EPA fines company for Clean Water Act violations in Aguada

A natural pool in the Cañas River in Aguada. A construction company has been fined $80,000 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for violations of the Clean Water Act at a site in the northwestern coastal town. (Facebook via En Ruta con Karla Agosto)

By The Star Staff

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) fined Transporte Rodríguez Asfalto Inc. (TRA) $80,000 this week for violations of the federal Clean Water Act (CWA) after identifying discharges of rainwater with pollutants from its construction project into the Cañas River in Aguada.

The CWA prohibits the discharge of pollutants into waters of the United States without a valid permit.

“We are holding TRA accountable under the federal Clean Water Act, which is designed to protect stormwater like that entering the Cañas River from pollution that threatens public health and the environment,” EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. García said. “Construction activities, if not properly managed, can cause long-term damage to local rivers and ecosystems. Going forward, TRA will need to obtain a construction permit, use best practices and prevent future discharges into the river.”

EPA identified that in September 2023, TRA began earthmoving for the construction of a used tire processing facility on a 13-acre property located between highways PR-2 and PR-48 in Aguada. Despite conducting large-scale earthmoving activities, TRA failed to obtain the necessary permits or install the required erosion and sediment controls. As a result, stormwater runoff generated during the earthmoving entered the Cañas River, a tributary of the Culebrinas River, carrying harmful pollutants and affecting water quality.

In response to the violations, EPA also issued an administrative consent order requiring TRA to take corrective actions, including:

* Stabilize the soil and control erosion.

* Amend the Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan.

* Amend application under EPA’s Construction General Permit.

* Submit plans identifying stormwater collection and management systems.

* Submit progress reports.