Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-01487/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-01487-4/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 893
Nature of Suit: Environmental Matters
Cause of Action: 33:1365 Environmental Matters

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[PROPOSED] CONSENT DECREE – Case No. C 07-04187 EDL 

SHANA LAZEROW (SBN 195491) 

Email: SLazerow@cbecal.org 

ADRIENNE L. BLOCH (SBN 215471) 

Email: ABloch@cbecal.org

COMMUNITIES FOR A BETTER ENVIRONMENT 

1440 Broadway, Suite 701 

Oakland, California 94612 

Tel: (510) 302-0430 

Fax: (510) 302-0438 

Attorneys for Plaintiff 

COMMUNITIES FOR A BETTER ENVIRONMENT 

CHRISTOPHER J. CARR (SBN 184076) 

Email: CCarr@mofo.com

SHAYE DIVELEY (SBN 215602) 

Email: SDiveley@mofo.com

MORRISON & FOERSTER LLP

425 Market Street 

San Francisco, California 94105-2482 

Telephone: 415.268.7000 

Facsimile: 415.268.7522 

Attorneys for Defendant 

SYAR INDUSTRIES, INC. 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

COMMUNITIES FOR A BETTER 

ENVIRONMENT, a California non-profit 

corporation, 

Plaintiff, 

v. 

SYAR INDUSTRIES, INC., a corporation, 

Defendant. 

Case No. C 07 01487 EDL 

[PROPOSED] CONSENT DECREE 

Judge: Hon. Elizabeth D. LaPorte 

(Federal Water Pollution Control Act, 

33 U.S.C. §§ 1251 et seq.) 

Case 3:07-cv-01487-EDL Document 25 Filed 12/21/07 Page 1 of 17
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[PROPOSED] CONSENT DECREE – Case No. C 07-04187 EDL 1

WHEREAS, Communities for a Better Environment (“CBE”) is a non-profit public 

benefit corporation that works to protect and enhance the environment and public health 

primarily in California’s urban areas including San Francisco Bay; 

WHEREAS, Syar Industries, Inc. (“Syar”) is a corporation organized under the laws of 

the State of California with its corporate headquarters located in Napa, California, which leases 

the approximately 2-acre property located at Richmond, California (hereinafter “Facility”); 

WHEREAS, storm water discharges associated with industrial activity are regulated 

pursuant to the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System ("NPDES") General Permit 

No. CAS000001 [State Water Resources Control Board], Water Quality Order No. 91-13-DWQ 

(as amended by Water Quality Order 92-12 DWQ and 97-03-DWQ), issued pursuant to Section 

402 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, 33 U.S.C. §1342 (hereinafter “General 

Permit”); 

WHEREAS, on August 22, 2006, CBE served Syar, the United States Environmental 

Protection Agency, the California State Water Resources Control Board (“State Board”), the 

Bay Area Regional Water Quality Control Board (“Regional Board”), the United States 

Attorney General and other individuals and entities with a notice of intent to file suit (“60-Day 

Notice”) under Federal Water Pollution Control Act (“Clean Water Act” or “the Act”) sections 

505(a)(1) and (f), 33 U.S.C. § 1365(b)(1)(A), alleging violations of the Act and the General 

Permit at the Facility; 

WHEREAS, CBE filed a complaint (“Complaint”) against Syar in the United States 

District Court, Northern District Court of California on March 14, 2007; 

WHEREAS, CBE contends in its 60-Day Notice and Complaint that Syar has repeatedly 

discharged polluted storm water in violation of the Clean Water Act and discharged pollutants 

without NPDES permit authorization. Syar denies all allegations in the 60-Day Notice and 

Complaint; 

WHEREAS, this Consent Decree shall be submitted to the United States Department of 

Justice for the statutory review period pursuant to 33 U.S.C. §1365(c) and shall thereafter be 

submitted for approval by the Court; 

Case 3:07-cv-01487-EDL Document 25 Filed 12/21/07 Page 2 of 17
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[PROPOSED] CONSENT DECREE – Case No. C 07-04187 EDL 2

WHEREAS, all actions taken by Syar pursuant to this Consent Decree shall comply 

with all applicable federal, state, and local rules and regulations; and 

WHEREAS, the Parties agree that it is in their mutual interest to resolve this matter 

without further litigation; 

IT IS HEREBY STIPULATED BETWEEN THE PARTIES AND ORDERED AND 

DECREED BY THE COURT, AS FOLLOWS: 

I. COMMITMENT OF DEFENDANT 

1. To reduce or prevent pollutants associated with industrial activity in storm water and 

authorized non-storm water and to eliminate alleged unauthorized non-storm water discharges 

from the Facility into the waters of the United States, Syar shall implement appropriate 

structural and non-structural Best Management Practices (“BMPs”) as required by the General 

Permit and as described more fully below. 

