WQCS00294_NOV-2020-DV-0557 Response_20210119

MAYOR
Cheryl Oliver
MAYOR PRO-TEM
Jacqueline Lacy
COUNCILMEMBERS
Byron McAllistor
Joe Scarboro
Ann Williams
SELMA
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CROssROA1 Y � DS OF TRADITION ANO
Scott Vinson, Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Raleigh Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
January 19, 2021
4NNOVAYION
SUBJECT: NOV Letter Response - Tracking Number: NOV-220-DV-0557
Permit No. WQC500294
Selma Collection System
Johnston County
Mr. Scott Vinson:
TOWN MANAGER
Rhonda Sommer
(Interim)
TOWN CLERK
Nicholas Sorrell
TOWN ATTORNEY
Alan "Chip" Hewett
NC Dept onvironmental Quality
Raleigh Regional Office
The Town of Selma has and is taking immediate action to resolve issues that contributed to the SSO at the manhole
location identified in this notice, on November 13, 2020, during an intense rain event. Incident number 202003149
was an SSO related to the same condition of increased flows brought on by severe weather. This location is a
manhole that overflowed due to the Johnston County EQ basin being overwhelmed by increased flow due to
substantial amounts of rainfall that day.
Since Hurricane Florence, the Town of Selma has experienced an extreme increase of Inflow and Infiltration (I&I)
into the Town of Selma sewer system. On April 17th, 2019 the Town of Selma reached out to WithersRavenel for
assistance identifying potential sources of 1&I. On May 10, 2019 the Town pursued a Golden LEAF Disaster
Recovery (GLF-DR) grant to study the effects of Hurricane Florence on the sewer system. The Town was awarded
a GLF-DR grant of $142,000 to study the sanitary sewer impacts of Hurricane Florence on June 6, 2019. Contracting
began shortly after and work began immediately on the GLF-DR Sanitary Sewer Evaluation and Study (SSES)
Project. The SSES study was completed September 18, 2019 and submitted to the Town.
Other areas of major I&I entry that were identified are associated with storm drainage inlets. One area showing
signs of extreme I&I was determined to be eligible for potential CDBG-I funding. An application was developed
and submitted on September 30, 2019. The CDBG-I project would rehabilitate / replace approximately 6,505LF of
sewer and rehabilitate / replace 33 manholes. This project however was not funded.
Additionally, an amendment to the GLF-DR application was submitted on October 18, 2019 requesting $824,370
to rehabilitate / replace 3,990LF of gravity sewer in five (5) different locations associated with storm drainage
failures attributed to Hurricane Florence. The Town of Selma received this funding on December 05, 2019 to repair
a portion of this sewer system.
The Town contracted with Withers Ravenel to prepare a set of constructions drawing and put the work out to bid.
The Contractor received the Notice to Proceed on August 27, 2020 the work commenced on 10-01-2020 and was
completed on 12-15-2020. This work included the rehabilitation of 3,572 linear feet of 8 to 15-inch sewer,
replacement/rehabilitation of 45 sewer services and the rehabilitation of 18 brick manholes.
114 N. Raiford Street • Selma, NC 27576 • P: [phone] • F: [phone] • www.selma-nc.com

