The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is planning to fine a Hanalei restaurant more than $177,000 for failing to close three large capacity cesspools.

The EPA says it inspected Tahiti Nui Restaurant and Cocktail Bar several times and notified Christian Marston his establishment violated federal regulations.

The agency says Marston in 2006 acknowledged operating large capacity cesspools and hired a professional engineer to design an approved system. But the EPA said last week Marston hadn’t followed through years later.

Large capacity cesspools discharge untreated sewage from buildings serving 20 or more people daily. The EPA required existing large cesspools to close in 2005 and prohibited new ones after 2000.