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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNC0020559_LV20170303_20171031Water Resources ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY Certified Mail # 7016 3560 0000 4428 2774 Return Receipt Requested October 31, 2017 Frank Frazier, Assistant City Manager City of Henderson PO Box 1434 Henderson, NC 27536-1434 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 NCO020559 City of Henderson Henderson WRF Case No LV -2017-0303 Vance County Dear Mr Frazier ROY COOPER Governor MICHAEL S. REGAN Secretary S. JAY ZIMMERMAN Utrretor This letter transmits a Notice of Violation and assessment of civil penalty in the amount of $2,037.47 ($2,000 00 civil penalty + $37 47 enforcement costs) against City of Henderson This assessment is based upon the following facts. a review has been conducted of the Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR) submitted by City of Henderson for the month of April 2017. 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 NCO020559 The violations, which occurred in April 2017, are summarized in Attachment A to this letter Based upon the above facts, I conclude as a matter of law that City of Henderson violated the terms, conditions or requirements of NPDES WW Permit No NCO020559 and G S. 143-215 l(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 Environmental Quality and the Director of the Division of Water Resources, I, Danny Smith, Regional Supervisor, Raleigh Regional Office hereby make the following civil penalty assessment against City of Henderson. State of North Carolina I Environmental Quality I Water Resources I $1,50000 1 of the 1 violations of 143-215.1(a)(6) and Permit No NC0020559, by discharging waste water into the waters of the State in violation of the Permit Monthly Average for NH3-N - Cone $50000 1 of the 1 violations of 143-215 1(a)(6) and Permit No NC0020559, by discharging waste water into the waters of the State in violation of the Permit Weekly Average for NH3-N - Cone. $2,000 00 TOTAL CIVIL PENALTY $37 47 Enforcement Costs $2,037 47 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 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 Blanch 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 14313-282 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 HearinEs: 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 in and 5.00 p in , 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 § 15 OB -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 filingrU ocess The mailing address and telephone and fax numbers for the Office of Administrative Hearings are as follows 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. William F Lane, 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 may be assessed for violations that occur after the review period of this assessment If you have any questions, please contact Jason Robinson with the Division of WaterResources staff of the Raleigh Regional Office at (919) 791-4200 - or via email at Jason.T.Rob mson@ncdemr gqv` , �,J S ncerely, i Danny Smith, Regional Supervisor Water Quality Regional Operations Section Raleigh Regional Office Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ ATTACHMENTS Cc- WQS Raleigh Regional Office - Enforcement File NPDES Compliance/Enforcement Unit - Enforcement File Case Number: LV -2017-0303 JUSTIFICATION FOR REMISSION REQUEST County: Vance Assessed Party: City of Henderson Permit No.: NC0020559 Amount Assessed: $2,037 47 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 i emammg 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 IN THE MATTER OF ASSESSMENT ) WAIVER OF RIGHT TO AN OF CIVIL PENALTIES AGAINST ) ADNIINISTRATIVE HEARING AND STIPULATION OF FACTS City of Henderson ) Henderson WRF 1 PERMIT NO NCO020559 ) CASE NO. LV -2017-0303 Having been assessed civil penalties totaling $2,037 47 for violation(s) as set forth in the assessment document of the Division of Water Resources dated October 31, 2017, 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 City of Henderson CASE NUMBER: LV -2017-0303 PERMIT: NCO020559 FACILITY: Henderson WRF LIMIT VIOLATION(S) SAMPLE LOCATION: Outfall 001 - Effluent REGION: Raleigh COUNTY: Vance Violation Date Report MonthNr Parameter Unit of Frequency Measure Limit Value Calculated Value % Over Limit Violation Type Penalty Amount 4/8/2017 4-2017 Nitrogen, Ammonia 5 X week mg/I 9 1294 438 Weekly $50000 Total (as N) - Average Concentration Exceeded 4/30/2017 4-2017 Nitrogen, Ammonia 5 X week mg/I 3 645 1151 Monthly $1,50000 Total (as N) - Average Concentration Exceeded