DEAN D. PREGERSON, District Judge.
The following Consent Decree is entered into by and between Plaintiff Los Angeles Waterkeeper ("Plaintiff" or "Waterkeeper") and Defendants Republic Services, Inc., Allied Waste Services of North America, LLC, and Consolidated Disposal Service, LLC (collectively "Republic" or "Defendants"). The entities entering into this Consent Decree are each an individual "Settling Party" and collectively the "Settling Parties."
1. The Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter of this action pursuant to Section 505(a) of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1365(a);
2. Venue is appropriate in the Central District of California pursuant to Section 505(c)(1) of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1365(c)(1), because the Gardena Hauling Facility is located within this District;
3. The Complaint states claims upon which relief may be granted pursuant to Section 505(a)(1) of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1365(a)(1);
4. Plaintiff has standing to bring this action;
5. The Court shall retain jurisdiction over this matter for purposes of enforcing the terms of this Consent Decree for the life of the Consent Decree, or as long thereafter as is necessary for the Court to resolve any motion to enforce this Consent Decree.
6. It is the express purpose of the Settling Parties entering into this Consent Decree to further the objectives set forth in the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. §§ 1251, et seq., and to resolve those issues alleged by Waterkeeper in its Complaint. In light of these objectives and as set forth fully below, Defendants agree to comply with the provisions of this Consent Decree and to comply with the requirements of the Storm Water Permit and all applicable provisions of the Clean Water Act. Specifically, Receiving Water Limitation C(2) in the Storm Water Permit requires that discharges from the Gardena Hauling Facility "not cause or contribute to an exceedance of any applicable water quality standards contained in a Statewide Water Quality Control Plan or the applicable Regional Board's Basin Plan." Effluent Limitation B(3) of the Storm Water Permit requires that Best Management Practices ("BMPs") at the Gardena Hauling Facility be developed and implemented to achieve Best Available Technology Economically Achievable ("BAT") for toxic and non-conventional pollutants and Best Conventional Pollutant Control Technology ("BCT") for conventional pollutants (collectively "BAT/BCT"). Defendants shall develop and implement BMPs necessary to comply with the Storm Water Permit requirement to achieve compliance with BAT/BCT standards and with the applicable water quality standards. BMPs must be developed and implemented to prevent discharges and/or to reduce contamination in storm water from the Gardena Hauling Facility in compliance with this Consent Decree.
7. Plaintiff shall submit this Consent Decree to the United States Department of Justice and the EPA (collectively "Federal Agencies") within three (3) days of the final signature of the Settling Parties for agency review consistent with 40 C.F.R. § 135.5. The agency review period expires forty-five (45) days after receipt by both agencies, as evidenced by written acknowledgement of receipt by the agencies or the certified return receipts, copies of which shall be provided to Defendants if requested. In the event that the Federal Agencies object to entry of this Consent Decree, the Settling Parties agree to meet and confer to attempt to resolve the issue(s) raised by the Federal Agencies within a reasonable amount of time. If the parties are unable to reach agreement to modify this Consent Decree so as to resolve the issues raised by the Federal Agencies, and this Consent Decree as so modified is not approved by the Federal Agencies, this Consent Decree shall be of no force and effect. Furthermore, if this Consent Decree is not approved by the Court, this Consent Decree shall be of no further force and effect.
8. The term "Effective Date" as used in this Consent Decree shall mean the day this Consent Decree is signed and entered by a United States District Court Judge.
9. This Consent Decree shall terminate as to the Gardena Hauling Facility on June 30, 2017 (the "Termination Date"), unless there is a prior ongoing, unresolved dispute regarding Defendants' compliance with this Consent Decree. In the absence of such an ongoing, unresolved dispute, this Consent Decree shall terminate on the Termination Date. Should there be such a dispute, Waterkeeper shall file a Notice of Dispute with the Court prior to the Termination Date, which shall identify the issue in dispute. The filing of such Notice of Dispute by Waterkeeper shall extend the Termination Date until the Court determines the dispute has been resolved and thereupon dismisses the case or, alternatively, if the Settling Parties file a stipulation for dismissal.
10. Waterkeeper may conduct an inspection of the Gardena Hauling Facility forty-five (45) days prior to the Termination Date or, at Waterkeeper's option, following the filing of the Notice of Dispute. Defendants shall work with Waterkeeper to promptly schedule and accommodate the inspection, if requested. The inspection shall be conducted according to the rules applicable to annual site inspections in paragraph 56-59 below.
