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Confusion Hill

The Confusion Hill Project, in Mendocino County on Highway 101, required building two bridges and a new section of highway between the bridges.  The project was covered under the Caltrans statewide stormwater permit and a site-specific 401 certification.  Caltrans’ general contractor on the project was MCM Construction.  The prosecution alleged that the project oversight by MCM was lacking, and led to violations of the general permit and certification, including for construction dewatering, leaky and improperly maintained equipment, cement discharges, turbidity discharges, and insufficient turbidity measurements.

After extensive settlement discussions could not resolve the matter, an evidentiary hearing was held before the Board.  On March 5, 2012 the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, ordered penalties of $475,182.  The following month, the Board approved a settlement for $400,000, bringing the combined total of violations to more than $875,000.