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NC0081370_Enforcement_20140121
- • - r -Tn1 CERTIFIED MAIL .., RECEIPT i (Domestic Mail Only;No Insurance Coverage Provided) ✓ For delivery information visit our website at www.usps.com a O OFFICIAL USE n n Postage $ t Certified Fee . \ N ', • Return Receipt Fee %Postmark 3 (Endorsement Required) 's Here O Restricted Delivery Fee • (Endorsement Required) , y q rotas 13, CITY OF CLAREMONT • Sent To PO BOX 446 a CLAREMONT NC 28610 7 Street,At orPOBo ATTN: MR DOUG BARRICK, CiTY MGR City,Stet, ;wp/ma 1/21/14 Certified Mail Provides: ■ A mailing receipt • A unique identifier for your mailpiece • A record of delivery kept by the Postal Service for two years mportant Reminders: • Certified Mail may ONLY be combined with First-Class Mail©or Priority Mail • Certified Mail is not available for any class of international mail. ■ NO INSURANCE COVERAGE IS PROVIDED with Certified Mail. Fc valuables,please consider Insured or Registered Mail. • For an additional fee,a Return Receipt may be requested to provide proof c delivery.To obtain Return Receipt service,please complete and attach a Retur Receipt(PS Form 3811)to the article and add applicable postage to cover th fee.Endorse mailpiece"Return Receipt Requested".To receive a fee waiver fc a duplicate return receipt,a USPS©postmark on your Certified Mail receipt i required. • For an additional fee, delivery may be restricted to the addressee t addressee's authorized agent.Advise the clerk or mark the mailpiece with tr endorsement"Restricted Delivery". ■ If a postmark on the Certified Mail receipt is desired,please present the art cle at the post office for postmarking. If a postmark on the Certified Mc receipt is not needed,detach and affix label with postage and mail. IMPORTANT: Save this receipt and present it when making an inquiry. PS Form 3800,August 2006(Reverse)PSN 7530-02-000-9047 SENDER: COMPLETE THIS SECTION COMPLETE THIS SECTION ON DELIVERY • Complete items 1,2,and 3.Also complete A. Signature item 4 if Restricted Delivery is desired. a Agent • Print your name and address on the reverse X (L h�, 1 I b �_ )v'ElddressE so that we can return the card to you. B. Recg ved by(Printed Name) '►c. Date of Delive ■ Attach this card to the back of the mailpiece, or on the front if space permits. D. Is delivery address different from item 1? O Yes 1. Article Addressed to: If YES,enter delivery address below: ❑ No :ITY OF CLAREMONT )0 BOX 446 :LAREMONT NC 28610 f Service Type \TTN: MR DOUG BARRICK, CITY MGR Certified Mail 0 Express Mail ❑ Registered Return Receipt for Merchandis ❑ Insured Mail ❑C.O.D. 4. Restricted Delivery?(Extra Fee) ❑Yes 2. Article 7010 1870 0001 1558 1481 (Trans! re" -- o -..__ ,....,. .. _ . _ . . UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE First-Class Mail 11111 Postage&Fees Paid LISPS Permit No. G-10 • Sender: Please print your name, address, and ZIP+4 in this box • NCDENR WATER QUALITY REGIONAL OPERATIONS SECTION V 610 E. CENTER AVE. SUITE 301 IVi(�f�RF�VII I F NC 7R115 L r- kp�w . JA CDEN"K" North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources Division of Water Resources Water QuaI4 Regional Operations Section Pat McCrory Thomas A, Reeder John E Avarla, lil Governor Director Secretary January 21, 2014 CERXIFIED MAIL 7010 1870 0001 1558 1481 RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTE D Mr. Doug Barrick, City Manager City of Claremont R 0. Box 446 Claremont, North Carolina 28610 StJBJE(,',T- Notice of Violation and Assessment of Civil Penalty for Violations of N.C- General Statute 143-215 . I (a)(6) and PDES Permit No. NCO08 1371 Mcf,in Creek WWTP Catawba County Case No. 1,V-2014-0009 Dear Mr. Barrick, This letter transmits a Notice of Violation and assessment of civil penalty in the arnount of $1,711.41 ($1,562.50 civil penalty + $148,91 enforcement costs) against the City of Claremont. This assessment is based upon the following facts.