LOS ANGELES - The City of Lampoc faces civil charges from the California nonprofit Environmental Defense Center (EDC) for allegedly violating the federal Water Pollution Control Act, according to documents filed Feb. 24 in Los Angeles federal court.
The lawsuit states that Lampoc has not complied with its National Pollution Discharge Elimination System Permit, by allowing its wastewater facility to discharge toxic pollutants including sodium, chloride and dissolved solids into the Santa Ynez River and San Miguelito Creek.
Lampoc lacks a water pretreatment program that complies with the Clean Water Act and has made no effort to develop such a program, according to the suit.
The impacted area houses dozens of bird and fish species, the EDC says. The plaintiff alleges that toxicity levels in the water have exceeded limitations each year since 2016.
The plaintiff is asking the court to order the city to develop the proper procedures and prevent Lampoc from further violating water treatment standards, and pay civil penalties up to $55,800 per day for each day that a violation takes place.
EDC is represented by Michael Lozeau of Lozeau Drury LLP.