement, Vanderhoef Builders must send EPA
information demonstrating compliance with the permit and paying the
$14,125 penalty. Prior to EPA’s enforcement action, the inspected site
was also subject to close scrutiny by the City of McCall for failing to
comply with local erosion and sediment control ordinances.