HomeMy WebLinkAboutNC0086070_LV20120042_20120316X .A
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NCDENR
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality
Beverly Eaves Perdue Charles Wakild, P.E.
Governor Director
CERTIFIED MAIL
RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
Mr. Marcus Jones
March 16, 2012
7010 1870 0003 0875 3572
Henderson County Utilities
100 North King Street, Suite 210
Hendersonvlle, North Carolina 28792-5053
Dee Freeman
Secretary
SUBJECT: Notice of Violation and Assessment of Civil Penalty
for Violations of North Carolina General Statute (G.S.) 143-215.1(a)(6)
and NPDES Permit NCO086070
Henderson County Utilities
Western Justice Academy WWTP
Case No. LV-2012-0042
Henderson County
Dear Mr. Jones:
This letter transmits a Notice of Violation and assessment of civil penalty in the amount of $237.00
($100.00 civil penalty + $137.00 enforcement costs) against Henderson County Utilities.
This assessment is based upon the following facts: a review has been conducted of the discharge
monitoring report (DMR) submitted by Henderson County Utilities for the month of August 2011.
This review has shown the subject facility to be in violation of the discharge limitations and/or
monitoring requirements found in NPDES Permit NC0086070. The violations which occurred in
August 2011 are summarized in Attachment A to this letter.
Based upon the above facts, I conclude as a matter of law that Henderson County Utilities violated
the terms, conditions or requirements of NPDES Permit NCO086070 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).
Based upon the above findings of fact and conclusions of law, and in accordance with authority
provided by the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the
Director of the Division of Water Quality, I, Chuck Cranford, Division of Water Quality Regional
Supervisor for the Asheville Region, hereby make the following civil penalty assessment against
Henderson County Utilities:
One
NCarolina
Naturally
SURFACE WATER PROTECTION — ASHEVILLE REGIONAL OFFICE
Location: 2090 U.S. Highway 70, Swannanoa, NC 28778 Ok
Phone: (828) 296-45001FAX: 828 2997043
Internet. www.ncwatercivality.org
I of the 1 violations of G.S. 143-215.1(a)(6) and NPDES Permit No.
$100.00
NC0086070, by discharging waste water into the waters of the State
in violation of the Permit Weekly Average limit for BOD - Conc.
100.00
TOTAL CIVIL PENALTY
137.00
Enforcement Costs
$237.00
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. 14313-
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 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 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:
Point Source Compliance/Enforcement Unit
Division of Water Quality
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
OR
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 Quality 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 the Division of Water Quality 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 Quality also requests that
you complete and submit the enclosed "Justification for Remission Request." Both forms should
be submitted to the following address:
Point Source Compliance/Enforcement Unit
Division of Water Quality
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
rli
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 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 original and one (1) copy of the petition must be filed with the Office
of Administrative Hearings. The petition may be faxed - provided the original and one copy of the
document is received in the Office of Administrative Hearings within five (5) business days
following the faxed transmission. The mailing address for the Office of Administrative Hearings
is:
Office of Administrative Hearings
6714 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-6714
Telephone (919) 733-2698 Facsimile: (919) 733-3478
and
Mail or hand -deliver a copy of the petition to
Mary Penny Thompson, General Counsel
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
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 Janet Cantwell of the Water Quality staff of the
Asheville Regional Office at 828-296-4500.
Sincerely,
Chuck C ord, Regional Supervisor
Surface Water Protection Section
Asheville Regional Office
ATTACHMENTS
cc: DWQ Asheville Files w/ attachments
DWQ Central Files w/ attachments
Bob Guerra/ Point Source w/ attachments
Mark B. Jones/ ORC w/ attachments
S tiNNIII cndereon �ka,tcN.at&AIinor�;A�estcrnJusticc Xcadam si)070%1 1-2012-6041doc
11*
JUSTIFICATION FOR REMISSION REQUEST
DWQ Case Number: LV-2012-0042
County: Henderson
Assessed Party: Henderson County Utilities / Western Justice Academy
Permit No.: NCO086070 Amount Assessed: $237.00
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. § 14313-282.1(c), remission of a civil penalty may be granted only when one or
more of the following five factors applies. 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 (i.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 (i. e., 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 ENVIRONMENT
AND NATURAL RESOURCES
COUNTY OF HENDERSON
IN THE MATTER OF ASSESSMENT
OF CIVIL PENALTIES AGAINST
HENDERSON COUNTY UTILITIES /
WESTERN JUSTICE ACADEMY
PERMIT NO. NCO086070
WAIVER OF RIGHT TO AN
ADMINSTRATIVE HEARING AND
STIPULATION OF FACTS
FILE NO. LV-2012-0042
Having been assessed civil penalties totaling $237.00 for violation(s) as set forth in the
assessment document of the Division of Water Quality dated March 16, 2012, 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 Quality 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
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