EPA Orders Two Calif. Companies to Comply with Clean Water Act

The United States Environmental Protection Agency has ordered two companies - Coulter Forge Technology, Emeryville, Calif.; and California Waste Solutions, Oakland, Calif., to immediately comply with the federal Clean Water Act at their facilities.

Coulter Forge is an iron and steel forging facility, while California Waste Solutions is a recycling facility.

The EPA claims that polluted stormwater runs off these two facilities and into the collection system where it eventually runs into the San Francisco Bay, a violation of the facility’s stormwater discharge permit.

"Companies need to do their part to protect our waterways from industrial runoff," said Alexis Strauss, EPA’s water division director for the Pacific Southwest region. "To protect the San Francisco Bay, we trust that Coulter Forge Technology and California Waste Solutions will promptly comply with the Clean Water Act and take the steps needed to protect San Francisco Bay from pollution."

The EPA is ordering California Wastes Solutions, Inc. and Coulter Forge Technology to perform the following:

-- minimize and prevent the discharge of pollutants into the San Francisco Bay or any other body of water.

-- Perform a daily inspection of the industrial activity areas; and

-- Complete specific clean-up tasks.

On September 18, EPA investigators inspected both facilities and discovered inadequate stormwater pollution controls and pollution prevention plans, which are violations of the companies’ stormwater discharge permit and the Clean Water Act.

Failure to comply with the EPA order could bring penalties against the companies for as much as $32,500 per day per violation.