EPA enforcement actions against wastewater plants in Kentucky
23 formal actions at 18 of 196 plants · $1.8M in penalties · 1 EPA inspection
EPA's enforcement records list 23 formal civil enforcement cases naming publicly owned wastewater treatment plants in Kentucky, 0 of them since fiscal year 2020. The cases involve 18 of the state's 196 plants, with $1.8 million in penalties assessed. The most common ground is npdes permit violations (12 cases). EPA has inspected 1 plants in the state, 1 inspection in total. Every plant links to its profile, and every case to its report on EPA's ECHO site.
- All plants in Kentucky
- Kentucky NPDES permits
- EPA enforcement nationwide
- Analysis: enforcement since 2020
Recent enforcement actions in Kentucky
| Plant | Date | Type | Law section | Outcome | Penalty | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Derek R Guthrie WQTC MSD Louisville | Sep 2022 FY2007 | Judicial case | NPDES Permit Violations | Final Order With Penalty | $230,000 | ECHO 04-2007-9022 |
EPA's description: “See sensitive comment.” | ||||||
| Northern Ky Sanitation District 1 Dry Creek WWTP Erlanger | May 2019 FY2005 | Judicial case | NPDES Permit Violations | Final Order With Penalty | $476,400 | ECHO 04-2005-9011 |
EPA's description: “On June 23, 2005, Region 4 referred to the Department of Justice for civil enforcement violations of Section 301 of the Clean Water Act (CWA) by Sanitation District No. 1 of Northern Kentucky (SD#1)…” | ||||||
| Rwra Max Rhoads WWTP Owensboro | Jul 2016 FY2008 | Administrative order | NPDES Permit Violations | Unilateral Administrative Order Without Adjudication | — | ECHO 04-2008-4754 |
| Lynch STP Lynch | Oct 2014 FY2013 | Administrative order | NPDES Permit Violations | Final Order With Penalty | $4,000 | ECHO 04-2013-4523 |
| Elkhorn City STP Elkhorn City | Jan 2014 FY2013 | Administrative order | Information Request, Records, Entry | Final Order No Penalty | — | ECHO 04-2013-4767 |
| Bee Creek WWTP Murray | Jan 2013 FY2012 | Administrative order | NPDES Permit Violations | Final Order No Penalty | — | ECHO 04-2012-4779 |
| Lynch STP Lynch | Jan 2013 FY2012 | Administrative order | NPDES Permit Violations | Unilateral Administrative Order Without Adjudication | — | ECHO 04-2012-4785 |
| Bee Creek WWTP Murray | Jul 2012 FY2012 | Administrative order | NPDES Permit Violations | Superseded by Another Enforcement Action | — | ECHO 04-2012-4750 |
| Greenup Joint Sewer Agency Wurtland | Jan 2010 FY2009 | Administrative order | NPDES Permit Violations | Unilateral Administrative Order Without Adjudication | — | ECHO 04-2009-4775 |
| Derek R Guthrie WQTC MSD Louisville | Apr 2009 FY2004 | Judicial case | NPDES Discharge without a Permit | Superseded by Another Enforcement Action | $1M | ECHO 04-2004-9027 |
Full case histories, milestones, violation types and EPA's complete case summaries for every plant are shown with a free Klarifi account. Create one
Largest penalties in Kentucky
| # | Plant | Date | Type | Outcome | Penalty | Compliance actions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Derek R Guthrie WQTC MSD Louisville | Apr 2009 FY2004 | Judicial case | Superseded by Another Enforcement Action | $1M | $800M | ECHO 04-2004-9027 |
| 2 | Northern Ky Sanitation District 1 Dry Creek WWTP Erlanger | May 2019 FY2005 | Judicial case | Final Order With Penalty | $476,400 | $1,100M | ECHO 04-2005-9011 |
| 3 | Derek R Guthrie WQTC MSD Louisville | Sep 2022 FY2007 | Judicial case | Final Order With Penalty | $230,000 | $1,143M | ECHO 04-2007-9022 |
| 4 | Strodes Creek STP Winchester | Apr 2007 FY2006 | Judicial case | Final Order With Penalty | $75,000 | $67M | ECHO 04-2006-9008 |
| 5 | Henderson South STP #2 Robards | Oct 2006 FY2006 | Administrative order | Final Order With Penalty | $8,000 | — | ECHO 04-2006-4502 |
| 6 | Tompkinsville STP Tompkinsville | Mar 1980 FY1977 | Judicial case | Final Order With Penalty | $6,500 | — | ECHO 04-1977-0003 |
| 7 | Jenkins WWTP Jenkins | Jan 1995 FY1987 | Judicial case | Final Order With Penalty | $6,000 | — | ECHO 04-1987-0006 |
| 8 | Lynch STP Lynch | Oct 2014 FY2013 | Administrative order | Final Order With Penalty | $4,000 | — | ECHO 04-2013-4523 |
EPA enforcement in Kentucky: questions
How many EPA enforcement actions have been taken against wastewater plants in Kentucky?
EPA's enforcement records list 23 formal civil enforcement cases naming publicly owned wastewater treatment plants in Kentucky, 0 of them since fiscal year 2020. They involve 18 of the state's 196 plants. Informal actions such as notices of violation are not counted here.
Which Kentucky wastewater plant received the largest EPA penalty?
Derek R Guthrie WQTC MSD in Louisville: $1 million assessed in fiscal year 2004 (LOUISVILLE & JEFFERSON COUNTY METROPOLITAN SEWER DISTRICT, (MSD) AND THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY, Superseded by Another Enforcement Action). Penalties are the amounts EPA records as assessed or agreed, not necessarily what was collected.
What does an EPA administrative order mean for a wastewater plant?
Most cases here are administrative orders under section 309 of the Clean Water Act: EPA finds permit violations, usually effluent limits or discharge without a permit, and orders the plant to return to compliance, often with a corrective action plan, a schedule and sometimes a penalty. Judicial cases go through the Department of Justice and typically end in a consent decree with a capital programme behind it. The latest case in Kentucky is from Sep 2022.
Enforcement data: EPA ICIS-FE&C civil enforcement cases and ICIS compliance inspections, via ECHO. Penalties are the amounts assessed or agreed in each case as EPA records them. Latest case status in this data: Sep 2022.
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