HomeMy WebLinkAboutNC0088331_LV-2024-0111_20240515 (2)JUSTIFICATION FOR REMISSION REQUEST
Case Number: LV-2024-0111
Assessed Party: Pamlico County
Permit No.: NC0088331
County: Pamlico
Amount Assessed: $842.65
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 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 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 DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
COUNTY OF PAMLICO
IN THE MATTER OF ASSESSMENT ) WAIVER OF RIGHT TO AN
OF CIVIL PENALTIES AGAINST ) ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING AND
STIPULATION OF FACTS
Pamlico County )
Kershaw WTP )
PERMIT NO. NCO088331 ) CASE NO. LV-2024-0111
Having been assessed civil penalties totaling $842.65 for violation(s) as set forth in the assessment document of the
Division of Water Resources dated April 18, 2024, 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 0 day of , 204�
k' I, iL,
SIGNATURE
ADDRESS
�o , ova l�,l,�c..h s�.ON b0co VC dW15-
TELEPHONE
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
CHAIRMAN
CANDY BOHMERT - TOWNSHIP #2
VICE-CHAIRMAN
DOUG BRINSON - AT LARGE
KARI FORREST - AT LARGE
PAT PRESCOTT - TOWNSHIP #1
EDWARD RIGGS JR. - TOWNSHIP #3
CARL OLLISON - TOWNSHIP #4
MISSY BASKERVILL -TOWNSHIP #5
Case No. LV-2024-0111
Case No. LM-2024-0014
Director Rogers,
COUNTY OF PAMLICO
POST OFFICE BOX 776
BAYBORO, NORTH CAROLINA 28515
(252) 745-3133 / 745-5195
FAX (252) 745-5514
5/8/2024
COUNTY MANAGER
TIMOTHY A. BUCK
CLERK TO THE BOARD
TRACY BOYD
COUNTY ATTORNEY
DAVID B. BAXTER, JR.
Pamlico County is formally requesting remission by the Director of Division of Water Resources, based on
the following facts that are being submitted as evidence. They are as follows:
1. The violations were inadvertent and unavoidable is due to the approved treatment process
required to produce safe potable drinking water to the customers served by the County. Two of
the treatment processes, corrosion control and disinfection, are the locations where copper and
zinc are likely present. These treatment processes are required by the NC DEQ Public Water
Supply Section at each of the four Water Treatment Plants.
2. It appears from discussions with DEQ WaRO staff that Pamlico County is one of the first water
systems in Eastern NC that has copper & zinc as an enforceable limit. Having copper & zinc limits
in the microgram level is a daunting task since a potable water system is normally analyzing in
the milligram level in potable drinking water. During this process of determining the source of
these extremely low levels, the County has not received technical support from NC DEQ regional
staff.
3. The County and its consultant, Potable Water Solutions, LLC, have been working with the
Washington Regional Office (WaRO) staff, Ms. Victoria Herdt, on a solution to the Water
Treatment Plant (WTP) discharge issues. Ms. Herdt has been updated periodically by email and
by phone during this process. After much investigation and sampling, we feel that we have
determined the sources of the copper and zinc. It appears based on sampling that the current
corrosion control inhibitor (zinc orthophosphate) contains both zinc and copper. The zinc is not
only in the raw chemical, but we have found that copper & zinc are present in the make-up
water used by the chemical supplier. The County is in the process of securing a new plain
orthophosphate chemical for corrosion control that is acceptable to the NC DEQ Public Water
Supply Section and does not contain copper & zinc in any way. Sampling has also determined
that the liquid ammonium sulfate (LAS) that is utilized to form chloramines is also a source of
copper & zinc. The chemical supplier is utilizing potable make-up water that contains copper &
zinc which is probably from the existing plumbing at the factory. This chemical supplier is
unwilling at this time to switch to deionized water for product make-up which would remove the
copper & zinc from the LAS. A copy of a recent email stating that fact is attached. The County is
currently looking for a new chemical supplier of LAS that contains no copper & zinc.
4. The penalty will add additional cost to the remedial action already underway, will add to the
investigative costs spent to date, and will therefore create an added financial burden to the
County.
