Puget Soundkeeper Alliance v. Steeler, Inc

Filing 26

AMENDED CONSENT DECREE re Defendant's 22 Motion to Amend Consent Decree, signed by Judge Robert S. Lasnik. (SWT)

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Case 2:14-cv-00729-RSL Document 22 Filed 06/09/17 Page 1 of 10 HONORABLE ROBERT S. LASNIK. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON AT SEATTLE 8 9 10 11 PUGET SOUND KEEPER ALLIANCE, Plaintiff, 12 V. 13 14 15 STEELER, INC. Defendant. ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) No. 2:14-cv-00729-RSL AMENDED CONSENT DECREE EPROPOSBB] 16 I. 17 18 STIPULATIONS Plaintiff Puget Soundkeeper Alliance ("Soundkeeper") sent a sixty-day notice of intent to 19 sue letter to Defendant Steeler, Inc. ("Steeler") on or about March 14, 2014, and filed a complaint 20 on May 15, 2014, alleging violations of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1251 et seq., relating to 21 discharges of stormwater from Steeler' s facility in Seattle, Washington, and seeking declaratory 22 and injunctive relief, civil penalties and attorneys' fees and costs. 23 24 25 26 Soundkeeper and Steeler agreed that settlement of this matter was in the best interest of the parties and the public, and entered a Consent Decree on July 19, 2016. Under section IL 7(d) of the Consent Decree, Steeler was to complete construction and full implementation of the Best Management Practices called for in the Compliance Plan by AMENDED CONSENT DECREE [PROPOSED] No. 14-729-RSL p. I 023 002 nf093s03wd Smith & Lowney, p.Ll.c. 2317 East John St Seattle, Washington 98112 (206) 860-2883 Case 2:14-cv-00729-RSL Document 22 Filed 06/09/17 Page 2 of 10 1 September 30, 2016. Due to a variety of factors, a different treatment system was selected and 2 the completion date was delayed. Puget Soundkeeper Alliance and Steeler have since conferred 3 and believe that this Amended Consent Decree is the most appropriate means of resolving all 4 issues and disputes associated with this delay. 5 Steeler paid $20,000 to the Rose Foundation as required by Consent Decree section 8. 6 Steeler paid $45,000 to Smith & Lowney PLLC as required by Consent Decree section 9. 7 Steeler contracted with Lean Environment to prepare a Storrnwater Engineering Report 8 dates August 29, 2016 (hereinafter "Lean Engineering Report") describing installation of an 9 Enpurion MT storrnwater treatment system. Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) 10 approved the Lean Engineering Report on September 7, 2016. Soundkeeper' s expert Bill Lider, 11 Lider Engineering PLLC, reviewe.d and provided connnent on the report on October 26, 2016. 12 Steeler's consultant Michael Johnson, Lean Environment, responded to Soundkeeper's comments 13 on the report on November 3, 2017. Steeler completed installation of the Enpurion MT 14 storrnwater treatment system on November 18, 2016. A copy of the Lean Engineering Report is 15 attached to this Amended Consent Decree as Appendix 1. 16 Soundkeeper and Steel er stipulate to the entry of this Amended Consent Decree without 17 trial, adjudication, or admission of any issues of fact or law regarding Puget Soundkeeper 18 Alliance's claims or allegations set forth in its complaint and its sixty-day notice. 19 DATED this 9th day of June, 2017. 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 AMENDED CONSENT DECREE [PROPOSED] No. 14-729-RSL p.2 023 002 nfU93s03wd II Smith & Lowney, p.U.c. 2317 East John St. Seattle, Washington 98112 (206) 860-2883 Case 2:14-cv-00729-RSL Document 22 Filed 06/09/17 Page 3 of 10 I JOYCE ZIKER PARKINSON, PLLC SMTIH & LOWNEY PLLC By 5/ Stephen R Parkinson Stephen R Parkinson, WSBA #21111 Attorneys for Defendant Steeler, Inc. By STEELER, INC. PUGET SOUND.KEEPER ALLIANCE By By~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ! . 