EPA News Release (Region 7): Iowa Department of Transportation and Three Contractors to Pay $60,000 Civil Penalty for Construction Stormwater Violations

 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7

901 N. Fifth St., Kansas City, KS 66101

 

Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Nine Tribal Nations

 

Iowa Department of Transportation and Three Contractors to Pay $60,000 Civil Penalty for Construction Stormwater Violations

 

Contact Information: Chris Whitley, 913-551-7394, whitley.christopher@epa.gov

Environmental News

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

(Kansas City, Kan., Jan. 31, 2011) - The Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) and three of its contractors have agreed to pay a $60,000 civil penalty for violating the terms of a stormwater permit issued for the U.S. Highway 30 construction project in Tama County, Iowa.

 

IDOT, along with JB Holland Construction, Inc., of Decorah, Iowa; Peterson Contractors, Inc., of Reinbeck, Iowa; and Scheckel Construction, Inc., of Bellevue, Iowa; are the respondents named in an administrative consent agreement filed by EPA Region 7 in Kansas City, Kan.

 

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), as the permitting authority pursuant to the federal Clean Water Act, issued IDOT a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for the construction project in July 2008, providing coverage through July 2011. The permit, which regards the three contractors as co-permittees, governs stormwater discharges associated with construction or land disturbance activity.

 

EPA inspectors visited the road construction project in September 2009 and documented several violations of the terms of the NPDES permit. According to the settlement, the respondents failed to properly design, install and maintain best management practices to control construction stormwater runoff. The respondents also failed to develop an adequate Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) and failed to perform and document site inspections as required by their permit.

 

Stormwater runoff from construction sites can cause significant environmental harm. Construction activities tend to greatly increase runoff and erosion, depositing increased amounts of sediment into nearby waters. In addition to sediment, stormwater that flows over construction sites can pick up other pollutants such as debris, pesticides, petroleum residues, chemicals, solvents, asphalts and acids, all of which can contribute to water quality problems.

 

Stormwater, snow melt, drainage and runoff carries sediment and contaminants from the U.S. Highway 30 construction site into Tama Mud Creek and an unnamed tributary, which flow into the Iowa River.

 

By agreeing to the settlement, the respondents have certified that the site is now in compliance with all pertinent requirements of the federal Clean Water Act.

 

# # #

 

Learn more about EPA’s civil enforcement of the Clean Water Act

 

Note: If a link above doesn't work, please copy and paste the URL into a browser.

 

 

View all Region 7 News Releases

 

 

---

You can view or update your subscriptions or e-mail address at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. All you will need is your e-mail address. If you have any questions or problems e-mail support@govdelivery.com for assistance.  This service is provided to you at no charge by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Sent by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency · 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW · Washington DC 20460 · 202-564-4355