WQ0000185_Civil Penalty_LM-2024-0008_20240306

DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES - CIVIL PENALTY ASSESSMENT
Violator: Ocean Sands Water and Sewer District
Facility Name: Ocean Sands WWTP
Permit Number: W00000185
County: Currituck
Case Number: LM-2024-0008
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;
Significant
The facility is a high -rate infiltration system with a groundwater lowering system and could be discharging wastewater that could
impact waters of the state (groundwater and surface water). The facility has consistently had groundwater quality violations since
July 2021. The facility has not consistently met effluent limits since November 2020. The groundwater system discharges to an
unnamed tributary that discharges to a wetland and then discharges to Currituck Sound.
2) The duration and gravity of the violation;
Moderately Significant
The facility has not consistently met effluent limits since November 2020. The facility has consistently had groundwater quality
violations since July 2021. Inspection performed on 7/28/21 and 1/20/23 found that several components of the WWTP were not
operating correctly or not operating at all. The facility has not met nutrient limits and the review/compliance boundary.
Nutrients will cause algae blooms and kills when conditions are right.
3) The effect on ground or surface water quantity or quality or on air quality;
Moderately Significant
Groundwater and surface water could be impacted. The facility has consistently had groundwater quality violations since July
2021. The surface water could be impacted also due to the groundwater lowering of the infiltration area.
4) The cost of rectifying the damage;
Unknown
5) The amount of money saved by noncompliance;
Inspections performed on 7/28/21 and 1/20/23 found that several components of the treatment system were not operating correctly
or not operating at all. Costs would be related to adequately maintaining WWTP and to hiring a contractor to repair and/ or
replace faulty components of the WWTP. The County has made improvements to the system.
6) Whether the violation was committed willfully or intentionally;
WaRO does not believe the violations were committed willfully; however, the permittee is aware of the recent effluent limit and
groundwater violations. The permittee constructed a new WWTP at the facility approximately 3 years ago.
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
The permittee owns and operates other wastewater facilities where chronic compliance issues have occurred in the past and
continue to occur. The permittee constructed a new WWTP at the facility approximately 3 years ago.

8) The cost to the State of the enforcement procedures.
$42.91
3/6/2024 Plow Tom."
Date Robert Tankard, Assistant Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Washington Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ

ROY COOPER
Gmemor
ELIZABETH S. BISER
Secretary
RICHARD E. ROGERS, JR.
Director
Certified Mail # 7022 1670 0000 9974 6026
Return Receipt Requested
Donald Ike McRee, Jr
Ocean Sands Water and Sewer District
153 Courthouse Rd Ste 110
Currituck, NC 27929
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NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
March 06, 2024
SUBJECT: Notice of Violation and Assessment of Civil Penalty
for Violations of Non -discharge Permit No. WQ0000185
Ocean Sands Water and Sewer District
Ocean Sands WWTP
Case No. LM-2024-0008
Currituck County
Dear Mr. McRee:
This letter transmits a Notice of Violation and assessment of civil penalty in the amount of $892.91 ($850.00 civil penalty
+ $42.91 enforcement costs) against Ocean Sands Water and Sewer District.
This assessment is based upon the following facts: a review has been conducted of the Non -Discharge Monitoring
Report (NDMR) submitted by Ocean Sands Water and Sewer District for the month of October 2023. This review has
shown the subject facility to be in violation of the limitations and/or monitoring requirements found in Non -discharge
Permit No. WQ0000185. The violations, which occurred in October 2023, are summarized in Attachment A to this letter.
Based upon the above facts, I conclude as a matter of law that Ocean Sands Water and Sewer District violated the
terms, conditions or requirements of Non -discharge Permit No. WQ0000185 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).
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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 Ocean Sands Water and Sewer District:
500.00 1 of 1 violations of the Permit Monthly Average for Nitrogen, Nitrate Total (as N) per the limits
established in Permit No. WQ0000185
0.00 for 0 of the 1 failures to properly monitor Flow, in conduit or thru treatment plant in violation of
Permit No. WQ0000185.
$100.00 For 1 of the 1 failures to submit monitoring reports or portions of monitoring reports in violation of
Permit No. WQ0000185.
$100.00 For 1 of the 1 failures to submit monitoring reports or portions of monitoring reports in violation of
Permit No. WQ0000185.
$100.00 For 1 of the 1 failures to submit monitoring reports or portions of monitoring reports in violation of
Permit No. WQ0000185.
$50.00 For 1 of the 1 failures to submit monitoring reports or portions of monitoring reports in violation of
Permit No. WQ0000185.
$850.00 TOTAL CIVIL PENALTY
$42.91 Enforcement Costs
$892.91 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 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 -
Wastewater 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 143B-282. I (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 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:
Wastewater Branch
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 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:
6714 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699 6714
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
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 Victoria Herdt with the Division of Water Resources staff of the Washington
Regional Office at [phone] or via email at [e-mail].
Sincerely,
Row Tom"
Robert Tankard, Assistant Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Washington Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
ATTACHMENTS
Cc: Laserfiche

JUSTIFICATION FOR REMISSION REQUEST
Case Number: LM-2024-0008 County: Currituck
Assessed Party: Ocean Sands Water and Sewer District
Permit No.: WQ0000185 Amount Assessed: $892.91
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 (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 ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
COUNTY OF CURRITUCK
IN THE MATTER OF ASSESSMENT ) WAIVER OF RIGHT TO AN
OF CIVIL PENALTIES AGAINST ) ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING AND
STIPULATION OF FACTS
Ocean Sands Water and Sewer District )
Ocean Sands WWTP )
PERMIT NO. WQ0000185 ) CASE NO. LM-2024-0008
Having been assessed civil penalties totaling $892.91 for violation(s) as set forth in the assessment document of the Division
of Water Resources dated March 06, 2024, 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
TELEPHONE

ATTACHMENT A
Ocean Sands Water and Sewer District
CASE NUMBER: LM-2024-0008
PERMIT: WQ0000185
REGION:
Washington
FACILITY: Ocean Sands WWTP
COUNTY:
Currituck
LIMIT VIOLATION(S)
SAMPLE LOCATION:
Violation Report
Unit of
Limit Calculated % Over
Violation
Penalty
Date Month/Yr Parameter
Frequency
Measure
Value Value Limit
Type
Amount
10/31/2023 10-2023 Nitrogen, Nitrate Total
2 X week
mg/I
10 12.81 28.1
Monthly
$500.00
(as N)
Average
Exceeded
MONITORING VIOLATION(S)
SAMPLE LOCATION:
Violation Report
Unit of
Limit Calculated % Over
Violation
Penalty
Date Month/Yr Parameter
Frequency
Measure
Value Value Limit
Type
Amount
10/1/2023 10-2023 Flow, in conduit or thru
Continuous
gpd
Frequency
$0.00
treatment plant
Violation
REPORTING VIOLATION(S)
SAMPLE LOCATION:
Violation Report
Unit of
Limit Calculated % Over
Violation
Penalty
Date Month/Yr Parameter
Frequency
Measure
Value Value Limit
Type
Amount
10/31/2023 10-2023 Coliform, Fecal MF,
Monthly
#/100ml
Parameter
$100.00
MFC Broth, 44.5 C
Missing
10/31/2023 10-2023 Nitrogen, Ammonia
Monthly
mg/I
Parameter
$100.00
Total (as N)
Missing
10/31/2023 10-2023 Nitrogen, Nitrate Total
Monthly
mg/I
Parameter
$100.00
(as N)
Missing
10/31/2023 10-2023 Phosphorus, Total (as
Monthly
mg/I
Parameter
$50.00
P)
Missing