- A review has been conducted of the, self - monitoring data reported for September 2013. This review has shown the subject facility to be in violation of the discharge limitations found in PDES Permit No. NCO081370. The violations are summarized in Attachment A to this letter. Based upon the above facts, I conclude as a matter of law that the City of Claremont violated the terms, conditions, or requirements of NPDES Ise it No. NCO081370 and North, Carolina General Statute (G.S.) 143-215.1(a)(6) in the manner and extent shown in Anactiment A. A civil penalty may be assessed in accordance with the maximurns established by G.S, 143-215,6A(a)(2). Based upon the above findings of fact and conclusions of law, and in accordance with authority Provided by the Secretary of the Departuient of Environment and Natural Resources and the Director of the Division of Water Resources, 1, Andrew Pitner, Assistant, Regional Supervisor for the Water Quality Regional Operations Section, Mooresville Region, hereby make the following civil penalty assessment against the City of Claremont - Mooresville Regtonal Offbe LaCafion ' 610 East Center Ave, Suite 301 Moorpsville, NG 28115 One Phom ( 704) 663-1699, ' Fax, (704) i83-6040 � Cuslorner Service I-B77-623-6748 NofthCarofina �nwmet lit il 11 625.00 For-2 of the three (3) violation(s) of G S � 143 15.1(a) and I 1S Permit No. NCO081370, by discharging waste into, the waters of the State in violation of the permit weekly average effluent limit for, biolo ical odemandy en demand (BOD). 9 ___937.50 For — I"___ of the one (1) violation of G.S. 143-215,1(a)(6) and NPDES Permit No. NC'0081370, by discharging waste into the waters of the State in violation of the pernin monthly aver -age effluent limit for biological oxygen demand (BOD). $____L562,50 TOTAL CIVIL PENALTY 148.91 Enforcement costs TOTAL AiNIOUNT 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, 143 B-282.I(b) which are: (1) The degree and extent of haven to the natural resources of the State, to the public health, or to private property resulting from the violations-, (2) The duration and gravity of the violations.- (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 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 'minis ion has regulatory authority; and (81) The cost to the State of the enforcement procedures. Within thirty days of receipt of this notice, you must do one of the following: 1. Submit payment of the penalty,: Payment should be made directly to the order of the Department of'Environment and Natural Resources (do not inclu&waiver,fore .), Payrnent of the penalty will not foreclose further enforcement action for any continuing or new violation( ). Please submit payment to the attention of: Point Source Compliance/Enforeement Unit Division of Water Resources 1617 Mail Service Center Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617 OR 2. Submit a written request for remission including a detailed justification for such request: Please be aware that a request for rerrtission is limited to consideration of the'rve factors listed below as they may relate to the reasonableness of the amount of the 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 as remission request forecloses the option of an administrative hearing, such a request must be accompanied by as ,kvaiver of your right to an administrative hearing and as stipulation that no factual or legal issues ate in dispute. Please prepare a detailed staternetit 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 xvhether a remission request will be approved, the following factors shall be considered: (1) whether vane ear more of the civil penalty assessment factors in G.S. 143 B-282, I (b) �vcre v,,Tongfully applied to the detriment of the petitioner; (2) whether the violator promptly abated continuing environmental damage resulting Erorn the violation, (3) whether the violation was inadvertent or to result of an accidentl (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 necessar)r rernedial actions. Please note that allinformation presented in support of your request for remission must be submitted in writing. The Director of the Division of N'ate r Resources will review your evidence and inforin you of his decision in the matter (if your remission request. The response will provide details regarding 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 requestrernission, you as complete and submit the enclosed "Waiver of Right to an Administrative I -tearing and Stipulation of Facts" form within thirty (30) days of receipt of this notice, The Division of Water Resources also requests that you, complete and submit the enclosed "Justification for Remission Request." Both fornis should bc submitted to the following address: Point' ource Compliance/Enforcernent Unit Division of Water Resources 1617 Mail Service Center Raleigh, forth Carolina 27699-1617 Z-1 OR 3. File a petition for an administrative hearing with the Office of Administrative Hearings: If you wish to contest any statement in the attached assessment document you rmist file as petit iorifear an administrative hearing. You may ()brain the petition f6rm Porn the Office of Administrative Ilearings, You must file the petition with the Office of Administrative Ilea rings within thirty (30) days of receipt of this