HomeMy WebLinkAboutNC0023337_Enforcement (Letter)_LV-2020-0216_20200817 (2)ROY COOPER
MICHAEL S. REGAN
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S. DANIEL SMITH
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Certified Mail # 70170190000095698022
Return Receipt Requested
August 17, 2020
Eddie Braxton
Town of Scotland Neck
PO Box 537
Scotland Neck, NC 27874
SUBJECT: Notice of Violation and Assessment of Civil Penalty
for Violations of North Carolina General Statute (G.S.) 143-215.1(a)(6)
and NPDES WW Permit No. NCO023337
Town of Scotland Neck
Scotland Neck WWTP
Case No. LV-2020-0216
Halifax County
Dear Permittee:
This letter transmits a Notice of Violation and assessment of civil penalty in the amount of $3,541.69 ($3,500.00 civil
penalty + $41.69 enforcement costs) against Town of Scotland Neck.
This assessment is based upon the following facts: a review has been conducted of the Discharge Monitoring Report
(DMR) submitted by Town of Scotland Neck for the month of March 2020. This review has shown the subject facility
to be in violation of the discharge limitations and/or monitoring requirements found in NPDES WW Permit No.
NC0023337. The violations, which occurred in March 2020, are summarized in Attachment A to this letter.
Based upon the above facts, I conclude as a matter of law that Town of Scotland Neck violated the terms, conditions or
requirements of NPDES WW Permit No. NCO023337 and G.S. 143-215. 1 (a)(6) in the manner and extent shown in
Attachment A. In accordance with the maximums established by G.S. 143-215.6A(a)(2), a civil penalty may be assessed
against any person who violates the terms, conditions or requirements of a permit required by G.S. 143-215.1(a).
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Based upon the above findings of fact and conclusions of law, and in accordance with authority provided by the
Secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality and the Director of the Division of Water Resources, 1, Vanessa E.
Manuel, Assistant Regional Supervisor, Raleigh Regional Office hereby make the following civil penalty assessment against
Town of Scotland Neck:
750.00 1 of 1 violations of G.S. 143-215.1(a)(6) and Permit No. NC0023337, by discharging waste water
into the waters of the State in violation of the Permit Monthly Average for BOD, 5-Day (20 Deg.
C) - Concentration
750.00 1 of I violations of G.S. 143-215. 1 (a)(6) and Permit No. NCO023337, by discharging waste water
into the waters of the State in violation of the Permit Monthly Average for Nitrogen, Ammonia
Total (as N) - Concentration
7 50.00 3 of 4 violations of G.S. 143-215. 1 (a)(6) and Permit No. N00023337, by discharging waste water
into the waters of the State in violation of the Permit Weekly Average for BOD, 5-Day (20 Deg. C)
- Concentration
500.00 2 of 4 violations of G.S. 143-215.1(a)(6) ,and Permit No. NC0023337, by discharging waste water
into the waters of the State in violation of the Permit Weekly Average for Nitrogen, Ammonia
Total (as N) - Concentration
750.00 3 of 3 violations of G.S. I43-215.1(a)(6) and Permit No. NC0023337, by discharging waste water
into the waters of the State in violation of the Permit Weekly Geometric Mean for Coliform, Fecal
MF, MFC Broth, 44.5 C
$3 500.00 TOTAL CIVIL PENALTY
41.69 Enforcement Costs
3$ ,541.69 TOTAL AMOUNT DUE
Pursuant to G.S. 143-215.6A(c), in determining the amount of the penalty 1 have taken into account the Findings of Fact and
Conclusions of Law and the factors set forth at G.S. 143B-282.I (b), which are:
(1) The degree and extent of harm to the natural resources of the State, to the public health, or to private property
resulting from the violation;
(2) The duration and gravity of the violation;
(3) The effect on ground or surface water quantity or quality or on air quality;
(4) The cost of rectifying the damage;
(5) The amount of money saved by noncompliance;
(6) Whether the violation was committed willfully or intentionally;
(7) The prior record of the violator in complying or failing to comply with programs over which the Environmental
Management Commission has regulatory authority; and
(8) The cost to the State of the enforcement procedures.
