EPA Orders Contractors to Remove Demolition Waste From San Pedro River
AEN News
San Francisco, CA - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today
ordered a construction company and their subcontractor to remove
large volumes of demolition waste from the San Pedro River in Pomerene, Ariz.
In 2003, Triumph Builders supervised demolition and disposal activities
for a new school construction project in Benson, Ariz. Triumph's
subcontractor, D. Fenn Enterprises, Inc., transported solid waste
materials from the project -- including broken concrete, asphalt,
metal re-bar, soil, metal and PVC pipes, and vegetative debris -
to the San Pedro River, and illegally dumped the waste into the
river without consultation or authorization from state or federal
regulatory agencies.
While the river is seasonally dry in the reach affected by the dumping,
flows can be high in wet weather. The debris can cause serious problems
downstream including impaired water quality, water hazards due to storm
debris, and damage to the health of riparian forests and habitat for
sensitive species.
"The San Pedro River is a beautiful and much-valued resource for both
Mexico and the U.S.," said Alexis Strauss, director of the EPA's Water
Division for the Pacific Southwest region. "The EPA will be vigilant
in overseeing restoration of this damaged area, and protecting the
river for generations to come."
Under the order, Triumph Builders and D. Fenn Enterprises must remove
the waste from the river, transport it to an authorized landfill and
restore the river to its natural condition.
The San Pedro River is Arizona’s largest undammed river, and is
considered one of the most significant perennial undammed desert
rivers in the United States. The ecosystem of the river supports
400 species of migratory birds -- half of the U.S. total -- 40
species of reptiles and amphibians, and 80 species of mammals.
The site of the Fenn violation is downstream of the San Pedro
River National Conservation Area.
The EPA received complaints from concerned citizens who witnessed
the discharges.
The Clean Water Act prohibits the placement of dredged or fill
materials into wetlands, rivers, streams and other waters of the
United States without a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
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