HomeMy WebLinkAboutNC0051322_LV-2020-0071_20200226 DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES-CIVIL PENALTY ASSESSMENT
Violator: Carolina Water Service Inc of North Carolina
Facility Name: Ashley Hills WWTP
Permit Number: NCO051322
County: Wake
Case Number: LV-2020-0071
ASSESSMENT FACTORS
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;
No known damage to the environment,public health or private property. However,discharging effluent exceeding ]
permit limits increases risk of adverse impacts to waters of the state cr.a� �„� C'w.S� kt�— j
`[J
2) The duration and gravity of the violation; Ir �` 5 ►
BOD was exceeded 86.7%above the daily maximum limit on October 8,2019,
3) The effect on ground or surface water quantity or quality or on air quality;
The receiving stream for the authorized effluent discharge is Poplar Creek,classified as C-NSW in the Neuse River Basin.
The effects on water quantity or quality because of the permit limit exce�edanc1es in Jude increased risk to impact waters of
the state C v,,A cq,,, Cc4 ri,VL Wete,
4) The cost of rectifying the damage; V
The cost of rectifying the damage is not documented.
5) The amount of money saved by noncompliance;
It is not believed that any money was saved by these violations.
G) Whether the violation was committed willfully or intentionally;
It is not believed that the violations were 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
There have been 4 penalty assessments issued in the past 12 months to the permittee for violations occurring at Ashley
Hills WWTP.
8) The cost to the State of the enforcement procedures.
540.94
Date Scott- tnson,Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Raleigh Regional Office
Division of Water Resources,NCDEQ
�pY aN ti u�, .0
ROY COOPER `"
Governor -
b
MICHAEL S.REGAN
Secmtory
S. DANIEL SMITH NORTH CAROLINA
Director Environmental Qualify
Certified Mail #7017 2680 0000 2236 1656
Return Receipt Re guested
February 26, 2020
J. Bryce Mendenhall
Carolina Water Service Inc. of North Carolina
4944 Parkway Plaza Blvd, Suite 375
Charlotte,NC 28217
SUBJECT: Notice of Violation and Assessment of Civil Penalty
for Violations of North Carolina General Statute(G.S.) 143-215.1(a)(6)
and NPDES WW Permit No. NCO051322
Carolina Water Service Inc of North Carolina
Ashley Hills WWTP
Case No. LV-2020-0071
Wake County
Dear Permittee:
This letter transmits a Notice of Violation and assessment of civil penalty in the amount of$290.94 ($250.00 civil penalty
+$40.94 enforcement costs)against Carolina Water Service Inc of North Carolina.
This assessment is based upon the following facts: a review has been conducted of the Discharge Monitoring Report
(DMR) submitted by Carolina Water Service Inc ofNorth Carolina for the month of October 2019. This review has
shown the subject facility to be in violation of the discharge limitations and/or monitoring requirements found in NPDES
WW Permit No.NC0051322. The violations, which occurred in October 2019,are summarized in Attachment A to this
letter.
Based upon the above facts, I conclude as a matter of law that Carolina Water Service Inc of North Carolina violated
the terms, conditions or requirements of NPDES WW Permit No.NCO051322 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).
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Rased 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, Scott
Vinson, Regional Supervisor, Raleigh Regional Office hereby make the following civil penalty assessment against
Carolina Water Service Inc of North Carolina-
$250.00 1 of I violation of'G.S. 143-215_I(a)(6)and Permit No. NC0051322,by discharging waste water
into the waters ol'the State in violation of the Permit Daily Maximum for BOO 5-Da 20 Deg. C
-Concentration
$250.00 TOTAL CIVIL PENALTY
40.94 Enforcement Costs
$29Q94 TOTAL AMOUNT DUE
Pursuant to G.S. 143-215.6A(c), in determining the amount of the penalty 1 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) -I'he 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) 'I-he effect on ground or stirface water quantity or duality or on air quality;
(4) The cost ofrectifying 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 ofthe enforcement procedures.
