throbber
Case 8:20-cv-01742-CEH-AAS Document 1 Filed 07/28/20 Page 1 of 35 PageID 1
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`UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA
`TAMPA DIVISION
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`Civil Case No. 8:20-cv-1742
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`TAMPA BAY WATERKEEPER, OUR
`CHILDREN’S EARTH FOUNDATION
`and SUNCOAST WATERKEEPER,
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`Plaintiffs,
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`v.
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`CITY OF LARGO, FLORIDA,
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`Defendant
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`COMPLAINT FOR DECLARATORY AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF AND CIVIL
`PENALTIES
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`Tampa Bay Waterkeeper (“TBWK”), Our Children’s Earth Foundation (“OCE”)
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`and Suncoast Waterkeeper (“SCWK”), (collectively, “Plaintiffs”), by and through their
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`counsel, hereby allege as follows:
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`I.
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` JURISDICTION AND VENUE
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`1.
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`This is a civil suit brought under the citizen suit enforcement provision of
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`the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, 33 U.S.C. §§ 1251, et seq. (“Clean Water Act”
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`or “CWA”) (see 33 U.S.C. § 1365). This Court has subject matter jurisdiction over the
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`parties and this action pursuant to Section 505(a)(1) of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. §
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`1365(a)(1), and 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331 and 2201 (an action for declaratory and injunctive
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`relief arising under the Constitution and laws of the United States).
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`2.
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`On May 29, 2020, Plaintiffs issued a sixty (60) day notice letter (“Notice
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`Letter”) to the City of Largo (“Defendant” or the “City”). The Notice Letter informed the
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`City of its violations of the Clean Water Act and of Plaintiffs’ intention to file suit against
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`the City. The Notice Letter was sent to the Administrator of the United States
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`Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”), the Administrator of EPA Region IV, and
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`the Secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (“FDEP”) as
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`required by Section 505(b)(1)(A) of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1365(b)(1)(A).
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`The Notice Letter was also sent to the Executive Director of the Southwest Florida Water
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`Management District (“Regional District”).
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`3.
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`More than sixty (60) days have passed since the Notice Letter was issued
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`to the City and the state and federal agencies.
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`4.
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`Plaintiffs are informed and believe, and thereon allege, that neither EPA
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`nor the state of Florida has commenced or is diligently prosecuting an action to redress
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`the violations alleged in the Notice Letter and in this Complaint under Section
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`505(b)(1)(B) of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1365(b)(1)(B). This action is not
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`barred by any prior administrative penalty matter issued under Section 309(g) of the
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`Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1319(g). Accordingly, because the requirements of 33
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`U.S.C. § 1365(b)(1)(B) have been met, this matter may be commenced.
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`5.
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`The venue is proper in the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division,
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`pursuant to Section 505(c)(1) of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1365(c)(1), because
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`the source of the violations is located within this judicial district, specifically within
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`Pinellas County.
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`II.
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`INTRODUCTION
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`6.
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`Plaintiffs allege the following violations of the Clean Water Act: (1)
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`violations of the State of Florida Domestic Wastewater Facility Permit National Pollutant
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`Discharge Elimination System (“NPDES”) Permit No. FL0026603 (“NPDES Permit”)
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`(Causes of Action One and Four); (2) discharges of pollutants to waters of the United
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`States without an NPDES Permit authorization in violation of Section 301(a) of the Clean
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`Water Act 33 U.S.C. §1311(a) (Cause of Action Two); and (3) violations of the State of
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`Florida Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Permit, NPDES Permit Nos.
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`FLS000005-003 and FLS000005-004 (collectively, “MS4 Permits”) (Cause of Action
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`Three). The City’s violations of the Clean Water Act, its MS4 Permits and its NPDES
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`Permit are ongoing and continuous.
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`III.
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`PARTIES AND BACKGROUND
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`A. Plaintiffs
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`1. Tampa Bay Waterkeeper
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`7.
