SEATTLE, WA, Feb. 10, 2015 -- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced that it has settled federal stormwater pollution violations with Supervalu Holdings, Inc., a Minneapolis Minn.-based national wholesale grocery distributor, as part of federal efforts to protect and restore Puget Sound.
The violations stem from EPA inspections at three Supervalu facilities -- two in Tacoma and one in Auburn -- in 2013, which documented several Clean Water Act violations at each facility. Supervalu has also agreed to pay a $120,000 penalty.
"Every storm sends chemicals, heavy metals, contaminated sediment, and nutrients streaming directly into our waterways and Puget Sound," said Ed Kowalski, director of EPA's Office of Compliance and Enforcement in Seattle. "For the sake of the Sound, we will continue to ensure that facilities comply with the fundamental environmental responsibilities outlined in their permits."
The violations documented during the inspections at all three facilities include: failure to implement adequate stormwater control measures; failure to conduct visual or benchmark monitoring of stormwater discharges; failure to conduct or document required stormwater inspections; and failure to implement an adequate stormwater pollution prevention plan.
EPA's stormwater enforcement program helps ensure compliance at permitted and unpermitted industrial stormwater sources across Western Washington, reducing Puget Sound pollutants. In this case, the facilities discharged stormwater to tributaries to either the Green River (Auburn) or the Thea Foss Waterway (Tacoma), which are directly connected to the Sound. Pollutants carried by stormwater may be harmful to aquatic life and public health.
See also:
"WA firms settle CWA violations with EPA as part of Puget Sound initiative"
"WA Port of Tacoma settles with EPA, Dept of Justice for CWA violations"
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