At a Dec. 10 show‑cause hearing, the AquaGuard Protection Agency upheld a cease‑and‑desist order issued Dec. 1 to LFP Auto Body, the operator at 18 Pearl Street, finding the facility lacked a current registration and had not met a previously issued deadline to submit a stormwater management plan. The agency amended the order to give the registrant a fixed period to submit and implement a certified stormwater management plan and prohibited regulated vehicle‑repair activities until the agency accepts the registration as complete.

Alexis, an agency staff member, described the enforcement timeline: the facility’s prior registration expired Feb. 6, 2025; staff notified the facility in September 2024 that renewal was required; at an April meeting staff determined a stormwater management plan was warranted because the site has a dry well; the facility missed an Aug. 20 deadline and received a 90‑day extension to Nov. 18; the facility did not submit the required plan and staff issued a cease‑and‑desist on Dec. 1.

Owners who identified themselves as Ivan and co‑owner Pedro Pisa Ortega said they had difficulty locating a certified professional and cited the cost of some quotes as a barrier. They told the agency they had since engaged a consultant referred to in the record as Harry, who requested a $500 deposit and indicated he could deliver the plan within weeks. The owners said they had been trying to comply, had no known active spills, and had been finishing existing customer vehicles rather than taking new work under insurance guidance.

Board members questioned staff on whether a list of contractors had been withheld; Alexis said staff did not keep a prescriptive recommendation list but had contacted firms in mid‑August, generated a list of five firms that responded and emailed that list to the facility on Aug. 25. On the environmental risk, Alexis said staff had not observed active spills but that the facility was not yet implementing the full suite of required best management practices for an aquifer protection area.

After discussion, member Galen moved to amend the order and provide a limited extension; Alexis recommended a six‑week window for the registrant to submit and implement the plan and offered to work with the agency to hold a special meeting to review acceptance as soon as the plan is submitted. The board set the due date as the day before Jan. 21 to allow a special meeting on Jan. 21 if needed. Member Richard seconded the motion. Alexis called a roll‑call vote; each named member answered "yes," and the chair announced the motion passed unanimously. The agency recorded that no regulated activities may resume until registration is accepted; staff advised the registrant to notify Alexis promptly if the plan is completed earlier so a special meeting can be scheduled.