Waste Action Project v. Astro Auto Wrecking, LLC

Filing 91

FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW by U.S. District Judge John C Coughenour. (RS)

THE HONORABLE JOHN C. COUGHENOUR

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON
AT SEATTLE

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WASTE ACTION PROJECT,

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Plaintiff,
v.

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CASE NO. C15-0796-JCC
FINDINGS OF FACT AND
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

ASTRO AUTO WRECKING, LLC,

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Defendant.

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This matter was tried to the Court from February 27, 2017, to March 2, 2017. The claim

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presented for adjudication was whether Defendant Astro Auto Wrecking was in violation of

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sections 301(a) and 402 of the Clean Water Act (CWA), 33 U.S.C. §§ 1311(a) and 1342, for

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failing to comply with the terms and conditions of its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination

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System (NPDES) permits. After the bench trial and pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure

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52(a), the Court makes the following findings of fact and conclusions of law:

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I.

FINDINGS OF FACT

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1. This is a Clean Water Act (CWA) citizen lawsuit in which Plaintiff Waste Action Project

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(WAP) alleges that Defendant Astro Auto Wrecking (Astro) violated and continues to

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violate federal law by failing to comply with numerous provisions of its NPDES permit.

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2. Plaintiff Waste Action Project is a non-profit corporation organized under the laws of the
State of Washington. It is a membership organization dedicated to protecting and
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preserving the environment of Washington State, especially the quality of its waters.
3. Defendant Astro Auto Wrecking operates a 5.15 acre auto wrecking, recycling, and

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storage facility in Western Washington, at 37307 Enchanted Parkway South, near Federal

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Way, Washington. The facility comprises a shop with indoor repair areas and two roofed

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but open-air vehicle bays, a mobile outdoor car crusher, auto fluid storage areas, scrap

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piles, and vehicle storage. The entry to the facility is paved with asphalt, and the roofed

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vehicle bays are concrete. The other outdoor areas of the facility are bare soil. Some areas

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are partially covered by quarry spalls. As part of its typical activities, Astro processes,

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dismantles, drains, stores, and crushes vehicles. Astro has operated the facility since

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2000.

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4. The facility’s western property line runs along the top of a ravine. At the bottom of the

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ravine is the east fork of Hylebos Creek, which is a tributary to the Hylebos Waterway

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and Commencement Bay of Puget Sound. Testimony at trial established that water flows

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in the east fork approximately nine months of the year.

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5. The east fork of Hylebos Creek is listed as impaired for copper, bacteria, and dissolved

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oxygen under section 303(d) of the CWA. The copper and bacteria listings are in

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Category 5, the most advanced classification, indicating that data show violations of the

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relevant state water quality standard that must be addressed with a total maximum daily

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load (“TMDL”) specification or a water quality improvement project.

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6. Plaintiff presented two witnesses who testified that there are known sources of zinc and

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copper associated with Astro Auto’s operations, including automotive chassis, engines,

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and other metallic vehicle parts handled and stored outdoors, petroleum products which

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often contain copper additives, brake pads, and tires.

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7. The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) granted Astro coverage under the

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Washington Industrial Stormwater General Permit (ISGP) for discharges of stormwater

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associated with industrial activity from the facility. General permits were issued in 2010
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and 2015.
8. Astro completed its first stormwater pollution prevention plan (SWPPP) in April 2011,

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which was the effective SWPPP for the facility until it was replaced by the May 2015

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SWPPP.

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9. The statute of limitations in this case extends to March 22, 2010.

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10. Waste Action Project satisfied the CWA’s pre-suit notice of intent to sue requirement to

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maintain this case.

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11. Prior to trial, the parties stipulated to injunctive relief.

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12. On December 6, 2016, this Court issued an order granting in part Plaintiff’s motion for

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summary judgment. The Court held that:
a. WAP had standing to bring suit, including fulfillment of the notice and ongoing
violation requirements,

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b. Astro failed to implement the BMPs of a secondary containment for fluid storage

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from May 18, 2015, onward; a stormwater recycling system from October 31,

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2015, onward; and keeping the hoods closed on stored junk vehicles from

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September 1, 2015, onward,

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c. Astro failed to sample stormwater discharge in the first and fourth quarters of
2015 and the first quarter of 2016,

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d. Astro failed to indicate compliance status on 40 monthly inspection reports,

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e. Astro failed to prepare 26 reports of non-compliance and remedial actions,

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f. Astro failed to prepare accurate and complete annual reports in 2011 and 2014,

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and
g. Astro failed to fulfill corrective action requirements in 2011 and 2014.
13. In that order, the Court declined to grant summary judgment as to Astro’s alleged
a. Failure to implement Best Management Practices (BMPs) of a bermed concrete
containment pad for the vehicle crusher, cover and containment for waste and
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scrap piles, grading and containment pads to reduce pollutant exposure, and

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contaminated stormwater conveyance and treatment,

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b. Failure to submit Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs) in 15 quarters, and

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c. Violation of the copper effluent limits.

