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EPA Cites Developers in Fairfax County for Storm Water Violations

Release Date: 6/25/2001
Contact Information: Roy Seneca, 215-814-5567

Roy Seneca, 215-814-5567

PHILADELPHIA – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has cited developers of six properties in Fairfax County, Va. for unauthorized discharges of storm water runoff at construction sites. The administrative orders seek compliance to stop the environmental harm.

“With development on the rise, it’s imperative that we protect our valuable waterways from unnecessary polluted runoff at construction sites,” said Thomas Voltaggio, acting administrator of EPA’s mid-Atlantic region.

These orders allege that the developers did not apply for the proper permits to control storm water runoff. Uncontrolled runoff from construction can damage aquatic life and erode to stream banks. Sediments from the runoff can clog agricultural pumps, reduce reservoir capacity, impact livestock watering and damage industrial machinery.

The administrative orders were issued to the following developers and corresponding sites in Fairfax County:

• Centex Homes, for it Deerfield Ridge development in Clifton near the intersection of State Route 28, Centreville Road and Old Centreville Road;

• Centex Homes for its Plaza America site in Reston, near the intersection of Sunset Hills Road and Reston Parkway;

• Westbrook, LLC for its Rockland Village site Chantilly near the intersection of State Route 50 and Walney Road;

• Toll Brothers, Inc. For its Dulles Greens site in Herndon, near the intersection of Innovation Way and Rock Hill Road;

• Ryland Homes for its Kingstowne Section 47 site in Alexandria near the intersection of South Van Doorn Avenue and Kingstowne Parkway;

• Westerra Holdings LLC for its Westerra Reston site in Sunset Hills near the intersection of Sunset Hills Road and Reston Parkway.

These administrative orders resulted from inspections at Fairfax County construction sites in January and February by EPA, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the Fairfax Department of Public Works and Environmental Services.

The federal Clean Water Act requires developers/builders to get a water discharge permit for construction projects of five acres or more. The permit requires a storm water pollution prevention plan and may contain discharge limits and monitoring requirements.


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