NC0049867_NOV-2021-LA-0001 Response_20210511

Town of Cleveland
302 East Main Street
Cleveland, NC 27013
[phone]
May 24, 2021
W. Corey Basinger Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Division of Water Resources, NC DEQ,MRO
610 East Center Avenue, Suite 310
Mooresville, NC 28115
Subject: Late PAR Submittal
Town of Cleveland NPDES NC0049867
NOV-2021-LA-0001
This letter is in response to the late PAR submittal NOV received on May 11, 2021, from
your office.
The pretreatment coordinator was also serving a backup ORC for the WWTP while other
staff were in training. In February the ORC submitted his resignation letter from the
Town of Cleveland so the backup resumed those responsibilities on February 8, 2021.
The WWTP had been noncompliant for January and part of February. All efforts were
made to resolve this problem. During cleaning of the WWTP facilities apparently both
the backup and other operator were exposed to COVID and tested positive the following
week and quarantined. Therefore, for the last two weeks of February the pretreatment
coordinator did not have access to the data to complete the PAR as planned on time.
To better manage the pretreatment program the Town is looking to hire additional staff in
the near future. Thank you for your understanding of this situation and the staffing
problems the Town incurred during the pandemic. If you need any additional
information, please call the Town Hall office at 704-278-4777.
Patrick Phifer
Mayor
Cc: Wes Bell, DEQ-DWR MRO (wes.bell(a7,ncdenr.gov) and PERCS
([e-mail])