MoreThe EPA has lately announced that the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), as well as Wright Brothers Construction Company, which is based in Charleston, Tenn., will pay a penalty of $1.5 million due to past, suspected violations of the Clean Water Act (CWA).
According to the EPA, from 2004 to 2007, the construction company disposed excess rock and soil into seven trout streams throughout northeast Georgia, which ultimately negatively impacted 2,800 feet of the streams - and violated the CWA. In addition, Wright Brothers received approval from GDOT to dispose of the rock and soil in the first place.
As a result, the construction company, as well as the GDOT, have not only agreed to a $1.5 million penalty, but will also spend roughly $1.3 million in order to resolve their previous violations of the CWA, which caused significant damage to multiple trout streams.
"Dumping dirt and waste rock into our nation's waters threatens water quality and aquatic habitats," said Cynthia Giles, the assistant administrator for the EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. "[The] settlement will restore damaged streams, protecting trout habitat and recreational opportunities for the people of northeastern Georgia."
Of note, according to the EPA, the penalty is one of the largest that has ever been initiated under CWA provisions, which prohibit discharge of fill material into U.S. waterways without receiving proper authorization.
For more information in regards to the penalty, please visit this link.
According to the EPA, from 2004 to 2007, the construction company disposed excess rock and soil into seven trout streams throughout northeast Georgia, which ultimately negatively impacted 2,800 feet of the streams - and violated the CWA. In addition, Wright Brothers received approval from GDOT to dispose of the rock and soil in the first place.
As a result, the construction company, as well as the GDOT, have not only agreed to a $1.5 million penalty, but will also spend roughly $1.3 million in order to resolve their previous violations of the CWA, which caused significant damage to multiple trout streams.
"Dumping dirt and waste rock into our nation's waters threatens water quality and aquatic habitats," said Cynthia Giles, the assistant administrator for the EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. "[The] settlement will restore damaged streams, protecting trout habitat and recreational opportunities for the people of northeastern Georgia."
Of note, according to the EPA, the penalty is one of the largest that has ever been initiated under CWA provisions, which prohibit discharge of fill material into U.S. waterways without receiving proper authorization.
For more information in regards to the penalty, please visit this link.
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