12/21/2009 - John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods Inc., and John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods of the Carolinas Inc., based in Atlanta, GA, have agreed to pay a $350,000 civil penalty to resolve alleged violations of the CWA.
The companies have also agreed to implement company-wide storm water compliance programs at their construction sites that go beyond current regulatory requirements. EPA estimates that the agreement will keep approx 37 million pounds of sediment from polluting the nationÂs waterways each year.
John Wieland Homes and Neighborhood, Inc., and John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods of the Carolinas, Inc., primarily build homes in the southeast.
Along with the federal government, the state of Tennessee has joined the settlement. The state will receive a portion of the penalties based on the number of sites located within the state.
The government complaint alleges a common pattern of violations that was discovered by reviewing documentation submitted by the companies and through federal site inspections. The alleged violations include not obtaining permits until after construction had begun or failing to obtain the required permits at all. At the sites that did have permits, violations included failure to prevent or minimize the discharge of pollutants, such as silt and debris, in storm water runoff.
The settlement requires the companies to develop improved pollution prevention plans for each site, increase site inspections and promptly corre