2. Designated Discharge Points and Sampling: Within thirty (30) days of the date on which 

each Party signs this Agreement (“Effective Date”), to the extent not already implemented, Syar 

shall identify in its Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (“SWPPP”) for the Facility every 

point at which storm water is discharged from the Facility. Specifically, Syar shall verify the 

hydraulic continuity of runoff from the northern portions of the facility with the storm drain 

system Syar currently monitors and verify that the monitoring point is representative of runoff 

from the facility. To the extent not already implemented, each Designated Discharge Point 

shall be numbered and clearly labeled on the Site Map set forth in the SWPPP. Within thirty 

(30) days of the Effective Date, Syar shall update the Facility SWPPP to fully describe the 

protocol for taking storm water samples. The description shall be precise with respect to 

exactly where and when the samples are to be collected. 

II. POLLUTION CONTROL MEASURES

3. Pollutant Generating Activities: Within thirty (30) days of the Effective Date, Syar shall 

update the Facility’s SWPPP to fully describe all activities that generate or potentially generate 

pollutants within the Facility’s boundaries that might be transported off the Facility via storm 

water runoff and identify the corresponding locations where storm water runoff from these 

Case 3:07-cv-01487-EDL Document 25 Filed 12/21/07 Page 3 of 17
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[PROPOSED] CONSENT DECREE – Case No. C 07-04187 EDL 3

areas would be discharged and the identity of the pollutants involved. Syar shall further denote 

the areas where pollutants are generated or potentially generated on the Facility’s Site Map. 

4. Best Management Practices: In accordance with this Consent Decree, to seek to meet 

the levels specified in Exhibit 1, Syar shall implement the following BMPs: 

a. Storm Drain Inlet/Catch Basin Inspection: Syar shall cover drop inlets throughout the 

Facility during the Dry Season (June 1 to September 30). 

b. Syar shall install structural BMPs to prevent direct runoff into vulnerable drop inlets 

(drop inlets located immediately adjacent to or below material handling areas such as conveyer 

belts or loading areas). 

c. After the Effective Date and prior to October 1, 2008 and October 1, 2009, or otherwise 

within seven (7) days of the first forecasted storm event of the rainy season (October 1 to May 

31) (“Wet Season”), Syar shall inspect all storm drain inlets at the Facility. During this 

inspection, Syar shall clean as needed each drain inlet using a vacuum or other effective 

cleaning device/method to remove dusts and solids that have entered the storm drain inlets. 

d. Syar shall inspect and take all necessary action to ensure efficacy of the BMPs at storm 

drain inlets at the Facility during the Wet Season at least weekly, after each storm, and on the 

day of or prior to any forecasted storm event that may result in discharge from the Facility. 

e. Site Sweeping and Cleaning: (i) Syar shall perform regenerative sweeping at least twice 

per month and daily sweeping as needed during the Wet Season. Sweeping and cleaning shall 

be designed to minimize tracking and other dispersal of pollutants on paved areas of the 

Facility, (ii) at least annually, Syar shall conduct a thorough inspection of the Facility and to the 

extent warranted by this inspection perform additional comprehensive site cleaning (such as a 

power wash), (iii) Syar shall not discharge any waste fluids or solid wastes generated in site 

cleaning to storm drain inlets or waterways, and (iv) Syar shall collect and dispose of all wastes 

generated during Facility cleaning and sweeping in a manner that complies with all local, state, 

and federal laws. 

f. Site Sweeping and Cleaning Log: After the Effective Date, Syar shall keep a Site 

Sweeping and Cleaning Log documenting the sweeping and any other site cleaning activity 

