Albert D. Seeno Construction Co. Signs Civil Settlement with State Attorney General's Office.

CONCORD, Calif. -- Albert D. Seeno Construction Co. announced a civil settlement with the State Attorney General's office over alleged environmental issues at an Antioch residential project.

The Company agreed to a $2.9 million civil settlement, some of which will be used for conservation projects in Eastern Contra Costa County including a fish ladder project for enhanced environmental restoration and creek improvements in Marsh Creek. The Company will also convey undeveloped land with a creek running through it consisting of 60 acres in Antioch's southern hills to the East Bay Regional Park District.

In 2003, the government alleged that the Company improperly filled two water features in the Mira Vista development. A 1979 Environmental Impact Report, however, failed to identify any water features on the property and the City of Antioch did not require further studies during the almost 20 year build out of the project.

Additionally, an environmental consultant in 2006 failed to find one of the alleged water features and could not conclusively determine the existence of the other.

The Company has cooperated fully with the governmental agencies throughout the process and has worked diligently to find an agreement all parties can live with. The Company agreed to the civil settlement to avoid the expensive distraction of continued legal conflict with the government.

"The Seeno Company did not want this to become a major distraction for the company," said Sam Singer, a Seeno spokesman. "They agreed to the settlement so that they could re-focus their energies where they belong - on the business of building homes for the Bay Area's working families."