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`TBWK is a Florida non-profit public benefit corporation with members
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`throughout Tampa Bay, including Pinellas County. TBWK is dedicated to protecting and
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`improving the Tampa Bay watershed while ensuring swimmable, drinkable and fishable
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`water for all. TBWK’s approach combines sound science, policy advocacy, grassroots
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`community engagement and education to stand up for clean water together as a
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`community, ensuring a clean and vibrant future for the Tampa Bay watershed. To further
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`its mission, TBWK actively seeks federal and state implementation of the Clean Water
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`Act, and, where necessary, directly initiates enforcement actions on behalf of itself and its
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`members. TBWK is based in Pinellas County and has been registered as a non-profit
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`corporation in Florida since 2017. TBWK is a licensed member of Waterkeeper
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`Alliance, Inc., an international non-profit environmental organization, made up of over
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`300 separate Waterkeeper programs, such as TBWK.
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`8.
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`TBWK represents its members in and around Pinellas County who have
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`personally suffered harm to their aesthetic, recreational, and employment-related interests
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`due to the City’s illegal discharges of wastewater effluent into Old Tampa Bay in
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`violation of the City’s NPDES Permit limits and the City’s sanitary sewer overflows
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`(“SSOs”) (i.e., the unauthorized discharge of raw sewage, partially treated sewage, or
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`treated reclaimed water) into Old Tampa Bay, Cross Bayou, Lake Seminole, Mckay
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`Creek, Seminole Bypass Canal, Clearwater Harbor, Allen Creek, Church Creek,
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`Rattlesnake Creek, Long Bayou, Boca Ciega Bay, Tampa Bay, the Gulf of Mexico, and
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`other water bodies, streams, or tributaries in or adjoining the City (collectively,
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`“Receiving Waters”), which are all waters of the United States. TBWK members use
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`those waters for boating, fishing, wading, body contact water sports and other forms of
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`recreation, wildlife observation, aesthetic enjoyment, educational study, and spiritual
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`contemplation.
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`9.
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`TBWK members include residents of Largo and Pinellas County who
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`reside in the vicinity of the waters directly impacted by the City’s violations and who
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`have reasonably founded fears that the pollutants contained in the City’s SSOs, the
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`excessive nutrient loading to Old Tampa Bay in violation of the City’s NPDES Permit
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`effluent limits, and the City’s exceedances of other NPDES Permit limitations have and
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`will continue to contribute to poor water quality in the Receiving Waters that may be
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`dangerous to human health and the environment. TBWK members also include: (1)
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`residents of the communities that border Tampa Bay who have reasonably founded fears
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`that the excessive nitrogen contained in the City’s discharges of raw, partially treated
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`and/or treated reclaimed water cause or exacerbate harmful algal blooms (“HABs”) and
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`the decline in abundance and distribution of seagrasses, both of which negatively impact
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`the entire estuary; (2) commercial and charter fishermen who depend upon the ecological
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`health of Tampa Bay for their livelihood, individuals who own and operate businesses in
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`the tourism and marine service industries located within Pinellas County, whose
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`businesses are adversely impacted by the City’s illegal discharges and by public
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`perception of poor water quality in Pinellas County; and (3) individuals who devote their
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`time to Tampa Bay cleanup efforts, restoration of seagrass, and participation in wildlife
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`patrols during nesting or hatching season. TBWK members conduct nature surveys and
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`studies, and photograph wildlife in and around affected waterways. TBWK members
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`contact the affected waters directly when they perform maintenance work on boats,
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`participate in body-contact water sports, or participate in organized trash cleanups and
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`seagrass restoration work along the shoreline.
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`2. Our Children’s Earth Foundation
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`10.
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`OCE is a non-profit public benefit corporation with members throughout
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`the United States, including Tampa Bay and specifically, Pinellas County. OCE’s
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`mission is to promote public awareness of domestic and international human rights issues
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`and environmental impacts through education, art, and private enforcement actions for
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`the benefit of children and other populations who are the most vulnerable to pollution.
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`OCE seeks to prevent environmental damage wherever possible and ensure that
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`appropriate environmental protection statutes are being followed. Throughout its 20-year
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`history, OCE has regularly initiated environmental enforcement actions on behalf of itself
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`and its members. OCE has been registered as a non-profit corporation in Florida since
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`2016.
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`11.
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`Since 2016, OCE has focused on its environmental enforcement activities
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`related to water quality in Florida. OCE members in Pinellas County have repeatedly
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`requested that OCE take legal action to effectively address water pollution problems in
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`their communities, as well as sources of pollution that exacerbate HABs. OCE members
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`have expressed concern and fear regarding their exposure to raw and partially-treated
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`sewage pollution, as well as the impacts of nutrient pollution to waters in Tampa Bay,
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`including to the Receiving Waters.
