# HOUMA, CITY OF
> **Judicial** · FY1983 · — · Final Order With Penalty
## Case
- **Activity ID:** `33751`
- **Case Number:** 06-1983-0008
- **Type:** Judicial
- **Lead:** EPA
- **Outcome:** Final Order With Penalty
- **Penalty assessed:** $25K
- **Cost recovery:** —
- **Compliance action $:** —
- **Multimedia (multi-env):** N
## Defendants
- HOUMA, LA. CITY OF (complaint) (settlement)
- LOUISIANNA, STATE OF (complaint) (settlement)
## Summary

THE CITY OF HOUMA OPERATES TWO WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANT THE SUBJECT OF THE PRESENT REFERRAL IS THE SOUTH PLAN WHICH  DISCHARGES INTO BAYOU CHAUVIN PERSUANT TO NPDES PERMIT NO    LA0040274 (ATTACHMENT A OF THE LITIGATION REPORT).  RAW      SEWAGE HAS FREQUENTLY BYPASSED THE PLANT AND ENTERED THE     BAYOU DUE TO INADEQUATE COLLECTION LINES; AND EFFLUENT DIS-  CHARGED FROM THE PLANT HAS FREQUENTLY EXCEEDED PERMIT LIMIT  ACTIONS FOR BOD AND TSS.  HOUMA HAS CONSISTENTLY FAILED TO   REPORT THESE BYPASSES AND EXCESSIVE FAILURES.  ALL OF THESE  FAILURES ARE IN VIOLATIONS OF THE PERMIT AND THE CLEAN WATER ACT.                                                          THE HOUMA VIOLATIONS ARE A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN A SERIOUS HEALTH AND ECONOMIC PROBLEM IN SOUTHERN LOUISANA.  WATER CON TAMINATION HAS AFFECTED OYSTER BEDS, CAUSING ILLNESS IN HUN- DREDS OF PERSONS AND APPROXIMATELY $70,000,000 IN LOSSES TO  THE FISHING INDUSTRY.  THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL  RESOURCES HAS APPEALED TO EPA FOR ASSISTANCE IN REMEDYING    THESE PROBLEMS THROUGH FEDERAL ENFORCEMENT ACTION.  ALTHOUGH HOUMA HAS BEGUN EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION, EPA REGION VI FEELS THAT THE CITY'S PRESENT PLANS ARE INADEQUATE AND    INVOLVE TOO MUCH DELAY.                                        SPECIFICALLY, EPA REGION VI HAS REQUESTED A MINIMUM CIVIL  PENALTY IN ANY SETTLEMENT OF THIS ACTION OF $16,000 FOR THE  PAST VIOLATIONS.  AN ESTIMATED $1,035,000 OF IMPROVEMENTS    ARE NEEDED TO ELIMINATE BYPASSES FROM 

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*Source: [EPA ECHO](https://echo.epa.gov/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*