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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWQCS00055_DV-2023-0048_20230317xi' ROY COOPER QUYPl71U1' � ' ELIZABETH S. B1SERSecretary r k U+xr wr' - RICHARD E. ROGERS, JR. NORTH CAROLINA Dirmfor Environmental Quality Certified Mail # 7020 3160 0000 4109 0836 Return Receipt Requested March 17, 2023 Terrell Blackmon, City Engineer City of Henderson PO Box 1434 Henderson, NC 27536-1434 SUBJECT: Notice of Violation and Assessment of Civil Penalty for Violations of North Carolina General Statute (G.S.) 143-215.1(a)(1) and Collection System Permit No. WQCS00055 City of Henderson Henderson Collection System Case No. DV-2023-0048 Vance County Dear Mr. Blackmon: This letter transmits a Notice of Violation and assessment of civil penalty in the amount of $1,095.72 ($1,000.00 civil penalty + $95.72 enforcement costs) against City of Henderson. This assessment is based upon the following facts: a review has been conducted of the Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO) 5-Day Report submitted by City of Henderson. This review has shown the subject facility to be in violation of the requirements found in Collection System Permit No. WQCS00055 and G.S. 143-215.1(a)(]). The violation(s) that occurred are summarized in Attachment A to this letter. Based upon the above facts, I conclude as a matter of law that City of Henderson violated the terms, conditions or requirements of Collection System Permit No. WQCS00055 and G.S. 143-215.1(a)(1) 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). -�s Nanh Carolina Depan menr oS Emlmnmenml Quality I Diye ion of Wacer Resouce rs D J� Raldgh Rey:onA Office 3WO Oannl Drive I Raleigh. Noah Carulinr 2T609 e..y� /�!� 919.791A200 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, Scott Vinson, Regional Supervisor, Raleigh Regional Office hereby make the following civil penalty assessment against City of Henderson: 1 000.00 For 1 of the 1 violations of Collection System Permit No. WQCS00055 and G.S. 143-215.1(a)(1) for Sanitary Sewer Overflow(s) resulting in a discharge without a valid permit. 1 000.00 TOTAL CIVIL PENALTY 95.72 Enforcement Costs 1 095.72 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.I (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: Attn: PERCS 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 14313-282.1(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 Hearin and Stipulation of Facts" form within thirty 001 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: Attn: PERCS Branch Division of Water Resources 1617 Mail Service Center Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617 AND Scott Vinson, Regional Supervisor Water Quality Regional Operations Section Raleigh Regional Office Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ 1628 Mail Service Center, Raleigh Raleigh, NC 27699- 1628 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 (ifa filing fee is required by NCGS §15013-23.2) 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 andfor 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) 431-3 100 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 Mitchell Hayes with the Division of Water Resources staff of the Raleigh Regional Office at (919) 791-4200 or via email at mitch.hayesncdenr.gov. Sincerely, Scott Vinson, Regional Supervisor Water Quality Regional Operations Section Raleigh Regional Office Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ ATTACHMENTS Laserfiche Case Number: DV-2023-0048 JUSTIFICATION FOR REMISSION REQUEST County: Vance Assessed Party: City of Henderson Permit No.: WQCS00055 Amount Assessed: $1,095.72 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. l(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. 14313-282.1(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 ii-hy 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 COUNTY OF VANCE IN THE MATTER OF ASSESSMENT OF CIVIL PENALTIES AGAINST City of Henderson Henderson Collection System PERMIT NO. WQCS00055 DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY WAIVER OF RIGHT TO AN ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING AND STIPULATION OF FACTS CASE NO. DV-2023-0048 Having been assessed civil penalties totaling $1,095.72 for violation(s) as set forth in the assessment document of the Division of Water Resources dated March 17, 2023, 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 ADDRESS TELEPHONE SIGNATURE NX ATTACHMENT A City of Henderson CASE NUMBER: DV-2023-0048 PERMIT NO: WQCS00055 REGION: Raleigh FACILITY: Henderson Collection System COUNTY: Vance Other Violations INCIDENT VIOLATION TOTAL VOLUME PENALTY NUMBER DATE VIOLATION TYPE VIOLATION DESCRIPTION (GALLONS) AMOUNT 202201519 9/30/2022 CSOISSO(Sewer Overflow) Discharge without valid permit $1,000.00 DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES - CIVIL PENALTY ASSESSMENT Violator: City of Henderson Facility Name: Henderson Collection System Permit Number: 3WCS00055 County: Vance Case Number: DV-2023-0048 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; A total volume of 35,000 gallons overflowed from the Sandy Creek pump station during Hurricane Ian. All of the volume reached Sandy Creek a class B; NSW in the Tar -Pam River Basin. Nutrients and pathogens to surface waters. 