EPA fines local firms for water violations

PELHAM

K&B Development and American Excavating Corp. face up to $137,500 in fines for violations of the Clean Water Act at the Collins Way construction site in town, the Environmental Protection Agency said in a statement.

The EPA said the companies operated for more than a year without federal permits for storm-water discharge associated with construction activities, and they failed to implement storm-water controls to protect nearby water bodies.

During inspections of the site in May and June 2003, the EPA observed turbidity in nearby streams and a pond caused by storm water runoff from the site. K&B Development has since removed some of the accumulated silt from the stream and associated wetlands, the EPA said.