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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNC0021369_MV-2015-0006_20150317 ATA NCDENR North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources Pat McCrory Donald R.van der Vaart Governor Secretary Certified Mail#7014 0510 0000 4466 0356 Return Receipt Requested March 17,2015 RECEIVED/DENR/DWR MAR 2 0 20Th Tim Barth,Manager Town Town of Columbus Water Quality PO Box 146 Permitting Sectint Columbus,NC 28722 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 No.NC0021369 Town of Columbus Columbus WWTP Case No.MV-2015-0006 Polk County Dear Permittee: a This letter transmits a Notice of Violation and assessment of civil penalty in the amount of$359.26($200.00 civil penalty +$159.26 enforcement costs)against Town of Columbus. 1 This assessment is based upon the following facts: a review has been conducted of the discharge monitoring report (DMR) submitted by Town of Columbus for the month of October 2014. This review has shown the subject facility to be in violation of the discharge limitations and/or monitoring requirements found in NPDES Permit No. NC0021369. The violations,which occurred in October 2014,are summarized in Attachment A to this letter. Based upon the above facts, I conclude as a matter of law that Town of Columbus violated the terms, conditions or requirements of NPDES Permit No. NC0021369 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 Resources, I, G. Landon Davidson, Regional Supervisor, Asheville Regional Office hereby make the following civil penalty assessment against Town of Columbus: 2090 U.S.70 Highway.Swannanoa,NC 28778 Phone:828-296-4500 \Internet:www.ncdenr.gov<http://www.ncdenr.gov> An Equal Opportunity\Affirmative Action Employer-Made in part by recycled paper 7 200.00 for 4 of the 4 failures to properly monitor CHLORINE in violation of NPDES Permit No. NC0021369. $200.00 TOTAL CIVIL PENALTY $159.26 Enforcement Costs $359.26 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 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: NPDES Compliance/Enforcement Unit Division of Water Resources 1617 Mail Service Center Raleigh,North Carolina 27699-1617 2 4 , 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 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: NPDES Compliance/Enforcement Unit Division of Water Resources 1617 Mail Service Center Raleigh,North Carolina 27699-1617 3 1 ij7 7 3 tt� 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: Office of Administrative Hearings 6714 Mail Service Center Raleigh,NC 27699-6714 Tel: (919)733-2698 Fax: (919)733-3478 One(1)copy of the petition must also be served on DENR as follows: Mr. Sam M.Hayes,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. 1 4 If you have any questions, please contact Janet Cantwell with the Division of Water Resources staff of the Asheville Regional Office at(828)296-4667 or via email at janet.cantwell@ncdenr.gov. Sincerely, for S.Jay Zimmerman,P.G. Director,Division of Water Resources,NCDENR By G.Landon Davidson,Regional Supervisor Water Quality Regional Operations Section Asheville Regional Office Division of Water Resources,NCDENR ATTACHMENTS Cc: WQS Asheville Regional Office-Enforcement File (w/attachments) NPDES Compliance/Enforcement Unit-Enforcement File (w/attachments) Central Files,Water Quality Section (w/attachments) 5 qi t JUSTIFICATION FOR REMISSION REOUEST Case Number: MV-2015-0006 County: Polk Assessed Party: Town of Columbus Permit No.: NC0021369 Amount Assessed: $359.26 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 (ie., 