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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNC0020354_Remission Decision (LM-2024-0016)_20240716Docusign Envelope ID: 7409D79F-F95B-48F4-8094-B500D94CCF88 ROY COOPER Governor ELIZABETH S. BISERflz.� a2 Secretary RICHARD E. ROGERS, JR. NORTH CAROLINA Director Environmental Quality 7/16/2024 CERTIFIED MAIL 7018 1830 0001 8037 1172 RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED Timothy R. Smith, Vice President Chatham Park Investors, LLC 105 Weston Estates Way Cary, NC 27513 Subject: Remission Request of Civil Penalty Assessment NPDES Permit NCO020354 Chatham Park Water Recovery Center Chatham County Case Number: LM-2024-0016 Dear Mr. Smith: The Division of Water Resources has considered the information submitted in support of your request for remission in accordance with G.S. 143-215.6A(f) and has not found grounds to modify the initial civil penalty assessment of $1,462.27. A copy of the remission decision is attached. Two options are available to you at this stage of the remission process: You may pay the penalty. If you decide to pay the penalty, please make your check in the amount of $1,462.27, payable to the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Send the payment within thirty (30) calendar days of your receipt of this letter to the attention of. Attn: Wren Thedford NC DEQ-DWR — NPDES Permitting 1617 Mail Service Center Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617 1 ' You may decide to have the Environmental Management Commission's (EMC's) Committee on Civil Penalty Remissions make the final decision on your remission request. If payment is not received within 30 calendar days from your receipt of this letter, your request for remission with its supporting documents, and the recommendation of the Division of Water Resources will be delivered to the EMC's Committee on Civil Penalty Remissions for a final agency decision. D E Q � North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources 512 North Salisbury Street 1 1617 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617 Oefwrtmerrt of EnNro NOHTHCAfE,WmnmeMnl Qualiry 919.707.9000 Docusign Envelope ID: 7409D79F-F95B-48F4-8094-B500D94CCF88 Chatham Park Investors, LLC - Chatham Park Water Recovery Center Case LM-2024-0016 DWR Remission Decision p. 2 You have the option of presenting your request in person to the EMC's Committee on Civil Penalty Remissions. If you or your representative would like to speak before the Committee, you must complete and return the attached Request for Oral Presentation Form within thirty (30) calendar days of receipt of this letter. Send the completed form to: Attn: Sydney Deuterman NC DEQ-DWR — NPDES Permitting 1617 Mail Service Center Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617 Please be advised that if an in -person presentation is not requested, the Committee's decision regarding your remission request will be based upon the written record. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter. If you have any questions, please contact Sydney Deuterman at (919) 707-3712 or via e-mail at sydney.deuterman&deq.nc.gov. Sincerely, DocuSigned by: 83281344CEK[34A1... John E. Hennessy, Section Chief Water Quality Regional Operations Division of Water Resources Attachments: DWR Civil Assessment Remission Factor Sheet (copy) & Request for Oral Presentation Sheet ec: Enforcement File: LM-2024-0016 [Laserfiche] DWR WQ Regional Operations — Raleigh [Laserfiche] Docusign Envelope ID: 7409D79F-F95B-48F4-8094-B500D94CCF88 DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES CIVIL PENALTY REMISSION FACTORS Case Number: LM-2024-0016 Region: Raleigh County: Chatham Assessed Entity: Chatham Park Investors, LLC Permit: NCO020354 ❑ (a) Whether one or more of the civil penalty assessment factors were wrongly applied to the detriment of the petitioner: Permittee States: DWR Response: ❑ (b) Whether the violator promptly abated continuing environmental damage resulting from the violation: Permittee States: DWR Response: ® (c) Whether the violation was inadvertent or a result of an accident: Permittee States: The Permittee states that the exceedances are contributed to plant start up and bringing the plant biology online while working through operational parameters and operating condition for proper and efficient plant operations. They state that plant start up takes some time to provide for and propagate the proper plant biology to maintain efficient and effective treatment, and they attempted to supplement this with seed biology from the Sanford WWTP to help accelerate the process. They state they also used the start up to obtain information for proper operation, as flows experienced at the plant were lower