NC0031879_NOV2023PC0527_RESP_20231121

November 21, 2023
Mr. Daniel Boss, Assistant Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section, NCDWR, NCDEQ
Asheville Regional Office
2090 U.S. Hwy 70
Swannanoa, NC 28778
Subject: Notice of Violation
Tracking 4: NOV-2023-PC-0527
Permit NO, NCO031879
Corpening Creek WWTP
McDowell County
Dear Mr. Boss,
I am writing in response to your letter dated October 24, 2023, and received by the City of
Marion on October 31, 2023, the subject of which was a Notice of Violation. The violation was
for the primary clarifiers being operated as pass through basins, which is not as the facility was
originally permitted. Your letter requested a written response, within 30 days, regarding the
City's plans or measures to be taken to address the identified issue.
As reported in previous correspondences, the primary clarifiers are being operated as pass
through basins because they are inoperable. The City is currently addressing the issue by
assessing the primary clarifiers to determine if they should be repaired, replaced, or eliminated.
The assessment is part of an engineering assessment of the entire WWTP, which is part of a
Sewer AIA Grant Project that commenced on September 6, 2023. The assessment is being
performed by Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. To date, engineers with Kimley-Horn have
made one site visit to the WWTP and are compiling data that will be used to generate a report
that will document the findings for each component of the evaluation, recommend
improvements, and provide an opinion of probable cost. Based on the projected schedule for the
Sewer AIA project, we hope to receive a Technical Memorandum on the WWTP Assessment by
the end of January 2024 and we hope to complete the entire Sewer AIA project by the end of
November 2024. Once the Sewer AIA project is complete, we will begin seeking funding for the
recommended improvements in the order of priority.
If you have any questions or require additional information, please contact me at 828-652-4224
or WWTP Superintendent Tim Horton at 828-652-8843. Thank you in advance for your time
and consideration.
P.O. Drawer 700 • Marion, North Carolina 28752

Sincerely,
Brant Sikes
Public Works Director
cc: Bob Boyette, City Manager
Tim Horton, WWTP Superintendent
Mara Chamlee, Environmental Specialist, Asheville Regional Office