HomeMy WebLinkAboutNC0021849_PC-2021-0024_20210812DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES - CIVIL PENALTY ASSESSMENT
Violator: Town of Hertford
Facility Name: Hertford WWTP
Permit Number: NC0021849
County: Perquimans
Case Number: PC-2021-0024
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;
Unknown. No documented fish kills or health risk. The bypass could cause Water Quality Standard violations.
2) The duration and gravity of the violation;
On 11/19/2020 an unauthorized bypass of an approximate volume of 500 gallons took place during a sludge haul. The
bypass was not reported in the required 24-hour timeframe and no effort was made to clean up the bypass. It was simply
limed and allowed to sit until it was discovered 98 days later during an inspection on 02/24/2021.
30) The effect on ground or surface water quantity or quality or on air quality;
The bypass could cause Water quality Standard Violations.
4) The cost of rectifying the damage;
Unknown
5) The amount of money saved by noncompliance;
Unknown
6) Whether the violation was committed willfully or intentionally;
Unknown
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
Over the last 24 months the facility received two Notice of Violations with Intent to Enforce for two unauthorized bypass
events and proceeded to two enforcement cases. The facility also received two Notice of Deficiencies during the last 24
months. One NOD was for a flow limit violation and the other was for a BOD violation.
8) The cost to the State of the enforcement procedures.
$57.82
5/18/2021
Date
U44 TA44ci.41
Robert Tankard, Assistant Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Washington Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
ROY COOPER
Governor
DIONNE DELLI-GATTI
Secretary
S. DANIEL SMITH
pfrecIor
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
Certified Mail # 7020 1810 0001 5981 1372
Return Receipt Requested
May 17, 2021
Pamela Hurdle, Manager Town
Town of Hertford
324 W Grubb St
Hertford, NC 27944
SUBJECT: Notice of Violation and Assessment of Civil Penalty
for Violations of NC General Statute (G.S.) 143-215.1(a)(6)
and NPDES WW Permit No. NC0021849
Town of Hertford
Hertford WWTP
Case No. PC-2021-0024
Perquimans County
Dear Mrs. Hurdle:
This letter transmits a Notice of Violation and assessment of civil penalty in the amount of $557.82 ($500.00
civil penalty + $57.82 enforcement costs) against Town of Hertford.
This assessment is based upon the following facts: an inspection of the Hertford WWTP was conducted on
February 24, 2021. This inspection was conducted to verify that the facility is operating in compliance with the
conditions and limitations specified in NPDES WW Permit No. NC0021849. This inspection has shown the
subject facility to be in violation of the conditions and limitations found in NPDES WW Permit No. NC0021849.
The violations found during the inspection are summarized in Attachment A to this letter.
Based upon the above facts, I conclude as a matter of law that Town of Hertford violated the terms,
conditions or requirements of NPDES WW Permit No. NC0021849 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).
D_E
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Waxer Resources
Washington Regional Office 1943 Washington Square Mall I Washington, Norih Carolina 27889
252.946 6481
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,
Robert Tankard, Assistant Regional Supervisor, Washington Regional Office hereby make the following civil penalty
assessment against Town of Hertford:
$500.00 For 1 of the 2 violations of the conditions and limitations specified in Permit No. NC0021849
$500.00 TOTAL CIVIL PENALTY
$57.82 Enforcement Costs
$557.82 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. 143B-282.1(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 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 143B-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 remission, you must complete and submit the enclosed "Request for Remission of Civil
Penalties, Waiver of Right to an Administrative Hearing, 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 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 hearing 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 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 (if a 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 regarding 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) 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.
If you have any questions, please contact Paul Mays with the Division of Water Resources staff of the
Washington Regional Office at (252) 948-3940 or via email at paul.mays@ncdenr.gov.
Sincerely,
R4Lx Te.4•14444
Robert Tankard, Assistant Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Washington Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
ATTACHMENTS
Cc: Laserfiche
JUSTIFICATION FOR REMISSION REQUEST
Case Number: PC-2021-0024
Assessed Party: Town of Hertford
Permit No.: NC0021849
County: Perquimans
Amount Assessed: $557.82
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 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. 143B-282.1(b) were wrongfully
applied to the detriment of the petitioner (the assessment factors are listed in the civil penalty
assessment document);
(b) the violator promptly abated continuing environmental damage resulting from the violation (i.e.,
explain the steps that you took to correct the violation and prevent future occurrences);
(c) the violation was inadvertent or a result of an accident (/.e., explain why the violation was
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 (Le.,
explain how payment 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 PERQUIMANS
IN THE MATTER OF ASSESSMENT
OF CIVIL PENALTIES AGAINST
Town of Hertford
Hertford WWTP
PERMIT NO. NC0021849
WAIVER OF RIGHT TO AN
ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING AND
STIPULATION OF FACTS
)
) CASE NO. PC-2021-0024
Having been assessed civil penalties totaling $557.82 for violation(s) as set forth in the assessment document
of the Division of Water Resources dated May 05, 2021, 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 , 20
SIGNATURE
ADDRESS
TELEPHONE
ATTACHMENT A
Town of Hertford
CASE NUMBER: PC-2021-0024
PERMIT NO: NC0021849
FACILITY: Hertford WWTP
REGION: Washington
COUNTY: Perquimans
VIOLATION
DATE
AREA
VIOLATION
TYPE
VIOLATION DESCRIPTION
PENALTY
AMOUNT
2/24/2021 Filtration (High Rate Permit conditions violation
Tertiary)
During the inspection on 02/24/2020
one of the two automatic disk filters
described in NPDES permit
#NC0021849 was not operational and
was also down during the previous
inspection on 08/19/2020. The
automatic disk filter that was operational
during the inspection was being heavily
bypassed. This is a violation of permit
conditions: Section C Condition 2,
Section C Condition 4.C, Section E
Condition 6 and Section E Condition 9.
$0.00
2/24/2021 Permit Unauthorized bypass
An unauthorized bypass of unknown
quantity was found nearby the aerobic
digestors during the inspection. A
sludge strip was observed that was
roughly 100ft in length and 10ft across
at its widest point. The ORC stated that
the unauthorized bypass took place on
11/19/2020 during the last sludge haul.
The bypass was never reported to
WARO and was required to be reported
to WARO within 24 hours as required by
NPDES permit #NC0021849. This is a
violation of the following permit
conditions: Section B Condition 2,
Section E Condition 6 and Section E
condition 9.
$500.00