2) The duration and gravity of the violation; The SSO started 09.30.2022 at 8:30 pm. The stop time is not given or is unknown. Nutrients and pathogens to surface waters. 3) The effect on ground or surface water quantity or quality or on air quality; The effect on surface water quality include nutrients and pathogens to surface waters. May cause water quality standard violations. 4) The cost of rectifying the damage; The cost of rectifying the damage is not given. 5) The amount of money saved by noncompliance; It is believed that no money was saved by the noncompliance. 6) Whether the violation was committed willfully or intentionally; It does not appear that 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; There have been 4 enforcement cases against the violator within the past 12 months. 8) The cost to the State of the enforcement procedures. $95.72 7 as' L -P I 2-2 .r,ya_g Date Pt - Scott Vinson, Regional Supervisor Water Quality Regional Operations Section Raleigh Regional Office Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ e City of Henderson Public Works Department �o Post Office Box 1434.900 S. Beckford Drive Henderson, NC 27536-1434 Phone: (252) 431-6030 / Fax: (252) 431-0124 December 2, 2022 Mr. Scott Vinson, Regional Supervisor Water Quality Regional Operations Section Raleigh Regional Office Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ 1628 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1628 Re: Response to Notice of Violation & Intent to Issue Civil Penalty Tracking No. — NOV-2022-DV-0290 Sanitary Sewer Overflows —September 2022 Henderson Collection System Permit No. — WQCS00055 Dear Mr. Vinson: I am writing in response to the above -mentioned violation that we received on October 21, 2022. The overflow in this incident was due to inflow and infiltration during extended periods of heavy rainfall. Once the rain event ended, the overflow subsided. Following the overflow, we cleaned debris and placed lime as needed. Henderson has hired a consultant, WK Dickson, to assist our efforts in reducing 1/I. With their help the City of Henderson received and accepted a loan in the amount of $2.5 million from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund for sewer rehabilitation. On July le we were notified that Henderson will receive an additional $5 million ARP grant from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund for sewer rehabilitation. We are using every resource available to stop sewer overflows in our system. We take our responsibility to maintain compliance for our collection system very seriously. I trust that you find the City's actions for compliance are satisfactory. Thank you very much for the opportunity to respond. Please feel free to contact our staff or myself should you need any further information. Sincerely, /Lee 04-04'� en Assistant Public Works Director CC: Edward Terrell Blackmon, City Manager Andy Perkinson, Public Works Director Joey Long, Distribution & Collection System Supervisor —Collection System ORC Christy Lipscomb, Water Resources Director/ORC File ROY COOPER C."Mor EUZABETH S. BISER seavwy RICHARD I, ROGERS, JR. V(hW ar Terrell Blackmon, City Engineer City of Henderson PO Box 1434 Henderson, NC 27536-1434 NORM LIANA October 10, 2022 No AY r-e, �YT SWIECT: NOTICE OF VIOLATION & INTENT TO ISSUE C IL PENALTY Tracking No.: NOV-2022-DV-0290 Sanitary Sewer Overflows - September 2022 Collection System Permit No. WQCS00055 Henderson Collection System Vance County Dear Mr. Blackmon: A review has been conducted of the self -reported Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSO's) 5-Day Reports submitted by City of Henderson. The Division's Raleigh Regional Office concludes that the City of Henderson violated Permit Condition I (2) of Permit No. WQCS00055 by failing to effectively manage, maintain, and operate their collection system so #hat there is no SSO (Sanitary Sewer Overflow) to the land or surface waters and the SSO constituted making an outlet to waters of the State for purposes of G.S. 143-215.1(a)(1), For which a permit is required by G.S. 143-215.1. The Raleigh Regional Office is providing the City of Henderson an opportunity to provide evidence and justification as to why the City of Henderson should not be assessed a civil penalty for the violation(s) that are summarized below: Total Vol Total Surface Incident Start Duration Vol Water Number Dube (Mires) Location Cause (Geis) (Gals) DWR Action 202201519 9/30/2022 579 Rods Mill Rd, Severe Natural 35,000 35,000 Notice of Violation - Henderson, NC, 27537 Condibon Notice of Intent raut�.