Los Angeles Waterkeeper v. National Ready Mixed Concrete

Filing 27

CONSENT DECREE by Judge Dolly M. Gee: Upon Request for Entry of Consent Decree 26 , it is the express purpose of the Settling Parties entering into this Consent Decree to further the objectives set forth in the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. Sections 12 51, et seq., and to resolve those issues alleged by Plaintiff Los Angeles Waterkeeper ("Waterkeeper") in its Complaint as to discharges of pollutants into waters by its facilities. Defendant National Ready Mixed Concrete Company ("Nati onal") will pay the sum of $47,500 to the Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment to fund environmental project activities that will benefit Southern California waters. To partially reimburse Waterkeeper for its investigation fe es and costs, expert/consultant fees and costs, and reasonable attorneys' fees incurred as a result of investigating and preparing the lawsuits and negotiating this Consent Decree, Defendant shall pay a total of $110,000. This Consent Decre e constitutes a full and final settlement of this matter. See document re Commitments of Settling Parties re storm water pollution control best management practices, sampling, reduction of pollutants in discharges, employee training, compliance monitoring and reporting, and other details. ( MD JS-6. Case Terminated ) (gk) ** PURSUANT TO THE NOTICE OF CLERICAL ERROR OF 1/4/2019 28 , THE DOCKET ENTRY HAS BEEN CORRECTED TO REFLECT THE CORRECT JUDGE'S NAME ** Modified on 1/4/2019 (gk).

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JS-6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 LOS ANGELES WATERKEEPER, a California non-profit corporation, Plaintiff, vs. NATIONAL READY MIXED CONCRETE COMPANY, a California corporation, Defendant. 18 ) ) Case No.: CV 18–1122–DMG (KSx) ) ) Case No.: CV 18–1125–DMG (KSx)  ) ) ) CONSENT DECREE [26] ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) 19 20 CONSENT DECREE 21 The following Consent Decree is entered into by and between Plaintiff Los 22 Angeles Waterkeeper )“Plaintiff” or “Waterkeeper”( and Defendant National Ready 23 Mixed Concrete Company )“Defendant” or “National”(. The entities entering into this 24 Consent Decree are each an individual “Settling Party” and collectively the “Settling 25 Parties.” 26 WHEREAS, Waterkeeper is a 501(c)(3) non-profit public benefit corporation 27 organized under the laws of the State of California, with its main office in Santa Monica, 28 California; -1- 1 WHEREAS, Waterkeeper is dedicated to the preservation, protection, and defense 2 of the inland and coastal surface and ground waters of Los Angeles County from all 3 sources of pollution and degradation; 4 WHEREAS, National is the owner and/or operator of a concrete batch plant 5 located at 4549 Brazil Street, Los Angeles, California 90039 (the “Brazil Street 6 Facility”(; 7 WHEREAS, National is the owner and/or operator of a concrete batch plant 8 located at 4988 Firestone Boulevard, South Gate, California 90280 (the “Firestone 9 Boulevard Facility”(; 10 11 WHEREAS, the Brazil Street Facility and the Firestone Boulevard Facility are referred to collectively as the “Facilities”; 12 WHEREAS, Waterkeeper has approximately 3,000 members who live and/or 13 recreate in and around the Los Angeles area waterbodies receiving discharges from the 14 Facilities, including the Los Angeles River, Los Angeles River Estuary, Los 15 Angeles/Long Beach Harbor, San Pedro Bay, and the Pacific Ocean; 16 WHEREAS, discharges from the Facilities are regulated by the National Pollutant 17 Discharge Elimination System )“NPDES”( General Permit No. CAS000001 [State Water 18 Resources Control Board] Water Quality Order No. 92-12-DWQ, Order No. 97-03- 19 DWQ, as amended by Order No. 2014-0057-DWQ )“Storm Water Permit”( and the 20 Federal Water Pollution Control Act, 33 U.S.C. §§ 1251 et seq. )“Clean Water Act” or 21 “CWA”(, Sections 301(a) and 402, 33 U.S.C. §§ 1311(a), 1342; 22 WHEREAS, Waterkeeper contends that Defendant’s operations at the Facilities 23 result in discharges of pollutants into waters of the United States and contends that those 24 discharges are regulated by the Clean Water Act, Sections 301(a) and 402, 33 U.S.C. 25 §§ 1311(a), 1342; 26 WHEREAS, on December 7, 2017, Waterkeeper sent Defendant, the registered 27 agent of Defendant, the United States Environmental Protection Agency )“EPA”(, EPA 28 Region IX, the State Water Resources Control Board )“State Board”(, and the Los -2- 1 Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board )“Regional Board”( a notice of intent to 2 file suit )“Notice Letters”( under Section 505(b)(1)(a) of the of the Clean Water Act, 33 3 U.S.C. § 1365(b)(1)(A), alleging violations of the Clean Water Act and the Storm Water 4 Permit, Water Quality Order No. 92-12-DWQ, as amended by Water Quality Order 97- 5 03-DWQ, and as amended by Water Quality Order 2014-0057-DWQ, at the Facilities; 6 WHEREAS, on February 9, 2018, Waterkeeper filed a complaint against 7 Defendant alleging violations at the Brazil Street Facility in the United States District 8 Court, Central District of California, Civil Case No. 2:18–cv–01122–DMG–KSx )“Brazil 9 Street Facility Complaint”(; 10 WHEREAS, on February 9, 2018, Waterkeeper filed a complaint against 11 Defendant alleging violations at the Firestone Boulevard Facility in the United States 12 District Court, Central District of California, Civil Case No. 2:18–cv–01125–DMG–KSx 13 )“Firestone Boulevard Facility Complaint”(; 14 WHEREAS, Waterkeeper alleges Defendant to be in violation of the substantive 15 and procedural requirements of the Storm Water Permit and the Clean Water Act with 16 respect to the Facilities; 17 18 WHEREAS, Defendant denies all allegations in the Notice Letters, the Brazil Street Facility Complaint, and the Firestone Boulevard Facility Complaint; 19 WHEREAS, Waterkeeper and Defendant have agreed that it is in the Settling 20 Parties’ mutual interest to enter into a Consent Decree setting forth terms and conditions 21 appropriate to resolving the allegations set forth in the Complaints without further 22 proceedings; 23 WHEREAS, all actions taken by Defendant pursuant to this Consent Decree shall 24 be made in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws and local rules and 25 regulations. 26 NOW THEREFORE IT IS HEREBY STIPULATED BETWEEN THE 27 SETTLING PARTIES AND ORDERED AND DECREED BY THE COURT AS 28 FOLLOWS: -3- 1. 1 2 The Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter of this action pursuant to Section 505(a) of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1365(a); 2. 3 Venue is appropriate in the Central District of California pursuant to Section 4 505(c)(1) of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1365(c)(1), because the Facilities are 5 located within this District; 3. 