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EPA cites Bucklen
Equipment for damages to the Cache la Poudre
River in
Greeley |
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Contacts: Monica
Heimdal, 303 312-6359
Sheldon Muller,
303 312-6916
Unauthorized
activities
included removal
of islands from
river, placement
of
gravel in
wetlands
(Denver,
Colo.
– December 1,
2009) The U.S.
Environmental
Protection
Agency has
reached an
agreement with
Bucklen
Equipment
Company, Inc. to
resolve alleged
violations of
the Clean Water
Act in
Weld
County,
Colorado.
The
alleged
violations
include
unauthorized
discharges of
pollutants to
the
Cache la Poudre
River
and its adjacent
wetlands
within the City
of
Greeley.
Under
the consent
agreement, the
company will pay
a penalty of
$16,000 and will
remove
any
remaining gravel
piles
from
wetlands
along the river.
“Bucklen
Equipment's
actions
introduced a
source of
sediment
pollution and
altered the
condition of the
Poudre
River
and its nearby
wetlands,” said
Darcy O'Connor,
Director of
EPA's Water
Enforcement
program in
Denver.
“EPA will
continue to
pursue actions
against those
who violate
federal laws
that protect
Colorado's
waters.”
In August 2008,
the U.S. Army
Corps of
Engineers
(Corps) received
information that
Bucklen
Equipment was
conducting
extensive
excavation
activities in
the
Cache la Poudre
River,
including the
removal of
islands and
grading of the
river's
floodplain.
Subsequent
investigation by
the Corps and
EPA found that
the company had
deposited
dredged and fill
material in an
area
encompassing
1,400 feet of
the river's
length without
authorization.
The Corps
and EPA
identified
areas
that had been
dredged and
filled in both
the river and
adjacent
wetlands.
Under the
consent
agreement,
Bucklen
Equipment will
remove any
remaining piles
of fill
in
wetlands
along the banks
of the
Cache la Poudre
River.
EPA will
inspect the area
next summer to
determine if the
area has
properly
recovered.
If it
appears that
additional work
such as
re-contouring or
planting
vegetation is
required,
Bucklen
Equipment may be
directed to
submit and
implement a
restoration
plan.
The rivers,
streams and
wetlands along
the
Cache la Poudre
River
are important
habitat for
local and
migratory birds
and wildlife,
water storage
and retention,
water quality
enhancement,
flood control
and aesthetics.
Sediment
from
construction
activities is a
major water
quality issue
and can have a
negative impact
on aquatic life.
Clean Water Act
permits are
required before
performing any
work that
results in
material being
placed into
rivers, lakes,
streams and
wetlands.
Any
person planning
work affecting
waters and
wetlands should
contact the U.S.
Army Corps of
Engineers’
Office at
9307 South
Wadsworth Ave.,
Littleton,
CO,
80128-6901
or telephone
303-979-4120 to
determine if
they need a
permit.
Information on
permitting
requirements may
also be found
online at:
https://www.nwo.usace.army.mil/html/od-rsd/frame.html
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