11. For purposes of this Consent Decree, "Drainage Area 1" means the northeastern portion of the Gardena Hauling Facility, as outlined in the Gardena Hauling Facility Site Map, which is attached hereto as Exhibit A.
12. For purposes of this Consent Decree, "Drainage Area 2" means the western portion of the Gardena Hauling Facility, as outlined in the Gardena Hauling Facility Site Map, which is attached hereto as Exhibit A.
13. For purposes of this Consent Decree, "Filtrexx EnviroSoxx" means the Filtrexx® EnviroSoxx® sediment control devices sold by Filtrexx Land Improvement Systems, See http://www.filtrexx.com/envirosoxx/.
14. For purposes of this Consent Decree, "Grattix box(es)" means the "Grattix Rain Garden in a Box" developed by Port of Vancouver USA. See http://www.portvanusa.com/assets/Grattix-how-to-flyer.pdf.
15. For purposes of this Consent Decree, "Speed Bump Berms" means impervious berms composed of a low-raised ridge that are similar in shape to the speed bumps used in roads to reduce vehicles' speed.
16. To ensure there are no unauthorized non-stormwater discharges, any non-stormwater discharges from the Gardena Hauling Facility not authorized by the Storm Water Permit or other NPDES permit shall be considered a breach of this Consent Decree.
17. The storm water pollution control measures required by this Consent Decree shall be designed and operated to manage, through infiltration, treatment, and/or diversion, 1.77 inches of rain falling in a 24-hour period ("95% Design Storm"). The Settling Parties agree that this number represents the storm water from all storm events with total precipitation that is less than or equal to ninety-five (95) percent of all 24-hour storms, based on 1984-2014 historical rainfall measured at the Los Angeles 96th and Central rain gauge. The structural storm water pollution control measures agreed to under this Consent Decree shall be in place and operable throughout the entire year.
18. All BMPs listed in this section shall ensure that no storm water shall be discharged from the Gardena Hauling Facility, the boundaries of which are outlined on the Gardena Hauling Facility Site Map attached hereto as Exhibit A, up to the 95% Design Storm.
19. In Drainage Area 1, Defendants shall install the proposed infiltration basin in the southeast corner of the Gardena Hauling Facility, as outlined in Exhibit A and described in Exhibit B, no later than September 30, 2014.
20. In Drainage Area 2, Defendants shall install the proposed infiltration basin near Compton Boulevard, as outlined in Exhibit A and described in Exhibit B, no later than September 30, 2014.
21. For Drainage Areas 1 and 2, Defendants shall develop a plan by September 30, 2014, to implement the infiltration basin sampling requirements in paragraphs 34-43 of this Consent Decree.
22. Defendants shall install the trench drains described in Exhibit B across the Gardena Hauling Facility exit gates, as depicted in Exhibit A, by August 30, 2014.
23. Defendants shall install Grattix boxes as described in Exhibit B at the locations shown in Exhibit A by August 30, 2014. The Grattix boxes shall contain a metals removal agent and shall be directed to an infiltration basin(s).
24. By September 30, 2014, Defendants shall place Filtrexx Envirosoxx for Oil and Hydrocarbon Removal upgradient and proximate to the inlets to the infiltration basins described in paragraphs 19 and 20.
25. Defendants shall install Speed Bump Berms as described in Exhibit B at the locations shown in Exhibit A by August 30, 2014.
26. Defendants shall install canopies at the locations shown on Exhibit A by September 30, 2014. All such canopies shall be coated metal or equipped with gutters to collect and direct all canopy run-off to downspouts that terminate in Grattix boxes. The canopies shall provide sufficient cover to eliminate all storm water contact with the fueling area and wash pad area. The design standards for these Grattix boxes are described in Exhibit B.
27. Defendants shall install asphalt berm curbing along the north side of the Gardena Hauling Facility in Drainage Area 1 as described in Exhibit B at the locations labeled "Proposed Asphalt Berms" in Exhibit A by August 30, 2014.
28. All water collected from the areas that are covered or surrounded by berms shall be collected and disposed of properly. This water shall not be infiltrated at the Gardena Hauling Facility.
29. Defendants shall adopt a Litter Control Log to document trash control activities at the Gardena Hauling Facility within thirty (30) days of the Effective Date. The Litter Control Log shall be part of any and all revised Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans ("SWPPP") for the Gardena Hauling Facility. A blank template for the Litter Control Log is attached hereto as Exhibit C.