Jeffery Sanders
Field Operations Manager
Pamlico County Water
252-745-5453
Jeff.sanders@pamlicocounty.org
Environmental Chemists, Inc.
enj7irochem 6602 Windmill Way, Wilmington, NC 28405 o 910.392.0223 Lab + 910.392.4424 Fax
710 Bowsertown Road, Manteo, NC 27954 • 252.473.5702 Lab/Fax
255-A Wilmington Highway, Jacksonville, NC 28540 * 910.347.5843 Lab/Fax
ANALYTICAL & CONSULTING CHEMISTS info@uenvironmentalchemists.com
Pamlico County Water
Post Office Box 158
Bayboro NC 28515
Attention:
Date of Report: Jan 04, 2024
Customer PO all:
Customer ID: 09010032
Report 0: 2023-29316
Project ID: Supply LAS
Lab ID Sample ID: Collect Date/Time Matrix Sampled by
23-70941 Site: Supply LAS (12-4-23) 12/14/2023 Water Client
Test Method Results Date Analyzed
Copper
EPA 200.7, Rav 4A. I M
20.0 pg/L 01 /02/2024
Zinc EPA200.7, ItW4.4, 7N4 340 pg/L 01/02/2024
Comment:
Reviewed by:
R"wt ilk: 2023-29316 Page , of I
Environmental Chemists, Inc.
envirochem 66M Windmill Way, Wilmington, NC 28405 . 910.392.0223 Lab . 910.392-4424 Fax
710 Bowsertown Road, Manteo, NC 27954 . 252.4735702 Lab/Fax
6111.— 255-A Wilmington Highway, Jacksonville, NC 28540 . 910.347-%U Lab/Fax
ANALY11CAL i3 CONSULTING CHEMISTS info@environmentalchemismcom
Pamlico County Water Date of Report: Sep 25, 2023
Post Office Box 158 Customer PO 0:
Bayboro NC 28515 Customer ID: D9010032
Attention: Report #: 2023-17159
Project ID:
Lab ID Sample ID: Collect Date/Time Matrix Sampled by
23-42212 Site: MP Correguard 8/3/2023 8:50 AM Water Client
Test Method Results Date Analyzed
Copper EPA 200.7. Rev 4.4. 1994
Reporting limit elevated due to matrix interference.
Zinc
Lab ID Sample ID:
23-42217 Site: MP LAS
EPA 200.7, Rev 4.4, 1994
<0.200 mg/L
102000 mg/L
Collect Date/Time Matrix Sampled by
8/3/2023 9.-00 AM Water Client
09/02/2023
09/21/2023
Test Method Results Date Analyzed
Copper EPA 200.7, Rev 4A. 1994
Reporting limit elevated due to matrix Interference.
<0.200 mg/L 09/02/2023
Zinc EPA 200.7. Rev 4.4.1994 1.36 mg/L 09/0212023
Lab ID Sample ID: Collect DatefTime Matrix Sampled by
23-42218 Site: GRT Correguard 8/3/2023 9:50 AM Water Client
Test
Method
Copper EPA 200.7, Rev 4.4, 1994
Reporting limit elevated due to matrix interference.
Results
<0.200 mg/L
Date Analyzed
09/02/2023
Zinc EPA 200.7, Rev 4.4. 1994 91300 mg/L 09/21/2023
Lab ID Sample ID: Collect Date/Time Matrix Sampled by
23-42219 Site: GRT LAS 8/3/2023 10:00 AM Water Client
Test Method Results Date Analyzed
Copper EPA 200-7• Rev 4.4. 1994 0.383 mg/L 09/02/2023
Zinc EPA 200.7. Rev 4A, 1994 0.810 mg/L 09/02/2023
Report * 2023-17159 Page 1 of 2
Environmental Chemists, Inc.
• • 6602 Windmill Way, Wilmington, NC 28405 . 910.392.0223 Lab . 910.392.4424 Fax
® 710 Bowsertown Road, Manteo, NC 27954 . 252-473.5702 Lab/Fax
255-A Wilmington Highway, Jacksonville, NC 28W . 910-347.5843 Lab/Fax
ANALYTICAL b CONSULTM CHEMISTS info@environmentalchemistacom
Pamlico County Water
Post Office Box 158
Sayboro NC 28515
Attention:
Date of Report: Sep 25, 2023
Customer PO #:
Customer ID: 09010032
Report #: 2023-17159
Project ID:
Lab ID Sample ID: Collect Date/Time Matrix Sampled by
23-42220 Site: GIRT Correguard 1/2
Test Method
8/3/2023 10:40 AM Water Client
Copper EPA 2001, Rev 4.4. 1 M
Reporting limit elevated due to matrix interference.
Results Date Analvzed
<0.200 mg/L 09/02/2023
Zinc EPA 200.7. Rev 4 4, 1 a94 86100 mg/L 09/21 /2023
Comment:
Reviewed by:
Report #-: 2023-17159 Page 2 of 2