HomeMy WebLinkAboutNC0069311_LV20150257_20151103North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
Pat McCrory Donald R. van der Vaart
Governor Secretary
November 3, 2015
CERTIFIED MAIL70141200 0000 8628 8764
RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
Bryce Mendenhall
Franklin County Public Utilities
1630 U S Hwy 1
Youngsville, NC 27596-9661
RECEIVEDIDENRIDWR
NOV 12 2015
Water Q alty
Permitting
SUBJECT: Notice of Violation and Civil Penalty Assessment
for Violations of North Carolina General Statute (G.S.) 143-215.1(a)(6)
and NPDES Permit NCO069311
Franklin County Public Utilities
Franklin County WWTP
Case No. LV -2015-0257
Franklin County
Dear Mr. Mendenhall:
This letter transmits a Notice of Violation and assessment of civil penalty in the amount of $2,529.71
($2,500.00 civil penalty + $ 29.71 enforcement costs) against Franklin County Public Utilities.
This assessment is based upon the following facts: a review has been conducted of the discharge
monitoring report (DMR) submitted by Franklin County Public Utilities for,the month of July 2015.
This review has shown the subject facility to be in violation of the discharge limitations and/or
monitoring requirements found in NPDES Permit NCO069311. The violations that occurred in July
2015 are summarized in Attachment A to this letter.
Based upon the above facts, I conclude as a matter of law that Franklin County Public Utilities violated
the terms, conditions or requirements of NPDES Permit NCO069311 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, I, Danny Smith, Division of
Water Resources Regional Supervisor for the Raleigh Region, hereby make the following civil penalty
assessment against Franklin County Public Utilities:
Division of Water Resources, Raleigh Regional Office, Water Quality Operations Section http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/wq/aps
1628 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1628 Phone: (919) 791-4200
Location: 3800 Barrett Drive, Raleigh, NC 27609 Fax: (919) 788-7159
An Equal Opportunity 1 Affirmative Action Employer— Made in part by recycled paper
Franklin County WWTP
Case No. LV -2015-0257
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:
Point Source Compliance and Expedited Permit Unit
Division of Water Resources — Water Quality Programs
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
OR
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
2 of the 2 violations of G.S. 143-215.1(a)(6) and NPDES Permit No.
$1,000.00
NCO069311, by discharging waste water into the waters of the State
in violation of the Permit Weekly Average limit for BOD - Conc.
1 of the 1 violations of G.S. 143-215.1(a)(6) and NPDES Permit No.
$1,500.00
NCO069311, by discharging waste water into the waters of the State
in violation of the Permit Monthly Average limit for BOD - Conc.
$2,500.00
TOTAL CIVIL PENALTY
$ 29.71
Enforcement Costs
$2,529.71
TOTAL AMOUNT DUE
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:
Point Source Compliance and Expedited Permit Unit
Division of Water Resources — Water Quality Programs
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
OR
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
Franklin County WWTP
Case No. LV -2015-0257
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 14313-282.1(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
her 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 — Water Quality Programs
also requests that you complete and submit the enclosed "Justification for Remission Request." Both
forms should be submitted to the following address:
Point Source Compliance and Expedited Permit Unit
Division of Water Resources — Water Quality Programs
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 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:
Franklin County WWTP
Case No. LV -2015-0257
Office of Administrative Hearings
6714 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-6714
Telephone (919) 733-2698 Facsimile: (919) 733-3478
and
Mail or hand -deliver a copy of the petition to
Sam M. Hayes, General Counsel
Department of Environmental Quality
1601 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 Mitch es of the Raleigh Regional Office at 919-791-4200.
S' cerel ,
Danny Smith, Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Raleigh Regional Office
ATTACHMENTS
cc: Enforcement File w/ attachments
Compliance and Expedited Permit Unit
Central Files w/ attachments
JUSTIFICATION FOR REMISSION REQUEST
DWQ Case Number: LV -2015-0257 County: Franklin
Assessed Party: Franklin County Public Utilities
Permit No.: NC0069311 Amount Assessed: $2,529.71
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) one or more of the civil penalty assessment factors in N.C.G.S. 143B -282.1(b) were
wrongfully applied to the detriment of the petitioner (the assessment factors are listed in the civil
penalty assessment document);
(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;
(e) payment of the civil penalty will prevent payment 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
COUNTY OF FRANKLIN
FRANKLIN COUNTY PUBLIC UTILITIES
IN THE MATTER OF ASSESSMENT
OF CIVIL PENALTIES AGAINST
FRANKLIN COUNTY WWTP
PERMIT NO. NCO069311
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY
WAIVER OF RIGHT TO AN
ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING AND
STIPULATION OF FACTS
FILE NO. LV -2015-0257
Having been assessed civil penalties totaling $2,529.71 for violation(s) as set forth in the
assessment document of the Division of Water Resources —Water Quality Programs dated 11/3/2015,
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
SIGNATURE
ADDRESS
TELEPHONE
20
ATTACHMENT A
Franklin County Public Utilities
CASE NUMBER: LV -2015-0257
PERMIT: NCO069311 FACILITY: Franklin County WWTP COUNTY: Franklin REGION: Raleigh
Limit Violations
MONITORING
OUTFALL /
VIOLATION
UNIT OF
CALCULATED
% OVER
PENALTY
REPORT
PPI
LOCATION
PARAMETER
DATE
FREQUENCY
MEASURE
LIMIT
VALUE
LIMIT
VIOLATION TYPE
$500.00
7-2015
001
Effluent
BOD - Conc
7/4/15
3 X week
mg/I
12
20.00
66.4
Weekly Average Exceeded
$500.00
7-2015
001
Effluent
BOD - Conc
7/11/15
3 X week
mg/1
12
24.90
107.5
Weekly Average Exceeded _
$1,500.00
7-2015
001
Effluent
BOD - Conc
7/31/15
3 X week
mg/I
8
14.70
83.8
Monthly Average Exceeded