Case 3:07-cv-01487-EDL Document 25 Filed 12/21/07 Page 4 of 17
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[PROPOSED] CONSENT DECREE – Case No. C 07-04187 EDL 4

performed at the Facility. Syar shall make the sweeping and cleaning Log available for 

inspection at any site inspection or otherwise with two (2) business days advance request by 

CBE. The Log will include the following information: Name, Date, Area Swept (i.e. entire site 

or Garden Tract Road), Method (i.e. regen / manual). 

g. Tracking: After the Effective Date, Syar shall implement appropriate additional BMPs 

to reduce or prevent visible tracking of pollutants from the Facility by vehicle traffic to the 

extent that the sweeping and cleaning actions specified in the preceding paragraph or other 

actions required by this Consent Decree are insufficient to prevent such visible tracking. Syar 

shall sweep at least three hundred (300) feet of Garden Tract Road immediately adjacent to the 

entrance and exit of the Facility. 

h. Hazardous Waste Materials Segregation and Handling: After the Effective Date, Syar 

shall implement a system: (1) for identifying any toxic and hazardous materials handled at the 

Facility and (2) for segregating such identified materials from other materials at the Facility and 

storing all such materials under cover and on an impermeable surface, out of potential contact 

with flooding associated with storm water. Syar shall continue to maintain onsite in the same 

location as the SWPPP its Hazardous Materials Business Plan for the Facility, which includes 

the Material Safety Data Sheets for all the potentially toxic or harmful materials handled, used, 

or stored at the Facility. 

i. Abandoned or Unused Equipment Storage: Within sixty (60) days of the Effective Date, 

Syar shall ensure that all abandoned or broken equipment, scrap metals, or other equipment no 

longer in use that have the potential to serve as the source for pollutant loading are either 

removed from the Facility or are stored under cover, away from rainfall or storm water runoff. 

j. Vehicle and Equipment Management: Within thirty (30) days of the Effective Date, 

Syar shall implement BMPs to reduce or minimize pollutant release from any equipment or 

motor vehicles that are parked or stored in areas of the Facility from which storm water 

discharges. Such BMPs shall include placing drip pans under stored or parked equipment, 

weekly inspections for evidence of leaks from such equipment, and promptly (as soon as 

reasonably possible and in no case later than in advance of forecasted rainfall events) cleaning 

Case 3:07-cv-01487-EDL Document 25 Filed 12/21/07 Page 5 of 17
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[PROPOSED] CONSENT DECREE – Case No. C 07-04187 EDL 5

up of spills, drips, or leaks from such equipment. Any spilled substances and absorbent 

materials used in cleaning up spills shall be disposed of in accordance with all local, state, and 

federal laws and regulations. 

k. Vehicle and Equipment Maintenance: After the Effective Date, to the extent not already 

implemented, Syar shall not conduct non-emergency vehicle or movable equipment 

maintenance or repair in outdoor, uncovered areas from which storm water discharges from the 

Facility during rainfall events. Whenever Syar conducts maintenance or repair activities in 

non-covered areas from which storm water discharges from the Facility, Syar shall inspect the 

area where the maintenance or repair occurred and shall clean up waste products, including 

pollutant containing fluids, deposited or spilled on the ground as a result of the maintenance or 

repair. For purposes of this paragraph, rainfall events shall not include precipitation slight 

enough not to produce storm water runoff at the Facility. 

l. Maintenance of BMP Structural Controls: After the Effective Date, Syar shall maintain 

structural BMPs at the site in good operating condition during the Wet Season (October 1 to 

May 31) and shall promptly repair any damaged or degraded structural BMPs. 

m. Fueling Activities: After the Effective Date, except in unusual and unexpected 

circumstances where equipment located on-site has run out of fuel, Syar shall only conduct 

fueling activities on the Facility within covered and bermed areas of the Facility. In the event 

of any fuel spills, Syar shall immediately remove and dispose of any fuel spills in accordance 

with all applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations. 

n. Training: After the Effective Date, and annually thereafter, and within thirty (30) days 

of hiring of new employees, Syar shall conduct training for all appropriate employees to explain 

the requirements of this Consent Decree, the Facility SWPPP, and the General Permit to the 

extent applicable to such employee. Training shall focus on the employee’s role in 

implementing various Consent Decree measures including, for example, implementation of 

BMPs, sweeping, or Facility inspections. Training shall be conducted bilingually (i.e., 

Spanish/English or other pertinent language) to the extent that such employee is not reasonably 

Case 3:07-cv-01487-EDL Document 25 Filed 12/21/07 Page 6 of 17
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[PROPOSED] CONSENT DECREE – Case No. C 07-04187 EDL 6

able to comprehend training in English. Syar shall integrate any new training requirements 

resulting from this Consent Decree into the Facility’s SWPPP. 