2 3 4 sl Richard A. Smith Richard A Smith, WSBA #21788 Attorneys for Plaintiff Puget Soundkeeper Alliance 5 ~~) 6 7 8 Matt F. SuroWiech President Chris Wilke Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, Executive Director 9 10 11 II. ORDER AND DECREE THIS MATTER came before the Court upon the foregoing Stipulations of the parties. 12 Having considered the Stipulations and the promises set forth below, the Court hereby ORDERS, 13 14 ADJUDGES, and DECREES as follows: This Court has jurisdiction over the parties and subject matter of this action. 15 16 l7 2. enter into the agreements set forth below. 18 19 Each signatory for the parties certifies for that party that he or she is authorized to This Amended Consent Decree applies to and binds the parties and their successors and assigns. 20 4. This Amended Consent Decree and any injunctive relief ordered Within will 21 22 apply to the operation, oversight, or both by Steeler of its facility located at or about 1002 23 Martin Luther King Jr. Way S., Seattle, WA 98178 ("Facility"), which is subject to National 24 Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit No. W AR125358 ("NPDES pennit"). 25 26 5. This Amended Consent Decree is a full and complete settlement and release of all tbe claims in the complaint, the sixty-day notice and all other claims known and unknown, AMENDED CONSENT DECREE [PROPOSED] No. 14,729-RSL p. 3 Smith & Lowney, p.l.1.c. 2317 East Jobn-St. Seattle, Washington 98112 (206) 860-2883 Case 2:14-cv-00729-RSL Document 22 Filed 06/09/17 Page 4of10 fl Ii I· I II !1 i! I 1 SMITH & LOWNEY PLLC I/ JOYCE ZIKER p AR.KINSON, PLLC 2 II 11 By s/ Stephen R Parkinson · Stephen R. Parkinson, WSBA #21 11 l Attorneys for Defendant Steeler, Inc. 4 I 3 5 By sl Richard A. Smith Richard A. Smith, WSBA #21788 Attorneys for Plaintiff Puget Soundkeeper Alliance PUGET ~O~~R A.LLIANCE STEELER, INC. 6 By_~--------- By i~kt_l /1-j ___ 7 Matt F. Surowiecki Cfiris Wilke President 8 Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, Executive Director 9 10 II. 11 ORDER AND DECREE THIS MAITER came before the Court upon the foregoing Stipulations of the parties. 12 Having considered the Stipulations and the promises set forth below, the Court hereby ORDERS, 13 ; ADJCDGES, and DECREES as follows: 11 15 I L 2. 16 This Court has jurisdiction over the parties and subject matter of this action. Each signatory for· the parties certifies for that party that he or she is authorized to enter into the agreen1ents set forth below. l7 18 3. 19 This Amended Consent Decree applies to and binds the parties and their successors and assigns. 20 21 4. I · This Amended Consent Decree and any injunctive relief ordered within will 22 I 23 I, Martin Luther King Jr. Way S., Seattle, WA 98178 ("Facility"), which is subject to National apply to the operation, oversight, or both by Steel er of its facility located at or about 1002 I i 24 i) Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit No. WAR125358 ("NPDES permit"). 25 ii 26 5. This Amended Consent Decree is a full and complete settlement and release of all the claims in the complaint, the sixty-day notice and all other claims known and unknown, I i A..M:ENDED CONSENT DECREE [PROPOSED] ,i No. 14-729-RSL I p. 3 I, Smith & Lowney, pJJ.c. 2317 East John St. Seattle, Washington 98112 (206) 86-0-2883 Case 2:14-cv-00729-RSL Document 22 Filed 06/09/17 Page 5 of 10 1 contingent or otherwise, for any acts or omissions, existing as of the date of entry of this 2 Amended Consent Decree, that could be asserted under the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. §§ 1251- 3 1387, arising from operations of the Facility against Steeler, its subsidiaries, employees, agents, 4 successors and assigns. These claims are released and dismissed with prejudice. 5 6. 7 8 This Amended Consent Decree is a settlement of disputed facts and law. 7. 