EPA scrutinizes New England RM producers’ Clean Water Act compliance

A U.S. Attorney’s Office complaint, filed on behalf of EPA in the New Hampshire District Court, alleges Clean Water Act violations at the Torromeo Industries Inc. ready mixed and aggregate operation in Kingston, N.H. Agency staff contends that Torromeo Industries, based in Methuen, Mass., violated the Act by discharging storm and process water into wetlands and waterways without the required authorization under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit.

The complaint proposes a penalty of up to $37,500 per day, per violation, and stems from a joint EPA Region 1 and New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services inspection in April 2009. Inspectors reported the storm and process water discharges and a failure to implement best management practices to minimize runoff impacts during rain events. The Torromeo complaint follows a host of Clean Water Act-related actions EPA Region 1 has brought against New England ready mixed producers in the past two years.

Source: Environmental Protection Agency Region 1, Boston