30. Defendants shall designate a person responsible for litter control within thirty (30) days of the Effective Date. Beginning on September 1, 2014, this person shall inspect and pick up litter around the perimeter of the Gardena Hauling Facility daily and record these activities in the Litter Control Log.
31. Defendants shall install a recording rain gauge capable of recording rainfall to 0.01 inches at the Gardena Hauling Facility within thirty (30) days of the Effective Date. Defendants shall maintain the recording rain gauge in accordance with the manufacturers' recommendations, maintain records of all maintenance, maintain records of rain data, and provide such rain gauge data to Waterkeeper at the end of each calendar quarter during the Wet Season (October 1 - May 30) for the term of this Consent Decree.
32. In addition to the requirements of paragraph 31, Defendants shall provide the records described in paragraph 31 to Waterkeeper within ten (10) days of any written request by Waterkeeper.
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34. During the life of this Consent Decree, Defendants shall collect samples of any storm water discharge from the infiltration basins and from industrial areas at the Gardena Hauling Facility. For purposes of this Consent Decree, this includes any storm water discharge occurring during the Gardena Hauling Facility's operating hours
35. All samples collected pursuant to paragraph 34 shall be analyzed for the following parameters: total suspended solids, copper, lead, zinc, oil and grease, aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, iron, mercury, nickel, biochemical oxygen demand, silver, chemical oxygen demand, selenium, ammonia, cyanide, magnesium, pH, and fecal coliform.
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37. Defendants shall use a state certified laboratory to conduct all analysis pursuant to this Consent Decree. When requesting analysis of influent samples, Defendants shall select analytical limits such that, at a minimum, the method detection limits are below the Influent Numeric Limits in Table 1. If requesting analysis of storm water discharges other than discharges to the infiltration basins, Defendants shall select analytical limits such that, at a minimum, the method detection limits are below EPA Benchmark Levels and applicable water quality standards.
38. Defendants shall request that results of all sample analyses required by this Consent Decree be reported to them within fifteen (15) days of laboratory receipt of the sample.
39. Defendants shall request that results of all sample analyses required by this Consent Decree for metals be reported as total concentration levels.
40. Defendants shall provide the complete laboratory results of all samples collected at the Gardena Hauling Facility to Waterkeeper within fifteen (15) days of receiving the results.
41. Defendants shall submit a written report to Waterkeeper no later than June 15 at the end of each Wet Season that contains all rain gauge data for the Wet Season, all storm water samples collected at the Gardena Hauling Facility, all analytical results from storm water or influent samples collected at the Gardena Hauling Facility, an explanation of any failure to collect and analyze a storm water discharge as required by this Consent Decree or the Storm Water Permit, and an explanation of any failure to collect and analyze influent samples as required by paragraph 38 of this Consent Decree.
42. Any failure to sample pursuant to the requirements of paragraph 34 and 36 of this Consent Decree shall be documented and explained to Waterkeeper by email within five (5) days of the date a sample could have been collected during operating hours but was not.
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c. Defendants shall have until September 30 (following the Wet Season in which the exceedances giving rise to the obligation to submit an Influent Action Plan occurred) to implement the Influent Action Plan. Defendants shall notify Waterkeeper in writing when the Influent Action Plan has been implemented.
d. Defendants shall diligently file and pursue all required local agency applications for permits and/or approvals for the BMPs included in any Influent Action Plan. Defendants shall further diligently pursue the procurement of contractors, labor, and materials to complete all such BMPs by the September 30 deadline described in paragraph 46.c above, and shall use their best efforts to meet these deadlines. Defendants' unexcused failure to meet this deadline shall be considered a breach of the Consent Decree.
45. During the life of this Consent Decree, Defendants shall conduct visual observations during normal scheduled facility operating hours during every rain event that produces a discharge at all discharge points at the Gardena Hauling Facility.
46. Defendants shall record any pollutants, odors, discolorations, or other pollutant indicators observed during these visual observations and compare the results of these observations to the sampling analyses conducted at the same locations. Visual observation records shall be included in any Influent Action Plan required pursuant to the requirements of this Consent Decree.
47. By August 30, 2014, or forty-five (45) days after the Effective Date, whichever is earlier, Defendants shall revise their Monitoring and Reporting Program ("M&RP") for the Gardena Hauling Facility to incorporate all sampling, analysis, observation, and reporting requirements of this Consent Decree and the Storm Water Permit.