6 Steeler agrees to the following terms and conditions in full and complete satisfaction of all the claims covered by this Amended Consent Decree: 9 a. 10 Steder will comply fully with all conditions of its NPDES Permit and any successor, modified, or replacement permit authorizing discharges of stormwater 11 associated with industrial activity from the Facility; 12 b. No later than July 1, 2017, Steeler will have its consultant update its 13 stormwater pollution prevention plan ("SWPPP") to meet the requirements of the 2015 14 ISGP, correct the deficiencies, and incorporate the requirements of the Lean Engineering 15 Report and provide Soundkeeper with an electronic copy of the updated SWPPP; 16 17 c. 18 No later than July 1, 2017, Steeler will have its consultant revise its Operation & Maintenance (O&M) Manual to accurately reflect the new treatment system 19 and all associated Best Management Practices (BMPs) and required ongoing maintenance 20 and provide Soundkeeper with an electronic copy of the revised O&M Manual.· 21 d. 22 Steeler will continue to monitor its stormwater discharges from its outfal~ 23 and conduct process sampling inside the system to evaluate the efficacy of the various 24 treatment layers, at least once per month through Dec.ember 31, 2017, subject to a 25 stormwater discharge event occurring during the month, to determine whether the Lean 26 Engineering Report improvements eliminate exceedances of the benchmarks. For the AMENDED CONSENT DECREE [PROPOSED] No. 14-729-RSL p.4 023 002 nf093s03wd II Smith & Lowney, p.1.1.c. 2317 East John St. Seattle, Washington 98112 (206) 860-2883 Case 2:14-cv-00729-RSL Document 22 Filed 06/09/17 Page 6 of 10 1 purposes of this subparagraph, a valid sample is one taken within the first 12 hours of a 2 stormwater discharge event and that is representative of the discharge, and otherwise taken 3 and analyzed in conformity with the requirements ofNPDES permit condition S4. For the 4 purposes of this subparagraph, Steel er may average monitoring results of multiple valid 5 samples that are taken within the same month. Steeler must provide all sampling data to 6 Soundkeeper no later than the 15th day of the month following each sample. 7 e. 8 Steeler agrees to waive ISGP condition S8.D5(e), and not to request an 9 extension or waiver pursuant to ISGP condition S8.D5(c). If Steeler exceeds three 10 benchmarks in 2017, Steeler agrees that such failures will trigger the requirement to 11 engineer and install additional treatment best management practices (BMPs) with the goal 12 of achieving the applicable benchmark values. In accordance with ISGP condition 13 S8.D.3(b), Steeler must submit an engineering report detailing the new treatment BMPs no 14 15 later than May 15, 2018. In accordance with ISGP condition S8.D5, Steeler must install 16 and implement the new treatment BMPs no later than September 30, 2018; 17 f. 18 Steeler will allow Soundkeeper and its expert(s) to inspect the facility at a mutually agreeable time to observe Steeler' s implementation of this Consent Decree, 19 including compliance with the new SWPPP, O&M Manual, BMPs, and the NPDES 20 permits, subject to an access agreement mutually agreed upon by the Parties. Steeler will 21 pay for the reasonable costs of Soundkeeper's expert(s) for this inspection, not to exceed 22 $2,000, within fourteen (14) days of receipt of Soundkeeper' s expert's invoice. 23 g. 24 25 For a period of three (3) years commencing on the effective date of this Amended Consent Decree, Steeler will, no later than the discharge monitoring report due 26 dates specified by the Permit, send to Soundkeeper, without charge, copies of all AMENDED CONSENT DECREE [PROPOSED] No. 14-729-RSL p.5 023 002 nf093s03wd Smith & Lowney, p.l.l.c. 2317 East John St. Seattle, Washington 98112 (206) 860-2883 Case 2:14-cv-00729-RSL Document 22 Filed 06/09/17 Page 7of10 1 documents, including but not limited to discharge monitoring reports, correspondence, 2 engineering reports, electronically transmitted information, and inspection reports, 3 concerning the Permit or any successor, modified, or replacement permit that Steeler has · 4 transmitted to, or received from the Washington Department of Ecology since the previous 5 submission to Sound.keeper under this paragraph. 