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 POLK IN THE MATTER OF ASSESSMENT ) WAIVER OF RIGHT TO AN OF CIVIL PENALTIES AGAINST ) ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING AND STIPULATION OF FACTS Town of Columbus ) Columbus WWTP ) ) PERMIT NO.NC0021369 ) CASE NO. MV-2015-0006 Having been assessed civil penalties totaling $35926 for violation(s) as set forth in the assessment document of the Division of Water Resources dated March 17, 2015, 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 1 1 3 ATTACHMENT A Town of Columbus CASE NUMBER: MV-2015-0006 PERMIT: NC0021369 FACILITY: Columbus WWTP COUNTY: Polk REGION: Asheville Monitoring Violations MONITORING OUTFALL! VIOLATION UNIT OF CALCULATED %OVER PENALTY REPORT PPI LOCATION PARAMETER DATE FREQUENCY MEASURE LIMIT VALUE LIMIT VIOLATION TYPE $50.00 10-2014 001 Effluent CHLORINE 10/4/14 2 X week ug/I Frequency Violation $50.00 10-2014 001 Effluent CHLORINE 10/11/14 2 X week ug/I Frequency Violation $50.00 10-2014 001 Effluent CHLORINE 10/18/14 2 X week ug/I Frequency Violation $50.00 10-2014 001 Effluent CHLORINE 10/25/14 2 X week ug/I Frequency Violation ......i i.. . . ... DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES-CIVIL PENALTY ASSESSMENT(FILE) Violator: Town of Columbus/ NC0021369 (October 2014 DMR) County: Polk Case Number: MV-2015-0006 8 ASSESSMENT FACTORS As required by G.S.143-214.6A(c),in determining the amount of the penalty I considered the factors set out in 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; All effluent violations may be detrimental to the receiving stream but may not be immediately quantified. 2) The duration and gravity of the violation; Four Total Residual Chlorines were not monitored per the NPDES Permit. 3) The effect on ground or surface water quantity or quality or on air quality; All effluent violations may be detrimental to the receiving stream but may not be immediately quantified. 4) The cost of rectifying the damage; The cost is unknown. 5) The amount of money saved by noncompliance; The amount of money saved would include the cost of the time it would take to do the sampling and the cost of the lab work to run the samples. 6) Whether the violation was committed willfully or intentionally; It does not appear to be either. 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 four civil penalty enforcements in the twelve months prior to this violation. 8) The cost to the State of the enforcement procedures. $159.26. Date G.Landon Davidson,Regional Supervisor Water Quality Regional Operations Section 03/17/2015 Asheville Regional Office, NCDENR a • C/F;r4' Of-l-)) EFFLUENT ' NPDES PERMIT NO. NC0021369 DISCHARGE NO. 001 MONTH OCT YEAR 2014 FACILITY NAME_ TOWN OF COLUMBUS WWTP CLASS 2 COUNTY POLK CERTIFIED LABORATORY(1) ETS CERTIFICATION NO.. _ 600 (list additional laboratories on the backside/page 2 of this form) OPERATOR IN RESPONSIBLE CHARGE(ORC) ROSSETER GRADE 3 CERT.# 15928 PERSON(S)COLLECTING SAMPLES ROSSETER ORC PHONE_828.894.8236 CHECK BOX IF ORC HAS CHANGED 0 A:3NO FLOW/DISCHARGE FROM SITE• Q Mail ORIGINAL and ONECOP I l,25_1 ATTN:CENTRAL FILES C 1 1 20 4 x DIVISION OF WATER QUALITY (S F OPERATOR IN RESPONSIBLE CHARGE) OE A1E 8 2014 1617 MAIL SERVICE CENTER BY THIS SIGNATURE,I CERTIFY THAT THIS REPORT IS G RALEIGH, NC 27699-1617 ACCURATE AND COMPLETE TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE. K N\R] 50050 00010 00400 50060 00310 00610 00530 31616 00300 00600 00665 I I - W F : FLOW FL a 1 0 8 q Z W ii ENTER PARAMETER CODE ABOVE M 1 .,3, F il i I INF0 5 i = Cp 4W sO 4 O 0 NAME AND UNITS BELOW a If ° a >. 