Source: The Gazette (CO), August 9, 2014
Posted on: http://envfpn.advisen.com
El Paso, Texas-based Hunt Building has agreed to pay $310,000 to resolve alleged violations of the Clean Water Act at two construction sites at the Air Force Academy, the Environmental Protection Agency said Friday.
In 2008 and 2009, the federal agency conducted four inspections of Hunt’s two construction sites on academy grounds and noted several violations of stormwater permit requirements. It then issued the company two orders of compliance in July and August 2008, according to court documents.
“Some asbestos was found, which is not a good thing to have in the environment,” said Peggy Livingston, enforcement attorney for the EPA’s Denver regional office.
Stormwater from construction activities can contain pollutants such as sediment, debris and chemicals in quantities that can damage the surrounding environment, the EPA said. Stormwater runoff can kill wildlife, cause stream bank erosion and affect drinking water quality.
Stormwater permits issued under the Clean Water Act require builders to prevent pollutants from running into nearby waterways by using control devices such as silt fences and sediment basins.
“Keeping contaminated stormwater runoff out of the nation’s waterways is an EPA priority,” Shaun McGrath, EPA’s regional administrator in Denver, said in a statement. “EPA and our partners encourage builders to use the tools and resources available to help them to comply with these regulations.”
Hunt does not admit to violations, according to court documents. The company did not respond to a request for comment.