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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNC0036641_LV20160176 Justification for Remission Request_20160909� N JUSTIFICATION FOR REMISSION REQUEST RECEIVEDINCDEWWR Case Number: LV -2016-0176 Assessed Party: Fletcher Academy Inc Permit No.: NCO036641 SEP 0 9 2016 County: Henderse�Water Quality rmitting Section Amount Assessed: $1,112.94 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. § 14313-282.1(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. 14313-282.l(b) were wrongfully applied to the detriment of the petitioner (the assessment factors are listed in the civil penalty assessment document); AZ (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:/-— t' ed 15 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COUNTY OF HENDERSON IN THE MATTER OF ASSESSMENT ) WAIVER OF RIGHT TO AN OF CIVIL PENALTIES AGAINST ) ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING AND STIPULATION OF FACTS Fletcher Academy Inc ) Fletcher Academy WWTP ) PERMIT NO. NCO036641 ) CASE NO. LV -2016-0176 Having been assessed civil penalties totaling $1,112.94 for violation(s) as set forth in the assessment document of the Division of Water Resources dated August 30, 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 Z&4"." .20 % odua SIGNATURE ADDRESS ,'mronmental Management. Inc. Box 519 Mountain Home, NC 2.3758 TELEPHONE 1OZ112T&IO 466 2) JAMES & JAMES ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, INC PO BOX 519, MOUNTAIN HOME, NC 28758 (828) 697-0063 OFFICE (828) 697-0065 FAX September 7, 2016 Water Quality Operations Center Asheville Regional Office 2090 U.S. Highway 70 Asheville, NC 28778 RE: Fletcher Academy, Inc NPDES Permit No. NCO036641 Tracking Numbers: NOV-2016-LV-0176 Dear Mr. Davidson, This letter is in response to the above NOV for Fletcher Academy, Inc. dated August 30, 2016. The NOV is for a BOD discharged from the lagoon during March 2016. This NOV was received by James & James on or about September 6, 2016. As you are aware, this facility is a fully functioning waste water system and is being operated in such a manner during the evaluation process of change. Operational changes are occurring on a methodical basis to ensure that whatever change does affect the system in a positive manner is obvious and understood. Since this is a 30 day lagoon, changes made to the influent do not reflect in the effluent until a month later. Therefore, changes have been slow and steady. Process control samples are being taken and have been for numerous months on a weekly basin to follow the progression of the wastewater throughout the facility. Methodical steps are being taken to continue to improve the effluent of the lagoon. Also as is evidenced by the BOD results, the process is working. The levels are lower than previous months and as we progress through the following months, we continually reduce BOD levels and regain compliance. We continue to press to the goal of compliance. We would appreciate your consideration of fines. The Academy is also still working with alternate methods of treating the waste water from this site to ultimately achieve and maintain compliance at this facility. Each month the facility easily maintains and performs higher than 85% BOD removal. This month the percent removal was 92.26%. The facility was able to gain and maintain Fletcher Academy NCO036641 Page 1 // compliance in the month of April. The operator at the facility continually monitors the pH range and adds Soda Ash on a daily basis. The site staff ensures that the aerators are all operating properly and repairs any issues immediately. We would appreciate any consideration of the fines. Thank you for your understanding. With highest regards, I am Very truly yours, Ju rta James Fletcher Academy NCO036641 Page 2