The US Environmental Protection Agency is providing notice of a proposed administrative penalty settlement with Paramount Builders Inc., for violations of the Clean Water Act (CWA).
USEPA alleges that Paramount Builders discharged fill material into waters of the United States in American Samoa without obtaining authorization from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under CWA Section 404, 33 U.S.C. § 1344.
Specifically, EPA alleges that from May 2022 and continuing at least through September 21, 2022, Paramount, as the construction contractor for the American Samoa Government, Department of Public Works (ASDPW), began construction on the Tula Shoreline Revetment Project along a coastal reach of Route 008 in Tula Village.
In addition, from November 2022 to May 2023, Paramount constructed the Amaile Stream Flood Control Project in Amalie Stream, Nu’uuli.
As part of these projects, Paramount used mechanized land-clearing and earthmoving equipment to discharge rock, soil, and concrete tri-bar below the high tide line along 2,600 and 300 feet of coastal shoreline, respectively.
Pursuant to rules of practice for assessing administrative civil penalties), EPA proposes entering into a Consent Agreement and Final Order (CA/FO) with Paramount to simultaneously commence and conclude this civil administrative penalty proceeding. Under the proposed CA/FO, Paramount will pay the United States a civil penalty of $50,000 to resolve this matter.
