Pacific Southwest, Region 9
Serving: Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Pacific Islands, Tribal Nations
Notice of Issuance of Administrative Complaint, Assessment of Clean Water Act Class II Administrative Penalty, and Opportunity to Comment in the Matter of Muranaka Farm, Inc.
Publish Date: September 17, 2008
Public Comment Closes: October 17, 2008
In the Matter of Muranaka Farm, Inc., Docket No. CWA-09-2008-0005
The United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region 9 ("EPA") is authorized under Section 309(g) of the Clean Water Act (CWA), 33 U.S.C. § 1319(g), to assess civil penalties after providing the persons subject to the penalty notice of the proposed penalty and an opportunity for a hearing, and after providing interested persons public notice of the proposed penalty and a reasonable opportunity to comment on its issuance.
Under Section 309(g), any person who, without authorization, discharges a pollutant to a navigable water, as those terms are defined in Section 502 of the Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1362, may be administratively assessed a civil penalty of up to $157,500 for a Class II penalty by EPA.
Class II proceedings for Section 309(g) of the CWA are conducted in accordance with the "Consolidated Rules of Practice Governing the Administrative Assessment of Civil Penalties and the Revocation /Termination or Suspension of Permits," 40 C.F.R. Part 22, 64 Fed. Reg. 40176 (July 23, 1999).
EPA hereby gives notice that it has filed an "Administrative Complaint, Findings of Violation, Notice of Proposed Order Assessing A Civil Penalty, and Notice of Opportunity To Request a Hearing" ("Complaint") in the Matter of Muranaka Farm, Inc., Docket No. CWA-09-2008-0005.
Respondent's name and mailing address:
Muranaka Farm, Inc.
11018 E. Los Angeles Avenue
Moorpark, CA 93021
Proposed Penalty Pursuant to EPA's Authority under Section 309(g) of the CWA, 33 U.S.C. § 1319(g): Seventy five thousand dollars ($75,000)
Date EPA Filed Complaint with Regional Hearing Clerk: September 16, 2008
Allegations in the Complaint: EPA alleges that Respondent discharged dredged and fill materials to waters of the United States without a permit in violation of Section 301(a) of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. Section 1311(a). The discharges occurred in a portion of Calleguas Creek, also referred to as Arroyo Las Posas, that runs through a property owned and controlled by Respondent located at 11018 E. Los Angeles Avenue, Moorpark, CA 93021
Name, Mailing Address, Telephone Number, and email of Regional Hearing Clerk:
Danielle Carr
U.S. EPA, Region 9
75 Hawthorne Street ORC-1
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 972-3871
r9hearingclerk@epa.gov
Please provide the following information along with your comments and submit them in accordance with Part 22: your full name, mailing address, telephone number, email, the Docket Number for this matter (CWA-09-2008-0005), and a concise statement of the basis for and relevant facts supporting any comment.
Persons wishing to comment on this proposal to assess a civil penalty, including comments on the amount or basis of the proposed penalty, are invited to submit a statement to the EPA Regional Administrator, attention of the Regional Hearing Clerk (address and email above), within 30 days of the date of this public notice.
All comments received within this 30-day period will be considered by EPA before it issues the final order assessing a penalty. If the 30th day of the comment period falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or federal holiday, the deadline for commenting shall be extended to the next business day. See 40 C.F.R. 22.7(a). In order to provide opportunity for public comment and in accordance with 40 C.F.R. 22.45(b), EPA will not take final action in this proceeding prior to forty (40) days after issuance of this notice.
For More Information
Persons wishing to receive a copy of Part 22 or review the proposed Complaint (PDF) (12pp, 500K) (also available on EPA, Region 9's website) may contact the Regional Hearing Clerk: (address and email above). During the comment period, the Complaint may also be inspected during business hours at the office of the Regional Hearing Clerk.AO-Complaint-Muranaka Farm (PDF) (12pp, 500K)