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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNC0043532_LV20160212_20161130L WaterResources ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY PAT MCCRORY Governor DONALD R. VAN DER VAART November 30, 2016 Mr. Donna L. Davis, Director Stanly County Utilities 1000 N. First Street, Suite 12 Albemarle, NC 28001 Subject: Remission Request of Civil Penalty Assessment West Stanly WWTP NPDES Permit NCO043532 Case Number LV -2016-0212 Stanly County Dear Mr. Davis: Secretary S. JAY ZR"ERMAN Director This letter is to acknowledge your request for remission of the civil penalty levied against the subject facility. Your request will be scheduled for review by the Director and you will be notified of the result. If you have any questions about this matter, please contact me at (919) 807-6307 or via e-mail at derek.denard@ncdenr.gov. Sincerely, Derek C. Denard, Environmental Specialist Compliance & Expedited Permitting Unit Division of Water Resources cc: CEnfdreement File-w/originaIs Central Files w/attachments Mooresville Regional Office w/attachments ec: DWR/MRO Roberto Scheller [roberto.scheller@ncdenr.gov] State of North Carolina I Environmental Quality I Water Resources 1617 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617 919-707-9000 i STANL COUNTY NORTH CAHOLIN4 Lalyd I'acWe November 22, 2016 Wastewater Branch Division of Water Resources 1617 Mail Service Center Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617 Subject: Remission Request West Stanly WWTP Permit No. NCO043532 Stanly County Case No. LV -2016-0212 Dear Compliance Officer: RECEIVEMCDEQ/M NOV 2 2 2016 Water Quality Permitting Section The West Stanly WWTP (Stanly County Utilities) would like to request remission of the civil penalty assessed related to LV LV -2016-0212 based on the temporary nature of the violation and it relation to attempts to improve the operations of the plant. 4 violations related to discharging wastewater into the waters of the state in violation of the permit daily maximum for chlorine 1 violation related to discharging wastewater into the waters of the state in violation of the permit weekly average for BOD 1 violation related to discharging wastewater into the waters of the state in violation of the permit weekly geometric mean for fecal coliform bacteria Stanly County Utilities in operating the West Stanly wwtp is dealing with a facility in need of major overhaul and repair. As efforts are being made to obtain funding and design the rehabilitation project, operators have encountered issues that result in unintended violations. However, for each of the violations listed adjustments were immediately made to correct the excessive levels of chlorine, BOD, and fecal coliform bacteria. This facility has been assessed other penalties this year related to similar .issues. Unfortunately, these fines diminish the amount of money Stanly County is able to use toward remediating issues in the interim as we prepare for a major renovation. Over the past two and a half years while working through the funding and regulatory process, Stanly County Utilities has spent more than $120,000 in immediate and in some cases temporary repair to the facility just to keep it functioning at reasonable level until the major rehabilitation is performed. Stanly County is requesting a moderate amount of time and assistance from NC DEQ to complete the modifications and to restore the plant to an acceptable level of efficiency and effectiveness in the treatment process. PI 704.986.3686 F1 704.986.3711 www.stanlycountync.eov Stanly County Utilities 1000 N. First Street, Suite 12, Albemarle, NC 28001 The West Stanly WWTP plant was purchased by Stanly County Utilities from the Town of Oakboro in May 2014. This plant has a difficult history under its previous owner, the Town of Oakboro as well during the course of the past 30 months in which Stanly County has owned and operated the plant. This plant has over the years experienced a great deal of deferred maintenance and is currently functioning well below its optimized capability. In the assessment performed before purchase Stanly County was made aware of the major deficiencies at the treatment plant. These included severe operational and maintenance problems which resulted in a poorly functioning treatment system, severely hampered by two non-functioning clarifiers and other system components operating at marginal effectiveness and major issues with the associated McCoy's Creek pump station. All of these issues existed prior to purchase in 2014 and should be on record with the Mooresville Regional Office from prior plant inspections. Stanly County purchased the plant with the goal of making improvements and corrections to the failing treatment plant as these corrections had not been made over the past decade or more. In 2015, Stanly County applied for funding from the North Carolina State Water Infrastructure Authority and was awarded $2,648,894 in loan funds from the NC DEQ Clean Water State Revolving Fund. Stanly County and its engineers are following the schedule imposed by the funding agency. On June 15, 2016, Stanly County staff and engineers met with NC DEQ funding representatives and regulators on site at the West Stanly WWTP to review the PER and to answer questions regarding the planned rehabilitation activities. After that meeting, state officials requested some changes to the plan and authorized Stanly County to initiate a full-scale engineering design of the improvements to the plant and pump station. If there are any questions regarding this letter, please feel free to contact me at (704) 986-3691. Sincerely, Qom. fe,oa0c,10- Donna L. Davis, Director Stanly County Utilities Case Number: LV -2016-0212 Assessed Party: Stanly County Permit No.: NCO043532 JUSTIFICATION FOR REMISSION REQUEST County: Stanly Amount Assessed: $1,001.34 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. 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); V(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: Stanly County Utilities in operating the West Stanly wwtp is dealing with a facility in need of major overhaul and repair. As efforts are being made to obtain funding and design the rehabilitation project, operators have encountered issues that result in unintended violations. However, for each of the violations listed adjustments were immediately made to correct the excessive levels of chlorine, BOD, and fecal coliform bacteria. This facility has been assessed other penalties this year related to similar issues. Unfortunately, these fines diminish the amount of money Stanly County is able to use toward remediating issues in the interim as we prepare for a major renovation. STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF STANLY IN THE MATTER OF ASSESSMENT OF CIVIL PENALTIES AGAINST Stanly County West Stanly WWTP PERMIT NO. NCO043532 DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY WAIVER OF RIGHT TO AN ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING AND STIPULATION OF FACTS CASE NO. LV -2016-0212 Having been assessed civil penalties totaling $1.001.34 for violation(s) as set forth in the assessment document of the Division of Water Resources dated October 24, 2016, 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 a a day of 14 0yeA1 b e v- _'20 1 ( c�iGt� OW z0ak,4�� SIGNATURE ADDRESS 100a N 16-1- A bs A I btm4rl e- C' a.(& 00 l TELEPHONE 4't ATTACHMENT A Stanly County CASE NUMBER: LV -2016-0212 PERMIT: NCO043532 REGION: Mooresville FACILITY: West Stanly WWTP COUNTY: Stanly LIMIT VIOLATION(S) SAMPLE LOCATION: Outfall 002 - Effluent Violation Report Unit of Limit Calculated % Over Violation Penalty Date Month/Yr Parameter Frequency Measure Value Value Limit Type Amount 12/26/2015 12-2015. BOD, 5 -Day (20 Deg. 3 X week mg/I .27 50 85.2 Weekly $250.00 C) - Concentration Average Exceeded 12/2/2015 12-2015 Chlorine, Total 3 X week ug/I 28 479 1,610.7 Daily Maximum $100.00 Residual Exceeded 12/3/2015 12-2015 Chlorine, Total 3 X week ug/I 28 212 657.1 Daily Maximum $100.00 Residual Exceeded 12/24/2015 12-2015 Chlorine, Total 3 X week ug/I 28 71 153.6 Daily Maximum $100.00 Residual Exceeded 12/30/2015 12-2015 Chlorine, Total 3 X week ug/I 28 76 171.4 Daily Maximum $100.00 Residual Exceeded 12/26/2015 12-2015 Coliform, Fecal MF, 3 X week #/100ml 400 762.90 90.7 Weekly $250.00 MFC Broth, 44.5 C Geometric Mean Exceeded