�,.ve'.n,wn.fr�eo+�eyr i amm.rwm.s,...�. a.�eq►oe�onk. uaosrnaonre i ��gl�lkMscwoMntiiO� aa�w�oo This Notice of Violation / Notice of Intent to Enforce (NOV/NOI) Is being issued for the noted violation. Pursuant to G.S.143-215.6A, a civil penalty of not more than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) may be assessed against any person who violates or fails to act in accordance with the terms, conditions, or requirements of any permit Issued pursuant to G.S. 143-215.1. This office requests that you respond to this Notice, in writing, within 10 business days of its rewipt. In your response, you should address the causes of non-compliance, remedial actions, and all other actions taken to prevent the recurrence of similar situations. The response to this correspondence will be considered in this process. Enforcement decisions will also be based on volume spilled, volume reaching surface waters, duration and gravity, Impacts to public health, fish kills or recreational area closures. Other factors considered in determining the amount of the civil penalty are the violator's history of non-compliance, the cost of rectifying the damage, whether the spill was intentional and whether money was saved by non-compliance. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mitchell Hayes with the Wafter Quality Section in the Raleigh Regional Office at 919-791-4200 or via email at mitch.hayes@ncdenr.gov. 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Permit No WQCS00055 City of Henderson City of Henderson Collection System Vance County Dear Mr Frazier- ROY COOPER C(Me1 AW MICHAEL S REGAN SWdl y LINDA CULPEPPER Into uAOwl wor In accordance with your application received March 28, 2018, we are forwarding herewith Permit No WQCS00055, dated April 17, 2018, to the City of Henderson for the operation and maintenance of the subject wastewater collection system This permit shall be effective from May 1, 2018 until April 30, 2026 and shall be subject to the conditions and limitations specified herein. It is your responsibility to thoroughly review this permit Please pay particular attention to the monitoring and reporting requirements in this permit and any special conditions Changes have been made to the boiler plate language of the permit Most of the changes are for clarification purposes, however Condition 1(3) has been removed. The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) believes that condition was included erroneously in previous permits It was included based on proposed rulemaking by EPA which was never promulgated and, in the continued absence of Federal regulations, DEQ lacks authority to include such language in a permit DEQ will continue to exercise enforcement discretion when evaluating sanitary sewer overflows that may be considered to be beyond the reasonable control of the Permittee A highlighted copy of the permit identifying the changes made is available at: http://ncdenr.s3 amazonaws com/s3fs- pu bl ic/W ater%20Quality/Su rface%20Wate r%20Protecti on/P E RCS/W CS2620(Co l lection%205ystem)/U pdated %20W CS%20Tem late%2015 05 18%20hi hli hted . df For purposes of permitting, the collection system is considered to be any existing or newly installed system extension up to the wastewater treatment facility property or point of connection with a separately owned sewer system The collection system is considered all gravity lines, pump stations, force mains, low pressure sewer systems, STEP systems, vacuum systems, etc and associated piping, valves and appurtenances that help to collect, manage and transport wastewater to a wastewater treatment plant under the Permittee's ownership or maintained and operated by the Permittee through a perpetual legal agreement Satellite systems are systems tributary to the Permittee's collection system but those collection systems are not owned or maintained by the Permittee. The system description provided on Page 1 of this permit is meant to provide a general idea about the size of the system and may not be all inclusive of the collection system at the time of permit issuance or afterward. 1617 Mail SmAce Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617 Phone 919-807-63001 Internet www ncwaterquahry org An Equal Opporlundp 1 AIEmotwe Ackm Employer —Made et pail by recycled pW