6 7 The Complaints state claims upon which relief may be granted pursuant to Section 505(a)(1) of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1365(a)(1); 8 4. Plaintiff has standing to bring this action; 9 5. The Court shall retain jurisdiction over this matter for purposes of enforcing 10 the terms of this Consent Decree for the life of the Consent Decree, or as long thereafter 11 as is necessary for the Court to resolve any motion to enforce this Consent Decree. 12 I. 13 OBJECTIVES 6. It is the express purpose of the Settling Parties entering into this Consent 14 Decree to further the objectives set forth in the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1251 et 15 seq., and to resolve those issues alleged by Waterkeeper in its Complaints. 16 7. In light of these objectives and as set forth fully below, Defendant agrees to 17 comply with the provisions of this Consent Decree and to comply with the requirements 18 of the Storm Water Permit and all applicable provisions of the Clean Water Act. 19 II. 20 AGENCY REVIEW AND TERM OF CONSENT DECREE 8. Plaintiff shall submit this Consent Decree to the United States Department of 21 Justice and the EPA (collectively “Federal Agencies”( within three (3) days of the final 22 signature of the Settling Parties for agency review consistent with 40 C.F.R. § 135.5. The 23 agency review period expires forty-five (45) days after receipt by both agencies, as 24 evidenced by written acknowledgement of receipt by the agencies or the certified return 25 receipts, copies of which shall be provided to Defendant if requested. In the event that the 26 Federal Agencies object to entry of this Consent Decree, the Settling Parties agree to 27 meet and confer to attempt to resolve the issue(s) raised by the Federal Agencies within a 28 reasonable amount of time. -4- 9. 1 The term “Effective Date” as used in this Consent Decree shall mean the last 2 day for the Federal Agencies to comment on the Consent Decree, i.e., the forty-fifth 3 (45th) day following the Federal Agencies’ receipt of the Consent Decree, or the date on 4 which the Federal Agencies provide notice that they require no further review, whichever 5 occurs earlier. 10. 6 This Consent Decree shall terminate thirty (30) months (2 ½ years) from the 7 Effective Date (the “Termination Date”(, unless there is an ongoing, unresolved dispute 8 regarding Defendant’s compliance with this Consent Decree. In the absence of such an 9 ongoing, unresolved dispute, this Consent Decree shall terminate on the Termination 10 Date. 11 III. COMMITMENTS OF THE SETTLING PARTIES 12 A. Storm Water Pollution Control Best Management Practices. 13 11. Non-Storm Water Discharges: As of the Effective Date, Defendant shall 14 develop and implement Best Management Practices ("BMPs") designed to eliminate all 15 unauthorized non-storm water discharges at the Facilities. Any non-storm water 16 discharges from the Facilities not authorized by the Storm Water Permit or other NPDES 17 permit shall be considered a breach of this Consent Decree. 18 12. Current and Additional Best Management Practices: In addition to 19 maintaining the current structural and non-structural BMPs described in the Facilities’ 20 Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan )“SWPPP”(, Defendant shall (1) develop and 21 implement BMPs identified herein, and (2) develop and implement additional BMPs 22 necessary to comply with the provisions of this Consent Decree and the Storm Water 23 Permit, including but not limited to those that achieve the Best Available Technology 24 Economically Achievable )“BAT”( and the Best Conventional Treatment Technology 25 )“BCT”(. In addition, the Storm Water Permit Receiving Water Limitations require that 26 discharges from the Facilities “not cause or contribute to an exceedance of any applicable 27 water quality standards contained in a Statewide Water Quality Control Plan or the 28 applicable Regional Board’s Basin Plan.” Defendant shall develop and implement BMPs -5- 1 necessary to comply with the Storm Water Permit requirement to achieve compliance 2 with BAT/BCT standards, with the applicable water quality standards, and to prevent or 3 reduce contamination in storm water discharges from the Facilities in compliance with 4 this Consent Decree. 5 13. Structural and Non-Structural BMPs for Brazil Street Facility: Within forty- 6 five (45) days of the Effective Date, Defendant shall develop and implement the 7 following BMPs at the Brazil Street Facility: a. 8 Sweeping. Institute a daily sweeping program using a wet/dry vacuum 9 sweeper covering all exterior areas of the Brazil Street Facility exposed to rainfall or 10 runoff and accessible to the sweeper. To document compliance with this paragraph, 11 Defendant shall institute a sweeping route map indicating route(s) that are intended to be 12 followed during daily sweepings, record the length of time of sweeper operation, and 13 shall provide these records to Plaintiff within fourteen (14) days of receipt of a written 14 request. 15 16 b. Vehicle Maintenance. Defendant agrees to conduct all vehicle and equipment maintenance inside the Maintenance Shop. 17 i. Exception. For maintenance of any vehicles and/or equipment 18 that do not physically fit inside the Maintenance Shop, Defendant 19 agrees to conduct such maintenance (1) only during days without 20 any precipitation; and (2) in a contained area i.e. where any non- 21 storm water flow will be captured by secondary containment. 22 c. Vehicle Fueling. Any outdoor vehicle fueling will be conducted in a 23 covered or contained area, i.e., an area where any storm water runoff or non-storm water 24 flow will be captured with secondary containment. 25 d. Vehicle Storage. Place drip mats beneath trucks and other Brazil 26 Street Facility equipment likely to spill or leak while such equipment is not under cover 27 and is idle for more than one hour. During or immediately before a storm event, drip mats 28 shall be placed beneath trucks and other Brazil Street Facility equipment likely to spill or -6- 1 leak that are either not under cover or are idle for more than one hour. e. 2 Source Controls. With the exception of trucks or equipment that are 3 impracticable to tarp, Defendant shall develop and implement a plan to use and inspect 4 tarps to cover outdoor storage areas of miscellaneous equipment, obsolete tooling, and/or 5 miscellaneous materials (e.g., scrap metal), to ensure that the tarps are in place, intact, in 6 good condition and preventing the exposure of pollutant sources to precipitation. The 7 inspection shall take place as part of daily housekeeping activities and before it rains. All 8 tarps shall be repaired or replaced as necessary to prevent exposure of pollutant sources 9 to precipitation. 10 f. Secondary Containment. Defendant agrees to store all petroleum- 11 based materials and wastes and all concrete additives and coloring agents that could come 12 into contact with rainfall or runoff within secondary containment having a volume at least 13 110 percent (110%) of the contents of the largest vessel stored within the containment. 14 g. Roof Drain Rerouting. Within forty-five (45) days of the Effective 15 Date, Defendant shall use best efforts to work cooperatively with the operator of the 16 neighboring facility on the West side of the Brazil Street Facility to reroute roof drain 17 downspouts at the Facility to discharge onto Brazil Street. 