The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued an Administrative Order on Consent to C&H Sugar Company Inc. due to violations of the Clean Water Act at its sugar refinery in Crockett, California. The order addresses unauthorized discharges of pollutants into the Carquinez Strait, which connects with the San Francisco Bay.

"With this order, EPA is ensuring that C&H Sugar will act to protect the Bay and prevent further unauthorized discharges into the Carquinez Strait," stated Martha Guzman, EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator. She added that collaboration with state partners at the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board would continue to enforce the Clean Water Act, thereby defending public health and the environment.

The Crockett refinery receives raw cane sugar from ships docking at its facility. During unloading operations, loose raw sugar was discharged into the Carquinez Strait on at least three occasions, violating federal law. Such sugary wastewater can be high in Biological Oxygen Demand, which depletes dissolved oxygen when released into water bodies, endangering fish and other aquatic life. Other infractions included failing to properly operate and maintain a wastewater system, not fully implementing a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan, and breaching effluent limitations.

Following the order, C&H has modified its sugar offloading system and will demonstrate compliance with preventing discharges into the Carquinez Strait to the EPA. Additionally, C&H Sugar will update its Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan and revise sugar management practices.

Further information about EPA’s Clean Water Act enforcement can be found on their website.