Within thirty (30) days of receipt of this notice, you must do one of the following:
(1) Submit payment of the penalty, OR
(2) Submit a written request for remission, OR
(3) Submit a written request for an administrative hearing
Option 1: Submit payment of the penalty:
Payment should be made directly to the order of the Department of Environmental Quality (do not inchide iraiver
form). Payment of the penalty will not foreclose further enforcement action for any continuing or new violation(s).
Please submit payment to the attention of:
Wastewater Branch
Division of Water Resources
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
Option 2: Submit a written request for remission or mitigation including a detailed justification for such
request:
Please be aware that a request for remission is limited to consideration of the five factors listed below as they may
relate to the reasonableness of the amount of the civil penalty assessed. Requesting remission is not the proper
procedure for contesting whether the violation(s) occurred or the accuracy of any of the factual statements contained in
the civil penalty assessment document. Because a remission request forecloses the option of an administrative hearing,
such a request must be accompanied by a waiver of your right to an administrative hearing and a stipulation and
agreement that no factual or legal issues are in dispute. Please prepare a detailed statement that establishes why you
believe the civil penalty should be remitted, and submit it to the Division of Water Resources at the address listed below.
In determining whether a remission request will be approved, the following factors shall be considered:
(1) whether one or more of the civil penalty assessment factors in NCGS 143B-282. 1 (b) was wrongfully
applied to the detriment of the petitioner;
(2) whether the violator promptly abated continuing environmental damage resulting from the violation;
(3) whether the violation was inadvertent or a result of an accident;
(4) whether the violator had been assessed civil penalties for any previous violations; or
(5) whether payment of the civil penalty will prevent payment for the remaining necessary remedial actions.
Please note that all evidence presented in support of your request for remission must be submitted in writing. The
Director of the Division of Water Resources will review your evidence and inform you of his decision in the matter of
your remission request. The response will provide details regarding the case status, directions for payment, and
provision for further appeal of the penalty to the Environmental Management Commission's Committee on Civil Penalty
Remissions (Committee). Please be advised that the Committee cannot consider information that was not part of the
original remission request considered by the Director. Therefore, it is very important that you prepare a complete and
thorough statement in support of your request for remission.
In order to request remission you must complete and submit the enclosed "Request for Remission of Civil Penalties,
Waiver of Right to an Administrative Hearing, and Stipulation of Facts" form within thirty (30) days of receipt of this
notice. The Division of Water Resources also requests that yRu complete and submit the enclosed "Justification for
Remission Request."
Both forms should be submitted to the following address:
Wastewater Branch
Division of Water Resources
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
Option 3: File a petition for an administrative hearin2 with the Office of Administrative Hearin s:
If you wish to contest any statement in the attached assessment document you must file a petition for an administrative
hearing. You may obtain the petition form from the Office of Administrative Hearings. You must file the petition with
the Office of Administrative Hearings within thirty (30) days of receipt of this notice. A petition is considered filed
when it is received in the Office of Administrative Hearings during normal office hours. The Office of Administrative
Hearings accepts filings Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., except for official state
holidays. The petition may be filed by facsimile (fax) or electronic mail by an attached file (with restrictions) - provided
the signed original, one (1) copy and a filing fee (if a filing fee is required by NCGS §15013-23.2) is received in the
Office of Administrative Hearings within seven (7) business days following the faxed or electronic transmission. You
should contact the Office of Administrative Hearings with all questions regarding the filing fee and/or the details of the
filing process.
The mailing address and telephone and fax numbers for the Office of Administrative Hearings are as follows:
6714 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699 6714
Tel: (919) 431-3000
Fax: (919) 431-3100
One (I) copy of the petition must also be served on DEQ as follows:
Mr. William F. bane, General Counsel
Department of Environmental Quality
I601 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1601
Please indicate the case number (as found on page one of this letter) on the petition.
