(AGENPARL) – mar 26 novembre 2024 Issued: Nov 26, 2024 (2:12pm EST)
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EPA Fines Puerto Rico Construction Company $80,000 for Polluting Cañas River
San Juan, P.R. (Nov 26, 2024) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has
fined Transporte Rodríguez Asfalto, Inc. (TRA) in $80,000 for violations of
the Clean Water Act after discharging stormwater pollutants into the Cañas
River during construction activities in Aguada, Puerto Rico.
“We are holding TRA accountable under the Clean Water Act which is designed
to protect waterways like the Cañas River and prevent pollution that
threatens public health and the environment,” said EPA Regional
Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “Construction activities, if not properly
managed, can cause long-term damage to local rivers and ecosystems. In the
future, TRA will have to get a construction permit, use better practices, and
avoid future discharges in the river.”
The EPA found that TRA began construction on a 13-acre site near PR-2 and
PR-48 roads in September 2023. TRA did not secure the necessary permits or
install required erosion and sediment controls. As a result, stormwater runoff
from the site entered the Cañas River, carrying harmful pollutants and
affecting water quality.
In response to the violations, the EPA issued an administrative order
requiring TRA to pay the $80,000 penalty and take corrective actions,
including:
Stabilizing soil and controlling erosion.
Developing a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP).
Securing coverage under the EPA’s Construction General Permit (CGP) to
prevent future discharges.
TRA will be required to submit bimonthly reports to the EPA to demonstrate
ongoing compliance with the order.
The Clean Water Act prohibits discharging pollutants into U.S. waters without
a valid permit.
Visit the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program
website for more information.