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`12.
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`OCE members have expressed frustration that local and state officials
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`have failed to adequately address the City’s polluting of the Receiving Waters, despite
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`recurring HABs and raw and partially-treated sewage releases that impact members’
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`businesses, recreational activities, and quality of life.
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`13.
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`OCE members in and around Pinellas County have personally suffered
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`harm to their aesthetic, recreational, and employment-related interests due to City’s
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`unauthorized discharges of raw or inadequately treated sewage and/or reclaimed water
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`into the Receiving Waters. Members of OCE use those waters to regularly participate in
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`boating, fishing, wading, body contact water sports and other forms of recreation, wildlife
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`observation, aesthetic enjoyment, educational study, and spiritual contemplation.
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`3. Suncoast Waterkeeper
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`14.
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`SCWK is a Florida non-profit public benefit corporation with members
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`throughout Southwest Florida, including Pinellas County. SCWK is dedicated to
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`protecting and restoring the Florida Suncoast's waterways through fieldwork, advocacy,
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`environmental education, and enforcement, for the benefit of the communities and
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`SCWK’s members who rely upon these precious coastal resources. SCWK aims to
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`protect local waterways for use for water contact recreation, aesthetic enjoyment, fishing,
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`wildlife observation, educational study, and spiritual contemplation. To further its
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`mission, SCWK actively seeks federal and state implementation of the Clean Water Act,
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`and, where necessary, directly initiates enforcement actions on behalf of itself and its
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`members. Pinellas County waterways and communities are included in SCWK’s area of
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`operation. SCWK has been registered as a non-profit corporation in Florida since 2012
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`and has maintained its good and current standing in Florida since that time. Like TBWK,
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`SCWK is a licensed member of Waterkeeper Alliance, Inc.
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`15.
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`SCWK represents its members in and around Largo and Pinellas County
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`who have personally suffered harm to their aesthetic, recreational, and employment-
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`related interests due to the City’s illegal discharges of wastewater effluent into Old
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`Tampa Bay in violation of the City’s NPDES Permit limits and the City’s SSOs into the
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`Receiving Waters. SCWK members enjoy those waters for boating, fishing, wading,
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`body contact water sports and other forms of recreation, wildlife observation, aesthetic
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`enjoyment, educational study, and spiritual contemplation.
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`16.
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`SCWK members include residents of Largo and Pinellas County who
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`reside in the vicinity of the waters affected by the City’s violations and who have
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`reasonably founded fears that the pollutants contained in the City’s SSOs, the excessive
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`nutrient loading to Old Tampa Bay in violation of the City’s NPDES Permit effluent
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`limits, and the City’s exceedances of other NPDES Permit limitations have and will
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`continue to contribute to poor water quality in the Receiving Waters that may be
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`dangerous to them and human health and the environment. SCWK members also
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`include: (1) residents of the communities that border Tampa Bay who have reasonably
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`founded fears that the excessive nitrogen contained in the City’s discharges of raw,
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`partially treated and/or treated reclaimed water cause or exacerbate HABs and the decline
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`in abundance and distribution of seagrasses, both of which negatively impact the entire
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`estuary; (2) commercial and charter fishermen who depend upon the ecological health of
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`Tampa Bay for their livelihood, individuals who own and operate businesses in the
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`tourism and marine service industries located within Pinellas County, whose businesses
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`are adversely impacted by the City’s illegal discharges and by public perception of poor
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`water quality in Pinellas County; and (3) individuals who devote their time to Tampa Bay
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`cleanup efforts, restoration of seagrass, and participation in wildlife patrols during
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`nesting or hatching season. SCWK members conduct nature surveys and studies, and
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`photograph wildlife in and around the affected waterways. SCWK members contact the
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`affected waters directly when they perform maintenance work on boats, participate in
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`body-contact water sports, or participate in organized trash cleanups and seagrass
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`restoration work along the shoreline.
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`17.
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`The City’s illegal discharges of pollutants degrade water quality and harm
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`aquatic life in the Receiving Waters, and thus threaten or impair each of the uses
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`described above or contribute to such threats and impairments, ultimately impairing
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`Plaintiffs’ members’ use and enjoyment of these waters.
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`18.