notice. A petition, is considered riled when it is received in the Office of Administrative 14carings during norrnaa[ office hours. The Office of Administrative Hearings accepts filings Monday, through Friday between the hours of 8-00 a.m. and 500 p.m., except for official state holidays. The pCtitiOn may be filed by lacsimile (fax) or electronic mail by mi attached file with restrictions), - provided the signed original, one (1) copy and a filing fee if a oiling tee is required by NCGS § 150,13-212) is received in the, Office of Adnitnistrative Hearings within seven (7) business days following the taxed or electronic transmission. YOU should contact the Office of Administrative Hearmgs with all questions regarding the filing fee and,,"or the details ofthe filing Process. The mailing address and telephone and fax numbers for the Office of Administrative Hearings are as follows: Oft -we of Adi-ninistrative Hearings 6714 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-6714 Tel, (919) 431-3000; 17ax: (919) 43 1 -3 100 One (1) copy ofthe petition must also be served on DENR as tbllows- Mr. Lacy Presnell, General Counsel DENR 1601 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 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 ol'this notice, as evidenced by in internal date/time received stamp (not a postmark), will result in this Inatter 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 the violations are of a c�on!ipu— tig—na--tyre, —14 op atiLon qn(t,�Ipr mainterianegprqblems LqpLj-hQ!jjtnj,-jcj-p _Ae-e—nrd_ial cqp.s—tr—u-tion activitigsI_iq1p—w— i I i t (Insider o Lipplyr, i n g SpeciaU I 'I". C"onsent I fvou, havg vil en, _Aqy_queqj�jjjLabout this ci .-- — --"—'-P— j1hal assessment car c 1L)LdeLb o (Lce Wate asontact the. Rff esources staof the Mooresville -_y-Ljb gnat Q Il i c e a 7t14 63-1699, (Date) Andrew Pitner, Assistant Regional Supervisor Water Quality Regional Operations Section Mooresville Regional Office Division of Water Resources ATTACHMEN"I"S cc: Mooresville Regional Office Compliance File w/ attachments Raleigh Cornpliance/Enforcernent File w/attachtnents Central Files w/ attachments ap/ma ATTA,CHMENT A CASE NO. I,V-2014-0009 Outfall Date Parameter Revorted Value Permit Limit 001 Week ending 9/7/13 BOD 13,0 nig/L 12,0 mg,/L, (Weekly average) 001 Week ending 9/14/13 BOD 1&0 rng/,I,* 12.0 mg/ L (Weekly average) 001 Week ending 9/2 1/ 13 BOD 15.0 mg/],* 12-0 rng/L (Weekly average) 001 9/30/13 BOD 13.6 mg/l,* 8,0 ingft (Monthly average) 'Fhe City of Claremont did not provide a response to NOV-2013-ILV-0732, DWR staff did review the comments provided on the September 2013 DER. Mitigating factors were not found to result in a reduced civil penalty arnount, STATFOF NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTM FNT OFEN VIRONMENT '14 AND NATUIRAL Rf,-,',,SOtJR,CES COUNTY OF CA FAWrl3A IN THE MATTER OF ASSESS NI_ENT WAIVER OFRIGUTTO AN OF'CIVIL PENALTY AGAINST ADMINISTRATIVE HECa AND CITY OF C1,ARJ__,�,'M0NT STIPUL,A]" ION OFFACTS PERNNUT NO. NC10081370 I'lLE NO. f V-2014-0009 Having been assessed civil penalties totaling $1 t711.4 1. for violation(s) as set forth in the assessment document of the Division of Water Resources dated J�aquary ' �2 t 2014, the undersigned, desiring to seek, remission of the civil penalties, does hereby waive the right to air administrative hearing 41 the above -stated matter and does stipulate that the facts are as alleged in the ass esstu ent document. "the undersigned'Further understands that all evidence presented in support of remission of this civilpenalty must be submitted to the Director of the Division of Water Resources within 30 days of receipt of the notice of assessment. Nonew evidence in support of a remission request will be allowed after 30 days from flie receipt of the notice ofassessinent. This the day of 2014 BY ADDRESS TELEPHONE DWR Case Number: LV-2014-0009 Assessed Party: City ofClaremont aunty: Catawba Per~ it Number: NCO081370 Amount Assessed: $1,711.41 Please use this form when requesting remission of this civil penalty, You must also complete the " e uesL taa- . emiossirtn, VLio14Y c) i �r t )ern ��a�nhzi tr ive Hearin c�nd a,Stt LuLation ;; _� eict --- form to request remission of this civil penalty, You should attacb any tf Murents that you belies" support your request and are necessary for the Director to consider In evaluating your request for remission, Please be aware that as request for remission is hunted to consideration of'the five fa tors listed below as they may relate to the reasonableness of the amount of tlac civil penalty assessed. Requesting ren-u sion