Failure to exercise one of the options above within thirty (30) days of receipt of this letter, as evidenced by an internal
date/time received stamp (not a postmark), will result in this matter being referred to the Attorney General's Office for
collection of the penalty through a civil action. Please be advised that additional penalties may be assessed for violations
that occur after the review period of this assessment.
If you have any questions, please contact Cheng Zhang with the Division of Water Resources staff of the Raleigh Regional
Office at (919) 7914200 or via email at cheng.zhangfumcdenr.gov.
Sincerely,
Vanessa E. Manuel, Assistant Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Raleigh Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
ATTACHMENTS
Cc: WQS Raleigh Regional Office - Enforcement File
NPDES Compliancel Enforcement Unit - Enforcement File
Laserfiche
JUSTIFICATION FOR REMISSION REQUEST
Case Number: LV-2020-0216 County: Halifax
Assessed Party: Town of Scotland Neck
Permit No.: NCO023337 Amount Assessed: $3,541.69
Please use this form when requesting remission of this civil penalty. You must also complete the "Request For Remission,
Waiver of Right to an Administrative Hearing, and Stipulation of Facts" fonn to request remission of this civil penalty.
You should attach any documents that you believe support your request and are necessary for the Director to consider in
evaluating your request for remission. Please be aware that a request for remission is limited to consideration of the five
factors listed below as they may relate to the reasonableness of the amount of the civil penalty assessed. Requesting
remission is not the proper procedure for contesting whether the violation(s) occurred or the accuracy of any of the factual
statements contained in the civil penalty assessment document. Pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 143B-282.1(c), remission of a civil
penalty may be granted only when one or more of the following five factors apply. Please check each factor that you
believe applies to your case and provide a detailed explanation, including copies of supporting documents, as to why the
factor applies (attach additional pages as needed).
(a) one or more of the civil penalty assessment factors in N.C.G.S. 14313-282. 1 (b) were wrongfully applied to the
detriment of the petitioner (the assessment factors are listed in the civil penalty assessment doctanrent);
(b) the violator promptly abated continuing environmental damage resulting from the violation (i.e., explain the
steps that you took to correct the violation and prevent future occurrences);
(c) the violation was inadvertent or a result of an accident (i.e.. explain why the violation was unavoidable or -
something your could not prevent or prepare for);
(d) the violator had not been assessed civil penalties for any previous violations;
(e) payment of the civil penalty will prevent payment for the remaining necessary remedial actions (i.e., explain
how payment of the civil penalty brill prevent you from performing the activities necessary to achieve
compliance).
EXPLANATION:
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
COUNTY OF HALIFAX
IN THE MATTER OF ASSESSMENT
OF CIVIL PENALTIES AGAINST
Town of Scotland Neck
Scotland Neck WWTP
PERMIT NO. NCO023337
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
WAIVER OF RIGHT TO AN
ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING AND
STIPULATION OF FACTS
CASE NO. LV•2020-0216
Having been assessed civil penalties totaling $3,541.69 for violation(s) as set forth in the assessment document of the
Division of Water Resources dated August 17 2020, the undersigned, desiring to seek remission of the civil penalty, does
hereby waive the right to an administrative hearing in the above -stated matter and does stipulate that the facts are as
alleged in the assessment document. The undersigned further understands that all evidence presented in support of
remission of this civil penalty must be submitted to the Director of the Division of Water Resources within thirty (30) days
of receipt of the notice of assessment. No new evidence in support of a remission request will be allowed after (30) days
from the receipt of the notice of assessment.
This the day of , 20
SIGNATURE
ADDRESS
TELEPHONE
ATTACHMENT A
Town of Scotland Neck
CASE NUMBER: LV-2020-0216
PERMIT: NCO023337
FACILITY: Scotland Neck WWTP
LIMIT VIOLATION(S)
SAMPLE LOCATION: Outfall 001 - Effluent
REGION: Raleigh
COUNTY: Halifax
Violation
Report
Unit of
Limit
Calculated % Over
Violation
Penalty
Date
Month/Yr
Parameter
Frequency
Measure
Value
Value
Limit
Type
Amount
3/7/2020
3-2020
BOD, 5-Day (20 Deg.
