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Massachusetts Municipality Fined for Clean Water Violations

Release Date: 02/27/2008
Contact Information: Contact: Paula Ballentine, (617) 918-1027

(Boston, Mass. – Feb. 27, 2008) - The City of Malden, Massachusetts has been fined for violating the federal Clean Water Act (CWA).

Malden paid a penalty of $10,000 for discharging storm water into several tributaries of the Pines River and the Mystic River, both of which flow into the Atlantic Ocean, without submitting an annual report that is essential for state and federal authorities to monitor compliance with the Clean Water Act. The City also failed to respond to an EPA information request requiring that it submit its overdue 2006 report within thirty days of the Request. Ultimately, the City submitted its overdue 2006 and 2007 reports in response to an EPA Administrative Order.

Cities and towns that are permitted to discharge storm water to waters of the United States are required to submit an annual report evaluating the status of permit compliance by May 1st of each year.

EPA New England has taken a series of enforcement actions to enforce the requirements of the General Permit for Storm Water Discharges from Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (Small MS4 Permit). A number of municipalities have paid penalties for violations of the Small MS4 Permit.

More Information:

EPA Clean Water Enforcement in New England (epa.gov/region1/enforcement/water)

EPA storm water issues in New England (epa.gov/region1/topics/water/stormwater)

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