OCWAP Enforcement Action Summary:
Johnson Crushers International, Inc.
Johnson Crushers International, Inc. had been operating at this location without industrial stormwater permit coverage since around 1999 when DEQ became aware of their existence while investigating an oily discharge in August of 2004. DEQ sent Johnson Crushers a notice of noncompliance letter in September of 2004 for failure to have a permit, and Johnson Crushers applied for permit coverage in October. DEQ granted Johnson Crushers permit coverage in January of 2005. Upon reviewing Johnson Crushers’ first monitoring reports under the permit, OCWAP discovered elevated levels of copper, zinc, and oil & grease in June, 2005 discharges from the site. OCWAP initiated an enforcement action against Johnson Crushers on behalf of Sierra Club in October of 2005 concerning inadequacies in Johnson Crushers’ stormwater pollution control plan, and Johnson Crushers’ failure to address elevated pollutant levels. Johnson Crushers updated its plan and addressed its elevated pollutant levels shortly after OCWAP initiated enforcement proceedings. Unfortunately, Johnson Crushers again had elevated pollutant levels in discharges in May of 2006 (this time for copper, zinc, oil & grease, and total suspended solids), though Johnson Crushers took steps to address these elevated levels without the need for prompting by OCWAP. During the most recent reporting period (July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007), Johnson Crushers reported elevated levels of zinc in discharges in June of 2007 and again took steps to address these elevated levels without prompting by OCWAP.