18 h. Eliminating Run-On. Defendant shall use best efforts to work 19 cooperatively with the operator of the neighboring facility on the West side of Brazil 20 Street to divert run-on of storm water from the neighboring facility on the West side of 21 the Brazil Street Facility, including drainage from downspouts and drainage between 22 concrete blocks, with a berm or curbing. Because any effort to eliminate run-on from the 23 neighboring property will impact, and requires the cooperation of, the neighboring 24 property, it will be subject to the neighboring property owner’s approval and cooperation. 25 26 14. Advanced BMPs for Brazil Street Facility: a. Storm Water Retention. Defendant shall maintain and/or improve the 27 storm water storage and recycling system that includes a combination of surface basins 28 and/or subsurface tanks and is designed to contain 110 percent (110%) of the storm water -7- 1 runoff volume associated with the eighty-fifth (85th) percentile storm event )“Storm 2 Water Retention Plan”(. b. 3 No later than November 1, 2018, Defendant shall submit to Plaintiff 4 for review and comment the Storm Water Retention Plan for the Brazil Street Facility. 5 The Storm Water Retention Plan shall, at a minimum, specify: (1) the drainage area 6 contributing to the retention system; (2) the storm runoff volume in cubic feet; (3) the 7 retention system location(s), inlet(s), plan(s) and elevation view(s) with dimensions, 8 volume, and outlet; (4) the option to pump and move water to other sites; (5) any 9 discharge location in the event the system capacity is exceeded and a discharge would be 10 imminent; and (6) an implementation date not later than December 1, 2018. c. 11 12 Plaintiff shall have fifteen (15) days from receipt to provide comments on the proposed Storm Water Retention Plan to Defendant. d. 13 Within seven (7) days of receipt of comments from Plaintiff, 14 Defendant shall incorporate Plaintiff’s comments into the Storm Water Retention Plan, or 15 justify in writing why any comment is not incorporated. e. 16 17 Any disputes about the Storm Water Retention Plan shall be resolved pursuant to the dispute resolution procedures set out in Section IV, below. f. 18 The SWPPP shall be revised to incorporate the Storm Water Retention 19 Plan within thirty (30) days of receiving comments from Plaintiff on the Storm Water 20 Retention Plan. g. 21 22 23 The Storm Water Retention Plan developed and implemented pursuant to this Consent Decree is an obligation of this Consent Decree. 15. Structural and Non-Structural BMPs for Firestone Boulevard Facility: 24 Within forty-five (45) days of the Effective Date, Defendant shall develop and implement 25 the following BMPs at the Firestone Boulevard Facility: 26 a. Sweeping. Institute a daily sweeping program using a wet/dry vacuum 27 sweeper, covering all exterior areas of the Firestone Boulevard Facility exposed to 28 rainfall or runoff and accessible to the sweeper. To document compliance with this -8- 1 paragraph, Defendant shall institute an established sweeping route map to be followed 2 during daily sweepings, record the length of time of sweeper operation, and shall provide 3 these records to Plaintiff within fourteen (14) days of receipt of a written request. b. 4 5 Vehicle Maintenance. Defendant agrees to conduct all vehicle and equipment maintenance inside the Maintenance Shop. 6 i. Exception. For maintenance of any vehicles and/or equipment 7 that do not physically fit inside the Maintenance Shop, Defendant 8 agrees to conduct such maintenance (1) only during days without 9 any precipitation; and (2) in a contained area, i.e. where any non- 10 storm water flow will be captured by secondary containment. 11 c. Vehicle Fueling. Any outdoor vehicle fueling will be conducted in a 12 covered or contained area, i.e., an area where any storm water runoff or non-storm water 13 flow will be captured with secondary containment. 14 d. Vehicle Storage. Place drip mats beneath trucks and other Firestone 15 Boulevard Facility equipment likely to spill or leak while such equipment is not under 16 cover and is idle for more than one hour. During or immediately before a storm event, 17 drip mats shall be placed beneath trucks and other Firestone Boulevard Facility 18 equipment likely to spill or leak that are either not under cover or are idle for more than 19 one hour. 20 e. Secondary Containment. Defendant agrees to store all petroleum 21 based materials and wastes and all concrete additives and coloring agents that could come 22 into contact with rainfall or runoff are stored within secondary containment having a 23 volume at least 110 percent (110%) of the contents of the largest vessel stored within the 24 containment. 25 26 27 28 f. Discharge to Branyon Avenue: Defendant shall install a system of berms or other BMPs to eliminate the discharge onto Branyon Avenue. g. Discharge to Alley: Upon the Effective Date, Defendant shall implement and maintain drainage controls to eliminate the discharge of storm water to -9- 1 the alley way on the west side of the Firestone Boulevard Facility except at the 2 designated discharge sample location as documented on the Site Map, which is Exhibit B 3 in Docket Entry No. 23-1 in the Brazil Street Facility Action. 4 16. Advanced BMPs for Firestone Boulevard Facility: a. 5 Storm Water Retention. Defendant shall develop a water storage and 6 recycling system that includes a combination of surface basins and/or subsurface tanks 7 and is designed to contain 110 percent (110%) of the storm wate runoff volume 8 associated with the 85th percentile storm event )“Storm Water Retention Plan”(. 9 b. No later than December 1, 2018, Defendant shall submit to Plaintiff 10 for review and comment the Storm Water Retention Plan for the Firestone Boulevard 11 Facility. The Storm Water Retention Plan shall, at a minimum, specify: (1) the drainage 12 area contributing to the retention system; (2) the storm runoff volume in cubic feet; 13 (3) the retention system location(s), inlet(s), plan(s) and elevation view(s) with 14 dimensions, volume, and outlet; (4) the option to pump and move water to other sites; 15 (5) any discharge location in the event the system capacity is exceeded and a discharge 16 would be imminent; and (6) an implementation date not later than January 1, 2019. 17 18 c. Plaintiff shall have fifteen (15) days from receipt to provide comments on the proposed Storm Water Retention Plan to Defendant. 19 d. Within seven (7) days of receipt of comments from Plaintiff, 20 Defendant shall incorporate Plaintiff’s comments into the Storm Water Retention Plan, or 21 justify in writing why any comment is not incorporated. 22 23 e. Any disputes about the Storm Water Retention Plan shall be resolved pursuant to the dispute resolution procedures set out in Section IV, below. 24 B. Sampling at the Facilities. 25 17. Rain Gauge: The Settling Parties agree that the existing rain gauge at the 26 following existing, non-National Ready Mix Concrete Company locations can be referred 27 to for purposes of this Consent Decree: GHCND:USW00023174. 