WQCS00179_NOV-2024-DV-0157_Response to Notice_20240402

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A Researcb Triangle Region Community
April 1, 2024
Michael Hall, Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Raleigh Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
Public Utilities
1630USIN
Youngsville, NC 27596
Phone: [phone]
www.fcpu.us
SUBJECT: RESPONSE TO NOTICE OF VIOLATION & INTENT TO ASSESS CIVIL PENALTY
Tracking Number: NOV-2024-DV-0157
Permit Number: WQCS00179
Franklin County Collection System
Franklin County
Dear Mr. Hall,
Franklin County is in receipt of NOV-2023-DV-0157 dated March 13, 2024. Events that led to the SSO for
which this NOV references was due to equipment failure of the Industrial Park WWPS. The station is a
duplex station and was operating on one pump due to a failure of the secondary pump. A plan was put into
place and a new pump was ordered. All telemetry was operational and called as required.
While working on the bypass setup, staff found a non -operational valve and began replacement. During
the repairs the secondary pump went down and caused the SSO. Franklin County staff along with two
outside vendors began the work of replacing the bypass valve and setting up the bypass system. Once
the bypass system was complete, Franklin County began cleanup of the affected area.
Since the failure of the station Franklin County has spent $167,747.62 on repairs including two new pumps,
new discharge piping, new valves and coating the wet well and having one of the failed pumps sent in for
repairs as a standby.
We are confident that with the diligent work of Franklin County staff, vendors, and investments in
infrastructure this type of system failure and SSO can be prevented.
If you have any further questions, please contact our office at 919-556-6177.
Sincerely,
ChAopherohert
Director of Public Utilities
CC: Payton Proctor, Wastewater Collections Superintendent
Permit File

DocuSign Envelope 10: OCAF9C57-12OA4E53-9BF4-2244CE231432
ROY COOPER
ELIZABETH S. BISER
RICHARD E. ROGERS. JR.
UCVrrnr
Certified Mail # 7017 0190 0000 2486 0384
Return Receipt Requested
Christopher Doherty, Director Public Utilities
Franklin County Public Utilities
1630 U S Hwy 1
Youngsville, NC 27596-9661
J
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
March 13, 2024
SUBJECT: NOTICE OF VIOLATION & INTENT TO ISSUE CIVIL PENALTY
Tracking No.: NOV-2024-DV-0157
Sanitary Sewer Overflows - February 2024
Collection System Permit No. WQCS00179
Franklin County Collection System
Franklin County
Dear Mr. Doherty:
A review has been conducted of the self -reported Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSO's) 5-Day Report/s submitted by
Franklin County Public Utilities. The Division's Raleigh Regional Office concludes that the Franklin County Public
Utilities violated Permit Condition I (2) of Permit No. WQCS00179 by failing to effectively manage, maintain, and
operate their collection system so that there is no SSO (Sanitary Sewer Overflow) to the land or surface waters
and the SSO constituted making an outlet to waters of the State for purposes of G.S. 143-215.1(a)(1), for which
a permit is required by G.S. 143-215.1.
The Raleigh Regional Office is providing the Franklin County Public Utilities an opportunity to provide evidence and
justification as to why the Franklin County Public Utilities should not be assessed a civil penalty for the violation(s)
that are summarized below:
Incident start Duration
Number Date (Mins)
Location
Cause
Total
Vol
(Gals)
Total Vol
Surface
Water
(Gals) DWR Action
202400450 2/9/2024 1,080
YOUNGSVILLE
Pump station
32,400
20,000 Notice of Violation -
equipment failure
Notice of Intent

DomSign Envelope ID: OCAF9C57.12OA-4E53-9BF4-2244CE231432
This Notice of Violation / Notice of Intent to Enforce (NOV/NOI) is being issued for the noted violation. Pursuant
to G.S. 143-215.6A, a civil penalty of not more than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) may be assessed
against any person who violates or fails to act in accordance with the terms, conditions, or requirements of any
permit issued pursuant to G.S. 143-215.1.
This office requests that you respond to this Notice, in writing, within 10 business days of its
receipt. In your response, you should address the causes of non-compliance, remedial actions, and all other
actions taken to prevent the recurrence of similar situations. The response to this correspondence will be
considered in this process. Enforcement decisions will also be based on volume spilled, volume reaching surface
waters, duration and gravity, impacts to public health, fish kills or recreational area closures. Other factors
considered in determining the amount of the civil penalty are the violator's history of non-compliance, the cost of
rectifying the damage, whether the spill was intentional and whether money was saved by non-compliance.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Kevin Fowler with the Water Quality Section in the
Raleigh Regional Office at 919-791-4200 or via email at [e-mail].
Sincerely,
CDoeuSigned by:
�/aln t Sia f'. ill AdA Ut I
B2916E6AB32144F...
Michael Hall, Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Raleigh Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
Cc: Laserfiche