48. Defendants shall submit the revised M&RP for the Gardena Hauling Facility to Waterkeeper for review and comment. Waterkeeper shall provide comments, if any, to the Defendants within thirty (30) days of receipt of the M&RP. Defendants shall incorporate Waterkeeper's comments into the M&RP, or shall justify in writing why any comment is not incorporated within fifteen (15) days of receiving comments. Any disputes over the adequacy of the revised M&RP shall be resolved pursuant to the dispute resolution provisions of this Consent Decree, set out in Section IV below. Nothing in this paragraph allowing Waterkeeper to review and approve Defendants' M&RP is intended to allow Waterkeeper to seek to modify Defendants' obligations to implement and maintain the BMPS described in this Consent Decree or to require Defendants to implement and maintain additional BMPS that have not been negotiated and included in this Consent Decree, or to otherwise modify the terms and conditions of this Consent Decree.
49. By August 30, 2014, or forty-five (45) days after the Effective Date, whichever is earlier, Defendants shall revise the SWPPP for the Gardena Hauling Facility to include all BMPs required by the Consent Decree and comply with all provisions of Section A of the Storm Water Permit.
50. Defendants shall submit the revised SWPPP to Waterkeeper for review and comment. Waterkeeper shall provide comments, if any, to Defendants within sixty (60) days of receipt of the SWPPP. Defendants shall incorporate Waterkeeper's comments into the SWPPP, or shall justify in writing why any comment is not incorporated within fifteen (15) days of receiving comments. Any disputes as to the adequacy of the revised SWPPP shall be resolved pursuant to the dispute resolution provisions of this Consent Decree, set out in Section IV below. Nothing in this paragraph allowing Waterkeeper to review and approve Defendants' SWPPP is intended to allow Waterkeeper to seek to modify Defendants' obligations to implement and maintain the BMPS described in this Consent Decree or to require Defendants to implement and maintain additional BMPS that have not been negotiated and included in this Consent Decree, or to otherwise modify the terms and conditions of this Consent Decree.
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52. Defendants shall submit any revised SWPPP to Waterkeeper for review and comment within ten (10) days of the SWPPP revision. Waterkeeper will provide comments, if any, to the Defendants within thirty (30) days of receipt of any revised SWPPP. Defendants shall incorporate Waterkeeper's comments into any revised SWPPP, or shall justify in writing why any comment is not incorporated within thirty (30) days of receiving comments. Any disputes as to the adequacy of the revised SWPPP shall be resolved pursuant to the dispute resolution provisions of this Consent Decree, set out in Section IV below.
53. Within thirty (30) days of the Effective Date of this Consent Decree, Defendants shall develop and implement a training program, including any training materials needed for effective implementation of the training program, to ensure: (i) that there are a sufficient number of employees delegated to achieve compliance with the Storm Water Permit and this Consent Decree, and (ii) that these employees are properly trained to perform the required activities to achieve compliance with the Storm Water Permit and this Consent Decree ("Training Program"). At a minimum the Training Program shall include at least the following:
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54. Training shall be provided by a private consultant or a representative of Defendants who is familiar with the requirements of this Consent Decree and the Storm Water Permit. The training shall be repeated annually, or as necessary to ensure that all such employees are familiar with the requirements of this Consent Decree, the Storm Water Permit, and the Gardena Hauling Facility's SWPPP. All new staff shall receive this training before assuming responsibilities for implementing the Gardena Hauling Facility's SWPPP or M&RP.
55. Defendants shall maintain training records to document compliance with this section, and shall provide Waterkeeper with a copy of these records within fourteen (14) days of receipt of a written request.
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57. During the site inspections, Waterkeeper and/or its representatives shall be allowed access to the Gardena Hauling Facility's SWPPP(s), M&RP, and all other monitoring records, reports, and sampling data for the Gardena Hauling Facility.
58. During the site inspections, Waterkeeper and/or its representatives may collect storm water samples at the Gardena Hauling Facility.
59. During the site inspections, Waterkeeper may take photographs or video recording of the Gardena Hauling Facility. If Waterkeeper takes any photographs and/or video recording, Waterkeeper shall provide Defendants with the photographs and/or video within fourteen (14) days after any written request by Defendants for such photographs and/or videos.