28 18. Sampling Locations and Frequency: During the life of this Consent Decree, -10- 1 Defendant shall collect samples of storm water discharge from Discharge Locations at the 2 Facilities, as designated on the Site Maps identified as Exhibits A and B in Docket 3 Entry No. 23-1 in the Brazil Street Facility Action, in the event that discharges occur 4 during the Facilities' operating hours1 from at least four (4) qualified storm events as 5 required by the Storm Water Permit (i.e., two QSEs within the first half of each reporting 6 year and two QSEs within the second half of each reporting year). A qualified storm 7 event, or “QSE” is a storm event that produces a discharge from a least one (1) drainage 8 area and is preceded by forty-eight (48) hours with no discharge from any drainage area. 9 Any failure to collect sample as required by this Consent Decree shall be documented and 10 submitted to Waterkeeper by email within five (5) days of the date a sample should have 11 been collected but was not. If, however, prior to November 1 Defendant has not collected 12 a sample from a storm water discharge resulting from a QSE at the Facilities during the 13 first half of the Reporting Year,2 Defendant shall collect a sample from a storm water 14 discharge resulting from at least one (1) non-QSE during operating hours. If prior to 15 March 1 Defendant has not collected a sample from a QSE at the Facilities during the 16 second half of the Reporting Year, Defendant shall collect a sample from a storm water 17 discharge resulting from at least one (1) non-QSE during operating hours. To satisfy the 18 requirements of this Consent Decree, samples collected during non-QSEs must have been 19 collected during storm events that occurred at least 24 hours after a discharge but not 20 more than 48 hours after a discharge; Defendant shall also collect samples of any 21 discharge of retained storm water before discharging it, or at the time of the discharge. 22 23 19. Decree shall be analyzed for the parameters listed in Table 1 of Paragraph 27. 24 25 Sampling Parameters: All samples collected pursuant to this Consent 20. Laboratory: Defendant shall use a laboratory accredited by the State of California and shall analyze all samples collected pursuant to this Consent Decree, 26 27 28 1 According to each of the Facilities’ SWPPP, the scheduled operating hours are Monday through Friday 5:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Saturday from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. 2 The Reporting Year is defined as July 1 through June 30. -11- 1 2 excepting pH which will be analyzed onsite using pH paper. 21. Holding Time: All samples collected from the Facilities shall be delivered to 3 the laboratory and analyzed within the holding times required in 40 C.F.R. Part 136, 4 excepting pH which will be analyzed onsite using pH paper. 5 22. Detection Limit: Defendant shall request that the laboratory use analytical 6 methods adequate to detect the individual contaminants at or below the values specified 7 in the Storm Water Permit and Table 1 below. 8 9 10 11 23. Concentrations: Defendant shall request that results of all sample analyses required by this Consent Decree for metals be reported as required under the Storm Water Permit. 24. Lab Reports: Defendant shall request that the results of all sample analyses 12 required by this Consent Decree and associated chain of custody forms be reported to 13 Defendant as soon as reasonably possible without incurring any "rush" charges or 14 additional fees. 15 25. Reporting: Defendant shall provide the complete laboratory results of all 16 samples collected at the Facilities to Waterkeeper within ten (10) days of receiving the 17 results. 18 26. Sampling Reduction. Defendant may discontinue analyzing storm water 19 samples collected pursuant to this Consent Decree at any discharge location(s) for a 20 constituent listed in Table 1 of paragraph 27 if: (a) the sample result for the constituent(s) 21 is not detected for three (3) consecutive sample results, (b) Defendant has collected and 22 analyzed the sample pursuant to this Consent Decree and the Storm Water Permit, and 23 (c) that constituent is not otherwise required to be analyzed pursuant to Section XI(B)(6) 24 or Table 1 of the Storm Water Permit. 25 C. Reduction of Pollutants in Discharges 26 27. Table 1 Numeric Limits: Defendant shall develop and implement BMPs to 27 reduce pollutants in storm water at the Facilities to levels below those in Table 1. As of 28 the Effective Date, and for the remainder of the term of this Consent Decree, if storm -12- 1 water samples demonstrate an exceedance of a numeric limit in Table 1 in a single 2 Reporting Year, Defendant shall comply with the action plan requirement set forth below. 3 Table 1. Numeric Limits Numeric Limit (All but pH expressed as mg/L; hardness-dependent limits in bold) 100 15 0.75 0.68 1.0 0.26 0.262 0.0332 6.5 to 8.5 s.u. 4 5 Contaminant 6 Total Suspended Solids Oil and Grease (O&G) Total Recoverable Aluminum Nitrate Plus Nitrite-Nitrogen Total Recoverable Iron Total Recoverable Zinc Total Recoverable Lead Total Recoverable Copper pH 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 28. Action Plan for Table 1 Exceedances: In any Reporting Year during which A sample demonstrates an exceedance of numeric limits in Table 1, Defendant shall prepare and submit to Waterkeeper a plan for reducing and/or eliminating the discharge of pollutants (“Table 1 Action Plan”) for the Facility or Facilities at which the exceedance(s) occurred. In any Reporting Year that a Table 1 Action Plan is required, it shall be submitted ninety (90) days from Defendant’s receipt of a storm water sample lab report demonstrating an exceedance of a numeric limit or by June 30 of the Reporting Year during which the exceedance(s) occurred, whichever is earlier. a. Table 1 Action Plan Requirements. Each Table 1 Action Plan submitted shall include at a minimum: (1) the identification of the contaminant(s) discharged in excess of the numeric limit(s); (2) an assessment of the source of each contaminant exceedance; (3) the identification of additional BMPs that shall be implemented to achieve compliance with the numeric limit(s), as well as the design plans and calculations of these additional BMPs; and (4) time schedules for implementation of the proposed BMPs. The time schedule(s) for implementation shall ensure that all BMPs are implemented as soon as possible, but in no case later than October 1 of the upcoming -13- 1 Reporting Year. Defendant shall notify Waterkeeper in writing when the Table 1 Action 2 Plan has been implemented. 3 b. Table 1 Action Plan Review. Waterkeeper shall have thirty (30) days 4 upon receipt of Defendant’s Table 1 Action Plan to provide Defendant with comments. 