is not the proper procedure for contesting s�-hcther the violation(s) occurred or the accuracy ofw any ofthe ctUal statements contained in the civil penalty assessment document. Pursuant to Kt':tr,S, § l 3B- .1(c), remission of a civil p taafty may be granted only when carne or more of the following five factors applies. Please check each. factor that you believe applies to your case and provide a detailed expl,°anation, including copies of supporting c tacaarraIentS as to Nvily the factor applies (attach additional page, as needed). sad one or rrtcrc of the cat ctaalt ° ssrttcnt factors an t 1 lred to _the detriment of the etitir neT fife ass ssment ,&icturs crrc listed in the civilpenatltt, gas es,si ent a ocuatent,1 {l the viola or ro' t,ly abated contira lr tjKI )grnental daarfaa r stia�tin from the, violation (i, e., exp. hiin the st"ee )s that you took to correct the violation and r° vent Ifistur. occurrences)' lc the violation was inadvertent or a result of aan accident (Le, explaoi Wry the violation was unavoidable able or errs° ethhkg you could meat prevent or prep ar e ft r°) l .f the violator had not been assessed eiVLI p teal lames far � et �r yions xmm��rlaticatts, %e p4yrale1q rat'th(( jvil pqpLalty xil tat ,yi1 t tor the r pa�rttatp g sar re!n cif l acne, (i.e, e�tj,)Iain frartapayment (tf the civil pena lq, will prevent n'l f rarrr performing .- that activities necessrar°wa." to achieve carrrgVi ance), EXPLANATION: (use aadditiotteal pages as necessary) NORTH CAROLINA DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES ASSESSMENT FACTORS Violator: (,jjy of jaremont Facility: lc Lin Creek WWTP County: Catawba Case Number- LV-2014-0009 Permit Number: NCO3 70 The degree, and extent of harm to the natural reiources of the State, to the public health, or to private property resulting from the violation; No harm has been documented. However, the discharge of BOD in excess of the permit limits could cause a decrease in the intern dissolved oxygen concentration downstream of the facility. The receiving stream is Mctin Creek, class C waters, in the Catawba River basin, 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; The cost is unknown. 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 There have been 27 previous CPAs for the McLin Creek WW`TP with six CPAs issued in the past 12 months, 8) The cost to the State of the enforcement procedures. The cost to the Division of Water Resources is $148.91 Date Andrew Pitner, Assistant Regional Supervisor Water Quality Regional Operations Section Mooresville Regional Office Division of Water Resources NPDES DMR Violation Penalty arksh et Facility: t�1 l�in Creek tern ._ berPrevig� FIo i Violations: iola ion Reduced Penalties: done of prior penalties were reduced Proposed .2 [ No lea o ultiplier Response:Coents. Response i i ll- l P dated 12130113; no response provided Information: There were three Meekly BOD violations (3.3%, %, and 2 % over limit) and a monthly BOD violation (70% over); three of fear proposed for penalty, September DMR notes: "The facility Mill continues to investtigate influent DMR characteristics, which led staff to find that a discharge from one of our Information: industries had an inhibitory effect on the facility process. The City of Hickory staff and the City of Claremont have been working with the industry to resolve the issue. The changes made to the industrys process have improved conditions at the facilty.`" i Previous CPAs in Sept,-12 and Apr, -August 2013. Total penalties Previous Violation 10,049. 9. tr month in a row of violations; October DMR was Information: � compliant, Weekly P Ct violation (33.3% over limit) B noted, "Plant received higher than normal solids and high BOB from unknown source. The plant ept�2 has recovered and has been well within the weekly and monthly limits since the occurrence." There were two weekly BOIL violations .3% and 58.3% over limit monthly B C violation (92.3% oven, and monthly ammonia violation (2°i' over; two of four assessed. DMR notes, "The facility received an unusually elevated level of surfactants in the influent stream; which Apr-13 contributed to an upset to the plant process. We are currently feeding surfactant macro -organisms to help speed recovery to the plant process. In addition, we continue to monitor industries for flow characteristics investigating the possible sources of problematic flows to prevent future violations.." No upset called into t -r reporting required y permit if claimingupset. here were three weekly1 violations , g .7%, 7 �7 , and 75% over ( limit), monthly BOCK violation ( 1 1. a% oven, and monthly ammonia