Chattahoochee Riverkeeper Settles Lawsuit Over Water Pollution
Chattahoochee Riverkeeper (CRK) has reached a settlement for litigation concerning an industrial facility along Burnt Fork Creek in Tucker, Georgia.
The A&R Ironworks facility’s violations were discovered as part of CRK’s Protecting Streams and Communities from Industrial Pollution program, according to the press release. During a survey of industrial operations in the watershed, potential pollution issues at the facility.
The facility failed to obtain coverage under the State of Georgia’s industrial general permit for storm water exposures. According to the investigation conducted, this means that there was a lack of best management practices (BMPs) and procedures necessary to keep storm water from mixing and becoming contaminated with industrial pollutants before discharging to adjacent state waters.
Aerial images and site investigations also revealed significant outdoor exposure of materials, including: sediment piles, scrap metal, and an open garbage dump on the banks of the creek. Pollutants are continuing to be released via storm water runoff into Burnt Fork Creek and the Chattahoochee River.
CRK initiated a lawsuit in summer 2019, using the citizen suit provision of the federal Clean Water Act.
As a result, A&R Ironworks cleaned up and stabilized the property, altering operations to eliminate almost all outdoor activities, storage, and storm water exposure of industrial materials. CRK also secured $60,000 for supplemental environmental projects.
“CRK is excited to celebrate this successful resolution that prevents pollution from entering the river, and grateful to have diverse, successful partners that it can support in this way,” said riverkeeper Jason Ulseth. “One of the best was to preserve and protect the Chattahoochee River is by building a community of organizations, neighbors, and students invested in its long-term health.”