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14. The Court’s order found Astro liable for at least 1,595 distinct violations of the CWA and
left the remaining allegations to be decided at trial.
Failure to Implement BMPs

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15. Defendant presented testimony from its expert Mr. Neugebauer, that the berm and trench

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system he designed was equally as effective as the BMPs required by Astro’s SWPPP.

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However, Plaintiff presented the testimony of Ms. Hickey and Mr. Young, who testified

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to discharges with an oily sheen and petroleum smell coming from the southern end of

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the facility.

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16. Mr. McMilian testified that he believed the water came from the housing development

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and aggregated on the southern side of Astro’s fence. However, given the pictures

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entered into evidence at trial, and the video showing the water flowing south from under

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Astro’s southern fence, the Court finds it is more likely than not that the water constituted

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a discharge from the southern end of the facility.

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17. Mr. McMilian testified that the berm and trench system did not extend to the southern

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portion of the facility. He testified that he did not extend it to the southern portion of the

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property because he ran out of money.

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18. Defendant presented testimony that the oily sheen on the water coming from Astro could

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have been iron-reducing bacteria, which presents similarly to petroleum on water.

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However, Plaintiff presented testimony that the water smelled of petroleum. Defendant

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did not refute this or present testimony that iron-reducing bacteria smell like petroleum

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products. Combined with the pictures and videos showing an oily sheen, the Court finds

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that it is more likely than not that the discharges coming from Astro’s facility contained
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petroleum or petroleum byproducts.

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19. The Court further finds that the measures currently in place are not as equally effective as

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the BMPs required by the SWPPP, specifically (1) a bermed concrete containment pad

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for the vehicle crusher, (2) cover and containment for waste and scrap piles, (3) grading

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and containment pads to reduce pollutant exposure, and (4) contaminated stormwater

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conveyance and treatment BMPs.

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Failure to Submit DMRs in 15 Quarters
20. Defendant submitted into evidence records of every report that Plaintiff alleged was not

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filed. Plaintiff’s witness from Ecology could not rule out human error in filings before

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May 2015 and could not explain why, if the reports were sent, Ecology would not have

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them in the database. The Court finds that Plaintiff did not show it is more likely than not

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that Astro failed to submit the discharge monitoring reports in 15 quarters.

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Violation of the Copper Effluent Limits

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21. The effluent limit for copper is 2.7 parts per billion.

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22. In 2011, Astro sampled a stormwater discharge that contained copper in the amount of 36

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parts per billion.

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23. The only other sample tested for copper listed a concentration of .054 parts per billion.

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24. Plaintiff’s expert testified that this was a reporting error because equipment that measures

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copper in parts per billion would not be able to detect a reading that low. He testified that

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he thought the actual result was actually 5.4 or 54 parts per billion (both above the

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effluent limit) but said that was only speculation.

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25. Defendant’s expert testified that there are laboratories capable of testing for copper
measured in parts per trillion, which would be able to explain the reading.

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26. Neither side submitted the original lab report into evidence.

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27. Neither side testified as to which lab performed the test and if that lab tested for copper in

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parts per trillion.
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28. Plaintiff did not independently test any discharges. The only test results are from 2011

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and 2014. The Court finds that Plaintiff did not carry its burden of showing more likely

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than not that the test result from 2014 was erroneous, or that any subsequent discharge

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exceeded the copper effluent limit.

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Failure to Sample Discharges in 19 Quarters
29. Plaintiff submitted evidence demonstrating that any precipitation event equal to or larger

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than 0.68 inches in 24 hours is sufficient to produce a discharge of stormwater from the

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facility that can be sampled. The Court finds this evidence credible.

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30. Precipitation data from SeaTac International Airport is applicable to the facility and from

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May 21, 2010 to February 9, 2017, there were at least 115 days with at least 0.68 inches

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of precipitation measured at SeaTac International Airport.

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31. Using that data, the Court finds there were 19 quarters in which there would have been at

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least one discharge that should have been sampled. Astro did not sample any discharges

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during those 19 quarters.

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Defendant’s Financial Status

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32. Astro has operated at a loss in every year from 2010 to the present.