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`The City’s illegal discharges of pollutants threaten or impair each of the
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`uses described above or contribute to such threats and impairments. Thus, the interests of
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`Plaintiffs’ members have been, are being, and will continue to be adversely affected by
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`the City’s failure to comply with its NPDES and MS4 Permits and the Clean Water Act.
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`The relief sought herein will redress the harms to Plaintiffs’ members caused by the
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`City’s illegal conduct. Continuing commission of the acts and omissions alleged herein
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`will irreparably harm Plaintiffs’ members, for which harm they have no plain, speedy, or
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`adequate remedy at law.
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`19.
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`Plaintiffs bring this action on behalf of their members to address and
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`remedy the injuries in fact suffered by these members as a result of the City’s illegal
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`discharges described above. The interests of Plaintiffs’ members at stake are germane to
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`the purposes for which TBWK, OCE, and SCWK have been created. Plaintiffs’
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`organizational purposes all include protecting surface waters from pollution and
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`degradation to promote their members’ and the public’s abilities to use surface waters for
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`water contact recreation, aesthetic enjoyment, fishing, wildlife observation, educational
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`study, and spiritual contemplation.
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`B. Defendant
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`20.
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`The City is a municipality incorporated under the laws of the state of
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`Florida and a person within the meaning of Section 403.031(5), Fla. Stat., and Section
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`502(5) of the Clean Water Act. 33 U.S.C. § 1262(5).
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`21.
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`The City is a “person” within the meaning of Section 502(5) of the Clean
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`Water Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1362(5).
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`1. The City’s Sewage Collection and Treatment System
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`22.
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`The City holds NPDES Permit No. FL0026603, issued by FDEP for the
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`Largo Wastewater Treatment Facility (“WWTF” or “Largo WWTF”).
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`23.
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`The City owns and operates the Largo WWTF, and appurtenant sewage
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`wastewater collection and treatment system (“WCTS”) which collectively constitute a
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`publicly owned treatment works (“POTW”) as defined in Section 212(2) of the CWA, 33
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`U.S.C. § 1292(2), and 40 C.F.R. Section 125.58(s). The POTW collects and treats
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`sanitary sewage from the City’s residents and businesses.
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`24.
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`All wastewater collected within Largo is transported to the WWTF
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`through the WCTS. The WWTF is located at 5100 150th Ave N, Clearwater, FL 33760 in
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`Pinellas County. It is an 18.0 million gallons per day (“MGD”) annual average daily
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`flow (“AADF”) Type I domestic advanced wastewater treatment facility, using a high-
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`rate three-stage biological nutrient removal process, commonly referred to as the A20
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`Process. The treated wastewater effluent from the WWTF is either (1) distributed to a
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`“Master Reuse System” for land application within the City, the Carillon area and within
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`the City of St. Petersburg, or (2) discharged through an outfall to the stormwater system
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`within Feather Sound and thence to Tampa Bay.
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`25.
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`The point of discharge of effluent from the Largo WWTF is Surface Water
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`Discharge D-001, which is a 30” diameter, reinforced concrete pipe that discharges
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`effluent from the WWTF as described in the NPDES Permit: “An existing 15.0 MGD
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`[AADF] discharge to an unnamed ditch, that is part of the stormwater system within
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`Feather Sound, into the Class III Fresh waters of Roosevelt Basin, WBID 1624A.
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`Roosevelt Basin flows into WBID1558H, Class II Marine waters of Old Tampa Bay, at
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`Discharge Location D-001, which is at a depth of approximately 2 feet. The point of
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`discharge is located approximately at latitude 27°53’ 52” N, longitude 82°40’ 13” W.”
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`26.
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`The City owns and operates the WCTS which consists of 294 public miles
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`of collection and transmission lines, including 240 miles of gravity pipes, 30 miles of
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`force mains, 21 miles of interceptor pipes, and 3 miles of discharge effluent lines. There
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`are 52 wastewater lift stations throughout the wastewater collection system and over
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`5,400 manholes. The City is also responsible for the lower portion of lateral lines from
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`the City’s mainline connection to the property line. Additionally, there are over 300
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`private collection systems consisting of all the assets commonly found in a sanitary sewer
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`collection system, including lateral and main pipes, manholes, and 164 pump stations;
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`these private systems are conveyed to the Largo WWTF.
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`2. The City’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System
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`27.
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`The City’s municipal separate storm sewer system (“MS4”) contains
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`numerous storm drain inlets that lead to underground storm drain pipes, which discharge
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`into the Receiving Waters. The portion of the MS4 within the City’s political boundaries
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`serves the areas also served by the WCTS.
