Torromeo, a sand, gravel, and stone mining and ready-mix concrete plant located in Kingston, N.H., will pay nearly $1 million in penalties for allegedly filling nearly 5 ha (13 ac) of wetlands and discharging stormwater pollution to the Little River. According to New Hampshire Attorney General Michael Delaney, the alleged violation may be the largest illegal wetland fill in New Hampshire to date.

As a result of the settlement, the company is responsible for restoring the wetlands and preserving 28 ha (69 ac) of land on Bayberry Pond in Kingston. A portion of the fines will be paid with 7560 Mg (8333 ton) of stone, which will be used to stabilize the banks of the Suncook River and Leighton Brook. The company must also replace a 3250-m2 (35,000-ft2) impervious parking lot with pervious pavement and implement other stormwater pollution controls. In addition, it will completely eliminate process wastewater discharges from the site.

“Stormwater runoff and process water discharges from the sand and gravel and ready-mix concrete industry are a significant source of water pollution,” said Curt Spalding, administrator of the New England regional office of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). “We consider the violations in this case to be extremely serious, and we are glad that the company worked with EPA and the state to resolve these violations.”

Wastewater from concrete plants typically contains high pH, oils, greases, and high levels of total suspended solids. Runoff from concrete manufacturing sites is also highly corrosive due to high pH.

The settlement is the latest in a series of federal enforcement actions to address stormwater violations from industrial facilities and construction sites around the country.