EPA Orders Developers in Puerto Rico to Halt Stormwater Pollution at Rincón Housing Site
EPA orders two Puerto Rico-based developers to halt polluted runoff from a Rincón construction site and comply with Clean Water Act stormwater protections.
- By Stasia DeMarco
- August 08, 2025
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has ordered two construction companies to stop polluting nearby waterways at a residential development in Puntas Ward, Rincón, citing multiple violations of the Clean Water Act.
Desarrolladora Yahir, Inc. and A & M Group, Inc. were found discharging sediment-laden stormwater into local surface waters, including Piletas Creek and ultimately the Caribbean Sea, without proper erosion controls or construction permits. The EPA’s administrative order requires both companies to implement stormwater management measures and file progress reports to show compliance.
“Development can support economic progress without harming the environment,” said EPA Regional Administrator Michael Martucci. “But when erosion and runoff controls are ignored, the impacts on coastal waters can be serious.”
The violations threaten fragile ecosystems such as the nearby Tres Palmas Marine Reserve. Under the Clean Water Act, construction projects disturbing one or more acres must obtain a stormwater permit and follow guidelines to reduce runoff. Developers who fail to comply may face enforcement actions and significant penalties.
More information is available at epa.gov/npdes/stormwater-discharges-construction-activities.
About the Author
Stasia DeMarco is the Content Editor for EPOnline.