EPA Orders Contractors To Remove Demolition Waste from River

In 2003, Triumph Builders supervised demolition and disposal activities for a new school construction project in Benson, Ariz. Triumph’s subcontractor, D. Fenn Enterprises, Inc., transported solid waste materials from the project -- including broken concrete, asphalt, metal re-bar, soil, metal and PVC pipes, and vegetative debris -- to the San Pedro River, and illegally dumped the waste into the river without consultation or authorization from state or federal regulatory agencies.

“The San Pedro River is a beautiful and much-valued resource for both Mexico and the U.S.,” said Alexis Strauss, director of the EPA's Water Division for the Pacific Southwest region.  “The EPA will be vigilant in overseeing restoration of this damaged area, and protecting the river for generations to come.”

Under the order, Triumph Builders and D. Fenn Enterprises must remove the waste from the river, transport it to an authorized landfill and restore the river to its natural condition.

The EPA received complaints from concerned citizens who witnessed the discharges.