Opinion ID: 382652
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Rock Creek Plant Project

Text: 7 This particular controversy involves the issuance of an NPDES permit by the state of Maryland to the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (Sanitary Commission) to operate for five years an advanced wastewater treatment plant that may discharge up to three million gallons per day of treated effluent into Rock Creek. Officials and developers in Maryland proposed the plant to relieve the overburdened Blue Plains Sewage Treatment Plant by diverting sewage from Blue Plains and discharging the treated effluent into Rock Creek. The plant would allow continued growth in Montgomery County, Maryland, and at the same time give area officials time to devise a permanent solution to metropolitan Washington's acute shortage of sewage treatment capacity. 8 The Montgomery County Council approved the proposal to construct the plant in July 1975. 6 The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission then submitted the proposal to the Maryland Water Resources Administration for an NPDES permit. The Water Resources Administration in turn notified the EPA of the application, which designated the application as meriting joint review. During a year-long study of the permit application, Maryland authorities mailed notices of the application to interested parties 7 and published classified advertisements in newspapers announcing public hearings on the application. See J.A. at 251, 257. 9 After the EPA indicated under its joint review procedures that it had no objections to the project, Maryland issued a permit to the Sanitary Commission on October 4, 1976. Pursuant to 33 U.S.C. § 1311(b)(1)(C) (1976), the permit established limitations on the discharge of effluent that incorporated both federal and more stringent state standards, see 1:1 Md.Reg. 40-41 (1974) (codified at COMAR (Code of Maryland Regulations) 08.05.04.03 (1979)). 8 10 The District became involved seven months after issuance of the permit. District and Maryland officials exchanged letters and held meetings to resolve differences over the plant, which was under construction during this period. On May 2, 1978, after efforts at accommodation failed, the District filed suit in federal district court seeking declaratory relief and an injunction against the discharge of effluent by the plant into Rock Creek. Named as defendants were the EPA; the State of Maryland; and officials of the EPA, the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, and the Maryland Water Resources Administration. 9 11 The plant began operation on September 14, 1978. Eleven days later, the court held a hearing on the District's complaint and on its consolidated motion for a temporary injunction prohibiting operation of the plant. Both sides presented witnesses and documentary evidence. 12 On September 25, 1978, the court entered judgment for the defendants. The court held that the plaintiff had 13 failed to show that it will suffer irreparable injury because of the operation of the (plant); plaintiff has not shown that the discharge of the treated effluent has had or will have an adverse impact on the water quality of Rock Creek or that it will violate the adopted water quality standards for Rock Creek. 14 District of Columbia v. Schramm, No. 78-0785, at 4 (D.D.C. Sept. 29, 1978), reprinted in J.A. at 449, 452. Having found no harm from the operation of the plant, the court did not resolve the District's claim regarding the lack of notice. In addition, the court found that issuance of an injunction would not be in the public interest. The court therefore denied injunctive and declaratory relief, citing the standards announced in Virginia Petroleum Jobbers Association v. Federal Power Commission, 259 F.2d 921 (D.C.Cir.1958). 15