Search

Brewery Fined $2.8 Million for Clean Water Act Violations

Posted on 6/30/2016 by Roger Marks

In a June 23 press release, US EPA announced a consent decree between EPA, the US Department of Justice, and a beer brewer that operates two large-scale breweries in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. According to the press release, the brewer allegedly violated the Clean Water Act by discharging industrial waste to municipal publicly owned treatment works (POTWs). 

Clean Water Act Permit Compliance


When facilities discharge industrial wastewaters through a municipal system, typically the site’s Clean Water Act permit will require some form of pre-treatment. This is because municipal POTWs are not usually set up to handle all of the hazardous constituents in industrial wastes. Specifically, according to EPA, the brewery sites violated these pre-treatment permit requirements by discharging wastewater with too much biological oxygen demand (BOD), phosphorus, zinc, and more.

Water treatment POTW facility


To settle the alleged violations, the brewer will pay a $2.8 million civil penalty and implement an environmental management system (EMS) to achieve Clean Water Act compliance.
In addition to implementing the EMS, the company will conduct audits and inspections to ensure ongoing compliance, construct a pretreatment center at one of its breweries, hire two certified wastewater treatment operators, and take other steps.

EPA Rules Training for New & Experienced EHS Pros


Find out how to identify and comply with the EPA rules that affect your site and your activities, from Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act compliance to managing reporting and recordkeeping rules under TSCA, EPCRA, CERCLA, FIFRA, and more. Compliance is crucial—EPA fines for noncompliance are as high as $37,500 per day, per violation.

The Complete Environmental Regulations Workshop returns in September with workshops in Dallas, Houston, Little Rock, New Orleans, Las Vegas, Denver, Salt Lake City, San Jose, and Los Angeles

Tags: Act, Clean, EPA, fines and penalties, Water

Find a Post

Compliance Archives

Lion - Quotes

Lion's training was by far the best online RCRA training I've ever taken. It was challenging and the layout was great!

Paul Harbison

Hazardous Waste Professional

This is a very informative training compared to others. It covers everything I expect to learn and even a lot of new things.

Quatama Jackson

Waste Management Professional

I used the IT support number available and my issue was resolved within a few minutes. I don't see anything that could have made it better.

Danny Province

EHS Professional

I had a positive experience utilizing this educational program. It was very informative, convenient, and rewarding from a career perspective.

John Gratacos

Logistics Manager

I like Lion's workshops the best because they really dig into the information you need to have when you leave the workshop.

Tom Bush, Jr.

EHS Manager

Energetic/enthusiastic! Made training enjoyable, understandable and fun!

Amanda Walsh

Hazardous Waste Professional

The instructor clearly enjoys his job and transmits that enthusiasm. He made a dry subject very interesting and fun.

Teresa Arellanes

EHS Manager

Lion is my preferred trainer for hazmat and DOT.

Jim Jani

Environmental Coordinator

Very well structured, comprehensive, and comparable to live training seminars I've participated in previously. I will recommend the online course to other colleagues with training requirement needs.

Neil Luciano

EHS Manager

The instructor was probably the best I ever had! He made the class enjoyable, was humorous at times, and very knowledgeable.

Mary Sue Michon

Environmental Administrator

Download Our Latest Whitepaper

Decrease spill, release, and injury risk and increase savings with these "source reduction" strategies to prevent unused chemicals from becoming regulated as hazardous waste.

Latest Whitepaper

By submitting your phone number, you agree to receive recurring marketing and training text messages. Consent to receive text messages is not required for any purchases. Text STOP at any time to cancel. Message and data rates may apply. View our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.