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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWQCS00179_NOV-2024-DV-0157_20240402kFenklin tom••u my A Researcb Triangle Region Community April 1, 2024 Michael Hall, Regional Supervisor Water Quality Regional Operations Section Raleigh Regional Office Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ Public Utilities 1630USIN Youngsville, NC 27596 Phone: 919.556.6177 www.fcpu.us SUBJECT: RESPONSE TO NOTICE OF VIOLATION & INTENT TO ASSESS CIVIL PENALTY Tracking Number: NOV-2024-DV-0157 Permit Number: WQCS00179 Franklin County Collection System Franklin County Dear Mr. Hall, Franklin County is in receipt of NOV-2023-DV-0157 dated March 13, 2024. Events that led to the SSO for which this NOV references was due to equipment failure of the Industrial Park WWPS. The station is a duplex station and was operating on one pump due to a failure of the secondary pump. A plan was put into place and a new pump was ordered. All telemetry was operational and called as required. While working on the bypass setup, staff found a non -operational valve and began replacement. During the repairs the secondary pump went down and caused the SSO. Franklin County staff along with two outside vendors began the work of replacing the bypass valve and setting up the bypass system. Once the bypass system was complete, Franklin County began cleanup of the affected area. Since the failure of the station Franklin County has spent $167,747.62 on repairs including two new pumps, new discharge piping, new valves and coating the wet well and having one of the failed pumps sent in for repairs as a standby. We are confident that with the diligent work of Franklin County staff, vendors, and investments in infrastructure this type of system failure and SSO can be prevented. If you have any further questions, please contact our office at 919-556-6177. Sincerely, ChAopherohert Director of Public Utilities CC: Payton Proctor, Wastewater Collections Superintendent Permit File DocuSign Envelope 10: OCAF9C57-12OA4E53-9BF4-2244CE231432 ROY COOPER ELIZABETH S. BISER RICHARD E. ROGERS. JR. UCVrrnr Certified Mail # 7017 0190 0000 2486 0384 Return Receipt Requested Christopher Doherty, Director Public Utilities Franklin County Public Utilities 1630 U S Hwy 1 Youngsville, NC 27596-9661 J NORTH CAROLINA Environmental Quality March 13, 2024 SUBJECT: NOTICE OF VIOLATION & INTENT TO ISSUE CIVIL PENALTY Tracking No.: NOV-2024-DV-0157 Sanitary Sewer Overflows - February 2024 Collection System Permit No. WQCS00179 Franklin County Collection System Franklin County Dear Mr. Doherty: A review has been conducted of the self -reported Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSO's) 5-Day Report/s submitted by Franklin County Public Utilities. The Division's Raleigh Regional Office concludes that the Franklin County Public Utilities violated Permit Condition I (2) of Permit No. WQCS00179 by failing to effectively manage, maintain, and operate their collection system so that 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 Franklin County Public Utilities an opportunity to provide evidence and justification as to why the Franklin County Public Utilities should not be assessed a civil penalty for the violation(s) that are summarized below: Incident start Duration Number Date (Mins) Location Cause Total Vol (Gals) Total Vol Surface Water (Gals) DWR Action 202400450 2/9/2024 1,080 YOUNGSVILLE Pump station 32,400 20,000 Notice of Violation - equipment failure Notice of Intent DomSign Envelope ID: OCAF9C57.12OA-4E53-9BF4-2244CE231432 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 receipt. 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 Kevin Fowler with the Water Quality Section in the Raleigh Regional Office at 919-791-4200 or via email at kevin.fowler@deq.nc.gov. Sincerely, CDoeuSigned by: �/aln t Sia f'. ill AdA Ut I B2916E6AB32144F... Michael Hall, Regional Supervisor Water Quality Regional Operations Section Raleigh Regional Office Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ Cc: Laserfiche