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33. Astro has already expended over $100,000 attempting to comply with its permit.

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34. Mr. McMilian testified that the largest fine Astro could sustain and stay in business was

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$50,000.
35. Plaintiff did not present sufficient evidence to demonstrate Astro financially benefited
from its CWA violations.
Stipulated Injunctive Relief
36. The following injunctive relief is economically and technically feasible for Astro, in the

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public interest, appropriate to remedy any Clean Water Action violations WAP alleges

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considering the balance of hardships between the parties, and within the Court’s statutory

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authority to fashion an appropriate equitable remedy under 33 U.S.C. §§ 1365(a) and (f):
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a. Astro will comply with the CWA as it relates to discharges of industrial stormwater from

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the Facility, all conditions of the ISGP and any successor, modified, or replacement NPDES

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permit. However, nothing in this stipulation section 36 shall be construed to (i) allow WAP

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to prosecute allegations of a separate CWA violation as a violation of the injunctive relief

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rather than as a separate claim; or (ii) prejudice WAP in any separate prosecution of

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allegations of separate CWA violations at the facility;

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b. Not later than March 31, 2018, Astro will install (i) an impervious concrete pad

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surrounded by a concrete berm for areas where vehicles are processed and/or drained of

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fluids; (ii) an impervious concrete pad surrounded by a concrete berm for the car crushing

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area; and (iii) an oil/water separator consistent with the design prepared for Astro by Land

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Technologies dated April 15, 2011, and stamped by registered engineer Paul Musante;

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c. Unless stormwater infiltration proves “Complicated” due to soil contamination or

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groundwater, as that term is defined in subparagraph (d-ii) of this stipulation section 36,

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Astro will, not later than March 31, 2019, complete installation of stormwater collection,

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conveyance, and infiltration devices, including a properly engineered infiltration bay, all

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consistent with the design prepared for Astro by Land Technologies dated April 15, 2011,

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and stamped by registered engineer Paul Musante;

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d. Not later than October 31, 2018, Astro will complete the following testing of the installed

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improvements:

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(i)

collect at least eight (8) soil samples from the upper six inches of soil in the area

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Astro plans to excavate as part of construction of the infiltration bay described in

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subparagraph (c) of this stipulation. The eight sample locations will be distributed across the

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area so as to be representative. Astro may composite the eight samples into no fewer than

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two samples for laboratory analysis. Astro will have such samples analyzed for pH,

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conductivity, and the metals, organics, and petroleum hydrocarbons listed in Table 8 of

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condition S6.C.2.e. of the 2015 General Permit. The analysis will be capable of detecting
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whether the foregoing pollutants exceed the quantitation levels in Table 8 of the NPDES

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permit;

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(ii.)

Stormwater infiltration is considered “Complicated” for the purposes of this

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stipulation if (1) any soil sample collected pursuant to subparagraph (d)(i) of this stipulation

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section 36 exceeds 2015 General Permit thresholds; or (2) groundwater is encountered in the

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area where Astro Auto plans to construct infiltration facilities;

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(iii.)

If stormwater infiltration at the Facility proves to be Complicated, Astro will

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notify WAP within fourteen (14) days of receipt of the report or discovery of groundwater

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that triggers this condition and, within 90 days of providing such notice, will propose and

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provide to WAP an alternative stormwater treatment system approved by a qualified

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stormwater professional that will comply with all applicable NPDES permit requirements.

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Upon joint approval of an alternative treatment system, Astro will install that system no later

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than May 17, 2019, or, upon joint approval of an alternative infiltration location, Astro will

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implement the infiltration facilities at the approved location not later than May 17, 2019;

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e. Following each completion date listed in this section, Astro will permit WAP to enter the

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Facility to verify completion of any of the tasks listed in subparagraphs (a) through (d) of this

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stipulation section 36, provided that WAP provides a minimum of seven (7) days’ written

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notice of said visit and a mutually agreed time for said visit can be established;

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f. Within six (6) months of completing the tasks listed in subparagraphs (b) and (c) of this

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stipulation section 36 (and (d) if it becomes applicable), Astro will complete an updated

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SWPPP and transmit a copy to WAP.

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//

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//
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II.

CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

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1. The Court has jurisdiction over the parties and the subject matter of this litigation.

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2. Venue is properly set in the United States District Court, Western District of

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Washington pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1391, because Astro Auto Wrecking is located in

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this district.

