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EPA, North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control coordinate Clean Water Act Storm Water Compliance and Enforcement Actions in Charlotte

Release Date: 12/03/2004
Contact Information: Dawn Harris-Young, (404) 562-8421, [email protected]

EPA, the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control coordinate Clean Water Act Storm Water Compliance and Enforcement actions in the Charlotte, North Carolina Area The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (NCDENR), and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC), in cooperation with local officials, coordinated compliance and enforcement actions to address violations of the Clean Water Act (CWA).  The violations are associated with the treatment and disposal of storm water at construction sites in the Charlotte metropolitan area and have resulted in adverse impacts on water quality. Inspections were performed during the week of April 26, 2004, at construction sites that exceeded one acre of disturbed land within the Charlotte metropolitan area.   Each site was evaluated based upon compliance with North Carolina’s Construction General Permit for Storm Water Point Source Discharges at Construction Sites or South Carolina’s General Permit for Storm Water Discharges from Construction Activities associated with industrial construction, issued under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit Program.  EPA, NCDENR, SCDHEC, and local agencies evaluated the facilities’ impact on the receiving streams and their compliance with the federal and state storm water regulations. The inspections resulted in the issuance of either an Administrative Order (AO) or a Notice of Violations (NOV) to some of the facilities.  The AO requires the submission of either a permit application or a Notice of Intent (NOI) for coverage under the general permit or the installation and/or maintenance of Best Management Practices (BMPs) throughout the site. An NOV is a letter stating that EPA is aware of violations at the site and warns of formal enforcement if these violations are not corrected. Administrative Orders Ryland Homes Linwood Farms, Iredell County, NC Providence Road, Union County, NC Site One, LLC or Beachwood, LLC Cole Creek Townhomes, York County, SC Overcash Gravel and Grading Company Yates Mill, Cabarrus County, NC Heartland Place, Cabarrus County, NC Crossmann Communities of North Carolina, Inc./Beazer Homes, Inc. Lake Park, Union, County, NC Glenn Croft, Union, County, NC Villages at Wesley Chapel, Union County, NC John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods of the Carolinas, Inc. Club at Longview, Union County , NC Weddington Chase, Union County, NC Ramey, Inc. Autumn Woods, Gaston County, NC The Mathisen Company Woodbridge, Union County, NC Notice of Violations Ryland Homes Waterside Landing/Lake Concord, Cabarrus County, NC Dominion Crossing at Highland, Cabarrus County, NC Hunter Oaks/Bennington, Union County , NC Lennar Corporation Reedy Creek Plantation, Mecklenburg County, NC Grimmer Development Reedy Creek Plantation, Mecklenburg County, NC Crossmann Communities of North Carolina, Inc./Beazer Homes, Inc. Harrison Park, Union County, NC River View, Gaston County, NC The following sites were also inspected in the Charlotte metropolitan area and were found in compliance.  Inspection reports will be sent to these sites to summarize the findings. Inspection Reports Only Ryland Homes Clairemont, Lancaster County, SC Lake Shore on Lake Wylie, York County, SC Canterfield, Cabarrus County, NC Lindenwood, Union County , NC Woodbridge, Union County, NC Reedy Creek Plantation, Mecklenburg County, NC GLR Enterprises Providence Manor, Cabarrus County, NC Crossmann Communities of North Carolina, Inc./Beazer Homes, Inc. Amber Ridge, York County, SC Irish Downs, York County, SC Longlea Estates, York County, SC John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods of the Carolinas, Inc.           Bridgehampton, Lancaster County, SC Bridgemill. Lancaster County, SC Storm water runoff as a result of construction activities can have a significant impact on water quality, contributing sediment and other pollutants exposed at construction sites. Polluted storm water runoff is a leading cause of impairment to the nearly 40 percent of surveyed U.S. water bodies which do not meet water quality standards. Over land or via storm sewer systems, polluted runoff is discharged, often untreated, directly into local water bodies. When left uncontrolled, this water pollution can result in the destruction of fish, wildlife, and aquatic life habitats; a loss in aesthetic value; and threats to public health due to contaminated food, drinking water supplies, and recreational waterways. Mandated by Congress under the Clean Water Act, the NPDES Storm Water Program is a comprehensive two-phased national program for addressing the non-agricultural sources of storm water discharges, which adversely affect the quality of our nation's waters. The Program uses the NPDES permitting mechanism to require the implementation of controls designed to prevent harmful pollutants from being washed by storm water runoff into local water bodies.