NC0058815_NOI_NOV2021PC0588_Response_20211215

HOPE VALLEY, INC.
Men's Division
P. O. Box 467
Dobson, NC 27017
[phone]
(336)3864169
FAX [phone]
Women's Division
152 Hope Valley Road
Pilot Mountain, NC 27041
[phone]
[phone]
FAX [phone]
Residential Services
P.O. Box 2682
Hickory, NC 28602
[phone]
[phone]
FAX [phone]
December 15, 2021
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
Division of Water Resources
Winston-Salem Regional Office
Attn: Lon T. Snider, Regional Supervisor
450 West Hanes Mill Road
Suite 300
Winston-Salem, NC 27105
Dear Mr. Snider,
This letter is in response to the Notice of Violation Case #: NOV-2021-PC-0588. Hope
Valley, Inc. is committed to being good community members and takes the
responsibility for ethical practices seriously. I want to first apologize for the
noncompliance of our contracted operator and assure you of our intent to adhere to all
regulations in the future.
I understand that 9 DMRs were not filed on behalf of Hope Valley by Mr. Semones for
the months of January — August, 2021. In the past, our procedure was as follows:
• Mr. Semones collects water samples and submits for evaluation
• Pace Analytical evaluates samples and sends the findings to Hope Valley and
Mr. Semones
• Once received, the Hope Valley bookkeeper emails the reports to Mr.
Semones and files original in our office
• Mr. Semones submits the DMR via the NC DEQ electronic portal
Several factors contributed to the failure to have reports filed appropriately. The
following is my understanding of events leading to the violations:
- PRIVATE NON-PROFIT CORPORATION -
ESTABLISKED 1968

• Water samples were taken and submitted for inspection by Mr. Semones every month, January-
August2021
• There was an issue with the lab in January and April which caused a delay in the report being
received by Hope Valley and Mr. Semones in a timely manner. Mr. Semones and Hope Valley staff
agree that we should have followed -up when the report was not received in a timely manner
• Mr. Semomes experienced difficulty logging into the NC DEQ website and failed to resolve the
issue
• It appears that in February and March, once out of the normal schedule, Mr. Semones failed to
submit the DMRs.
• The Hope Valley maintenance technician who routinely worked with Mr. Semones resigned from
our agency in June of this year leading to a failure to provide appropriate oversite to Mr. Semones
• Being out of the routine of submitted DMRs as required by the permit, Mr. Semones failed to follow
appropriate procedures resulting in the current non-compliance
Corrective action to be taken by Hope Valley, Inc.:
• Hope Valley has confirmed that Pace Analytical is emailing the results to both Hope Valley staff
and Mr. Semones
• Mr. Semones will submit DMR copies to Hope Valley by the 25t° of each month confirming that he
has complied with the reporting requirements beginning immediately
• Hope Valley staff has obtained credentials to log into the NC DEQ website for monitoring
• Mr. Semones will provide Hope Valley with a contact person to use as backup if he is unable to
perform duties appropriately within 1 week of this letter
• Hope Valley is currently researching the requirements to have a full-time employee train to become
a certified operator for the wastewater treatment plant on the property
I understand that ignorance is not an excuse for noncompliance, however, Mr. Semones has-been a
contractor for Hope Valley for over 25 years and 1 have never heard of any complaints about his
performance until now. We were not aware of any deficiencies until Mr. Boone arrived for the November
site inspection. At that time Mr. Semones admitted his failure to comply with the requirements and
immediately acted to correct the deficiencies.
I would like to address the potential fines that may be levied against Hope Valley, Inc. We are a non-profit,
28-day, residential substance abuse treatment center which has been in operation since 1968. The mission
of our agency is, "to provide the highest quality treatment at the lowest possible cost'. In the interest of full
disclosure, please know that Hope Valley cannot afford the fines listed in the compliance letter. We would
certainly be forced to shutter the doors. We have always operated on a thin budget but are currently in the
direst financial situation in our history. Since the onset of COVID, Hope Valley has struggled to remain open

due to the financial strain of operating on the front lines to serve alcoholics and addicts who are in need.
We were forced to limit admissions and to completely halt admissions during the height of the pandemic,
costing us a great deal of admission fees. Like so many businesses, we have not returned to our previous
financial status. With the current opioid crisis and additional substance use problems in our society, there
is a great need for quality substance abuse treatment; however, funds are lacking. It is imperative that Hope
Valley remain to serve those in need. Our mission provides a way out of addiction for individuals so that
they may resume their roles as parents, children, employees, and good citizens. We hope that you will
allow us to demonstrate our willingness to comply with all regulations.
I am very sensitive to the requirements of your agency and respect the need for timely compliance of all
regulations. Please let me know if there are any additional measures you may recommend or request and
thank you for willingness to work with our agency to correct the violations.
Respectfully submitted,
Angie Morrow, LCAS-A, LCMHC-A
Executive Director
Hope Valley, Incorporated