DAVID B. BARLOW, United States Attorney (UT Bar # l3 I 17) Sandra L. Steinvoort, Assistant United States Attorney (UT Bar # 5352) District of Utah 185 South State Street. Suite 300 Salt Lake Cify, Utah 84111 Telephone: (80 1) 325 -3233 Facsimi le : (801) 524-6924 E-mail: Sandra. [email protected]FIEIDI K. HOFFMAN, Trial Attomey U.S. Department of Justice Environmental Enforcement Section Denver Place Towers 999 18th Street, Suite 370 South Terrace Denver, CO 80202 Telephone: (303) 844-1392 Facsimile: (303) 844-1350 E-mail : [email protected]. Attorneys for the United States of America IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF UTAH. CENTRAL DIVISION I.INITED STATES OF AMERICA, Plaintifl v. IVORY HOMES, LTD., Defendant. COMPLAINT Civil Action No: Judge: Case 2:14-cv-00460-BCW Document 2 Filed 06/23/14 Page 1 of 22
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DAVID BARLOW, I 17) Sandra States District · DAVID B. BARLOW, United States Attorney (UT Bar # l3 I 17) Sandra L. Steinvoort, Assistant United States Attorney (UT Bar # 5352) District
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DAVID B. BARLOW, United States Attorney (UT Bar # l3 I 17)Sandra L. Steinvoort, Assistant United States Attorney (UT Bar # 5352)District of Utah185 South State Street. Suite 300Salt Lake Cify, Utah 84111Telephone: (80 1) 325 -3233Facsimi le : (801) 524-6924E-mail: Sandra. [email protected]
FIEIDI K. HOFFMAN, Trial AttomeyU.S. Department of JusticeEnvironmental Enforcement SectionDenver Place Towers999 18th Street, Suite 370 South TerraceDenver, CO 80202Telephone: (303) 844-1392Facsimile: (303) 844-1350E-mail : [email protected].
Attorneys for the United States of America
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURTFOR THE DISTRICT OF UTAH. CENTRAL DIVISION
I.INITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintifl
v.
IVORY HOMES, LTD.,
Defendant.
COMPLAINT
Civil Action No:
Judge:
Case 2:14-cv-00460-BCW Document 2 Filed 06/23/14 Page 1 of 22
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2:14-cv-00460
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Brooke C. Wells
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BCW
The United States of America, by authority of the Attorney General of the
United States and through the undersigned attorneys, acting at the request ofthe
Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (',EPA"),
files this Complaint and alleges as follows:
MIURE-OTJHElAlE
l This is a civil action for injunctive reliefand civil penalties brought
pursuant to Section 309(b) and (d) of the Clean Water Act ("CWA'), 33 U.S.C. g
1 3 l9(b) and (d), against Ivory Homeso Ltd. ("Ivory Homes,') for failure to comply
with the conditions of a permit issued pursuant to Section 402 of the CWA, 33
U.S.C. S 1342, for the discharge of pollutants in storm water from construction
sites, in violation of Section 30 l (a) of the CWA, 33 U.S.C. $ I 3 I I (a).
2. Authorify to bring this civil action is vested in the United States
Department of Justice by 28 U.S.C. gg 516 and 519, and in the Administraror of
the United States Environmental Protection Agency by Section 309(b) and (d) of
the CWA,33 U.S.C. $ 1319(b) and (d).
Case 2:14-cv-00460-BCW Document 2 Filed 06/23/14 Page 2 of 22
JURISDICTION AND VENUE
3. This Court hasjurisdiction over the subject matter ofthis action
pursuantto 28 U.S.C. $$ 1331, 1345, and 1355, as well 33 U.S.C. $ l3l9(b).
4. Venue is proper in the District of Utah pursuant to 33 U.S.C.
$1319(b), and 28 U.S.C. $g 1391 and 1395, because the events giving rise to this
action arose within this judicial district, and because Ivory Homes conducts
homebuilding activities in this District.
DEFENDANT
5. Ivory Homes is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of
Utah and is a "person" as defined in 33 U.S.C. g 1362(5) and 40 C.F.R. 5122.2.
6. Ivory Homes owns andlor operates approximately l l0 construction
sites in Utah. Ivory Homes has its primary place of business in Utah.
STATUTORY Af,.ID REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
7 . Congress enacted rhe CWA to ..restore and maintain the chemical,
physical, and biological integrity of the nation's waters." 33 U.S.C. g l25l(a).
