Marisco Handed Monster Fine for EPA Clean Water Act Violations

Marisco’s “lil’ Perris” floating drydock, image: Marisco

HONOLULU – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Hawaii State Department of Health (DOH) announced today their settlement with Marisco Ltd. including civil penalties of $710,000 for water pollution control violations at its ship repair and drydock facilities at Kalaeloa Barbers Point Harbor on Oahu.

This is the largest Clean Water Act civil penalty ever levied against a ship repair facility in the United States.

EPA’s complaint against Marisco found that the company failed to implement water pollution controls as required by its Clean Water Act discharge permit at its main ship repair facility and at its separate 3,500 metric ton “Lil’ Perris” floating drydock.

During an inspection in 2008, EPA and Hawaii DOH observed storage of leaking equipment, workers washing down work areas directly into the harbor, and sandblast material from Marisco’s operations being discharged into the harbor.

The settlement, a consent decree, was lodged with the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii and is subject to a 30-day public comment period and court approval.

“To protect Hawaii’s precious coastal waters and coral reefs, ship repair facilities must have pollution controls in place,” said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest. “Our action will help improve Oahu’s water quality by having Marisco redesign its operations to comply with federal law.”

“Our Clean Water team is committed to guarding the quality of Hawaii’s waters,” said Gary Gill, Deputy Director, Environmental Health Administration, Hawaii State Department of Health. “We work hand-in-hand with EPA to perform the tough field work necessary to protect Hawaii’s people and the island environment from pollution.”

In addition to the civil penalties, the settlement requires Marisco to use clean water to wash the drydock after paint removal and sandblasting, collect the water used for washing, and treat it to ensure that it is not discharged when the drydock is lowered into the harbor.

EPA and DOH’s actions will ensure that Marisco’s discharges meet the Clean Water Act permit effluent limits, particularly for copper and zinc. Marisco must treat and dispose the water used for washing the drydock in accordance with federal, state and local laws and ordinances.

The EPA notes these actions should result in the reduction of about 295 pounds per year of copper, 94 pounds per year of zinc, 14 pounds of solids and 8 pounds of oil and grease to the harbor waters.

For more information on environmental compliance, please click HERE.

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