HomeMy WebLinkAboutNC0028606_LV20160205_20161014Certified Mail #70151520 0002 6984 7894
Return Receipt Requested
October 14, 2016
Mr. Jason Joyce
NC DOT Environmental Operations
PO Box 250
North Wilkesboro, NC 28659-0250 .
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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 WW" Permit No. NC0028606
NC DOT - Environmental Operations
I-77 Rest Area Iredell County
Case No. LV -2016-0205
lredell County
Dear Mr. Joyce:
This letter transmits a Notice of Violation and assessment of civil penalty in the amount'of $551.00.($450.00 civil penalty +
$101.00 enforcement costs) against NC DOT =Environmental Operations.
This assessment is based upon the following facts: a review has been conducted of the discharge monitoring report (DMR)
submitted by NC DOT - Environmental Operations for the month of May 2016.. This review.has shown the subject facility
to be in violation of the discharge limitations and/or monitoring'requirements found in NPDES WW Permit No.:NC0028606.
The violations, which occurred in May 2016, -are summarized in Attachment A to this letter.
Based upon the above facts, I conclude as a matter of law that NC DOT - Environmental Operations violated the terms,
conditions -or requirements of,NPDES=WW Permit No: NC0028606 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. 443=215J(a).
Based upon the above findings of fact and conclusions of law, and in accordance with°authority provided by Secretary
of the Department of Environmental Quality, 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 NC DOT -
Environmental Operations:
State of North Carolina I Environmental Quality 1. Water Resources `
610 East Center Avenue, Suite 301, Mooresville, NC 28115
704-60-1699
100.00 1 of the 1 violations of 143-215.1(a)(6) and Permit No.NC0028606, by discharging waste. water into
the waters of the State in violation of the Permit Daily Maximum for BOD - Conc.
100.00 1 of the 1 violations of 143-215.1(a)(6) and Permit No.N00028606, by discharging wastewater into
the waters of the State in violation of the Permit Daily Maximum for. FCOLI BR.
0.00 0 of,the 1 violations of 143-215.l(a)(6) and Permit No.NC0028606, by discharging waste water into
the waters of the State in violation of the. Permit Daily Maximum for TSS - Conc.
250.00 1 of the 1 violations of '143-215.l(a)(6) and Permit No.N00028606; by discharging wastewater into
the waters of the State in violation of the Permit Monthly Average for BOD - Conc.. .
450.00 TOTAL CIVIL PENALTY .
101.00 Enforcement Costs
551.00 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 ofthe 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;
(1) 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*9 Olt-
121. Submit a written reauesti for remission. OR
(3), Submit'a written re uest-for. an administrative hearing
�) q g..
Option 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.ofthe 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 Resource s
161Z:Mai1.,Ser ice Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
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} 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'amountof 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. 'BecauseA remission request forecloses the option'of an'administrative hearing,
such a request mustbe accompanied by a waiver of your right to an administrative hearing and a stipulation'.
agreement that no,factual or legal issues are in dispute. Please prep are'a detailed statemeint that establishes why you
believe the civil penalty -should be. remitted, and submit,itto 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 continuingenvironmental 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 Reauest.". _
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 hearine 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. Youmay 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 o f 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.in., except for official state
holidays. '..The petition may filed by facsimile`(fax) or electronic mail byan 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 DEQ as follows:
Mr.: Sam A Hayes, General Counsel
.Department of Environmental Quality, .
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 maybe assessed for violations
that occur after_ the review period of this assessment.
If you have any questions, please contact Wes Bell with the Division of Water Resources staff of the Mooresville Regional
Office at (704) 663-2192 or -via email at wes.bell@ncdenr.gov.
Sincerely,
W. Corey Basinger, Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Mooresville Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
ATTACHMENTS
Cc: WQS Mooresville. Regional Office - Enforcement File
NPDES Compliance/Enforcement Unit - Enforcement File
JUSTIFICATION FOR REMISSION REQUEST
Case Number: LV -2016-0205 County: Iredell
Assessed Party: NC DOT - Environmental Operations
Permit No.: NC0028606 Amount Assessed: $551.00
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 andprovide 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 ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
COUNTY OF IREDELL
IN THE MATTER OF ASSESSMENT ) WAIVER OF RIGHT TO AN
OF CIVIL PENALTIES AGAINST ) ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING AND
STIPULATION OF FACTS
NC DOT - Environmental Operations )
I-77.Rest Area Iredell County. )
PERMIT NO. NCO028606 ) CASE NO. LV -2016-0205
Having been assessed civil penalties totaling 55 L00 for violation(s) as set forth in the. assessment document of the Division
of Water Resources dated October 14, 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
ATTACHMENT A
NC DOT - Environmental Operations
CASE NUMBER: LV -2016-0205
PERMIT:
NCO028606
REGION: Mooresville
FACILITY:
1-77 Rest Area Iredell County
COUNTY: Iredell
LIMIT VIOLATION(S)
SAMPLE LOCATION: Outfall 001 - Effluent
Violation
Report
Unit of
Limit
Calculated
% Over
Violation
Penalty
Date
Month/Yr
Parameter
Frequency
Measure
Value
Value
Limit
Type
. Amount
5/4/2016
5-2016
BOD, 5-Day.(20 Deg.
Weekly
mg/I
45
88.80
97.3
Daily Maximum
$100.00
C) - Concentration
Exceeded
5/31/2016
5-2016
BOD, 5 -Day -(20 Deg.
Weekly
mg/l
30
44.10
47.0
Monthly
$250.00
C) - Concentration
Average
Exceeded
5/4/2016
5-2016
Coliform, Fecal MF,
Weekly
#/100ml
400
6000
1,400.0
Daily Maximum
$100.00
MFC Broth, 44.5 C
Exceeded
5/4/2016
5-2016
Solids, Total
Weekly '
mg/I
45
52
15.6
Daily Maximum
$0.00
Suspended-
Exceeded
Concentration