5. Amendment of SWPPP: Within thirty (30) days of the Effective Date, Syar shall amend 

the Facility’s SWPPP to incorporate those BMPs set forth in this Consent Decree and to 

incorporate any other requirements of the General Permit not already incorporated. Syar shall 

send a copy of such amended SWPPP to CBE within fourteen (14) days thereafter. CBE shall 

have thirty (30) days from receipt of the amended SWPPP to propose any changes to that 

SWPPP. Within thirty (30) days of notification by CBE of any proposed changes to the 

SWPPP and of the reasons for such changes, Syar shall make all such changes to the amended 

Facility SWPPP or shall explain in writing to CBE why Syar is declining to do so. If the parties 

are unable to agree on the provisions of the amended SWPPP, either party may seek resolution 

through the Dispute Resolution process set forth in Paragraph 18. 

6. Amendment of Site Map: Within thirty (30) days of the Effective Date, to the extent not 

already included, Syar shall amend the Facility Site Map to include all components set forth in 

the General Permit and this Consent Decree, and shall send a copy of the amended Site Map to 

CBE within fourteen (14) days thereafter. CBE shall have thirty (30) days from receipt of the 

amended Site Map to propose any changes to that Site Map. Within thirty (30) days of 

notification by CBE of any additional changes to a Facility’s Site Map and of the reasons for 

such changes, Syar shall make all such changes to the amended Facility Site Map or shall 

explain in writing to CBE why Syar is declining to do so. If the parties are unable to agree on 

all material provisions of the Site Map, either party may seek resolution through the Dispute 

Resolution process set forth in Paragraph 18. 

III. SAMPLING, MONITORING, INSPECTION & REPORTING 

7. Sampling Program: After the Effective Date, subject to the limitations set forth in 

Paragraphs 7-9, Syar shall collect samples from each Designated Discharge Point at the Facility 

according to the following sampling schedule: 

a. During the Wet Season for 2007-2008 (“First Year”), and except as set forth herein, 

Syar shall collect five (5) storm water samples per year from each Designated Discharge Point 

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[PROPOSED] CONSENT DECREE – Case No. C 07-04187 EDL 7

at the Facility. Syar shall test the samples for the constituents listed in Exhibit 1: Fe, Al, Cu, 

Cd, Ni, Mn, TSS, pH, O&G, and EC. If any constituent is found to be below Tier One levels 

listed in Exhibit 1 in any three (3) consecutive sampling events, no further testing for that 

constituent is required, provided it is not required by the General Permit. Samples shall be 

collected in compliance with the General Permit. Additionally, in the event that Syar has not 

collected five samples by February 1, Syar shall collect the sample at the start of the business 

day, without regard to whether the sample is collected within the first hour of discharge, 

provided that the sample is collected more than 24 hours after the last discharge ceased. 

b. During the Wet Season for 2008-2009 (“Second Year”), and except as set forth herein, 

Syar shall collect and test three (3) storm water samples from each Designated Discharge Point 

at the Facility. Samples shall be collected in compliance with the General Permit. 

Additionally, in the event that Syar has not collected three samples by February 1, Syar shall 

collect the sample at the start of the business day, without regard to whether the sample is 

collected within the first hour of discharge, provided that the sample is collected more than 24 

hours after the last discharge ceased. 

c. During the Wet Season for 2009-2010 (“Third Year”), and except as set forth herein, 

Syar shall collect and test three (3) storm water samples from each of the Designated Discharge 

Points at the Facility. Samples shall be collected in compliance with the General Permit. 

