Attorney General's News Release

November 23, 2010

Attorney General Koster sues Morgan County business for clean water violations--Lawsuit charges 3 counts of environmental violations--

Jefferson City, Mo. - Attorney General Chris Koster has filed a lawsuit in Morgan County against Sunset View Estates Wastewater Treatment Facility, Inc., for violations of Missouri's Clean Water Law.

Koster said Sunset View Estates failed to meet required design standards for wastewater treatment facilities, including failing to install a fence to prevent unauthorized entry to the facility, failing to post warning signs and failing to maintain an all-weather access road to the facility. Sunset View Estates also failed to adequately maintain the wastewater treatment facility by not keeping the facility's filter mechanism free of vegetation. Sunset View Estates also failed to clearly mark the treatment facility's outfall area.

"Missouri law clearly outlines how wastewater treatment facilities must be operated and maintained in order to protect the environment," Koster said. "The Attorney General's Office will continue to hold facilities responsible for obeying Missouri's environmental laws."

Koster is asking the court to issue a permanent injunction requiring the defendant to comply with the Clean Water Law; to assess a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per day the facility violated the Clean Water Law; and to require the defendant to pay all costs associated with the case.