violation (2 .4% oven; four of five assessed -only BOCK. DMR notes, "The facility influent flow contained foaming surfactant, which caused an upset to the plant process. We are continuing to feedsurfactant micro- lay-1 3 organisms to help speed recovery to the plant process. In addition, the City of hickory and City of Claremont are meeting with local industries to talk about the use of surfactants in their processes and possible ways to reduce the amount that is used. We are continuing to monitor industries for flow characteristics to fund passible sources of the problem to prevent future violations. Page 1 of 2 Rev, 0, 1-10114 NPDES DMR Violation Penalty Worksheet There were three weekly BOD violations (33. 3%, 183.3%, and 108,3% over limit), monthly BOD violation (137.2% over), two weekly ammonia violations (56.5% and 136,7% over), and a monthly ammonia violation (149-4% over); seven of seven violations assessed. DMR notes, "The facility is still struggling to recover from the upset that occurred. The increased rainfall we have received has significantly slowed the recovery process, We are continuing to feed surfactant micro-organisms along with regenerative micro-organisms to help speed recovery to the plant process. June-13 In addition, we are continuing to monitor industries for flow characteristics to find possible sources of the problem to prevent future violations." The flow data reported on the June 2013 DMR was reviewed. The plant is permitted to handle 0.300 MGD flow, The highest flow noted on the June 2013 DMR was 0.236 MGD and there were only 3 of the 30 days in the month with a flow >0,20 MGD. The average influent flows from January to June 2013 were 0. 16 MGD, 0.157 MGD, O� 132 MGD,, 0, 154 MGD, O. 135 MGD, and 0, 141 MGD so rainfall does not appear to be impacting the influent flow in June, There were three weekly BOD violations (75%, 33,3%, and 33,3% over limit) and a monthly BOD violation (105% over)? four of four assessed. DMR notes, "the facility received abnormally high amounts of rainfall, which in turn caused hydraulic overloading at the facility. This has July-1 3 l significantly slowed the recovery process. We are continuing to feed regenerative microorganisms to help speed recovery to the plant process' The highest flow noted on the July 2013 DMR was 0,454 MGD and there were 4 of the 31 days in the month with a flow >0,30 MGD (permitted flow i limit, There were five weekly BOD violations (50%, 41,7%, 50%, 33.3%, and 8,3% over limit) and a monthly BOD violation (100% over); five of six F proposed for penalty, August DMR notes.- "The facility is still recovering I August-13 from abnormally high amounts of rainfall, which caused hydraulic overloading at the facility. This has significantly slowed recovery process. We are continuing to feed regenerative micro-organisms to help speed recovery to the plant process." dome flow fromC--larem-ont North \ANVTP directed to Mc in Creek WWTP Other Relevant including washwater from trucking site high in surfactants; permitted flow � =Information: of 0.300 MGD. d' $1,56. 250 Penalty 'increase E Proposel Decrease El S Penalty Outcome: ame Final Penalty Lj $ �1171,111d, X-1.11 Notes: . . ...... 4, A age 2 of 2 Rev. 0, 1-10114 )RING REPORT(MR) VIOLATIONS for: Report Date: 1=4113 Page: 2 of 6 PERMIT. NCO081370 FACILITY: City of Claremont - McLln Creek WWTP COUNTY: Catawba REGION: Mooresville Limit Violation J- MONITORING OUTFALL I VIOLATION UNIT OF CALCULATED REPORT PPI LOCATION PARAMETER DATE FREQUENCY MEASURE LIMIT VALUE % OVER LIMIT VIOLATION TYPE VICLATIONACTION 1 -2- 09-2013 001 Effluent BOO, 5-Day (20 Deg, C) - 09107113 Weekly mg/I 121/ 13 B,33 Weekly Average Exceeded None Concentration 09-2013 001 Effil.jert SOD, 5-Day (20 Deg. C) - 09114113 Weekly mg/1 12 1-/ 18 50 Weekly Average Exceeded None Concentration 09-2013 Doi Effluent BOO, 5-Day (20 Deg, C) - 09/25113 Weekly mg[I 12"'/ 15 25 Weekly Average Exceeded None 4 Concentration 09-2013 001 Effluent BOD, 5-Day (20 Deg. C) - 09130113 Weekly mg/l 8 13,6-11/ 70 Monthly Average Exceeded None___' Concentration PERMIT: NCO065242 FACILITY: Town of Grover - Grover WWTP COUNTY: Cleveland REGION: Moores Limit Violation 5 MONITORING OUTFALL l VIOLATION UNIT OF CALCULATED REPORT PPP LOCATION PARAMETER DATE FREQUENCY MEASURE LIMIT VALUE % OVER LIMIT VIOLATION TYPE VIOLATION ACTION 09-2013 001 Effirient Nitro en, Ammonia Total (as Foncentration G910 T1 13 Weekly rng1I 11,7'.'/" 4 18,—""" 57.26 Weekly Average Exceeded None N - 09P2013 001 Effluent Nit"08 en, Ammonia Total (as 09130113 Weekly mg/1 3.9 8,95 130,13 Monthly Average Exceeded None N) - oncentration