Additionally, in the event that Syar has not collected three samples by February 1, Syar shall 

collect the sample at the start of the business day, without regard to whether the sample is 

collected within the first hour of discharge, provided that the sample is collected more than 24 

hours after the last discharge ceased. 

d. Syar shall analyze each storm water sample collected for each of the parameters listed 

on Exhibit 1. Should operations materially change at the Facility, Syar shall conduct sampling 

for any additional toxic priority pollutants listed in 40 C.F.R. § 131.38 likely to be present in 

Syar’s storm water discharges as a result of the changed operations. 

e. Where Syar discharges storm water into a storm drain inlet or catch basin, Syar may 

choose to collect a sample below any insert or treatment system. If Syar chooses not to collect 

Case 3:07-cv-01487-EDL Document 25 Filed 12/21/07 Page 8 of 17
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[PROPOSED] CONSENT DECREE – Case No. C 07-04187 EDL 8

a post-filtration or post-treatment sample, the chemical quality of storm water samples entering 

a storm drain inlet or catch basin containing a fabric insert shall be considered the same as a 

sample collected below the insert. 

8. During the Term of this Consent Decree, except as otherwise provided in Paragraph 7, 

Syar shall collect all storm water samples in compliance with the General Permit. 

9. Syar shall have all storm water samples collected pursuant to this Consent Decree 

delivered to a California state certified environmental laboratory for analysis within the time 

needed for analysis within laboratory method allowable hold times. The laboratory shall 

thereafter conduct analysis sufficient to detect individual constituents at or below the Tier One 

levels set forth in Exhibit 1. 

10. Syar shall provide complete results from Syar’s sampling and analysis to CBE by July 

31st of each year during the term of the Consent Decree, and shall provide a chart in digital or 

hardcopy form that summarizes the results of all the samples and includes the levels listed in 

Exhibit 1 for comparison in consistent units of measurement. 

11. Iterative Approach to Water Quality Protection: 

a. Action Plan; Additional Management/Treatment of Storm Water: For any Wet Season 

during the Term of this Consent Decree, if three or more sampling results for any particular 

parameter over the course of the Wet Season at the Facility exceed the Tier Two levels as listed 

in Exhibit 1 for that parameter, by July 31 following each Wet Season during the term of this 

Consent Decree, Syar shall prepare and submit to CBE an action plan intended to meet the Tier 

Two levels. The Action Plan will state (a) which constituent exceeded which levels and (b) the 

additional BMPs Syar intends to undertake to address the exceedence. These BMPs may 

include covering storm drain inlets during the wet season, subject to concerns about facility 

flooding. They should also include consideration of repair of any cracks in Facility pavement. 

CBE shall have thirty (30) days from receipt to propose revisions to the Action Plan and explain 

in writing the basis for any such revision. Within forty-five (45) days of receiving CBE’s 

revised Action Plan, Syar shall either accept each such revision to the Action Plan or explain in 

writing why it is rejecting any such revision. 

Case 3:07-cv-01487-EDL Document 25 Filed 12/21/07 Page 9 of 17
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[PROPOSED] CONSENT DECREE – Case No. C 07-04187 EDL 9

12. Within thirty (30) days after the parties reach agreement or Dispute Resolution 

proceedings conclude on the Action Plan, Syar shall amend its SWPPP to include all BMPs in 

the Action Plan not otherwise implemented and included in the SWPPP. Within thirty (30) 

days thereafter pursuant to this paragraph, Syar shall provide the CBE with a copy of such 

revised SWPPP. 

13. Site Access: Syar shall provide CBE access to the Facility for annual inspection, 

including SWPPP and Hazardous Materials Business Plan. During the annual inspection, CBE 

may also have access to portions of the Facility from which storm water discharges to inspect 

compliance with the Consent Decree during operating hours with twenty-four (24) hours 

advance notice, except that Syar shall have the right to deny access if circumstances would 

make the inspection unduly burdensome and pose significant interference with business 

operations. In such case, Syar shall specify at least three (3) days within the next four (4) 

weeks upon which CBE’s inspection may proceed, with twenty-four (24) hours notice, during 

normal business hours. Syar shall not use the period of the CBE’s advance notice pursuant to 

this paragraph to make any alterations to Facility conditions that Syar would not otherwise have 

made but for receiving advance notice of the CBE’s requested site access such that CBE will be 

allowed to inspect and sample normally representative Facility conditions and storm water 

discharge. 