8. To accomplish the objectives of the CWA, Section 301(a), 33 U.S.C.
$ I 3 1 I (a), prohibits the "discharge of any pollutant" by any person except in certain
circumstances, including in compliance with the National pollutant Discharse
Case 2:14-cv-00460-BCW Document 2 Filed 06/23/14 Page 3 of 22
Elimination System C'NPDES") permit issued pursuant to the CWA Section 402,
33 U.S.C. g 1342.
9. Clean Water Act Section 502(12),33 U.S.C. g 1362(12), defines the
term "discharge ofa pollutant" as, inter alia, "any addition of any pollutant to
navigable waters from any point source."
10. Clean Water Act Section 402,33 U.S.C. g Ba2g), requires a permit
for storm water discharges associated with industrial activity.
11. EPA regulations define the term ..storm water discharge associated
with industrial activity" to include storm water discharges from construction
activities, including clearing, grading, and excavation activities, that result in a
disturbance of five or more acres of total land area. 40 C.F.R. $ 122.26(eeg(x).
construction activity also inr:ludes the disturbance of less than five acres oftotal
land area that is part of a larger common plan of development or sale if the larger
common plan will ultimately disturb equal to or greater than five acres. Id.
12. EPA regulations also define the term ..storm water discharge
associated with small construction activity" to include storm water discharges from
construction activities, including clearing, grading, and excavation activities, that
result in a disturbance ofequal to or greater than one acre and less than five acres.
40 c.F.R. g 122.26(bx I 5)(i). construction activify also includes the disturbance of
less than one acre oftotal land area that is part ofa larger common plan of
Case 2:14-cv-00460-BCW Document 2 Filed 06/23/14 Page 4 of 22
development or sale if the larger common plan will ultimately disturb equal to or
greater than one acre. Id.
13. In 1992, EPA issued a Final NPDES General Permit for Storm Water
Discharges from Construction Activities ("Federal CGP"). 57 Fed. Reg. 41176,
41209 (September9, 1992). EPA has, on various occasions, subsequently
modified and reissued the Federal General Permit. See 63 Fed. Reg. 785g-7906
5 (Draper, Utah), in violation of CWA Sections 301(a) and 402,33 U.S,C. g
I 3 1 1(a) and 1342.
55. Unless enjoined, these violations will continue and might recur at
other construction sites currently owned and operated by lvory Homes, and as set
forth in Exhibit A to this Complaint.
56. Pursuant ro CWA Sections 309(b) and (d), 33 U.S.C. g I 3 l9(b) anc
(d), Ivory Homes is liable for injunctive relief and civil penalties not to exceed
$27'500 per day for each suctr vioration occurring between January 3l,1gg7
l4
Case 2:14-cv-00460-BCW Document 2 Filed 06/23/14 Page 14 of 22
through and including March 15, 2004; 932,500 per day for each violation
occurring March 16, 2004 through and including January 12,2009; and $37,500
per day for each violation occurring after January 12,2009, including any other
violations that may occur in the future.
PRAYER FOR RELIEF
WHEREFORE, the United States of America respectfully requests that this
Court:
A. Order Ivory Hotnes to comply with the terms of the CWA and the
conditions of the Applicable Permit at its construction sites by requiring, among
other things, the development and implementation of appropriate SWppps, the
application of BMPs to minimize or eliminate discharge of pollutants from its sites,
and the implementation of corporate policies designed to achieve and assure
compliance with the Applicable permit and the Act;
B. Assess civil penalties against Ivory Homes of up to $27,500 per day
for each such violation occurring between January 31, lggT through and including
March 15, 2004; $32,500 per day for each violation occurring after March 16,
2004 through and including January 12,2009; and $37,500 per day for each
violation occurring after January 12,2009, including any other violations that may
occur in the future:
t5
Case 2:14-cv-00460-BCW Document 2 Filed 06/23/14 Page 15 of 22
and
C. Award the United States its costs and disbursements in this action:
D. Grant any such further relief as this Court deems just and proper.
Respectfu lly submitted,
SANDRAL. STEINVOORTA ssistant United States AttomeyDistrict of Utah185 South State Street, Suite 300Salt Lake City, Utah 841I ITelephone: (801) 325-3233Sandra. Steinvoort@usdoj. gov
Environmental Enforcement SectionDenver Place Towers999 lSth Street, Suite 370 South TerraceDenver, CO 80202Telephone: (303) 844-1392Facsimile: (303) 844-t 350E-mail: [email protected]
HEIDI K. HOFFMAN,'Trial AnorneyU S. Department of Justice
lo
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