(SAN FRANCISCO - 5/20/2009) 2 large providers of waste management services in the Bay Area have settled with the E.P.A. for numerous violations of the Clean Water Act. California Waste Solutions, a company that provides waste management services for large portions of Oakland and San Jose will pay a $261,400 penalty. San Jose based scrap metal recycler American Metal and Iron, Inc, will pay a $45,000 penalty.
"Controlling storm water pollution is key to improving Bay Area water quality," said Alexis Strauss, Water Division Director for EPA's Pacific Southwest region. "Many tools to control storm water pollution are simply good housekeeping and continued maintenance."
In September 2007, the E.P.A. filed complaints alleging that California Waste Solutions had violated its permit, discharging waste and other pollutants into nearby waterways at 3 facilities during the previous 5 years.
In September 2008, the E.P.A. had also filed a complaint alleging violations at 2 American Metal and Iron, Inc facilities in San Jose. Violations at AMI include discharges of storm water without a NPDES permit and failure to comply with permit terms after obtaining coverage. Violations of the permit's terms include failure to monitor storm water discharges and failure to implement adequate controls to prevent the discharge of pollutants into nearby Coyote Creek.
Storm water is a countrywide priority for the EPA. Storm water runoff from urban areas can include a variety of pollutants, such as sediment, bacteria, organic nutrients, hydrocarbons, metals, oil and grease. Discharges of these pollutants can harm the environment and public health.
The Clean Water Act requires waste management companies to have controls in place to prevent pollutants from being discharged with storm water into nearby waterways. They must have a storm water pollution prevention project that sets guidelines and best management practices to follow, to prevent runoff from being contaminated by pollutants.
Links to municipal area maps for waste management service providers:
Oakland --
http://www.oaklandrecycles.com/AssetFactory.aspx?did=805
San Jose --
http://www.sjrecycles.org/residents/pdf/HaulerMap_0607.pdf
Addresses of facilities where violations were found:
California Waste Solutions, Inc: 1820 10th Street, Oakland, California
California Waste Solutions, Inc: 1005 Timothy Drive, San Jose, California
California Waste Solutions, Inc: 3300 Wood Street, Oakland California
American Metal and Iron, Inc: 11665 Berryessa Road San Jose, California
American Metal and Iron, Inc: 1055 Commerical Court, San Jose, California
