The City of Mount Vernon has consistently failed to comply with permit requirements intended to prevent raw sewage and other illicit pollutants from flowing from its storm sewer system into the Hutchinson and Bronx Rivers.
According to a civil lawsuit filed by the United States, the City of Mount Vernon has long failed to comply with Clean Water Act storm sewer permit requirements designed to prevent raw sewage and other illicit pollutants from flowing from the City’s storm sewer system to the Hutchinson and Bronx Rivers.
U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman stated, “For years, Mount Vernon has discharged raw sewage and other illicit pollutants from its storm sewer system into the Hutchinson and Bronx Rivers. Mount Vernon has consistently failed to comply with permit requirements intended to prevent these discharges, and has flouted EPA administrative orders intended to address the problem.
The lawsuit alleges that since at least January 2012, Mount Vernon has failed to comply with these permit obligations and, as a result, has allowed raw sewage to flow into its storm sewer system, and then to be discharged into the Hutchinson and Bronx Rivers. Mount Vernon has also failed to comply with two EPA Administrative Orders issued to compel the City’s compliance with these requirements.
The lawsuit seeks an injunction compelling Mount Vernon to comply with applicable Clean Water Act requirements and an order imposing civil penalties for Mount Vernon’s violations to date.
The State of New York and the Commissioner of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation are co-plaintiffs in this lawsuit, asserting parallel claims under state law.
Defendant: City of Mount Vernon, Crime: Clean Water Act Violations, State: New York, Year: 2023, Outcome: Lawsuit filed, Date: [no specific date provided], Dollar Amount: Not specified.
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Environmental Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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