5 Within fourteen (14) days of receiving Waterkeeper’s proposed revisions, Defendant 6 shall consider each of Waterkeeper’s recommended revisions to a Table 1 Action Plan(s), 7 and accept them or justify in writing why any comment is not incorporated. Action 8 Plan(s) developed and implemented pursuant to this Consent Decree are an obligation of 9 this Consent Decree. Any disputes as to the adequacy of the Table 1 Action Plan shall be 10 resolved pursuant to the dispute resolution provisions of this Consent Decree, set out in 11 Section IV below. 12 c. Table 1 Action Plan Payments: Defendant shall pay one-thousand five 13 hundred dollars ($1,500) each time an Action Plan is submitted to Waterkeeper. 14 Payments shall be made payable to “Los Angeles Waterkeeper” addressed to: Los 15 Angeles Waterkeeper, 120 Broadway, Suite 105, Santa Monica, CA 90401. Failure to 16 submit a payment as required under this paragraph will constitute a breach of the Consent 17 Decree. 18 D. Visual Observations. 19 29. Storm Water Discharge Observations: During the life of this Consent 20 Decree, Defendant shall conduct visual observations during Facilities operating hours 21 during every rain event that produces a discharge at all locations where storm water is 22 discharged from the Facilities. 23 30. Non-Storm Water Discharge Observations: During the life of this Consent 24 Decree, Defendant shall conduct monthly non-storm water visual observations at each 25 discharge location. 26 31. Visual Observations Records: Defendant shall maintain observation records 27 to document compliance with paragraphs 29 and 30, and shall provide Waterkeeper with 28 a copy of these records within fourteen (14) days of receipt of a written request from -14- 1 Waterkeeper for the records. 2 E. Employee Training. 3 32. Employee Training Program: Within forty-five (45) days of the Effective 4 Date, Defendant shall develop and implement an employee training program that meets 5 the following requirements and ensures (1) that there is a sufficient number of employees 6 at the Facilities designated to achieve compliance with the Storm Water Permit and this 7 Consent Decree )“Designated Employees”(, and (2) that these Designated Employees are 8 properly trained to perform the activities required by the Storm Water Permit and this 9 Consent Decree )“Training Program”(: 10 11 12 a. Language. Defendant shall conduct the Training Program in the language or languages in which all Designated Employees are fluent; b. BMP Training. Defendant shall train Designated Employees on the 13 BMPs included in this Consent Decree and the SWPPP to ensure that BMPs are 14 implemented effectively and on schedule and structural BMPs are maintained properly at 15 the Facilities. Defendant shall train individual Designated Employees on their specific 16 responsibilities in implementing BMPs; 17 c. Sampling Training. Defendant shall designate an adequate number of 18 employees necessary to collect storm water samples as required by this Consent Decree. 19 The Training Program shall include the proper sampling protocols to ensure storm water 20 samples are properly collected, stored, and submitted to a certified laboratory; 21 d. Visual Observation Training. Defendant shall provide training on how 22 and when to properly conduct visual observations to Designated Employees performing 23 visual observations at the Facilities; 24 e. Non-Storm Water Discharge Training. Defendant shall train all 25 Designated Employees at the Facilities on the Storm Water Permit’s prohibition of non- 26 storm water discharges, so that Designated Employees know what non-storm water 27 discharges are, that non-storm water discharges can result from improper surface washing 28 or dust control methods, and how to detect and prevent non-storm water discharges; -15- f. 1 Employees. All Designated Employees at the Facilities shall 2 participate in the Training Program and annually thereafter. New Designated Employees 3 shall participate in the Training Program within thirty (30) days of their hiring date; 4 g. Knowledgeable Representative. The Training Program shall be 5 provided by a private consultant or representative of Defendant’s who is Qualified 6 Industrial Stormwater Practitioner )“QISP”( certified and familiar with the requirements 7 of this Consent Decree and the Storm Water Permit; 8 9 10 h. Training Records. Defendant shall maintain training records to document compliance with this section, and shall provide Plaintiff with a copy of these records within fourteen (14) days of receipt of a written request; and 11 i. Identification of Storm Water Pollution Prevention Team and Training 12 Program Updates into SWPPP. Within thirty (30) days of the Effective Date, Defendant 13 shall update the SWPPP to identify the positions and persons responsible for carrying out 14 storm water management, monitoring, sampling, and SWPPP implementation. 15 33. SWPPP and Monitoring Implementation Plan (“MIP”) Revisions and 16 Update: Within thirty (30) days of the Effective Date, Defendant shall amend the 17 Facilities’ SWPPPs and MIPs to incorporate the requirements in this Consent Decree. 18 Defendant agrees to submit the updated SWPPPs and MIPs to Waterkeeper upon 19 completion for review and comment. 20 a. Review of SWPPP and/or MIP. Waterkeeper shall have thirty (30) 21 days from receipt of the amended SWPPP and/or MIP to propose any changes. Within 22 thirty (30) days of receiving Waterkeeper’s comments and proposed changes to the 23 SWPPP, Defendant shall consider each of Waterkeeper’s comments and proposed 24 changes and accept them, or justify in writing why a change is not incorporated. 25 b. Defendant shall revise the SWPPP and MIP if there are any material 26 changes in the Facilities' operations, including, but not limited to, changes to storm water 27 discharge points or BMPs within thirty (30) days of the changes, which will be subject to 28 Waterkeeper’s review and comment as provided in paragraph 33(a) above. -16- c. 1 The Settling Parties agree to work in good faith with respect to 2 resolving any disputes with respect to the SWPPP or MIP, and that any remaining 3 disputes between the Settling Parties will be finally resolved by timely initiation of the 4 dispute resolution procedures in Section IV below. d. 5 Compliance with the SWPPP and MIP, as amended and/or revised in 6 accordance with this section, shall, at all times be a requirement of this Consent Decree. 7 Nothing in this paragraph allowing Waterkeeper to review and comment on Defendant’s 8 SWPPP and MIP is intended to allow Waterkeeper to seek to modify Defendant’s 9 obligations to implement and maintain additional BMPs that have not been negotiated 10 and included in this Consent Decree, or to otherwise modify the terms and conditions of 11 this Consent Decree. 12 F. Compliance Monitoring and Reporting. 