6 8. 7 Not later than seven (7) days after the entry of this Amended Consent Decree by 8 this Court, Steeler will pay twenty five hundred dollars ($2,500) to the Rose Foundation for the 9 Environment for a project or projects to improve or protect the water quality of Puget Sound as 10 11 described in Appendix II to this Consent Decree. Checks will be made to the order of and delivered to: Rose Foundation for the Environment, 1970 Broadway, Suite 600, Oakland, CA 12 94612-2218. Payment will include the following reference in a cover letter or on the check: 13 14 15 "Amended Consent Decree, Puget Sound.keeper Alliance v. Steeler, Inc." A copy of the check and cover letter, if any, will be sent simultaneously to Sound.keeper and its counsel. 9. 16 Within seven (7) days of entry of this Amended Consent Decree by the Court, 17 Steeler shall pay Soundkeeper' s actual litigation fees, expenses, and costs (including 18 reasonable attorney and expert witness fees) incurred in this matter in the amount of four 19 thousand five hundred dollars ($4,500) by check payable and mailed to Smith & Lowney, 20 PLLC, 2317 East John St., Seattle, WA 98112, attn: Richard A. Smith. Steeler's payment 21 22 shall be in full and complete satisfaction of any claims Sound.keeper has or may have, either 23 legal or equitable, and of any kind or nature whatsoever, for fees, expenses, and costs incurred 24 in the resolution of the consent decree dispute issues arising prior to the date of the proposed 25 Amended Consent Decree. 26 10. This Court retains jurisdiction over this matter. And, while this Amended Consent AMENDED CONSENT DECREE [PROPOSED] No. 14-729-RSL p.6 023 002 nf093s03wd Smith & Lowney, p.1.1.c. 2317 East John St. Seattle, Washington 98112 (206) 860-2883 Case 2:14-cv-00729-RSL Document 22 Filed 06/09/17 Page 8 of 10 1 Decree remains in force, this case may be reopened without filing fee so that the parties may 2 apply to the Court for any further order that may be necessary to enforce compliance with this 3 4 decree or to resolve any dispute regarding the terms or conditions of this Amended Consent Decree. In the event of a dispute regarding implementation of, or compliance with, this Amended 5 6 7 Consent Decree, the parties must first attempt to resolve the dispute by meeting to discuss the dispute and any suggested measures for resolving the dispute as provided in section II.17 of this 8 Amended Consent Decree. The provisions of section 505(d) of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. § 9 1365(d), regarding awards of costs of litigation (including reasonable attorney and expert witness 10 fees) to any prevailing or substantially prevailing party, will apply to any proceedings seeking to 11 enforce the terms and conditions of this Amended Consent Decree. 12 11. The parties recognize that, pursuant to 33 U.S.C. § 1365(c)(3), no consent 13 14 judgment can be entered in a Clean Water Act suit in which the United States is not a party prior 15 to 45 days following the receipt of a copy of the proposed consent judgment by the U.S. Attorney 16 General and the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Therefore, 17 upon the filing of this Amended Consent Decree by the parties, Soundkeeperwill serve copies of 18 it upon the Administrator of the EPA and the Attorney General, with copy to Steeler. 