U.S. EPA fines Pine View Estates developer $43,000 over injection well violations

SAN FRANCISCO - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently

fined a Nevada-based developer $43,000 for violating its underground

injection control permit at the 240-home Pineview Estates subdivision in

Gardnerville, Nev., a violation of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act.

PTP, Inc. violated an EPA-issued permit that authorizes subsurface

injection of wastewater from the company's treatment facility located at

Pineview Estates. The regulation of subsurface injection protects

underground aquifers which are potential drinking water sources.

"The EPA's permit for this development was designed to protect

underground sources of drinking water, and public health, within the

community," said Alexis Strauss, Water Division director for the EPA's Pacific

Southwest region. "PTP must comply with all permit terms and conditions to

ensure the protection of water resources in this area."

The EPA inspected the development several times between 2003 and

2007, and discovered effluent surfacing in the drainfield and other conditions

that are violations of PTP's UIC permit.

The 63-acre site, now in its final phase of development, is located six

miles south of Gardnerville, and is an individually-owned Indian trust allotment

administered by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The EPA oversees underground

injection on tribal lands that do not have approved programs in place.

Companies must comply with underground injection control regulations of

the Safe Drinking Water Act for wastewater treatment and disposal systems

which have the potential to impact subsurface waters. The Safe Drinking

Water Act regulates all water sources that could reasonably expect to supply

drinking water to the public in the future.

PTP is now working closely with the EPA to come into compliance with UIC

permit requirements.

For more information about the Safe Drinking Water Act, and EPA's

underground injection control program, please visit:

http://www.epa.gov/safewater/index.html.