EPA fines Newport Bay boat yards for Clean Water Act violations

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced settlements with Basin Marine, Inc. and Balboa Boatyard of California, Inc., for Clean Water Act violations. Basin Marine and Balboa Boatyard are assessed $142,224 and $59,908 in penalties respectively and will be required to maintain preventative measures to reduce the discharge of pollutants through stormwater runoff into Newport Bay.

According to the EPA, violations were for the discharge of paint solvents, fuel, oil, hydraulic fluid, and heavy metals, including lead, zinc, and copper.

“It is critical for boatyard facilities to maintain adequate stormwater pollution controls to protect our coastal ecosystems,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Director of the Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division, Amy Miller. “These actions are part of a larger effort to ensure businesses at marinas comply with storm water requirements or face significant Clean Water Act penalties.”

During inspections in 2018 and 2019, the EPA found both businesses to have violated the Clean Water Act by non-compliance with regulations preventing the discharge of pollutants through stormwater as well as the failure to comply with California’s industrial stormwater permit.

At Basin Marine, EPA inspectors found the facility had failed to conduct required stormwater sampling, had not properly cleaned and disposed of identified debris near catch basins, and had exceeded limits for both copper and zinc levels in stormwater. The Balboa Boatyard facility had failed to conduct required stormwater sampling and had not identified sufficient storage capacity to contain the runoff generated during routine, seasonal rain events. Additionally, Balboa Boatyard lacked appropriate management practices to reduce pollutants associated with boat maintenance from being discharged into stormwater.

While the settlement with Basin Marine is final, the settlement with Balboa Boatyard is subject to a 30-day public comment period prior to final approval. The public notice and proposed settlement are available at https://www.epa.gov/publicnotices/notices-search/location/Southwest.