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67. This Court shall retain jurisdiction over this matter until the final termination date defined in paragraph 9 above for the purposes of implementing and enforcing the terms and conditions of this Consent Decree, and adjudicating all disputes among the Settling Parties that may arise under the provisions of this Consent Decree. The Court shall have the power to enforce this Consent Decree with all available legal and equitable remedies, including contempt.
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69. If the Settling Parties cannot resolve a dispute by the end of meet and confer informal negotiations, the party initiating the dispute resolution provision may invoke formal dispute resolution by filing a motion before the United States District Court for the Central District of California. The Settling Parties agree to request an expedited hearing schedule on the motion.
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73. Upon Court approval and entry of this Consent Decree, the Court shall retain jurisdiction over Republic Services, Inc. for the sole purpose of enforcing the guaranty of Republic Services, Inc. of the performance of the obligations of Defendants. Republic Services, Inc. in executing this Consent Decree guarantees the performance of all obligations of Defendants, including, but not limited to, the payment of any monetary sums required under this Consent Decree.
74. Nothing in this Consent Decree limits or otherwise affects Waterkeeper's right to address or take any position that it deems necessary or appropriate in any formal or informal proceeding before the State Board, Regional Board, EPA, or any other administrative body on any other matter relating to Defendants' compliance with the Storm Water Permit or the Clean Water Act occurring or arising after the Effective Date of this Consent Decree.
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a. If Defendants claim Force Majeure, they shall notify Waterkeeper in writing within twenty-one (21) days of the date that Defendants first knew of the event or circumstance that caused or would cause a violation of this Consent Decree. The notice shall describe the reason for the nonperformance and the specific obligations under the Consent Decree that are or have been affected by the Force Majeure. It shall describe the anticipated length of time the delay may persist, the cause or causes of the delay, the measures taken or to be taken by Defendants to prevent or minimize the delay, the schedule by which the measures shall be implemented, and the anticipated date of compliance. Defendants shall adopt all reasonable measures to avoid and minimize such delays.
b. In the case of governmental permits and approvals required for structural BMPS, Defendants shall diligently file and pursue all required local agency applications for permits for the structural BMPs described in this Consent Decree, and shall diligently pursue the procurement of contractors, labor and materials to complete all such BMPs by the deadlines set forth herein, and shall use their best efforts to meet these deadlines. Defendants may be excused from meeting the deadlines in this Consent Decree for a specific BMP if circumstances beyond the reasonable control of Defendant as well as delays in obtaining any required governmental permits or approvals due to the permitting agency's actions or inactions or delays associated with the fabrication and/or construction of materials and structural BMPs prevent the attainment of the deadline for a specific BMP. Such delays may only be excused if all of the following requirements are met: 1) Defendants have notified Waterkeeper via email, telephone call, and first class mail within ten (10) days of first learning about the anticipated delay; 2) Defendants continue to exercise due diligence and best efforts in pursuing the permitting and implementation of the BMP in question and proposes a reasonable revised deadline; and 3) Defendants meet the revised deadline. Any excused delay shall not excuse Defendants from implementing their other, unexcused obligations under this Consent Decree. The estimated average time for installation of an infiltration basin, cattle grid, and exit trench from the time of receiving the permit is 3-4 weeks from receipt of the permit. The estimated average time for installation of a canopy from the time of receiving the permit is 8-9 weeks from receipt of the permit.
c. The Settling Parties shall meet and confer in good faith concerning the non-performance and, where the Settling Parties concur that performance was or is impossible due to Force Majeure, despite the timely good faith efforts of Defendants, new deadlines shall be established.
d. If Waterkeeper disagrees with Defendants' notice of Force Majeure, or in the event that the Settling Parties cannot timely agree on the terms of new performance deadlines or requirements, either party shall have the right to invoke the Dispute Resolution Procedure pursuant to Section IV. In such proceeding, Defendants shall bear the burden of proving that any delay in performance of any requirement of this Consent Decree was caused or will be caused by Force Majeure and the extent of any delay attributable to such circumstances.
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Notifications of communications shall be deemed submitted three (3) business days after having been set via U.S. mail or the day of sending notification or communication by electronic mail. Any change of address or addresses shall be communicated in the manner described above for giving notices.
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87. The Settling Parties certify that their undersigned representatives are fully authorized to enter into this Consent Decree, to execute it on behalf of the Settling Parties, and to legally bind the Settling Parties to its terms.
88. The Settling Parties, including any successors or assigns, agree to be bound by this Consent Decree and not to contest its validity in any subsequent proceeding to implement or enforce its terms.