NC0020737_LV20150235 Remission Request_20151005

City of Kings Mountain
Dennis Wells,
Water Resources Director
P. 0. Box 429
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
October 5, 2015
Wastewater Branch
S. Jay Zimmerman
Director, Division of Water Resources
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1617
Dear Mr. Zimmerman:
RECEIVED/DENRUAIR
OC T - 7 1:1315
Water Quality
Permittinq Sectior
In reference to the NOV and Assessment of Civil Penalty dated September 24, 2015 for the Pilot Creek
WWTP, June 2015 self-monitoring report, The City of Kings Mountain hereby requests remission of the
civil penalty in the amount of $1896.97.
As noted in our request submitted during the draft permit, we requested that the limit be removed and
replaced with monitoring of this parameter. After no response, we received our final permit effective
June 01, 2015. The Thallium limit remained the same, (1.43 ug/I daily maximum and 1.43 ug/I monthly
average).
We have been tracking Thallium throughout the collection system. Once we had become aware of this
parameter, we began to collect samples from our eight (8) permitted SIU's, Local Permit holders,
wastewater treatment plant's Influent, Aeration Basin, and Effluent discharge. According to these
results, there is only one (1) SIU found to have Thallium in its discharge. The Thallium valves discharged
from this SIU ranged from 240-1,240 ug/I.
We are working with the local industry that is discharging Thallium. They have hired a chemical engineer
whose sole responsibility is to find a solution to this issue.
We need time to gather the data, set-up the protocol for removal, and implement the procedures
necessary for removal of Thallium.

We are in discussion with the regional office in Mooresville as well as the Pretreatment Section for
assistance in this matter. We will need to revise the city's LTMP and HWA so that removal rates can be
calculated and Thallium limits can be set.
Sincerely,
Dennis Wells
Director, Water Resources

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
COUNTY OF CLEVELAND
IN THE MATTER OF ASSESSMENT
OF CIVIL PENALTY AGAINST
CITY OF KINGS MOUNTAIN
PERMIT NUMBER NCO020737
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY
WAIVER OF RIGHT TO AN
ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING AND
STIPULATION OF FACTS
FILE NO. LV -2015-0235
Having been assessed civil penalties totaling $1896.97 for violation(s) as set forth in the
assessment document of the Division of Water Resources dated September 24, 2015, the undersigned,
desiring to seek remission of the civil penalties, 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 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 �� +a bar , 2015
01
BY
ADDRESS
TELEPHONE
70Y- M- y5 2s'

JUSTIFICATION FOR REMISSION REQUEST
DWR Case Number: LV -2015-0235
Assessed Party: City of Kings Mountain
County: Cleveland
Permit Number: NCO020737
Amount Assessed: $1896.97
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 applies. 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: (use additional pages as necessary)

North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
Pat McCrory Donald van der Vaart
Governor Secretary
September 24, 2015
CERTIFIED MAIL 7015 0640 0002 9299 j694
RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
Mr. Dennis R. Wells, Water Resources Director
City of Kings Mountain
P.O. Box 429
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
SUBJECT: Notice of Violation and Assessment of Civil
Penalty for Violations of N.C. General Statute
143-215.1(a)(6) and NPDES Permit No. NCO020737
Pilot Creek WWTP
Cleveland County
Case No. LV -2015-0235
Dear Mr. Wells:
This letter transmits a Notice of Violation and assessment of civil penalty in the amount of
$1896.97 ($1750 civil penalty + $146.97 enforcement costs) against the City of Kings Mountain.
This assessment is based upon the following facts: A review has been conducted of the self-
monitoring data reported for June 2015. This review has shown the subject facility to be in violation
of the discharge limitations found in NPDES Permit No. NC0020737. The violations are summarized
in Attachment A to this letter.
Based upon the above facts, I conclude as a matter of law that the City of Kings Mountain
violated the terms, conditions, or requirements of NPDES Permit No. NCO020737 and North Carolina
General Statute (G. S.) 143-215.1(a)(6) in the manner and extent shown in Attachment A. A civil
penalty may be assessed in accordance with the maximums established by G.S. 143-215.6A(a)(2).
Based upon the above findings of fact and conclusions of law, and in accordance with authority
provided by the Secretary of the Department of Enviromnental Quality and the Director of the
Division of Water Resources, I, Michael L. Parker, Regional Supervisor for the Mooresville Region,
hereby make the following civil penalty assessment against the City of Kings Mountain:
610 East Center Avenue, Suite 301, Mooresville, North Carolina 28115
Phone: [phone] \ Internet: www.nedenr.gov
An Equal Opportunity \ Affirmative Action Employer - Made in part by recycled paper

$ 250.00 For 1 of the one (1) violation of G.S. 143-215.1(a)(6) and
NPDES Permit No. NC0020737, by discharging waste into the
waters of the State in violation of the permit daily maximum
effluent limit for Thallium.
$ 1500.00 For 1 of the one (1) violation of G.S. 143-215.1(a)(6) and
NPDES Permit No. NC0020737, by discharging waste into the
waters of the State in violation of the permit monthly average
effluent limit for Thallium.
$ 1750.00
$ 146.97
$ 1896.97
TOTAL CIVIL PENALTY
Enforcement costs
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. I (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 violations;
(2) The duration and gravity of the violations;
(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 violations were 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 days of receipt of this notice, you must do one of the following:
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
I'
2. Submit a written request for remission 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 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 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 G.S. 14313-282.1(b) were
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 information 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 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 "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
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: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
One (1) copy of the petition must also be served on DEQ as follows:
Mr. Sam M. Hayes, General Counsel
DEQ
1601 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 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 notice, 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 about this civil penalty assessment please
contact staff in the Mooresville Regional Office at [phone].
(� A+ K
(Date)
ATTACHMENTS
/I Aw��
QC -Michael L. Parker, Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
cc: Mooresville Regional Office Compliance File w/ attachments
Raleigh Compliance/Enforcement File w/ attachments
Central Files w/ attachments

Outfall
001
001
ATTACHMENT A
CASE NO. LV -2015-0235
Date Parameter Reported Value
6/4/15 Thallium 33.9 ug/I*
6/30/2015 Thallium 33.9 ug/I*
* Denotes civil penalty assessment
Permit Limit
1.43 ug/I (Daily Maximum)
1.43 ug/I (Monthly average)
City of Kings Mountain response to NOV-2015-LV-0552 received on September 8, 2015
was reviewed by DWR staff. Mitigating factors were not found to result in a reduced civil
penalty amount.