Two California Companies Ordered To Comply With Stormwater-Discharge Requirements
On Dec. 5, EPA announced that it ordered Coulter Forge Technology, an iron and steel forging facility in Emeryville, and California Waste Solutions Inc., a recycling facility in Oakland, to immediately comply with the federal Clean Water Act at their facilities.
Polluted stormwater runs off these two facilities and into the collection system where it eventually runs into the San Francisco Bay, a violation of the facility's stormwater-discharge permit. Polluted runoff is the leading cause of water pollution in San Francisco Bay.
"Companies need to do their part to protect our waterways from industrial runoff," said Alexis Strauss, EPA's water division director for Region 9. "To protect the San Francisco Bay, we trust that Coulter Forge Technology and California Waste Solutions will promptly comply with the Clean Water Act and take the steps needed to protect San Francisco Bay from pollution."
EPA ordered California Waste Solutions Inc. and Coulter Forge Technology to:
- minimize and prevent the discharge of pollutants into the San Francisco Bay or any other body of water.
- Perform a daily inspection of their industrial activity areas.
- Complete specific cleanup tasks.
Failure to comply with the EPA order could bring penalties against the companies for as much as $32,500 per day per violation. For additional information, contact EPA Region 9 at http://www.epa.gov/region09.