WASHINGTON – Tolll Brotehrs Inc., one of the largest homebuilders in America, has agreed to pay a $741,000 civil penalty to settle its alleged Clean Water Act violations at its construction sites, including those located in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agnecy, working with the U.S. Department of Justice, said Toll Brothers also agreed to invest in a company-wide storm water compliance program to improve employee training and increase management oversight all of its residential sites across the nation.

The EPA alleged more than 600 storm water violations were discovered through its site inspections and by reviewing documentation submitted by Toll Brothers. EPA said most of the alleged violations involve Toll Brothers’ repeated failures to comply with permit requirements at its construction sites, including requirements to install and maintain adequate storm water pollution controls.

The EPA said polluted storm water runoff and sediment from construction sites can flow directly into the nearest waterway, affecting drinking water quality and damaging valuable aquatic habitats.

“This settlement will help protect the nation’s waters from the harmful pollutants contained in storm water runoff from construction sites,” said Ignacia Moreno, assistant attorney general for the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the Department of Justice. “The settlement requires Toll Brothers to implement system-wide management controls and training that will help prevent polluted storm water runoff from contaminating rivers, lakes and sources of drinking water.”