13 34. Waterkeeper Site Inspections: Every year during the life of this Consent 14 Decree, up to three (3) Waterkeeper representatives and/or consultants (including an 15 attorney) may conduct one (1) physical inspection )“Site Inspection”( per year of each of 16 the Facilities, except in the event there is a Notice of Dispute issued under 17 paragraph 41(a), then Plaintiff shall be permitted to perform one (1) additional Site 18 Inspection in that Reporting Year. The Site Inspection shall occur during normal business 19 hours. Waterkeeper shall provide Defendant with as much notice as possible, but at least 20 forty-eight (48) hours notice prior to a Site Inspection in anticipation of wet weather 21 (weekends and holidays excluded) and seventy-two (72) hours notice during dry weather 22 (weekends and holidays excluded). Notice shall be provided by telephone and electronic 23 mail, and shall state the names of all persons whom Waterkeeper will bring to the 24 inspection. 25 a. During the Site Inspections, Waterkeeper and/or its representatives 26 shall be allowed access to the Facilities’ SWPPP(s), MIP, and all other monitoring 27 records, reports, and sampling data for the Facilities. Defendant claims that some 28 information may contain confidential business and/or trade secret information, and as -17- 1 such, Plaintiff agrees that such confidential business and/or trade secret information 2 obtained by Waterkeeper from Defendant as a result of or in connection with a Site 3 Inspection shall be maintained as confidential, subject to the Confidentiality Agreement 4 executed in this matter, an unexecuted copy of which is Exhibit C in Docket Entry 5 No. 23-1 in the Brazil Street Facility Action. Such confidential business and/or trade 6 secret information shall not be disclosed to any third party, except that such information 7 can be presented to the Court to enforce compliance with this Consent Decree. Defendant 8 shall bear the burden of demonstrating that information is a confidential business and/or 9 trade secret. Site Inspections will be limited to a visit of the areas exterior to the buildings 10 on site, and will not include access to the interior of the buildings at the Facilities or 11 observation into the buildings from the exterior. Defendant reserves the right to limit or 12 define physical site access as needed to accommodate safety or operational issues. 13 b. During the Site Inspections, Defendant shall allow Waterkeeper 14 and/or its representatives to collect split samples of storm water, non-storm water 15 discharges, and/or samples from any infiltration galleries or treatment systems, if 16 applicable, at the Facilities. Waterkeeper and/or its representatives shall follow all 17 sampling protocols specified in the MIP, including, but not limited to sample 18 preservation, chain of custody maintenance, sterile sampling techniques, prevention of 19 cross-contamination, etc. Waterkeeper and/or its representatives shall not analyze for any 20 constituents that National does not analyze for and shall adhere strictly to the analyses 21 specified in the MIP including, but not limited to, method numbers, quality 22 assurance/quality control procedures, method detection limit goals, and practical 23 quantitation limit goals. Sample splits collected by Waterkeeper and/or its representatives 24 shall be exact splits of samples collected by National staff and/or its representatives, in 25 that they will be taken from a batch collected by one sampler, mixed thoroughly, with 26 one aliquot from the batch taken by National and one aliquot from the batch taken from 27 Waterkeeper for separate analyses. Waterkeeper and/or its representatives shall adhere to 28 all health and safety requirements of National as set forth in the MIP. Waterkeeper and/or -18- 1 its representatives shall use all personal protective equipment necessary to protect from 2 identified and potential hazards and meet all requirements of OSHA, Cal-OSHA, and 3 National. National reserves the right to refuse entry or the collection of samples should 4 health and safety procedures being proposed or followed by any third party not adhere to 5 National standards and all applicable codes and regulations. A certified California 6 laboratory shall analyze any storm water samples collected by Waterkeeper. 7 Waterkeeper shall submit the name, address, manager/contact person, and NELAPs 8 certification for the analyses to be conducted to National no later than one week prior to 9 the inspection during which sample splits are anticipated to be collected. Should 10 Waterkeeper change laboratories, it shall submit the name, address, manager/contact 11 person, and NELAP certifications for the analyses to be conducted to National no later 12 than one week prior to the inspection during which sample splits are anticipated to be 13 collected. c. 14 During the Site Inspections, Waterkeeper may take photographs or 15 video recording of the Facilities except for such information that contains confidential 16 business and/or trade sectret information. If Waterkeeper takes any photographs and/or 17 video recording, Waterkeeper shall provide Defendant with the photographs and/or video 18 within fourteen (14) days after any written request by Defendant for such photographs 19 and/or videos. 20 21 22 35. Document Provision: During the life of this Consent Decree, Defendant shall notify and submit documents to Waterkeeper as follows: a. Defendant shall copy Waterkeeper on all compliance documents, 23 monitoring and/or sampling data, written communications and/or correspondences, or 24 any documents related to storm water quality at the Facilities that are submitted to the 25 Regional Board, the State Board, and/or any state or local agency, county, or 26 municipality. 27 28 b. Any compliance document, inspection report, written communication and/or correspondence, or any document related to storm water quality at the Facilities -19- 1 received by Defendant from the Regional Board, the State Board, and/or any state or 2 local agency, county, or municipality shall be sent to Waterkeeper within three (3) 3 business days of receipt by Defendant. Defendant shall mail paper copies or email 4 electronic copies of documents to Waterkeeper at the relevant notice address contained 5 below. c. 6 7 Waterkeeper agrees to not seek a penalty under paragraph 39 below for Defendant’s missed deadline to submit a document to Waterkeeper if: i. 8 (1) month period, or more than four (4) missed deadlines over 9 the course of this Consent Decree, and 10 ii. 11 Waterkeeper receives the document(s) within five (5) business days of Defendant’s submittal or receipt of the document(s). 12 13 Defendant does not miss more than one (1) deadline in a one 36. Compliance Monitoring and Oversight: Defendant shall pay Nine Thousand 14 Dollars ($9,000) to compensate Waterkeeper for costs and fees to be incurred for 15 monitoring Defendant’s compliance with this Consent Decree. Payment shall be made 16 within fifteen (15) days of the Effective Date payable to “Los Angeles Waterkeeper,” 17 addressed to: Los Angeles Waterkeeper, 120 Broadway, Suite 105, Santa Monica, CA 18 90401, and sent via courier or overnight delivery. Failure to submit payment as required 19 under this paragraph will constitute a breach of the Consent Decree. 20 G. 21 22 Environmental Mitigation, Litigation Fees and Costs, Stipulated Penalties, and Interest. 