3 X week
mg11
15
32
113.3
Weekly
$250.00
C) - Concentration
Average
Exceeded
3/14/2020
3-2020
BOD, 5-Day (20 Deg_
3 X week
mg11
15
28
86.7
Weekly
$250.00
C) - Concentration
Average
Exceeded
3/21/2020
3-2020
BOD, 5-Day (20 Deg,
3 X week
mgli
15
17.67
17.8
Weekly
$0.00
C) - Concentration
Average
Exceeded
3/28/2020
3-2020
BOD, 5-Day (20 Deg.
3 X week
mg11
15
29
93.3
Weekly
$250.00
C) - Concentration
Average
Exceeded
3/31/2020 3-2020 BOD, 5-Day (20 Deg.
C) - Concentration
3/7/2020 3-2020 Coliform, Fecal MF,
MFC Broth, 44.5 C
3/14/2020 3-2020 Coliform, Fecal MF,
MFC Broth, 44.5 C
3/28/2020 3-2020 Coliform, Fecal MF,
MFC Broth, 44.5 C
3 X week
mgll
10
25.77
157.7
Monthly
$750.00
Average
Exceeded
3 X week
41100ml
400
1,373.66
243A
Weekly
$250.00
Geometric
Mean
Exceeded
3 X week
#1100ml
400
12,926.61
3.131.7
Weekly
$250.00
Geometric
Mean
Exceeded
3 X week
#M00ml
400
522.74
30.7
Weekly
$250.00
Geometric
Mean
Exceeded
3/7/2020
3-2020
Nitrogen, Ammonia
3 X week
mg11 12
Total (as N) -
Concentration
3/14/2020
3-2020
Nitrogen, Ammonia
3 X week
mg11 12
Total (as N) -
Concentralion
3/21/2020
3-2020
Nitrogen, Ammonia
3 X week
mg11 12
Total (as N) -
Concentration
3/28/2020
3-2020
Nitrogen, Ammonia
3 X week
m9il 12
Total (as N) -
12.63 5.2 Weekly
Average
Exceeded
13.2 10_0 Weekly
Average
Exceeded
15.87 32.2 Weekly
Average
Exceeded
16.29 35.8 Weekly
Average
$0.00
$0.00
$250.00
$250.00
Concentration
Exceeded
3/31/2020 3-2020 Nitrogen, Ammonia
Total (as N) -
Concentration
3 X week mgil 4 14.12 253.0 Monthly $750.00
Average
Exceeded
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES - CIVIL PENALTY ASSESSMENT
Violator: Town of Scotland Neck
Facility Name: Scotland Neck WWTP
Permit Number: NCO023337
County: Halifax
Case Number: LV-2020-0216
ASSESSMENT FACTORS
1) The degree and extent of harm to the natural resources of the State, to the public health, or to private property
resulting from the violation; 'poo
No known damage to environment, public health or private property �f
7
2) The duration and gravity of the violation;
�2�r,y��aly All�
Monthly averages exceeded for ammonia and BOD. Four weekly averages exceeded for BOD. Fiveekly averages
exceeded for fecal. Three weekly average exceeded for fecal. Average monthly flow 0.48 MGD.'rtt
3) The effect on ground or surface water quantity or quality or on air quality; 3 J�'rnp Klk� AVI •
Not documented.
4) The cost of rectifying the damage;
Not documented.
5) The amount of money saved by noncompliance;
It is not believed that any money was saved by these violations.
6) Whether the violation was committed willfully or intentionally;
It is not believed that the violations were committed intentionally.
vF �r-L�. r�ia3
4-4
7) The prior record of the violator in complying or failing to comply with programs over which the Environmental
Management Commission has regulatory authority; and
There has been gne-e 'in the past year.
90 Or; of- As5.csS,1r_1A
8) The cost to the State of the enforcement procedures.
$41.69
Atc' -) / I , Zzzo
Date
Vanessa E. Manuel, Assistant Regio nar Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Raleigh Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