Koster
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline) - Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster announced a lawsuit on Monday against a Lincoln County developer for allegedly violating the state's Clean Water Law.
East Missouri Development LLC allegedly discharged storm water, sediment and associated rock and soil from its Cuivre Valley Subdivision property drainage pipes into the Cuivre River. East Missouri Development developed or owned lots 56 through 64 of the Cuivre Valley Subdivision.
"Missourians have a right to expect that businesses moving massive amounts of soil for housing developments will comply with the law and not pollute our water," Koster said. "Our office will not look the other way when businesses violate the environmental laws of the state."
The lawsuit alleges that East Missouri Development violated the state's Clean Water Law by failing to maintain, implement and propose best management practices for sediment and erosion control, allowing and causing the discharge of soil runoff, sediment, and rock and soil particulate matter from the subdivision and installing or constructing and later maintaining and operating the lot 60 storm water discharge pipe without an operating permit from the state. The alleged discharges reduced the water quality of the Cuivre River's wet weather branch to below water quality standards.
The lawsuit seeks a preliminary and permanent injunction prohibiting East Missouri Development from future violations of the Clean Water Law, a civil penalty of $10,000 per day or less for each Clean Water Law Violation and court costs.