The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reached a settlement with quarry operator Northern Alaska Contractors for violations of Alaska's Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Multi-Sector General Permit requirements.
The EPA says the requirements protect against pollution caused by stormwater runoff at the Ugadaga Quarry in Unalaska, Alaska.
Thesettlementresolves alleged violations documented during an inspection at the quarry in 2018 which exposed Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan and site map deficiencies and failure to conduct required monitoring, sampling and reporting. It also included a failure to carry out all required inspections and deliver annual training.
Northern Alaska has agreed to pay a penalty of $62,500 and has also entered an Administrative Order on Consent to ensure that its quarry operations comply with the Clean Water Act, EPA regulations and Alaska’s Multi-Sector General Permit.
The Administrative Order of Consent requires Northern Alaska to take corrective action to the violations found in the inspection.
Alaska’s Multi-Sector General Permit requires industrial facilities to take steps to minimise discharges of pollutants and sediment from stormwater. Stormwater discharges are generated by runoff from land and impervious areas during rainfall and snowmelt events and often contain pollutants that adversely affect water quality.