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`28.
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`The City is the owner and operator of the portions of the MS4 within its
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`political boundaries under MS4 Permit Nos. FLS000005-03 and FLS000005-04.
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`C. The Local Waterways that Receive the City's Illegal Discharges and the
`Environmental Impacts from those Discharges
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`29.
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`The WWTF and WCTS are located in watersheds that drain to the
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`Receiving Waters. The storm pipes in the MS4 owned and operated by the City also
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`discharge into these waters.
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`30.
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`SSOs from the WWTF and WCTS, as well as SSOs that enter the MS4
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`from the WWTF and WCTS and/or from privately-owned lateral lines, are discharged to
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`the Receiving Waters.
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`31.
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`Effluent discharged from Surface Water Discharge D-001 flow directly
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`through the stormwater system within Feather Sound and then to Old Tampa Bay.
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`32.
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`The Receiving Waters are waters of the United States, and/or have a
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`significant nexus to waters of the United States, and thus are navigable waters as defined
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`by the Clean Water Act and controlling authority.
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`33.
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`Tampa Bay is the largest open-water estuary in Florida, encompassing
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`nearly 400 square miles, including numerous smaller bays and waterways and bordering
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`three counties—Hillsborough, Manatee and Pinellas. Tampa Bay’s watershed covers a
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`land area of 2,200 square miles. Tampa Bay is an ecologically sensitive water body and a
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`defining feature of Southwest Florida. Tampa Bay is an important and heavily used
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`resource, with special aesthetic and recreational significance for people living in the
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`surrounding communities. The Tampa Bay shoreline has numerous highly valued
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`beaches and points of public access that offer unique recreation opportunities for
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`swimmers, kayakers, paddleboarders, windsurfers, sport fishers, and other recreational
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`users. Included amongst Tampa Bay’s prized resources are specially recognized and
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`protected waterways, such as the Boca Ciega Bay Aquatic Preserve and the Pinellas
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`County Aquatic Preserve. The Boca Ciega Bay Aquatic Preserve runs along the
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`southwest coastline of the county and the remainder of the sovereign submerged lands in
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`Pinellas County, including those in and around the City, comprise the Pinellas County
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`Aquatic Preserve. These two Aquatic Preserves are designated as “Outstanding Florida
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`Waters,” pursuant to 62-302.400 F.A.C., and are afforded special significant protection
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`because of their natural attributes.
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`34.
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`SSOs harm the Receiving Waters and pose a serious risk to fisheries,
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`wildlife habitat, and human health. SSOs contain human waste, viruses, protozoa, mold
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`spores and bacteria that are known pathogens that cause disease in humans and wildlife.
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`SSOs also contain chemicals that cause cancer or reproductive toxicity in humans and
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`wildlife. These chemicals come from solvents, detergents, cleansers, inks, pesticides,
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`paints, pharmaceuticals, and other chemicals used by households and businesses and then
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`discarded to sewage collection systems.
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`35.
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`SSOs further contain nutrients that increase the frequency, severity and
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`duration of HABs that are toxic to humans, fish, shellfish, marine mammals and birds and
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`are linked to a variety of illnesses in people and animals. HABs in Tampa Bay and
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`nearshore Gulf of Mexico waters have been manifested by massive fish kills, benthic
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`invertebrate die offs and unusually high unusually high mortality rates of sea turtles and
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`marine mammals.
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`36.
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`HABs in Tampa Bay include the toxic phytoplankton species Pyrodinium
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`bahamense, Pseudo-nitzschia, dinoflagellate Karlodinium and likely contribute to Red
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`Tide (Karenia Brevis) blooms. Toxins found in HABs, including the potent saxitoxin
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`found in Pyrodinium bahamense, are responsible for acute human illness and linked to
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`neurodegenerative illness such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease.
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`37.
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`Pyrodinium bahamense persists in Old Tampa Bay, which directly
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`receives the City’s effluent from Surface Water Discharge D-001. Pyrodinium
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`bahamense contributes to a large magnitude chlorophyll-a exceedance of FDEP
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`regulatory criteria for chlorophyll-a concentrations that has persisted for at least the last
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`five years. (2019 Tampa Bay Water Quality Assessment. 2020. Technical Report #01-20
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`of the Tampa Bay Estuary Program. Prepared by the Tampa Bay Estuary Program (M.