Within thirty(30)days of receipt of this notice,you must do one of the following:
(1) Submit payment of the penalty, OR
(2) Submit a written request for remission, OR
(3) Submit a written request for an administrative hearing
Option 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:
Wastewater Branch
Division of Water Resources
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh,North Carolina 27699-1617
Option 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 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 1438-282.1(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 or 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 his 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 jLqiLest remission, you must cam lete and submit the enclosed "Request for Remission of Civil Penalties
Waiver of Right to an Administrative I.iearin�;, and Stipulation of Facts" form within thirty+�30)days of receipt of this
notice.The Division of Water Resources also requests that You com lete and sEtbmil the enclosed "Justification for
Remission Request." -�
Both forms should be submitted to the following address:
Wastewater Branch
Division of Water Resources
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh,North Carolina 27699-1617
Option 3: File a Petition for:an :administrative hearine 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 loan from the Office of Administrative Hearings. You must file the petition with
the Office of Administrative I leanings 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 (tours. The orrice of Administrative
Hearings accepts filings Monday through Friday between the (tours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.,except for official state
holidays. The petition may be filed by Facsimile(fax)or electronic mail by an attached File(with restrictions)- provided
the signed original, one(1)copy and a filing fee(if a filing fee is required by NCGS §15013-23 2) is received in the
Office of Administrative I fearings within seven (7) business days following;the faxed or electronic transmission. You
should contact the Office of Administrative Hearings with all questions regarding the filing fee and/or the details of the
filing process.
The mailing address and telephone and I'ax numbers for the Office of Administrative Hearings are as follows:
6714 Mail Service Center
Raleigh,NC 27699 6714
Tel: (919)431-3000
Fax: (919)431-3100
One (1)copy of the petition must also be served on DEQ as follows:
Mr. William F. Lane, 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.
Ifyou have any questions, please contact Vanessa Manuel with the Division of Water Resources staff ofthe Raleigh
Regional Office at(919)791-4200 or via email at vanessa.manuel@ncdenr.gov.
Sin crely,
Scott Vinson, Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Raleigh Regional Office
f Division of Water Resources,NCDEQ
ATTACHMENTS
Cc: WQS Raleigh Regional Office- Enforcement File
Laserfiche
JUSTIFICATION FOR REMISSION RCOUCST
Case Number: LV-2020-0071 County: Wake
Assessed Party: Carolina Water Service Inc of North Carolina
Permit No.: NC0051322 Amount Assessed: $290.94
Please use this form when requesting remission of this civil.penalty. You must also complete the "Request for Renrissk�rr,
JT'aiver•of Right to an,41minigrative Hearing caul Slipulcrtion 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 orally ofthe factual
statements contained in the civil penalty assessment document. Pursuant to N.C.G.S. § 143B-282.1(c), remission ofa 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 (tire asses•snaerrt factors are listed in the civil penalty assessment docrrrrrent);
(b) the violator promptly abated continuing environmental damage resulting from the violation (i.e., explain the
steps drat you took to correct the violation cord prevent futtrr•e occurrences),
(c) the violation was inadvertent or a result of an accident(i.e., e_iplain whl,the violation was unavoidahle 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 pt-tyrnew of the civil penally ii,ill prevelrt rou,)i-orri perfor'rrrrrrg the activilres necessurl°to achieve
Compliance.
EXPLANATION:
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA DI.PARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
COUNTY OF WAKE
IN THE MATTER OF ASSESSMENT ) WAIVER OF RIGHT TO AN
OF CIVIL PENALTIES AGAINST ) ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING AND
STIPULATION OF FACTS
Carolina Water Service Inc of North Carolina )
Ashley Hills WWTP )
PERMIT NO.NCO051322 ) CASE NO. LV-2020-0071
laving been assessed civil penalties totaling$290.94 for violation(s)as set forth in the assessment document of the
Division of Water Resources dated February 26, 2020, the undersigned, desiring to seek remission ofthe 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. T'hc 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 , 20
SIGNATURE
ADDRESS
TELEPHONE
ATTACHMENT A
Carolina Water Service Inc of North Carolina
CASE NUMBER: LV-2020-0071
PERMIT: NCO051322 REGION: Raleigh
FACILITY: Ashley Hills WWTP COUNTY: Wake
LIMIT VIOLATION(S)
SAMPLE LOCATION: Outfall 001 -Effluent
Violation Report Unit of Limit Calculated %Over Violation Penalty
Date Month/Yr. Parameter Frequency Measure Value Value Limit Type Amount
10/8/2019 10-2019 BOD, 5-pay(20 Deg. 3 X week mgll 7.50 14 86.7 Daily $250.00
C)-Concentration Maximum
Exceeded