19 12. This Amended Consent Decree will take effect upon entry by this Court. It 20 terminates three (3) years after that date, or 90 days after the parties' completion of all obligations 21 22 imposed by this Amended Consent Decree, whichever is later. 23 13. Both parties have participated in drafting this Amended Consent Decree. 24 14. This Amended Consent Decree may be modified only upon the approval of the 15. If for any reason the court should decline to approve this Amended Consent 25 26 Court. AMENDED CONSENT DECREE [PROPOSED] No. 14-729-RSL p. 7 023 002 nf093s03wd Smith & Lowney, p.1.1.c. 2317 East John St Seattle, Washington 98112 (206) 860-2883 Case 2:14-cv-00729-RSL Document 22 Filed 06/09/17 Page 9of10 1 Decree in the form presented, this Amended Consent Decree is voidable at the discretion of either 2 party. The parties agree to continue negotiations in good faith in an attempt to cure any objection 3 raised by the court to entry of this Amended Consent Decree. 4 16. Notifications required by this Amended Consent Decree must be in writing. The 5 6 7 sending party may use any of the following methods of delivery: (1) personal delivery; (2) registered or certified mail, in each case return receipt requested and postage prepaid; (3) a 8 nationally recognized overnight courier, with all fees prepaid; or ( 4) e-mail. For a notice or other 9 communication regarding this decree to be valid, it must be delivered to the receiving party at the 10 one or more addresses listed below or to any other address designated by the receiving party in a 11 notice in accordance with this paragraph 17. 12 13 14 15 16 if to Puget Soundkeeper Alliance: Katelyn Kinn 130 Nickerson Street, Suite 107 Seattle, WA 98109 email: katelyn@pugetsoundkeeper.org 17 18 19 20 21 22 and to: Richard Smith Smith & Lowney PLLC 231 7 East John St. Seattle, WA 98112 email: rasmithwa@igc.org 23 if to Steeler: Mike Dollard 24 and to: 25 Stephen R. Parkinson JOYCE ZIKER PARKINSON, PLLC 1601 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2040 26 AMENDED CONSENT DECREE [PROPOSED] No. 14-729-RSL p. 8 023 002 nf093S03wd Smith & Lowney, pJ.1.c. 2317 East John St. Seattle, Washington 98112 (206) 860-2883 Case 2:14-cv-00729-RSL Document 22 1 2 3 4 ·5 6 7 Filed 06/09/17 Page 10of10 Seattle, WA 98101 Email: sparkinson@jzplaw.com A notice or other communication regarding this Amended Consent Decree will be effective when received unless the notice or other communication is received after 5:00 p.m. on a business day, or on a day that is not a business day, then the notice will be deemed received at 9:00 a,m. on the next business day. A notice or other communication will be deemed to have been .received: (a) if it is delivered in person or sent by registered or certified mail or by nationally 8 recognized overnight courier, upon receipt as indicated by the date on the signed receipt; or (b) if 9 10 11 the receiving party rejects or otherwise refuses to accept it, or if it cannot be delivered because of a change in address for which no notice was given, then upon that rejection, refusal, or inability to 12 deliver; or (c) for notice provided via e-mail, upon receipt of a response by the party providing 13 notice or other communication regarding this Amended Consent Decree. 14 15 DATED this ~ ~yof ~~. , 2017. 16 17 HON. ROBERTS. LASNIK UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 18 19 20 21 Presented by: JOYCE ZIKER PARKINSON, PLLC SMITH & LOWNEY, PLLC By sl Stephen R. Parkinson Stephen R. Parkinson, WSBA #21111 Attorneys for Defendant Steeler, Inc. By s/ Richard A. Smith Richard A. Smith WSBA #21788 Meredith A. Crafton WSBA #46558 Attorneys for Plaintiff Puget Soundkeeper Alliance 22 23 24 25 26 AMENDED CONSENT DECREE [PROPOSED] No. 14-729-RSL p.9 023 002 nf093s03wd Smith & Lowney, pJ.l.c. 2317 East John St. Seattle, Washington 98112 (206) 860-2883

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