The Town is seeking additional GLF funding for the rehabilitation of 2,523 additional linear feet of 8 to 12-inch
sewer, replacement/rehabilitation of 47 sewer services and the rehabilitation of 18 brick manholes. The GLF
funding decision should be made in February of 2021.
Even with all of this work the amount of rain and the intensity of this event would still overwhelm the Town
system. This work only remedies a very small portion of the aging system.
In this event, the Selma system seemed capable of transporting the flow to the Noble St equalization facility, but
the pumps and equalization basins were not able to move the flow away from the site due to downstream capacity
issues. This storm was at such an intensity that it would likely have caused issues even in a much tighter system.
The Town of Selma is taking all necessary steps to reduce the I&I issues that have occurred since Hurricane
Florence. The Town of Selma is experiencing approximately $720K of additional annual sewer treatment costs
because of the sudden increase of I&I. This increase in operational expense further complicates the ability to
resolve issues.
The lack of resources has been a driving force to identify funding opportunities to resolve very costly repairs. In
addition, the Town of Selma has limited personnel and capability to complete repairs. Lastly, the Town of Selma
lost their Town Manager and Public Works Director and is working with interims in these positions until permanent
replacements can be found. The Town will work with the new administration and consulting engineers to
formulate a plan to work towards fixing issue in the Selma system in an orderly and financially sustainable way.
The CDBG-I application for $2M in funding was resubmitted in September of 2020, and potential award is expected
in February of 2021. This project will rehabilitate approximately 6,500LF of gravity sewer. Also, the ASADRA
application was awarded for a $3M loan, but that application was resubmitted in September 2020 to potentially
receive some loan forgiveness to complete 2 pump station relocations / rehabilitation and repair damaged gravity
sewer in 4 of the worst sewer basins. (See attached PDF for project details and locations). The notice of potential
award is expected in February 2021. Lastly, a sewer AIA grant application for $150K was submitted in September
of 2020 to complete additional I&I and CCTV investigation.
The Mayor and Town Council are committed to resolve the sewer issues. The Mayor, Town Council, and staff are
actively engaged together to identify immediate reductions in I&I and to develop a sustainable path forward for
the large capital projects that will be required for years to come.
The Town of Selma welcomes the opportunity to discuss any of our current and future plans to reduce I&I in
greater detail with all stakeholders. We are hopeful that this response to the NOV letter demonstrates the Town
of Selma's commitment to resolving these issues and prevent a future SSO.
Sincerely,
Rhonda Sommer, CPA
Interim Town Manager
Attachments: Notice of Violation Received January 14, 2021
114 N. Raiford Street • Selma, NC 27576 • P: [phone] • F: [phone] • www.selma-nc,com

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MICHAEI. S. REGAN
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S. DANIEL SMITH
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NOR III CAROL INA
Environmental Quality
CERTIFIED MAIL # 7017 2680 0000 2219 6319
RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
December 16, 2020
Charles E Hester, Mayor
Town of Selma
100 N Raiford St
Selma, NC 27576-2833
SUBJECT: NOTICE OF VIOLATION
Tracking Number: NOV-2020-DV-0557
Sanitary Sewer Overflows - November 2020
Collection System Permit No. WQCS00294
Selma Collection System
Johnston County
Mayor Hester:
NC Dept of Environmental mental C
JAN2g 2921
Regional Office
The self -reported Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO) 5-Day Report submitted by Town of Selma indicates violations
of permit conditions stipulated in the subject permit and North Carolina G.S. 143-215.1. Violations include failing to
effectively manage, maintain, and operate the subject collection system so that there is no SSO to the land or
surface waters and making an outlet to waters of the State for purposes of G.S. 143-215.1(a)(1), for which a
permit is required.
Specific incident cited in the subject report include the following:
Incident Start Duration
Number Date (Mins) Location
Cause
Total Vol
Total Surface
Vol Water
(Gals) (Gals) DWR Action
202003149 11/13/2020 420 First Manhole Outside Severe Natural
Johnston County EQ Condition
pump station
49,500 37,000 Notice of Violation
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Remedial actions, if not already implemented, should be taken to correct the above noncompliance. Please submit
a written response to this Notice of Violation. Your response is to be received by the regional office within 15
business days following receipt of this violation. Please include any additional documentation about this incident(s)
in the response. The submittal will be considered in determining whether the Division will assess a civil penalty for
the cited violations.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mitchell Hayes with the Water Quality Section in
the Raleigh Regional Office at 919-791-4200 or via email at [e-mail].
Sincerely,
16yeScott Vinson, Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Raleigh Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
Cc: Raleigh Regional Office - WQS File
Laserfiche

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2219 6319
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7017 2680
CHARLES E HESTER, MAYOR
TOWN OF SELMA
100 N RAIFORD ST
SELMA, NC 27576-2833
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