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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNC0060461_LM-2015-0022_20151103North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Pat McCrory Donald R. van der Vaart Governor Secretary November 3, 2015 CERTIFIED MAIL #7015-0640-0005-6272-4744 RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED Martin J. Lashua Carolina Water Service Inc of North Carolina PO Box 240908 Charlotte, NC 282240908 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 Permit NCO060461 Carolina Water Service Inc of North Carolina Abington WWTP Case No. LM-2015-0022 Forsyth County Dear Mr. Lashua: This letter transmits a Notice of Violation and assessment of civil penalty in the amount of $1,166.25 ($1,000.00 civil penalty + $ 166.25 enforcement costs) against the Carolina Water Service Inc of North Carolina. This assessment is based upon the following facts: A review has been conducted of the discharge monitoring report (DMR) submitted by the Carolina Water Service Inc of North Carolina for the months of July and August 2015. This review has shown the subject facility to be in violation of the discharge limitations and/or monitoring requirements found in NPDES Permit NC0060461. The violations, which occurred in August 2015, are summarized in Attachment A to this letter. Based upon the above facts, I conclude as a matter of law that the Carolina Water Service Inc of North Carolina violated the terms, conditions or requirements of NPDES Permit NCO060461 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). 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, W. Corey Basinger, Water Quality Regional Operations Supervisor for the Winston-Salem Region, hereby make the followlno civil nanalty aAAAASn P..nt nnalnSt tha r:amlinn 1A1nfor Ccniimc Inm mf Alnrth C�rnlin� 1 of the 1 violations of G.S. 143-215.1(a)(6) and NPDES Permit No. 200.00 NC0060461, by discharging waste water into the waters of the State in violation of the Permit Daily Maximum limit for FEC COLL 1 of the 1 violations of G.S. 143-215.1(a)(6) and NPDES Permit No. 750.00 NC0060461, by discharging waste water into the waters of the State in violation of the Permit Monthly Average limit for NH3-N-Conc. 50.00 For 1 of 1 failures to properly monitor Chlorine in violation of NPDES Permit No. NC0060461. V1,000.00 TOTAL CIVIL PENALTY 166.25 Enforcement Costs t 166.25 TOTAL AMOUNT DUE 450 W. Hanes Mill Rd, Suite 300; Winston-Salem, NC 27105 Phone: 336-776-98001 Internet: www.ncdenr.gov An Equal Opportunity 1 Affirmative Action Employer -Made in part by recycled paper Pursuant to G.S: 143-215.6A(c), in determining the amount of the penalty I have taken into account the Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law and the factors set forth at G.S. 143B-282.1(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 days of receipt of this notice, you must do one of the following: 1. Submit payment of the penalty: Payment should be made directly to the order of the Department of Environmental Quality (do not include waiver 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: NC DEQ / DWR / NPDES 1617 Mail Service Center Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617 OR 2. Submit a written request for remission 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) were wrongfully applied to the detriment of the violator, (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 has 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, 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 you complete and submit the enclosed "Justification for Remission Request." Both forms should be submitted to the following address: NC DENR / DWR / NPDES 1617 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1617 OR 3. File a petition for an administrative hearing with the Office of Administrative Hearings: 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 original and one (1) copy of the petition must be filed with the Office of Administrative Hearings. The petition may be faxed - provided the original and one copy of the document is received in the Office of Administrative Hearings within five (5) business days following the faxed transmission. The mailing address for the Office of Administrative Hearings is: Office of Administrative Hearings 6714 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-6714 Telephone (919) 431-3000 Facsimile: (919) 431-3100 A copy of the petition must also be served on DENR as follows: Sam M. Hayes, General Counsel Department of Environment and Natural Resources 1601 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 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 Ron Boone of the Regional Office at 336-776-9690. Sincerely, W. Corey Basinger, Regional Supervisor Water Quality Regional Operations Section Division of Water Resources, DEQ Attachments: 1. Attachment A cc: WSRO Files w/attachments DWR Central Files Wattachments PSB-NPDES — Charles Weaver ATTACHMENT A Carolina Water Service Inc of North Carolina CASE NUMBER: LM-2015-0022 PERMIT: NC0060461 FACILITY: Abington WWTP COUNTY: Forsyth REGION: Winston-Salem Limit Violations MONITORING OUTFALL/ VIOLATION UNIT OF CALCULATED %OVER PENALTY REPORT PPI LOCATION PARAMETER DATE FREQUENCY MEASURE LIMIT VALUE LIMIT VIOLATION TYPE $200.00 6-2015 001 Effluent FEC COLI $750.00 6-2015 001 Effluent NH3-N-Conc MONITORING OUTFALLI PENALTY REPORT PPI LOCATION PARAMETER $5000 7-2015 001 Effluent CHLORINE 8113115 Weekly #H00m1 400 12000 2,9000 Daily Maximum Exceeded 8/31115 Weekly ri 2 4.10 102E Monthly Average Exceeded VIOLATION UNIT OF CALCULATED %OVER DATE FREQUENCY MEASURE LIMIT VALUE LIMIT VIOLATION TYPE 7/4/15 2Xweek ug/I Frequency Violation STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF FORSYTH DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY CAROLINA WATER SERVICE INC OF NORTH CAROLINA REQUEST FOR REMISSION IN THE MATTER OF ASSESSMENT ) WAIVER OF RIGHT TO AN OF CIVIL PENALTIES AGAINST ) ADMINSTRATIVE HEARING AND ABINGTON WWTP ) STIPULATION OF FACTS PERMIT NO. NCO060461 FILE NO. LM-2015-0022 Having been assessed civil penalties totaling IIJL6.25 for violation(s) as set forth in the assessment document of the Division of Water Resources dated 11/0312015, 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 JUSTIFICATION FOR REMISSION REQUEST DWR Case Number: LM-2015-0022 County: FORSYTH Assessed Party: CAROLINA WATER SERVICE INC OF NORTH CAROLINA Permit No. (if applicable): NC0060461 Amount Assessed: $1,166.25 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" form 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 applies. 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) in the civil penalty assessment are (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 you could not prevent or prepare for); (d) the violator had not been assessed civil penalties for any previous violations; (a) payment of the civil penalty will prevent pavment for the remaining necessary remedial actions (i.e., explain how payment of the civil penalty will prevent you from performing the activities necessary to achieve compliance). EXPLANATION: STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION COUNTY OF FORSYTH DWQ Case Number LM-2015-0022 IN THE MATTER OF ASSESSMENT ) OF CIVIL PENALTIES AGAINST: ) REQUEST FOR ORAL PRESENTATION ABINGTON WWTP` ) I hereby request to make an oral presentation before the Environmental Management Commission's Committee On Civil Penalty Remissions in the matter of the case noted above. In making this request, l assert that I understand all of the following statements: • This request will be reviewed by the Chairman of the Environmental Management Commission and may be either granted or denied. • Making a presentation will require the presence of myself and/or my representative during a Committee meeting held in Raleigh, North Carolina • My presentation will be limited to discussion of issues and information submitted in my original remission request, and because no factual issues are in dispute, my presentation will be limited to five (5) minutes in length. This the day of 20 SIGNATURE TITLE (President, Owner, etc.) ADDRESS TELEPHONE ( )