WQCS00011_Enforcement (Letter)_2020-DV-0089_20200824

ROY COOPER
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MICHAEL S. REGAN
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S. DANIEL SMITH
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Certified Mail # 7016 3560 0000 4428 7489
Return Receipt Requested
Rochelle D Small -Toney, City Manager
City of Rocky Mount
331 S Franklin St
Rocky Mount, NC 27804
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NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
August 24, 2020
SUBJECT: Notice of Violation and Assessment of Civil Penalty
for Violations of North Carolina General Statute (G.S.) 143-215. 1 (a)(6)
and Collection System Permit No. WQCS0001 I
City of Rocky Mount
Rocky Mount Collection System
Case No. DV-2020-0089
Edgecombe County
Dear Ms. Small -Toney:
This letter transmits a Notice of Violation and assessment of civil penalty in the amount of $1,285.01 ($1,250.00 civil penalty
+ $35.0I enforcement costs) against City of Rocky Mount.
This assessment is based upon the following facts: a review has been conducted of the Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO)
5-Day Report submitted by City of Rocky Mount. This review has shown the subject facility to be in violation of the
requirements found in Collection System Permit No. WQCS0001 I and G.S. 143-215.1(a)(1). The violation(s) that occurred
are summarized in Attachment A to this letter.
Based upon the above facts, I conclude as a matter of law that City of Rocky Mount violated the terms, conditions or
requirements of Collection System Permit No. WQCS0001 I and G.S. 143-2I 5.1(a)(1) 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).
r/ nlij -

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, Scott
Vinson, Regional Supervisor, Raleigh Regional Office hereby make the following civil penalty assessment against City of
Rocky Mount:
$1,250.00 For 1 of the i violations of Collection System Permit No. WQCS0001 I and G.S. 143-215.1(a)(]) for
Sanitary Sewer Overflow(s) resulting in a discharge without a valid permit.
$1,250.00 TOTAL CIVIL PENALTY
$35.01 Enforcement Costs
$1_,285.01 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. 143E-282.I (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 (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 inchide waiver
jo»n). Payment of the penalty will not foreclose further enforcement action for any continuing or new violation(s).
Please submit payment to the attention of:
Attn: PERCS 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 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 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 request remissionyou must complete and submit the enclosed "Request for Remission of Civil Penalties
Waiver of Right to an Administrative Hearing, and Sti ulation of Facts" form within thin 30 days of recei t of this
notice. The Division of Water Resources also requests that you complete and submit the enclosed "Justification for
Remission Request."
Both forms should be submitted to the following address:
Attn: PERCS Branch
Division of Water Resources
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
UM
Scott Vinson, Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Raleigh Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
1628 Mail Service Center, Raleigh
Raleigh, NC 27699-1628

Option 3: File a Petition for an administrative hearin with the Office of Administrative Hearin s:
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 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 (ifa filing fee is required by NCGS §150B-23.2) is received in the
Office of Administrative Hearings within seven (7) business days following the faxed or electronic transmission. You
should contact the Office of Administrative Hearings with all questions regardiniz the filing fee and/or the details of the
filing process.
The mailing address and telephone and fax numbers for the Office of Administrative Hearings are as follows:
6714 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699 6714
Tel: (919) 43I-3000
Fax: [phone]
One (I) 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.
If you have any questions, please contact Mitchell Hayes with the Division of Water Resources staff of the Raleigh
Regional Office at (9I9) 791-4200 or via email at mitch.hayesnedertr.gov.
Sincerely,
�0 Scott Vinson, Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Raleigh Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
ATTACHMENTS
Cc: WQS Raleigh Regional Office - Enforcement File
Laserfiche

JUSTIFICATION FOR REMISSION REQUEST
Case Number: DV-2020-0089
Assessed Party: City of Rocky Mount
Permit No.: WQCS00011
County: Edgecombe
Amount Assessed: $1,285.01
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 maybe 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);
T (b) the violator promptly abated continuing environmental damage resulting from the violation (i.e., e plain 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., ewplain why the violation u•as 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
howpayntent 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 EDGECOMBE
IN THE MATTER OF ASSESSMENT ) WAIVER OF RIGHT TO AN
OF CIVIL PENALTIES AGAINST } ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING AND
STIPULATION OF FACTS
City of Rocky Mount }
Rocky Mount Collection System )
PERMIT NO. WQCS0001 I } CASE NO. DV-2020-0089
Having been assessed civil penalties totaling $1,285.01 for violation(s) as set forth in the assessment document of the
Division of Water Resources dated August 24, 2020, 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
ADDRESS
TELEPHONE
SIGNATURE
20

ATTACHMENT A
City of Rocky Mount
CASE NUMBER: DV-2020-0089
PERMIT NO: WOCS00011
FACILITY: Rocky Mount Collection System
Other Violations
INCIDENT VIOLATION
NUMBER DATE VIOLATION TYPE VIOLATION DESCRIPTION
REGION: Raleigh
COUNTY: Edgecombe
TOTAL VOLUME
(GALLONS)
PENALTY
AMOUNT
202001287 4/30/2020 CSOISSO(Sewer Overnow) Discharge without valid permit 44,100 $1,250.00

DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES - CIVIL PENALTY ASSESSMENT
Violator: Citv of Rocky Mount
Facility Name: Rocky Mount Collection System
Permit Number: WOCS0001I
County: Edgecombe
Case Number: DV-2020-0089
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;
On 04.30 2020 44,100 gallons overflowed from a manhole due to severe natural condition and inflow and infiltration. All
of the volume flowed to a stormdrain to the Tar River. Nutrients and pathogens to surface waters and risks to public health.
2) The duration and gravity of the violation;
The SSO started on 04.30.2020 at 1:47 pm and ended 05.01.2020 at 5:00 pm.
3) The effect on ground or surface water quantity or quality or on air quality;
Increased Nutrients and pathogens to surface waters and risks to public health.
4) The cost of rectifying the damage;
No cost is given. A known problem area that floods frequently and spills during heavy rains. Like the last NOV, listed
multiple sewer projects they are working on $5+ million b/n '21-'22 on rehab, $4.5 million on PS rehab b!n'22 and'23.
5) The amount of money saved by noncompliance;
The amount of money saved by noncompliance is not documented.
6) Whether the violation was committed willfully or intentionally;
It does not appear that 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;
One violation since 09.2015 DV-2020-0084
8) The cost to the State of the enforcement procedures.
$35.01
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Date 'r•O Scott Vinson, Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Raleigh Regional Office
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