The Department of Environmental Quality announced today that a settlement has been reached with the city of Harbor Beach to resolve violations of Michigan's water quality protection laws and the city's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit.

Harbor Beach operates an Industrial Pretreatment Program for its industrial users under its NPDES permit. The violations cited by the DEQ include the failure to issue Industrial User permits in accordance with local ordinances, failure to enforce the Industrial User permits, and failure to have adequate staffing levels to operate the Industrial Pretreatment Program.

Under the consent order agreed upon on October 28, to resolve the wastewater treatment plant's violations, Harbor Beach will pay a civil fine in the amount of $28,700 and reimburse the DEQ for enforcement costs. As part of the compliance program contained in the Consent Order, Harbor Beach has agreed to submit an approvable wastewater treatment plant basis of design, submit an approvable evaluation for its Industrial User's permits and issue Industrial User permits in accordance with their ordinance.

The consent order was developed cooperatively to resolve the violations and better protect public health and the environment of the city of Harbor Beach.

Editor's note: DEQ news releases are available on the department's Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

"Protecting Michigan's Environment, Ensuring Michigan's Future"

Revised November 6, 2008 by Pat Watson