37. Environmental Mitigation Project: To remediate the alleged environmental 23 harms resulting from allegations in the Complaints, Defendant agrees to make a payment 24 of Forty-Seven Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($47,500) to The Rose Foundation for 25 Communities and the Environment to fund environmental project activities that will 26 benefit Southern California waters. The payments shall be made within thirty (30) days of 27 the Effective Date payable to The Rose Foundation for Communities and the 28 Environment and addressed to: Attn: Tim Little, 201 4th Street, Suite 102, Oakland, -20- 1 California 94607. Defendant shall provide Waterkeeper with a copy of such payment. 38. 2 Waterkeeper’s Fees and Costs: To partially reimburse Waterkeeper for its 3 investigation fees and costs, expert/consultant fees and costs, and reasonable attorneys’ 4 fees incurred as a result of investigating and preparing the lawsuits and negotiating this 5 Consent Decree, Defendant shall pay a total of One Hundred Ten Thousand Dollars 6 ($110,000). The payment shall be made within ten (10) days of the Effective Date 7 payable to “Los Angeles Waterkeeper” and addressed to: Los Angeles Waterkeeper, 120 8 Broadway, Suite 105, Santa Monica, CA 90401. 39. 9 Stipulated Penalties: Defendant shall make a remediation payment of One 10 Thousand Dollars ($1,000) for each missed deadline included in this Consent Decree or 11 the failure to collect a storm water sample required under this Consent Decree after the 12 Effective Date. Stipulated penalty payments shall be made payable to The Rose 13 Foundation for Communities and the Environment and addressed to: Attn: Tim Little, 14 201 4th Street, Suite 102, Oakland, California 94607. Defendant agrees to make the 15 stipulated payment within thirty (30) days of a missed deadline or failure to sample. 16 Defendant shall provide Waterkeeper with a copy of each such payment at the time it is 17 made. 40. 18 Interest on Late Payments: Defendant shall pay interest on any payments, 19 fee, or costs owed to Waterkeeper under this Consent Decree that Waterkeeper has not 20 received by the due date. The interest shall accrue starting the first day after the payment 21 is due and shall be compute at a rate of 1.5% per month (18% per year). Interest on late 22 payments shall be made payable to Waterkeeper and sent to the address listed in 23 paragraph 61, below. 24 IV. 25 DISPUTE RESOLUTION 41. The Court shall retain jurisdiction over this matter for the life of the Consent 26 Decree for the purposes of enforcing its terms and conditions, and adjudicating all 27 disputes among the Settling Parties that may arise under the provisions of the Consent 28 Decree. The Court shall have the authority to enforce this Consent Decree with all -21- 1 2 available legal and equitable remedies, including contempt. 42. If a dispute under this Consent Decree arises or the Settling Parties believe 3 that a breach of this Consent Decree has occurred, they shall follow the following 4 procedure: a. 5 Meet and Confer. A Settling Party invokes the dispute resolution 6 procedures of this Section by notification in writing to the other Settling Party of the 7 matter(s) in dispute and of the Settling Party’s desire to resolve the dispute in good faith 8 under this Section ("Notice of Dispute"). The Settling Parties shall schedule a meet and 9 confer in good faith (either telephonically or in person) in an attempt to resolve the 10 dispute informally over a period of fourteen (14) calendar days from the date of the 11 Notice of Dispute. The Settling Parties may elect to extend this time in an effort to 12 resolve the dispute without court intervention; 13 b. Settlement Conference. If the Settling Parties fail to meet and confer 14 or cannot resolve a dispute through the informal meet and confer process, the Settling 15 Parties agree to request a settlement meeting or conference before the Magistrate Judge 16 assigned to this action. The Settling Parties agree to file any waivers necessary for the 17 Magistrate Judge to preside over any settlement meeting or conference; 18 c. Motion. In the event that the Settling Parties cannot resolve the 19 dispute within sixty (60) days of the Settlement Conference with the Magistrate Judge, 20 the Settling Parties agree that the dispute may be submitted for formal resolution by filing 21 a motion before the United States District Court for the Central District of California. The 22 Settling Parties agree to request an expedited hearing schedule on the motion. 23 43. The Settling Parties shall be entitled to seek fees and costs incurred in the 24 informal and formal Dispute Resolution process described in this section pursuant to the 25 provisions set forth in Section 505(d) of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1365(d), and 26 applicable case law interpreting such provisions. 27 28 -22- 1 V. 2 MUTUAL RELEASE OF LIABILITY AND COVENANT NOT TO SUE 44. Plaintiff’s Waiver and Release of Defendant: Plaintiff, on its own behalf, 3 and on behalf of its officers, directors, employees, parents, subsidiaries, affiliates and 4 each of their successors and assigns, release Defendant, its officers, directors, employees, 5 members, parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, successors or assigns, agents, attorneys and 6 other representatives, from and waives all claims raised in the Notice Letters and/or the 7 Complaints up to the Effective Date. 8 45. Defendant’s Waiver and Release of Plaintiff: Defendant, on its own behalf, 9 and on behalf of its officers, directors, employees, members, parents, subsidiaries, 10 affiliates, or their successors or assigns, releases Plaintiff and its officers, directors, 11 employees, members, parents, subsidiaries, and affiliates, and each of their successors 12 and assigns from, and waives all claims related to the Notice Letters and/or the 13 Complaints up to the Effective Date. 14 46. Nothing in this Consent Decree limits or otherwise affects Plaintiff’s right 15 to address or take any position that it deems necessary or appropriate in any formal or 16 informal proceeding before the State Water Board, Regional Water Board, EPA, or any 17 other judicial or administrative body on any matter relating to Defendant’s compliance 18 with the Storm Water Permit or the Clean Water Act occurring or arising after the 19 Effective Date. 20 VI. 21 MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 47. No Admission of Liability: Neither this Consent Decree, the implementation 22 of additional BMPs, or any payment pursuant to the Consent Decree shall constitute or be 23 construed as a finding, admission, or acknowledgement of any fact, law, rule, or 24 regulation. Defendant maintains and reserves all defenses it may have to any alleged 25 violations that may be raised in the future. 26 48. Execution in Counterparts: The Consent Decree may be executed in any 27 number of counterparts, all of which together shall constitute one original document. 28 Telecopy, email of a pdf signature, and/or facsimile copies of original signature shall be -23- 1 2 3 4 deemed to be originally executed counterparts of this Consent Decree. 