14. Facility Monitoring: Within thirty (30) days after the Effective Date, weekly during the 

Wet Season and just prior to forecasted storm events that may reasonably result in discharge 

from the Facility, Syar shall inspect those portions of the Facility from which storm water 

discharges on days that the Facility is operating. All Designated Discharge Locations shall also 

be inspected for accumulation of dust, sediment, sand, grit, oily substances, oily sheens upon 

any standing water, and other materials associated with operations at the Facility. 

15. Reports: Except as provided in Paragraphs 10 and 11, above, during the Term of this 

Consent Decree, Syar shall provide CBE with a copy of all documents pertaining to the General 

Permit submitted to the Regional Board or the State Board concerning the Facility, including all 

documents and reports submitted to the Regional Board as required by the General Permit. 

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[PROPOSED] CONSENT DECREE – Case No. C 07-04187 EDL 10

Such documents and reports shall be transmitted to the CBE via U.S. Mail or electronic mail at 

the time the documents are due to be submitted to the Regional or State Board. 

 V. MITIGATION, FEES, AND COSTS 

16. Environmental Mitigation Funding: As mitigation of the violations alleged in the 

CBE’s Notice and Complaint, Syar shall pay the sum of fifteen thousand ($15,000) to the Rose 

Foundation for the Environment for projects that will benefit the environment of the San 

Francisco Bay watershed. Payment shall be made to the Rose Foundation for the Environment, 

6008 College Avenue, Oakland, California 94618 within thirty (30) days of the Effective Date. 

It is agreed that these monies will not be used for litigation of any sort, or direct advocacy 

against Syar or its operations. 

17. Reimbursement of Fees and Costs: Syar shall reimburse CBE in the amount of 

$14,370.00 to help defray the CBE’s reasonable investigation, expert, and attorneys’ fees and 

costs, and all other reasonable costs incurred as a result of investigating the activities at the 

Facility related to this Consent Decree, bringing these matters to Syar’s attention, and 

negotiating a resolution of this action in the public interest. These fees include the cost of an 

expert from CBE to perform annual review. Syar shall tender payment to the CBE Legal 

Department within thirty (30) days of the Effective Date. 

18. Dispute Resolution: If a dispute under this Consent Decree arises, or any Party believes 

that a breach of this Consent Decree has occurred, the Parties shall schedule a meet and confer 

within seven (7) days of receiving written notification from the other Party of a request for a 

meeting to determine whether a violation has occurred and to develop a mutually agreed upon 

plan, including implementation dates, to resolve the violation. If the Parties fail to meet and 

confer or the meet and confer does not resolve the issue, after at least seven (7) days have 

passed after the meet and confer occurred or should have occurred, any Party shall be entitled to 

all rights and remedies under the law, including bringing a motion before the United States 

District Court for the Northern District of California, which shall retain jurisdiction over the 

claims asserted in this action by CBE against Syar for the limited purpose of enforcement of the 

terms of this Consent Decree. The parties shall be entitled to seek fees and costs incurred in 

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[PROPOSED] CONSENT DECREE – Case No. C 07-04187 EDL 11

any such action, and such fees and costs shall be awarded pursuant to the provisions set forth in 

Section 505(d) of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. §1365(d), and applicable case law 

interpreting such provision. 

VI. JURISDICTION 

19. For the purposes of this Consent Decree, the Parties stipulate that the United States 

District Court for the Northern District of California has jurisdiction over the Parties and 

subject matter of this action. The Parties stipulate that venue is appropriate in the Northern 

District of California. The Parties further stipulate for purposes of this Consent Decree that the 

Complaint states a claim upon which relief may be granted against Syar pursuant to Section 505 

of the Act, 33 U.S.C. §1365, and that CBE has standing to bring this action. 

20. The Court shall retain and have jurisdiction over the Parties to resolve disputes arising 

under this Consent Decree and to enforce all terms and conditions of this Consent Decree until 

their termination three (3) years from the Effective Date. 

