Opinion ID: 714879
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Hughey's Clean Water Act Civil Action

Text: 20 On August 28, 1992, Hughey sued JMS under the citizen's suit provision of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1365, 4 alleging that JMS had violated the CWA by discharging storm (rain) water from a point source on its property into the waters of the United States without an NPDES permit. See 33 U.S.C. §§ 1311, 1342. Hughey alleged that JMS's discharges of storm (rain) water were in association with industrial activity. See 40 C.F.R. § 122.26(b)(14)(x) (industrial activity includes construction, which in turn encompasses clearing, grading, and grubbing). Because JMS's construction activities were considered industrial by EPA regulations, Hughey contended that JMS was required to have an NPDES permit. See Water Quality Act, Section 402(p)(2)(B) (establishing permit deadline for discharges associated with industrial activities). To the extent JMS had discharged without a permit, Hughey argued that JMS was subject to the zero discharge standard imposed by Section 1311(a). Hughey's complaint sought a declaratory judgment that JMS was liable under the CWA, as well as injunctive relief against JMS in several forms. Contemporaneously with his complaint Hughey filed a motion for a temporary restraining order (TRO), which the court granted after hearing from both sides on August 31, 1992. 21 Hughey's factual allegations were that JMS's activities caused two watercourses to become muddied during rainfall events. 5 The first of these watercourses is a small stream 6 that originates on JMS's property and traverses neighboring land for close to nine hundred (900) feet before emptying into the Yellow River, which is the second flow of water involved. Twenty-eight hundred (2800) feet below the stream's confluence with the Yellow River lives Mr. Hughey, who owns and resides on land abutting the Yellow River. 22 JMS initially responded to the complaint with a motion to dissolve the TRO and a motion for summary judgment. JMS conceded that rain water had run off its property and that it did not have an NPDES permit authorizing discharges under the CWA. However, JMS showed that no such permit was available from any government agency and that it had in fact obtained every permit that was available prior to initiating construction. 7 JMS then answered the complaint denying liability under the CWA and demanding a jury trial. 23 On November 9, 1992, the district court denied JMS's motions to dissolve the TRO, to dismiss the complaint, and for summary judgment. The district court granted Hughey's motion for preliminary injunctive relief, finding that JMS was potentially liable for storm (rain) water discharges made subsequent to October 1, 1992. The preliminary injunction prohibited JMS from discharg[ing] storm water into waters of the United States from its development property in Gwinnett County, Georgia, known as Rivercliff Place, without a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit permitting such discharge. 24 More than one year later, on December 15, 1993, the district court found JMS liable under the CWA for storm (rain) water discharges into the stream on thirteen dates in 1992--June 8, 14, 30; July 1, 2; August 13, 16; September 4, 5, 27, 28; and October 4, 8. The court further found that JMS once, on June 8, 1992, discharged storm water into the Yellow River itself. These violations according to the district court were continuing (albeit minimal), see Order of 2/24/94, at 4, 8, and became the basis for the court's permanent injunction several months later, which issued on February 24, 1994. 8 Defendant in that order was instructed not to 25 discharge stormwater into the waters of the United States from its development property in Gwinnett County, Georgia, known as Rivercliff Place if such discharge would be in violation of the Clean Water Act. 26 (emphasis supplied). On account of JMS's specific violations of the CWA, the district court required JMS to pay $8,500 in civil penalties to Hughey. 9 Lastly, the court ordered JMS to pay Hughey more than $115,000 in attorney fees and costs pursuant to 33 U.S.C. § 1365(d).