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`Beck, M. Burke & G. Raulerson)). The Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute’s
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`HAB group is monitoring and studying HABs in Old Tampa Bay.
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`38.
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`Besides the direct water and airborne pathways of toxic exposure to
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`humans and wildlife, impacts secondary to fishkills can include skin and respiratory
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`irritation in sensitive members of the human population. The fish kills associated with
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`HABs can cause eyesores and noxious odor conditions associated with dead and decaying
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`fish, making waters unfit for recreational use, aesthetic enjoyment, or spiritual
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`contemplation.
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`39.
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`SSOs that discharge into the Receiving Waters result in the addition of the
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`pollutants described above (i.e., pathogens, nutrients, chemicals, and various toxins). The
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`intensive use of the Receiving Waters for commercial and sport fishing, shellfish
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`harvesting, and water-contact recreation increases the likelihood that people will come
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`into direct contact with SSOs and the pollutants they contain. SSOs also affect people
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`who eat fish and bivalves caught and harvested in these waters. Toxic chemicals and
`
`neurotoxins bio-accumulate in the affected waters’ food webs; i.e., contaminants
`
`absorbed by plankton accumulate in fish and birds farther up the food chain, and
`
`ultimately transfer in higher doses to human consumers.
`
`40.
`
`Old Tampa Bay, which directly receives the discharge of the City’s
`
`effluent from Surface Water Discharge D-001, is suffering from excessive pollution and
`
`is designated as an impaired water body. A water body that is designated as impaired
`
`cannot support its designated beneficial uses. The beneficial uses of Old Tampa Bay
`
`include recreation, and propagation and maintenance of a healthy, well balanced
`
`population of fish and wildlife. Portions of Old Tampa Bay are designated to support
`
`shellfish propagation or harvesting. Numerous segments of Old Tampa Bay are listed on
`
`the State of Florida’s Statewide Comprehensive Verified List of Impaired Waters (“State
`
`List”) and submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency for inclusion in the CWA
`
`
`
`15
`
`

`

`Case 8:20-cv-01742-CEH-AAS Document 1 Filed 07/28/20 Page 16 of 35 PageID 16
`
`
`
`Section 303(d) list of impaired water bodies (“Federal List”) as impaired by Bacteria (in
`
`several different forms), Biochemical Oxygen Demand and Nutrients.
`
`41.
`
`Tampa Bay, and in particular Old Tampa Bay, has a significant nitrogen
`
`pollution problem. Between 1950 and 1988, an estimated 42% of the seagrass acreage in
`
`Tampa Bay was lost primarily through excess nitrogen loading and related increases in
`
`phytoplankton concentrations, causing light limitation for seagrass survival and growth.
`
`Since the late 1980s, Tampa Bay has seen significant recovery of seagrass population
`
`through substantial financial investments. Seagrasses are an essential part of the
`
`estuarine ecosystem as they provide food and habitat for aquatic animals, filter water,
`
`reduce erosion, and anchor sediment. Additionally, juvenile survival rates are much
`
`higher for fish and other marine life in areas where seagrasses have been maintained and
`
`restored. However, Old Tampa Bay, particularly Feather Sound, where the City of Largo
`
`discharges its treated effluent, has seen poor recovery and decline in its seagrass acreage
`
`in recent years relative to the rest of the Tampa Bay estuary. SSOs and in particular the
`
`nutrients contained within the City’s discharges contribute to the decline in abundance
`
`and distribution of seagrasses in Old Tampa Bay and impair seagrass recovery in the
`
`broader Tampa Bay estuary.
`
`42.
`
`The City’s persistent NPDES Permit exceedances for TN has likely been a
`
`major contributor to persistent HABs in Old Tampa Bay and related chlorophyll-A
`
`exceedances, and helps explain the failure to attain the FDEP-established thresholds for
`
`chlorophyll-A in 2015, 2017, and 2019 set forth in the Tampa Bay Estuary Reasonable
`
`Assurance Plan (“RAP”). The RAP was developed by the Tampa Bay Estuary Program
`
`
`
`16
`
`

`

`Case 8:20-cv-01742-CEH-AAS Document 1 Filed 07/28/20 Page 17 of 35 PageID 17
`
`
`
`(TBEP) and members of the Tampa Bay Nitrogen Management Consortium in
`
`cooperation with EPA, DEP and other Tampa Bay regional stakeholders. FDEP
`
`approved the RAP on December 10, 2010, under Section 403.067, F.S., and 62-303.600
`
`(F.A.C.), consistent with Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act.
