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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNC0083887_MV-2016-0004_20160129 PAT MCCRORY Governor DONALD R. VAN DER VAART Secretary S. JAY ZIMMERMAN Water Resources Director ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY January 29, 2016 Certified Mail#7015 1520 0002 8376 1640 Return Receipt Requested Mr. Jack Christine RECEIVEDINCDEG1'DWR Interim Deputy Aviation Director City of Charlotte FEB 0 2 2016 Post Office Box 19066 Charlotte,NC 28219 Water Quality Permitting Section 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.NC0083887 City of Charlotte—Charlotte Douglas International Airport Case No. MV-2016-0004 Mecklenburg County Dear Permittee: This letter transmits a Notice of Violation and assessment of civil penalty in the amount of$306.53 ($206.00 civil penalty+ $100.53 enforcement costs)against City of Charlotte—Charlotte Douglas International Airport. This assessment is based upon the following facts: a review has been conducted of the discharge monitoring report(DMR) submitted by City of Charlotte—Charlotte Douglas International Airport for the month of September 2015. This review has shown the subject facility to be in violation of the discharge monitoring requirements found in NPDES Permit No. NC0083887. The violations,which occurred in September 2015, are summarized in Attachment A to this letter. Based upon the above facts,I conclude as a matter of law that City of Charlotte—Charlotte Douglas International Airport violated the terms,conditions or requirements of NPDES Permit No.NC0083887 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 Environment and Natural Resources and the Director of the Division of Water Resources, I,W. Corey Basinger, Regional Supervisor,Mooresville Regional Office hereby make the following civil penalty assessment against City of Charlotte—Charlotte Douglas International Airport: State of North Carolina I Environmental Quality I Water Resources I Water Quality Regional Operations Mooresville Regional Office'610 East Center Avenue,Suite 301 Mooresville,North Carolina 28115 704 663 1699 t• $87.00 1 of the 1 violations of 143-215.1(a)(6)and NPDES Permit No.NC0083887,by discharging waste water into the waters of the State and failure to monitor quarterly for Acute Toxicity. $75.00 1 of the 1 violations of 143-215.1(a)(6)and NPDES Permit No.NC0083887, by discharging waste water into the waters of the State and failure to monitor quarterly for Total Nitrogen as N. $44.00 1 of the 1 violations of 143-215.1(a)(6)and NPDES Permit No.NC0083 887, by discharging waste water into the waters of the State and failure to monitor quarterly for Total Phosphorus as P. $206.00 TOTAL CIVIL PENALTY $100.53 Enforcement Costs $306.53 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 Environment and Natural Resources(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-282.1(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 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: Office of Administrative Hearings 6714 Mail Service Center Raleigh,NC 27699-6714 Tel: (919)431-3000 Fax: (919)431-3100 One(1)copy of the petition must also be served on DENR as follows: Mr. Sam M. Hayes,General Counsel Department of Environment and Natural Resources 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 Roberto Scheller with the Division of Water Resources staff of the Mooresville Regional Office at(704)663-1699 or via email at roberto.scheller@ncdenr.gov. Sincerely,` -40041r4'441'f"—s7 W. Corey Basinger, Regional Supervisor Water Quality Regional Operations Section Mooresville Regional Office Division of Water Resources,NCDENR ATTACHMENTS Cc: WQS Mooresville Regional Office-Enforcement File (w/attachments) NPDES Compliance/Enforcement Unit-Enforcement File (w/attachments) Central Files,Water Quality Section (w/attachments) RLS ATTACHMENT A CASE NO. MV-2016-0004 Outfall Date Parameter Measuring Frequency Violation 001 9/30/2015 Acute Toxicity Quarterly Frequency Violation 001 9/30/2015 Total Nitrogen as N Quarterly Frequency Violation 001 9/30/2015 Total Phosphorus as P Quarterly Frequency Violation JUSTIFICATION FOR REMISSION REQUEST Case Number: MV-2016-0004 County: Mecklenburg Assessed Party: City of Charlotte—Charlotte Douglas International Airport Permit No.: NC0083887 Amount Assessed: $306.53 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 ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES COUNTY OF MECKLENBURG IN THE MATTER OF ASSESSMENT ) WAIVER OF RIGHT TO AN OF CIVIL PENALTIES AGAINST ) ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING AND ) STIPULATION OF FACTS City of Charlotte ) Charlotte Douglas International Airport ) ) PERMIT NO.NC0083887 ) CASE NO. MV-2016-0004 Having been assessed civil penalties totaling$306.53 for violation(s)as set forth in the assessment document of the Division of Water Resources dated January 29,2016,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