Opinion ID: 547478
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Factual Finding on Seriousness of the Violations

Text: 60 In considering the seriousness of PDT's violations, the district court stressed that there were a very large number of violations and that many violations exceeded the permit limits by 100 to 1000 percent. PIRG II, 720 F.Supp. at 1161, 1163. The court also noted that at least ten violations involved toxic substances and many others involved pollutants known to harm marine life. Based on these factors, the court concluded that PDT's 386 violations were very serious in nature. PIRG II, 720 F.Supp. at 1163. 61 PDT argues that the district court's factual finding of seriousness was clearly erroneous. Under the clearly erroneous standard, a finding of fact may be reversed only if it is completely devoid of a credible evidentiary basis or bears no rational relationship to the supporting data. American Home Products Corp. v. Barr Laboratories, Inc., 834 F.2d 368, 370-71 (3d Cir.1987). 30 Despite this extremely limited standard of review, PDT contends that the district court's finding is erroneous because there was no particularized showing of the harm PDT's effluent caused in the Kill Van Kull. 62 The district court's finding is amply supported by the record. PDT's argument that its discharges did not seriously harm the Kill Van Kull is contradicted by EPA and NJDEP documents detailing the environmental harm caused by each pollutant PDT discharged. The district court properly relied upon these reports, PIRG II, 720 F.Supp. at 1161-62, and the large number of gross exceedances in concluding that PDT's violations were serious.