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Construction contractors settle Clean Water Act violations at Fairfax County housing developments

Release Date: 5/12/2003
Contact Information: Roy Seneca 215-814-5567

Contact: Roy Seneca 215-814-5567
PHILADELPHIA – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has settled Clean Water Act violations against two construction developers for alleged violations concerning the control of polluted runoff from construction work at residential housing development sites in Fairfax Co., Va.

Centex Homes of Dallas, Tex., agreed to pay a $16,000 penalty for alleged violations at the Avondale Glen development in Great Falls, Va.; and KSI Services Inc. of Vienna, Va. will pay a $14,805 penalty for alleged violations at the Lorton Town Center – Landbay B.1 and Lorton Market Street developments in Lorton, Va.

Uncontrolled storm water runoff from industrial and construction sites often contains oil, grease, chemicals, nutrients, and other pollutants. The Clean Water Act requires owners of certain industrial and construction operations to obtain a permit before discharging storm water runoff into waterways. These permits include pollution-reducing “best management practices” such as spill prevention safeguards, material storage and coverage requirements, runoff reduction measures, treatment and employee training.

EPA and Fairfax Co. officials inspected Centex’s Avondale Glen construction site in May 2002 and discovered several permit violations, including the failure to install required diversion dikes and conveyance piping, and failure to limit clearing and grading near a stream channel. Storm water runoff from this site flows into a tributary of Difficult Run, which ultimately discharges to the Potomac River.

EPA’s complaint against KSI alleged that the company failed to have a storm water permit for two construction sites and improper storm water management in the Lorton Town Center development. Runoff from these sites flows into a tributary of Pohick Creek, which in turn flows into the Potomac River.

EPA has ordered both companies to correct the alleged violations. As part of the settlement, the companies did not admit liability for these violations.

For more information about EPA’s storm water program, visit www.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater .

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