than optimal and contributed to issues or concerns with start up operations, however with an increase in flow the plant will be able to provide adequate and efficient treatment more efficiently. DWR Response: The Chatham Park Water Recovery Center began discharging treated effluent from outfall 001E in August 2022. The treatment system is designed and permitted at 0.499 MGD, and has had low flows since coming online. Monthly average flow for Dec. 2023 was 0.039 MGD. Low flow conditions have made it difficult to operate within permit limits. ❑ (d) Whether the violator had been assessed civil penalties for any previous violations: Permittee States: DWR Response: ❑ (e) Whether payment of the civil penalty will prevent payment for the remaining necessary remedial actions: Permittee States: DWR Response: DECISION (Check One) Docusign Envelope ID: 7409D79F-F95B-48F4-8094-B500D94CCF88 Request Denied ❑X Full Remission ❑ Retain Enforcement Costs? Yes ❑ No ❑ Original Penalty (without Enforcement Costs) $1,330.50 (enter amount) Partial Remission ❑ % or $ (amount remitted) Subtotal $1,330.50 Retaining Enforcement Costs $131.77 Total Revised Asse18328B44CHE134M bocuSigned by: 1 462.27 �7/16/2024 � ... John E. Hennessy Date Docusign Envelope ID: 7409D79F-F95B-48F4-8094-B500D94CCF88 NCO020354 Remission Decision STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF CHATHAM IN THE MATTER OF ASSESSMENT OF CIVIL PENALTIES AGAINST: CHATHAM PARK INVESTORS, LLC ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION DWR Case Number LM-2024-0016 REQUEST FOR ORAL PRESENTATION I hereby request to make an oral presentation before the Environmental Management Commission's Committee on Civil Penalty Remissions in the matter of the case noted above. In making this request, I assert that I understand all of the following statements: • This request will be reviewed by the Chairman of the Environmental Management Commission and may be either granted or denied. • Making a presentation will require the presence of myself and/or my representative during a Committee meeting held in Raleigh, North Carolina. 0 My presentation will be limited to discussion of issues and information submitted in my original remission request, and because no factual issues are in dispute, my presentation will be limited to five (5) minutes in length. The North Carolina State Bar's Authorized Practice of Law Committee has ruled that the appearance in a representative capacity at quasi-judicial hearings or proceedings is limited to lawyers who are active members of the bar. Proceedings before the Committee on Remissions are quasi-judicial. You should consider how you intend to present your case to the Committee in light of the State Bar's opinion and whether anyone will be speaking in a representative capacity for you or a business or governmental entity. If you or your representative would like to speak before the Committee, you must complete and return this form within thirty (30) days of receipt of this letter. Depending on your status as an individual, corporation, partnership or municipality, the State Bar's Opinion affects how you may proceed with your oral presentation. See www.ncbar.com/ethics, Authorized Practice Advisory Opinion 2006-1 and 2007 Formal Ethics Opinion 3. If you are an individual or business owner and are granted an opportunity to make an oral presentation before the Committee, then you do not need legal representation before the Committee; however, if you intend on having another individual speak on your behalf regarding the factual situations, such as an expert, engineer or consultant, then you must also be present at the meeting in order to avoid violating the State Bar's Opinion on the unauthorized practice of law. If you are a corporation, partnership or municipality and are granted an opportunity to make an oral presentation before the Committee, then your representative must consider the recent State Bar's Opinion and could be considered practicing law without a license if he or she is not a licensed attorney. Presentation of facts by non - lawyers is permissible. If you choose to request an oral presentation, please make sure that signatures on the previously submitted Remission Request form and this Oral Presentation Request form are: 1) for individuals and business owners, your own signature and 2) for corporations, partnerships and municipalities, signed by individuals who would not violate the State Bar's Opinion on the unauthorized practice of law. Also, be advised that the Committee on Civil Penalty Remissions may choose not to proceed with hearing your case if the Committee is informed that a violation of the State Bar occurs. This the day of 20 SIGNATURE ADDRESS TITLE (President, Owner, etc.) TELEPHONE