VII. WAIVER AND RELEASES

21. CBE Waiver and Release of Noticed Parties: Upon the Effective Date, CBE, on its own 

behalf and on behalf of its officers, directors, employees, and members, and each of their 

successors and assigns covenants not to sue Syar, or their officers, directors, employees, 

members, parents, subsidiaries, affiliates and each of their successors and assigns and their 

agents and other representatives during the Term of this Consent Decree with respect to any 

discharges of storm water from the Facility in alleged violation of the General Permit that arose 

before or may arise during the Term of this Consent Decree. In addition, Syar’s performance of 

all requirements of this Consent Decree shall constitute satisfaction in full of all of CBE’s 

claims set forth in its Complaint in this matter alleging Clean Water Act violations associated 

with the discharge of storm water from the Facility. CBE shall not request any further relief 

against Syar beyond that set forth in this Consent Decree for any of their claims during the 

Term of this Consent Decree. All claims in CBE’s Complaint against Syar shall be deemed 

dismissed with prejudice at the end of the Term of this Consent Decree. 

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[PROPOSED] CONSENT DECREE – Case No. C 07-04187 EDL 12

22. Syar Waiver and Release of CBE: Syar, on its own behalf and on behalf of its officers, 

directors, employees, members, parents, subsidiaries, affiliates and each of their successors and 

assigns and their agents and other representatives, releases CBE and their officers, directors, 

employees, and members, and each of their successors and assigns and their agents, attorneys 

and other representatives from, and waives all claims which arise from or pertain to this action, 

including all claims for fees (including fees of attorneys, experts, and others), costs, expenses or 

any other sum incurred or claimed or which could have been claimed for matters associated 

with or related to this action. 

23. No Admission: The Parties enter into this Consent Decree for the purpose of avoiding 

prolonged and costly litigation. Nothing in this Consent Decree shall be construed as, and Syar 

expressly does not intend to imply, any admission as to any fact, finding, issue of law, or 

violation of law, nor shall compliance with this Consent Decree constitute or be construed as an 

admission by Syar of any fact, finding, conclusion, issue of law, or violation of law. However, 

this paragraph shall not diminish or otherwise affect the obligation, responsibilities, and duties 

of the Parties under this Consent Decree. 

VIII. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 

24. Effective Date: The Effective Date of this Consent Decree shall be the date upon which 

all Parties have signed this Agreement. 

25. Term of Consent Decree: The Consent Decree shall continue in effect for a period of 

three (3) years from the Effective Date, and it shall automatically terminate on that date. 

26. Execution in Counterparts: The Consent Decree may be executed in one or more 

counterparts which, taken together, shall be deemed to constitute one and the same document. 

27. Severability: In the event that any of the provisions of this Consent Decree is held by a 

court to be unenforceable, the validity of the enforceable provisions shall not be adversely 

affected. 

28. Construction: The language in all parts of this Consent Decree, unless otherwise stated, 

shall be construed according to their plain and ordinary meaning. 

Case 3:07-cv-01487-EDL Document 25 Filed 12/21/07 Page 13 of 17
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[PROPOSED] CONSENT DECREE – Case No. C 07-04187 EDL 13

29. Authority to Sign: The undersigned are authorized to execute this Consent Decree on 

behalf of their respective parties and have read, understood and agreed to all of the terms and 

conditions of this Consent Decree. 

30. Integrated Consent Decree: All agreements, covenants, representations and warranties, 

express or implied, oral or written, of the Parties concerning the subject matter of this Consent 

Decree are contained herein. 

31. Mailing of Documents to CBE: Any notices or documents required or provided for by 

this Consent Decree or related thereto that are to be provided to CBE pursuant to this Consent 

Decree shall be hand delivered or sent by U.S. Mail, postage prepaid, and addressed as follows 

or, alternatively, may be provided by electronic mail transmission to the e-mail address listed 

below: 

Adrienne Bloch/Legal Department 

Communities for a Better Environment 

1440 Broadway Suite 701 

Oakland, CA 94612 

Tel: (510) 302-0430 

Fax: (510) 302-0438 

E-mail: abloch@cbecal.org 

 Unless requested otherwise by Syar, any notices or documents required or provided for 

by this Consent Decree or related thereto that are to be provided to Syar pursuant to this 

Consent Decree shall be hand delivered or sent by U.S. Mail, postage prepaid, and addressed as 

follows or, alternatively, may be provided by electronic mail transmission to the e-mail 

addresses listed below: 

Syar Industries, Inc. 

