City of West Liberty, Iowa - Clean Water Act Public Notice

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

In accordance with Section 311(b)(6)(c) of the Clean Water Act (“CWA”), 33 U.S.C. § 1321(b)(6)(C), and 40 C.F.R. § 22.45 of the Consolidated Rules of Practice Governing the Administrative Assessment of Civil Penalties and the Revocation/Termination or Suspension of Permits (“Consolidated Rules”), the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) is providing notice of a proposed Administrative Penalty Assessment against the City of West Liberty, Iowa, a municipality with a mailing address of 409 North Calhoun Street, West Liberty, Iowa 52776, for alleged violations of the Clean Water Act.

Under Section 311(b)(6)(B)(ii) of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1321(b)(6)(B)(ii), the EPA is authorized to issue orders assessing civil penalties for various violations of the Clean Water Act.  The EPA may issue such orders after filing a Complaint commencing either a Class I or Class II penalty proceeding.  The EPA provides notice of the proposed assessment of a Class I civil penalty pursuant to 311(b)(6)(B)(ii) of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1321(b)(6)(B)(ii).  Class I proceedings are conducted under EPA’s Consolidated Rules, 40 C.F.R. Part 22.

In this case, the EPA alleges that Respondent violated terms of its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit in violation of Sections 301 and 402 of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. §§ 1311, 1342.  Respondent has reached agreement with EPA on the terms of a proposed Consent Agreement/Final Order which would resolve this matter.  Under the proposed Consent Agreement/Final Order, Respondent will pay a civil penalty of $4,500.  Respondent will pay $2,700 in cash, and the remainder of the civil penalty will be mitigated through performance by Respondent of a Supplemental Environmental Project.  The Supplemental Environmental Project requires Respondent to install a high efficiency pump at the City’s Terrace Ridge Lift Station.  Final approval of the proposed Consent Agreement/Final Order is subject to the requirements of 40 C.F.R. § 22.45.

The EPA will receive written comments on the proposed Administrative Penalty Assessment for a period of thirty (30) days from the date of publication of this notice.  All such comments shall be submitted to the Regional Hearing Clerk at the address provided below.  The procedures by which the public may submit written comments on a proposed Class I order or participate in a Class I proceeding, and the procedures by which a respondent may request a hearing, are set forth in the Consolidated Rules.  Persons wishing to obtain additional information on the proceeding, receive a copy of EPA’s Consolidated Rules, review the proposed Consent Agreement/Final Order, comment upon the proposed penalty assessment, or otherwise participate in the proceeding should contact Regional Hearing Clerk, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7, 11201 Renner Boulevard, Lenexa, Kansas 66219.  Please reference Docket No. CWA-07-2018-0166.  For Technical questions contact Wayne Dillard, Water Enforcement Branch, at [email protected], at the above mailing address or 913-551-7885.  Persons with legal questions may contact Chris Muehlberger, Office of Regional Counsel, at [email protected], at the above mailing address or 913-551-7623.  In order to provide opportunity for public comment, EPA will issue no final order assessing a penalty in this proceeding prior to forty (40) days from the date of this notice.

Summary

The EPA is providing notice of a proposed Administrative Penalty Assessment against the City of West Liberty, Iowa, a municipality with a mailing address of 409 North Calhoun Street, West Liberty, IA 52776, for alleged violations of the Clean Water Act.  

​Program/Statute:  Clean Water Act (CWA)

Applicant/Respondent(s):

City of West Liberty, Iowa
West Liberty, Iowa 

Proposed action:    Public Notice of Clean Water Act Adminstrative Penalty Settlement

Docket ID: CWA-07-2018-0166

• City of West Liberty, Iowa proposed Consent Agreement Final Order (pdf) (5.25 MB)