HomeMy WebLinkAboutNC0048861_LV20150218_20150922North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
Pat McCrory
Governor
Certified Mail #
Return Receipt Requested
7015 0640 0007 2358 8833
September 22, 2015
William J White, Jr, Mayor
Town of Creswell
PO Box 68
Creswell, NC 27928-0068
Donald R. van der Vaart
Secretary
RECEIVED/DENR/DWR
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. NCO048861
Town of Creswell
Creswell WWTP
Case No. LV -2015-0218
Washington County
Dear Mr. White:
SEP 2 9 2015
Water Quality
Permitting Section
This letter transmits a Notice of Violation and assessment of civil penalty in the amount of $1,460.00 ($1,400.00 civil penalty
+ $60.00 enforcement costs) against Town of Creswell.
This assessment is based upon the following facts: a review has been conducted of the discharge monitoring report (DMR)
submitted by Town of Creswell for the months of April and May 2015. This review has shown the subject facility to be in
violation of the discharge limitations and/or monitoring requirements found in NPDES Permit No. NCO048861. The
violations, which occurred in April and May 2015, are summarized in Attachment A to this letter.
Based upon the above facts, I conclude as a matter of law that Town of Creswell violated the terms, conditions or
requirements of NPDES Permit No. NCO048861 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 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 Creswell:
943 Washington Square Mall, Washington, NC 27889
Phone: 252-946-6481 \ Internet: www.nedenr.gov <http://www.ncdenr.gov>
An Equal Opportunity \ Affirmative Action Employer - Made in part by recycled paper
250.00 1 of the 1 violations of 143-215.1(a)(6) and NPDES Permit No.NC0048861, by discharging waste
water into the waters of the State in violation of the Permit Monthly Average for BOD - Conc.
250.00 1 of the 1 violations of 143-215.l(a)(6) and NPDES Permit No.NC0048861, by discharging waste
water into the waters of the State in violation of the Permit Monthly Average for BOD - Conc.
400.00 4 of the 4 violations of 143-215.1(a)(6) and NPDES Permit No.NC0048861, by discharging waste
water into the waters of the State in violation of the Permit Weekly Average for BOD - Conc.
500.00 5 of the 5 violations of 143-215.l(a)(6) and NPDES Permit No.NC0048861, by discharging waste
water into the waters of the State in violation of the Permit Weekly Average for BOD - Conc.
$1.400.00 TOTAL CIVIL PENALTY
60.00 Enforcement Costs
$1,460.00 TOTAL AMOUNT DUE
Pursuant to G. S. 14'3`-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.l(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.
NPDES Compliance/Enforcement Unit
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 ani 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 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
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 requited 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 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 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 Robbie Bullock with the Division of Water Resources staff of the Washington
Regional Office at (252) 948-3843 or via email at robert.e.bullock@ncdenr.gov.
Sincerely, -
for S. Jay Zimmerman, P.G.
Director, Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
By Robert Tankard, Assistant Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Washington Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
ATTACHMENTS
Cc: WQS Washington Regional Office - Enforcement File (w/attachments)
VNPDES Compliance/Enforcement Unit - Enforcement File (w/attachments)
Central Files, Water Quality Section (w/attachments)
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
COUNTY OF WASHINGTON
IN THE MATTER OF ASSESSMENT )
OF CIVIL PENALTIES AGAINST )
Town of Creswell )
Creswell WWTP )
PERMIT NO. NCO048861 )
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
WAIVER OF RIGHT TO AN
ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING AND
STIPULATION OF FACTS
CASE NO. LV -2015-0218
Having been assessed civil penalties totaling $1,460.00 for violation(s) as set forth in the assessment document of the
Division of Water Resources dated , 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
JUSTIFICATION FOR REMCISSION REQUEST
Case Number: LV -2015-0218
Assessed Party: Town of Creswell
Permit No.: NC0048861
County: Washington
Amount Assessed: $1,460.00
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. § 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. 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 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:
ATTACHMENT A
Town of Creswell
CASE NUMBER: LV -2015-0218
PERMIT: NCO048861 FACILITY: Creswell WWTP COUNTY: Washington REGION: Washington
Limit Violations
1
MONITORING
OUTFALL/
VIOLATION
UNIT OF
CALCULATED
% OVER
PENALTY
REPORT
PPI
LOCATION
PARAMETER
DATE
FREQUENCY
MEASURE
LIMIT
VALUE
LIMIT
VIOLATION TYPE
$100.00
4-2015
001
Effluent
BOD - Conc
4/4/15
Weekly
mg/I
7.50
8.10
8.0
Weekly Average Exceeded
$100.00
4-2015
001
Effluent
BOD - Conc
4/11/15
Weekly
mg/I
7.50
11
46.7
Weekly Average Exceeded
$100.00
4-2015
001
Effluent
BOD - Conc
4/18/15
Weekly
mg/I
7.50
11
46.7
Weekly Average Exceeded
$100.00
4-2015
001
Effluent
BOD - Conc
4/25/15
Weekly
mg/I
7.50
12
600
Weekly Average Exceeded
$250.00
4-2015
001
Effluent
BOD - Conc
4/30/15
Weekly
mg/I
3
10.60
251.7
Monthly Average Exceeded
$100.00
5-2015
001
Effluent
BOD - Conc
5/2/15
Weekly
mg/I
7.50
8.20
9.3
Weekly Average Exceeded
$100.00
5-2015
001
Effluent
BOD - Conc
5/9/15
Weekly
mg/I
7.50
8.70
16.0
Weekly Average Exceeded
$100.00
5-2015
001
Effluent
BOD - Conc
5/16/15
Weekly
mg/I
7.50
9.90
32.0
Weekly Average Exceeded
$100.00
5-2015
001
Effluent
BOD - Conc
5/23/15
Weekly
mg/l
7.50
12
60.0
Weekly Average Exceeded
$100.00
5-2015
001
Effluent
BOD - Conc
5/30/15
Weekly
mg/I
7.50
12
60.0
Weekly Average Exceeded
$250.00
5-2015
001
Effluent
BOD - Conc
5/31/15
Weekly
mg/I
3
10.70
255.0
Monthly Average Exceeded
1