SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) – A nonprofit corporation alleges a California mine is unlawfully discharging polluted storm water.
California Sportfishing Protection Alliance filed a complaint on June 13 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California against Mineral Resources LLC, MRLLC Investors LP and Chris Van Veldhuizen citing the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, or the Clean Water Act.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that the defendants' 240-acre sand mine in Oroville, California discharges pollutant-contaminated storm water into the Morris Ravine Creek, which eventually leads to the Feather River. The plaintiff alleges this violates the Clean Water Act and California's general industrial permit for storm water discharge.
The plaintiff holds Mineral Resources LLC, MRLLC Investors LP and Veldhuizen responsible because the defendants allegedly failed to develop and implement a storm water pollution prevention plan and adequate monitoring plan.
The plaintiff seeks judgment against defendants for declaratory relief, pay civil penalties of $37,500 per day per violation, costs and fees and further relief as the court may deem appropriate. It is represented by Andrew L. Packard and William N. Carlon of Law Offices of Andrew L. Packard in Petaluma, California.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California case number 2:18-cv-01717