Environmental Leader

Four of the nation’s largest home builders have agreed to pay civil penalties totaling $4.3 million to resolve alleged violations of the Clean Water Act, the Justice Department and the Environmental Protection Agency announced.

In four separate settlements, Centex Homes, KB Home, Pulte Homes, and Richmond American Homes, resolve allegations of storm water run-off violations at construction sites in 34 states and the District of Columbia.

In addition to the fines and as part of the settlements, the companies have agreed to implement company-wide compliance programs that go beyond current regulatory requirements and that will keep 1.2 billion pounds of sediment from polluting that country’s waterways each year, according to the EPA.

Combined, the four builders are among the top ten builders in the US in terms of home sales and revenues.