5 g `z O. �`b §4 i HRS HRSY/B/N MGD 0 UNITS UG/L MG/L MG/L MG/L 1/100ML MG/L MG/L MG/L ' ..;i'`` 0 i:i sl' .:i':iiiii':<'iiiii�iiiii€iiiiii'i=i'ii€ :iiiiii€ .iiii [ i' sii [ € ;€s€ [ iiiiiiii'. ii [iii:iii 'iii€':if::_s:;:isi:::i::;'. ::::: ::: :i:'s ;: :;i 2 0.1671 I ,........i'€I. � 4.14 4 0.162 / CF S RAL p'ILES 6 0.163 .1:4410.....24.Y;.;.;.:..:.......*1$4.............:::..:0...::::.:.:.:::..Cr:1 .:. ......:.:.,4 :......:) ::::::::R 1 kAiD:::::::.::::::.:.:.:::::d ..::::::.:0::.::::;.:.:.::.:::'::::::.:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::;:::.:::.:.:.:. :..:::::::'::::: 8 9. 0,17.1 10 0.188 !;: ` ; ; i i ii: iii ii::.,° ; ; ;i i:iii;:ii.!is 1':gi;::i:i:i:i::i :;;i : 12 0.166LI ii!i1i!]giiiii71111U ibiiiiI1489I11:i1i11i1:i1ii.1!]11AMEi.16::1:1•E Mil i11i11i7i11i.1i 1!111f11111111M111i11ii11111M11i' 11.111111111i11 00111 . 14 0 800 24 Y 0.388 20 6.8 301 2.6 0.19<5.0 1 6.6 _ 16 0.174 17 ii ii: i!!1 iiinilikiiiin iniiiiiai::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::':;:::::;:i:::;:i:[:°.:i:(:€:i:: i :€:i: is:;:'s:;: : i:i:;::i:::;:::;:'s: it:::;:;:::;:s:::s:::::::::::;:::s;:¢;: i:i:: i:?:?::si:i:@s::::;:; :is::::;::s:::::::::::;::::::::::: :.;;i,:::;ii:° 18 0.151 ....,-J'r� .)9 .. ..... .... :. ................... i, .... i.LVJ. ::i :f:`i:E:Ei::(:i i:i:::p:pi:::::::: ::::::` :..:.:.o-::. ...:.::.:.:. :. : ...: . :.:.:.::: ::::::.:::: ::::i ::::_::. , .. ........ 20 0.165 21Mn i i0 1s R = i[ i i [?ii iii >'f„.„,4„,4„;4„,..4,4,„4.4,. :i€ i '!' : ! € :` t : : :: i:i::; ........::i:i: ::::'' ':: :::::;�::::::: 22 0 730 24 Y 0.179 14 6.4 50<2.0 0.26 9.3 5 5.2 Z� ` 55' iiiiiiiil1ii _....:........... .......... ... ._+......................, .......'.••.'.. ....... . ...... ,........ .. ... .. ...... ... ..... 'iii ..... ... / _ "'il ;T ;_. 24 0258 r . _. LK �ff : 1 .J 26 ,..., ..• .:.::: :..::� 0. 2 '..........6 .,..•.•• ..••• '��-. � ���. - - �� � ... :::::::::::::::::� i' i:.::....9:.:::::::: .::.:. s,;;. i ` .28 0800 24Y 0.234 1 6.7 39<2.0 0.31 9.3 1 3.8 `1�ntJ _U.\,,,.„:„.„,„. 30 0.116 nia1c^ .. . .... fii �.. li!i8i!:;] iii!iiii.Qi .........Dis Via...,,.... AVERAGE 0.201 17.2 4 40.25 2.4 0.21 7.15 1.49 5.1 N 1 '. 2:--`" •: .......Q Sd' . :::::::::: :::w1t iiiiiiiiiEi...:::::::.:.:.:.3..:.:.:.:t#,31 ::: :::::9,l:: :.:.:... .t.:.:.:.:.:.:.: .: :::::::::::::::.:::.:::.:.: .:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.: MINIMUM 0" 14 6.1 30 2 0.11 <5.0 1 3.8 mil ' i . 4iiliMiiliiiiiLOilniiiiiiiiiiiiWiEUill CiMii. :: ii [ eiEiii:'i€ .:':ii':i ilii :: s :iiiiii€ € ii:ii; € iii iiiii;i'iiiii isiiiii ::::i:;:: ::_ Mond*Limit U.ouU 50 30 30 200 rDfcr......ha-1, .27 �' j.mv bl� M✓.-ZD/. � ODDSND r",2'°! 4/rar Q Facility Status:(Please check one of the following) All monitoring data and sampling frequencies meet permit requirements (including weekly averages,if applicable) X Compliant All monitoring data and sampling frequencies do NOT meet permit requirements Noncompliant The permittee shall report to the Director or the appropriate Regional Office any noncompliance that potentially threatens public health or the environment. Any information shall be provided orally within 24 hours from the time the permittee became aware of the circumstances. A written submission shall also be provided within 5 days of the time the permittee becomes aware of the circumstances. If the facility is noncompliant,please attach a list of corrective actions being taken and a time-table for improvements to be made as required by Part ILE.6 of the NPDES permit. "I certify,under penalty of law,that this document and all attachments were prepared under my direction or supervision