49. Signatures: The Settling Parties’ signatures to this Consent Decree transmitted by facsimile or electronic mail transmission shall be deemed binding. 50. Construction: The language in all parts of this Consent Decree shall be 5 construed according to its plain and ordinary meaning, except as to those terms defined in 6 the Storm Water Permit, the Clean Water Act, or specifically herein. The captions and 7 paragraph headings used in this Consent Decree are for reference only and shall not affect 8 the construction of this Consent Decree. 9 51. Authority to Sign: The undersigned representatives for Plaintiff and 10 Defendant each certify that he/she is fully authorized by the Settling Party whom he/she 11 represents to enter into the terms and conditions of this Consent Decree. 12 52. Integrated Consent Decree: This is an integrated Consent Decree. This 13 Consent Decree is intended to be a full and complete statement of the terms of the 14 agreement between the Settling Parties and expressly supersedes any and all prior oral or 15 written agreements, covenants, representations and warranties, express or implied, oral or 16 written, of the Settling Parties concerning the subject matter of this Consent Decree. 17 53. Severability: In the event that any provision, paragraph, section, or sentence 18 of this Consent Decree is held by a court to be unenforceable, the validity of the 19 enforceable provisions shall not be adversely affected. 20 21 22 23 24 54. Choice of Law: This Consent Decree shall be governed by the laws of the United States. 55. Full Settlement: This Consent Decree constitutes a full and final settlement of this matter. 56. Diligence: Defendant shall diligently file and pursue all required permit 25 applications for the structural BMPs and shall diligently procure contractors, labor, and 26 materials needed to complete all structural BMPs by the required deadlines. 27 28 57. Effect of Consent Decree: Compliance with this Consent Decree does not mean Defendant is complying with the Storm Water Permit, the Clean Water Act, or any -24- 1 2 other law, rule, or regulation. 58. Negotiated Agreement: The Settling Parties have negotiated this Consent 3 Decree, and agree that it shall not be construed against the party preparing it, but shall be 4 construed as if the Settling Parties jointly prepared this Consent Decree, and any 5 uncertainty and ambiguity shall not be interpreted against any one party. 6 59. Modification of the Agreement: This Consent Decree, and any provisions 7 herein, may not be changed, waived, or discharged, or terminated unless by a written 8 instrument, signed by each of the Settling Parties and approved by the Court. Any request 9 to modify any provision(s) of the Consent Decree, including but not limited any 10 deadline(s) set out herein, must be made in writing at least fourteen (14) business days 11 before an existing deadline(s) applicable to the provision(s) proposed to be modified. 12 60. Assignment: Subject only to the express restrictions contained in this 13 Consent Decree, all of the rights, duties and obligations contained in this Consent Decree 14 shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Settling Parties, and their successors 15 and assigns. Defendant shall notify Plaintiff within ten (10) days of any assignment, in 16 conformity with the paragraph below. 17 61. Notices and Submissions: Any notices or documents required or provided 18 for by this Consent Decree or related thereto that are to be provided to Plaintiff pursuant 19 to this Consent Decree shall be, to the extent feasible, sent via electronic mail 20 transmission to the e-mail addresses listed below or, if electronic mail transmission is not 21 feasible, via certified U.S. Mail with return receipt, or by hand delivery to the following 22 address: 23 24 25 26 Arthur Pugsley Los Angeles Waterkeeper Email: arthur@lawaterkeeper.org 120 Broadway, Suite 105 Santa Monica, California 90401 27 28 With copies to: -25- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Bruce Reznik Executive Director Email: bruce@lawaterkeeper.org Los Angeles Waterkeeper 120 Broadway, Suite 105 Santa Monica, California 90401 Unless requested otherwise by Defendant, any notices or documents required or provided for by this Consent Decree or related thereto that are to be provided to Defendant pursuant to this Consent Decree shall, to the extent feasible, be provided by electronic mail transmission to the e-mail addresses listed below, or, if electronic mail transmission is not feasible, by certified U.S. Mail with return receipt, or by hand delivery to the addresses below: Steve Lode National Ready Mixed Cement Company Email: slode@natcem.com 15821 Ventura Boulevard # 475 Encino, CA 91436 16 With copies to: 17 Michael S. McDonough Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP Email: michael.mcdonough@pillsburylaw.com 725 South Figueroa Street, Suite 2800 Los Angeles, CA 90017 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Notifications of communications shall be deemed submitted on the date that they are emailed, or postmarked and sent by first-class mail or deposited with an overnight mail/delivery service. Any change of address or addresses shall be communicated in the manner described above for giving notices. 62. Deadlines Falling on Non-Business Days: Any deadlines relating to this Consent Decree which fall on the weekend or on a federal holiday shall be extended to the following business day. 63. Force Majeure: No Party shall be considered to be in default in the -26- 1 performance of any of its obligations under this Consent Decree when performance 2 becomes impossible due to a Force Majeure event. A Force Majeure event is any 3 circumstance beyond a Settling Party’s control, including without limitation, any act of 4 God, war, fire, earthquake, flood, windstorm, or natural catastrophe; unexpected and 5 unintended accidents not caused by National’s or its employees’ negligence; civil 6 disturbance, vandalism, sabotage, or terrorism; restraint by court order or public authority 7 or agency; or action or non-action by, or inability to obtain the necessary authorizations 8 or approvals from, any governmental agency. A Force Majeure event shall not include 9 normal inclement weather, economic hardship, inability to pay, or employee negligence 10 or misconduct. Any party seeking to rely upon this paragraph to excuse or postpone 11 performance shall have the burden of establishing that it could not reasonably have been 12 expected to avoid the force majeure event and which by exercise of due diligence has 13 been unable to overcome the failure of performance. The Settling Parties shall exercise 14 due diligence to resolve and remove any force majeure event. 15 16 The Settling Parties hereto have entered into this Consent Decree and submit it to the Court for its approval and entry as a final judgment. 17 18 IT IS SO ORDERED. 19 20 DATED: January 3, 2019 21 DOLLY M. GEE UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 -27-

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