`
`43.
`
`High levels of Nitrogen in the effluent from the City’s Surface Water
`
`Discharge D-001 is a significant contributor to poor water quality, HABs, and seagrass
`
`declines. The City’s failure to meet its permit requirements fetters the collaborative
`
`efforts of stakeholders throughout the region towards seagrass recovery and water quality
`
`improvement.
`
`44.
`
`The Cross Bayou Canal is impaired for dissolved oxygen, enterococci,
`
`mercury, nutrients (chlorophyll-A), and TN and is included in the State List and Federal
`
`List for impaired waters regarding those pollutants. The water quality of Cross Bayou
`
`Canal does not support its designated beneficial uses, including recreation, propagation,
`
`and maintenance of a healthy, well balanced population of fish and wildlife. Cross
`
`Bayou Canal connects Old Tampa Bay to Long Bayou, which is on the State List and
`
`Federal List as impaired for fecal coliform and mercury, and unable to support its
`
`designated beneficial uses. Long Bayou connects to and subsequently flows into Boca
`
`Ciega Bay, Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.
`
`45.
`
`By illegally discharging SSOs (i.e., the unauthorized discharge of raw
`
`sewage, partially treated sewage, or treated reclaimed water), into the MS4, Old Tampa
`
`Bay, Cross Bayou, Lake Seminole, Mckay Creek, Seminole Bypass Canal, Clearwater
`
`Harbor, Allen Creek, Church Creek, Rattlesnake Creek, Long Bayou, Boca Ciega Bay,
`
`
`
`17
`
`

`

`Case 8:20-cv-01742-CEH-AAS Document 1 Filed 07/28/20 Page 18 of 35 PageID 18
`
`
`
`Tampa Bay, the Gulf of Mexico in or adjoining Largo and Pinellas County, and by
`
`persistently exceeding its NPDES Permit effluent limits for discharges into Old Tampa
`
`Bay, the City contributes to the continuing impairment of these waters. As such, the
`
`City’s violations of the Clean Water Act directly harm Plaintiffs’ members’ use and
`
`enjoyment of the above mentioned waters by: (1) loading these waters with pathogens
`
`and thus leading these members to have well-founded fears that engaging in water
`
`contact recreation in these waters has risked or would risk making them or their family
`
`members ill, (2) loading these waters with nutrients that have likely exacerbated HABs,
`
`fish kills, and conditions noxious to these members’ use and enjoyment of these waters
`
`and/or that have led these members to have well-founded fears of the worsening of HABs
`
`in these waters, (3) loading these waters with various toxic chemicals leading these
`
`members to have well-founded fears that they would be harmed if they engaged in water
`
`contact recreation or fishing in these waters, and (4) loading these waters with various
`
`toxic chemicals leading these members to have well-founded fears that wildlife they
`
`enjoy viewing is at risk of harm due to contamination of these waters.
`
`46. Members of the Plaintiff organizations have suffered injuries in fact
`
`caused by the City’s illegal discharges and NPDES Permit violations because the City’s
`
`illegal discharges of raw and partially treated sewage, and treated effluent to Receiving
`
`Waters have reached and directly contaminated waters that Plaintiffs’ members use for
`
`body-contact water sports, fishing, boating, and other activities, causing Plaintiffs’
`
`members to lessen the frequency and enjoyment of their activities in and around the
`
`affected waters.
`
`
`
`18
`
`

`

`Case 8:20-cv-01742-CEH-AAS Document 1 Filed 07/28/20 Page 19 of 35 PageID 19
`
`
`
`IV.
`
`STATUTORY AND LEGAL REQUIREMENTS
`
`A. The Clean Water Act
`
`47.
`
`Section 301(a) of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1311(a), prohibits the
`
`discharge of a pollutant by any person to waters of the United States, except, inter alia, in
`
`compliance with a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (“NPDES”) permit
`
`issued pursuant to Section 402 of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1342.
`
`48.
`
`Section 502(6) of the CWA, 33 U.S.C. § 1362(6), defines “pollutant” to
`
`include, inter alia, sewage,

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