in accordance with a system designed to assure that qualified personnel properly gather and evaluate the information submitted. Based on my inquiry of the person or persons who managed the system,or those persons directly responsible for gathering the information,the information submitted is,to the best of my knowledge and belief true,accurate,and complete. I am aware that there are significant penalties for submitting false information,including the possibility of fines and imprisonment for knowing violations." Permittee nifty print or type) Signature of p'ermittee*** Date (Required unless submitted electronically) PO Box 146 Columbus NC 28722 828-894-8236 Permittee Address Phone Number e-mail address Permit Expiration Date ADDITIONAL CERTIFIED LABORATORIES Certified Laboratory(2) Certification No. Certified Laboratory(3) Certification No. Certified Laboratory(4) Certification No. Certified Laboratory(5) Certification No. PARAMETER CODES Parameter Code assistance may be obtained by calling the NPDES Unit at(919)733-5083 or by visiting the Surface Water Protection Section's web site at h2o.enr.state.nc.us/wgs and linking to the unit's information pages. Use only units of measurement designated in the reporting facility's NPDES permit for reporting data. * No Flow/Discharge From Site: Check this box if no discharge occurs and,as a result,there are no data to be entered for all of the parameters on the DMR for the entire monitoring period. ** ORC On Site?: ORC must visit facility and document visitation of facility as required per 15A NCAC 8G.0204. Page 2 WATER QUALITY REGIONAL OPERATIONS ASHEVILLE REGIONAL OFFICE E;t' =!VD Division of Water Resources 2090 U.S.HWY 70 SWANNANOA,NC 28778 FEB 1 7 2015 RE:NOTICE OF VIOLATION #NOV-2015 MV-0008 Water Ouaflty Regional Operations COLUMBUS WWTP PERMIT#NC0021369 Asheville Regional Office POLK COUNTY SIR/MADAM; I HAVE RECEIVED THE NOTICES OF VIOLATION FOR FAILING TO MONITOR FOR CHLORINE RESIDUAL, TWO TIMES A WEEK,AND FOR ONE OF THE SEMI-ANNUAL TOTAL PHOSPHORUS AND TOTAL NITROGEN TESTS AT THE COLUMBUS WWTP. I HAVE CHECKED BACK THROUGH THE DMR'S AND FOUND THAT THE CHLORINE RESIDUALS AND TOTAL NITROGEN AND TOTAL PHOSPHORUS IN QUESTION ARE MISSING FROM THE MONTHLY REPORTS.THERE IS ONE CHLORINE RESIDUAL REPORTED FOR THE WEEKS IN QUESTION,JUST NOT THE TWO AS REQUIRED. I AM AT A LOSS TO EXPLAIN WHY MONITORING THE CHLORINE RESIDUAL FELLTO ONCE A WEEK INSTEAD OF TWO. THE PLANT WAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION AT THAT TIME,WHICH REQUIRED MUCH OF MY ATTENTION, AND SOMEHOW I THOUGHT THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE CHLORINE RESIDUAL WAS ONCE PER WEEK. THE OW LAB BUILDING WAS BEING VACATED AND RECORDS AND DATA WERE BEING MOVED INTO THE NEW LAB BUILDING.THAT MAY HAVE BEEN WHY,BUT STILL SHOULD HAVE CAUGHT IT. THE TOTAL NITROGEN AND TOTAL PHOSPHORUS WAS MISSED DUE TO A COPY OF THE PERMIT,DONE IN HOUSE,AND POSTED AT THE PLANT FOR EASY READING,WAS MISSING THE SECOND SERIES OF TESTS NEEDED FOR THOSE TWO PARAMETERS. THE MISSING CHLORINE RESIDUALS,TOTAL PHOSPHORUS AND TOTAL NITROGEN ARE ERRORS ON MY f. PART AND AS ORC,I TAKE FULL RESPONSIBIUTY. I HOPE YOU WILL TAKE INTO ACCOUNT MY YEARS OF SERVICE. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY MAJOR MISTAKES UNTIL THIS.I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR CONVINCING THE TOWN OF THE NEED FOR AN UPGRADE AT THE WWTP AS I TAKE THE TREATING OF WASTE WATER SERIOUSLY. I REGRET THE ERRORS THAT WERE MADE AND WILL MAKE SURE THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. ROBERT ROSSETER TOWN OF COLUMBUS WWTP • yi 1