P.O. Box 2540 

Napa, California 94558 

Attention: Michael D. Corrigan 

Direct Line: (707) 259-5716 

Fax: (707) 265-0584 

mcorrigan@syar.com 

With copies sent to: 

Christopher J. Carr 

Morrison & Foerster LLP 

425 Market Street 

San Francisco, CA 94105-2482 

Direct line: (415) 268-7246 

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[PROPOSED] CONSENT DECREE – Case No. C 07-04187 EDL 14

Fax: (415) 268-7522 

CCarr@mofo.com 

32. Facsimile Signatures: The Parties’ signatures to this Consent Decree transmitted by 

facsimile or electronic mail transmission shall be deemed binding. 

33. Impossibility of Performance: No Party shall be considered to be in default in the 

performance of any of their obligations under this Consent Decree when performance becomes 

impossible, despite the timely good faith efforts of the Party, due to circumstances beyond the 

Party’s control, including without limitation any act of God, war, fire, earthquake, flood, and 

restraint by court order or public authority. “Circumstances beyond the Party’s control” shall 

not include normal inclement weather (defined as anything less than or equal to a 50-year/24 

hour storm event), economic hardship or inability to pay. Any Party seeking to rely upon this 

paragraph shall have the burden of establishing that it could not reasonably have been expected 

to avoid, and which by exercise of due diligence has been unable to overcome, the impossibility 

of performance. 

34. If for any reason the Department of Justice or the Court should decline to approve this 

Consent Decree in the form presented, the Parties shall use their best efforts to work together to 

modify the Consent Decree within thirty (30) days so that it is acceptable to the Department of 

Justice or the Court. If the Parties are unable to modify this Consent Decree in a mutually 

acceptable manner, this Consent Decree shall immediately be null and void. 

// 

// 

// 

// 

35. The settling Parties hereto enter into this Consent Decree, Order and Final Judgment and 

submit it to the Court for their approval and entry as a final judgment. 

COMMUNITIES FOR A BETTER ENVIRONMENT 

 

 

 _____________________________________ Date: __________________, 2007 

 by: William Gallegos 

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[PROPOSED] CONSENT DECREE – Case No. C 07-04187 EDL 15

 

Approved as to form: 

 _____________________________________ 

 Adrienne Bloch1

SYAR INDUSTRIES, INC. 

 ____________________________________ Date: __________________, 2007 

 by: Ralston P. Roberts 

 

Approved as to form: 

 _____________________________________ 

 Christopher J. Carr 

 

 APPROVED AND SO ORDERED, this ___ day of ____________, 2007. 

 

 UNITED STATES DISTRICT MAGISTRATE JUDGE 

 

 by: __________________________________ 

 Honorable Elizabeth D. LaPorte 

 1

 As the filing attorney, I, Adrienne Bloch, attest that all counsel find the content of this 

document acceptable and have given me permission to file electronically Proposed Consent 

Decree on their behalf. 

20 December 

U

NITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

IT IS SO ORDERED

Judge Elizabeth D. Laporte

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[PROPOSED] CONSENT DECREE – Case No. C 07-04187 EDL 16

EXHIBIT 1 

Constituent Tier One Tier Two 

Aluminum 0.087 mg/l 0.750 mg/l 

Cadmium 0.0093 mg/l 0.0159 mg/l 

Copper 0.0031 mg/l 0.0636 mg/l 

Iron 1.0 mg/l 1.0 mg/l 

Manganese 0.5 mg/1 1.0 mg/L 

Nickel 0.0082 mg/1 1.417 mg/1 

Total 

Suspended 

Solids 

25 mg/l 100 mg/l 

TOC* 

SC* 

pH 6.5 to 8.5 6.0-9.0 

* Although Tier One or Tier Two levels are not indicated for these constituents, Syar agrees to 

analyze stormwater samples for each of these constituents throughout the life of the Consent 

Decree. 

Case 3:07-cv-01487-EDL Document 25 Filed 12/21/07 Page 17 of 17