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3. “The citizen plaintiffs in a [CWA] suit are suing as private attorneys general, and they

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seek enforcement of federal law . . . . Any benefit from the lawsuit, whether injunctive or

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monetary, inures to the public or to the United States.” Sierra Club v. Chevron U.S.A.,

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Inc., 834 F.2d 1517, 1522 (9th Cir. 1987) (quotations omitted).

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4. Plaintiff has standing in this case and complied with the CWA’s requirements for
maintaining a citizen suit.

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Violations of the CWA

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5. The Court does not accept Astro’s affirmative defense that the berm and trench system

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was equally as effective as the required BMPs.
6. Astro is in violation of sections 301(a) and 402 of the CWA, 33 U.S.C. §§ 1311(a) and

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1342, for failure to implement the following BMPs required by the SWPPP: (1) a bermed

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concrete containment pad for the vehicle crusher, (2) cover and containment for waste

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and scrap piles, (3) grading and containment pads to reduce pollutant exposure, and (4)

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contaminated stormwater conveyance and treatment BMPs.

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7. The failure to implement these BMPs has persisted at least since the date Astro received

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coverage under the ISGP, May 21, 2010. That is approximately 2,400 days, which

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constitutes 2,400 violations of the CWA.

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8. Astro is in violation of sections 301(a) and 402 of the CWA, 33 U.S.C. §§ 1311(a) and

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1342, for failure to complete a Level 1 corrective action for oil sheen for the fourth

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quarter of 2015. This constitutes one violation of the CWA.

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9. Astro is in violation of sections 301(a) and 402 of the CWA, 33 U.S.C. §§ 1311(a) and
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1342, for failure to sample stormwater discharge for 19 quarters. This constitutes 19

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distinct violations of the CWA.

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10. Plaintiff did not carry its burden to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that Astro

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failed to submit discharge monitoring reports for 15 quarters. This claim is dismissed

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with prejudice.

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11. Plaintiff’s claim that Astro violated sections 301(a) and 402 of the CWA, 33 U.S.C.

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§§ 1311(a) and 1342, by discharging stormwater containing copper in excess of the

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effluent limit in its NPDES permit fails and is dismissed with prejudice.

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Remedies

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12. The Court has broad statutory authority to fashion an appropriate equitable remedy under

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the CWA. See 33 U.S.C. §§ 1365(a) and (f). The CWA “permits the district court to order

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that relief it considers necessary to secure prompt compliance with the Act.” Weinberger

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v. Romero-Barcelo, 456 U.S. 305, 320 (1982).

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13. The central purpose of CWA penalties is deterrence—both to the specific violator and

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generally to the regulated community. Catskill Mountains Chapter of Trout Unlimited,

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Inc. v. NYC, 244 F. Supp. 2d 41, 48 (N.D.N.Y. 2003).

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14. The CWA authorizes civil penalties up to $37,500 per day of violation for each violation

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committed through November 2, 2015, and $51,570 per day of violation for each

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violation committed after November 2, 2015. 33 U.S.C. §§ 1319(d), 1365(a); 40 C.F.R.

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§ 19.4.

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15. Astro is liable for roughly 4,015 violations of the CWA, totaling upwards of $150 million
in fines.
16. The Court ORDERS the stipulated injunctive relief outlined in section 36 of the Findings
of Fact.

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17. Although the CWA authorizes the Court to impose a substantial penalty on Astro, a large

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penalty will only hamper Astro’s efforts to comply with the stipulated injunctive relief
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and implement its Land Technology Plan. Further, a substantial penalty will most likely

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put Astro out of business. Under different circumstances, the Court would not hesitate to

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impose a substantial penalty for CWA violations; here, however, a substantial penalty

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will not further the purposes of the CWA.

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18. The Court therefore ORDERS a deferred penalty of $50,000. Astro is to use that $50,000

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to fulfill the conditions of the stipulated injunctive relief outlined in section 36 of the

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Findings of Fact. If, by November 2019, Astro has not fulfilled the conditions of the

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injunctive relief, the Court will impose the $50,000 penalty.

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19. The Court retains jurisdiction over this matter to ensure Astro’s compliance with the
stipulated injunctive relief.
20. Waste Action Project is a substantially prevailing party and entitled to recovery of costs
of litigation under 33 U.S.C. § 1365(d).
21. The Court ORDERS Plaintiff to file a detailed accounting of these expenses by April 28,

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2017. If Defendant has any objection to this accounting, it must file it by May 12, 2017.

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Plaintiff’s reply, if any, is due by May 26, 2017. If the Court finds Plaintiff’s expenses

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reasonable, it will order Defendant to pay them in full.

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DATED this 4th day of April, 2017.

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John C. Coughenour
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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