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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNC0020354_NOV and Intent to Assess_20070830► �F W A TE Michael F. Easley, Governor William G. Ross Jr., Secretary �01 North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources rColeen H. Sullins, Director > Division of Water Quality o August 30, 2007 CERTIFIED MAIL RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED 7006 0810 0002 6049 4580 Mr. Paul Messick Town Manager Town of Pittsboro P.O. Box 759 Pittsboro, NC 27312 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 NC0020354 Town of Pittsboro Pittsboro WWTP Case No. LV -2007-0349 Chatham County Dear Mr. Messick: This letter transmits a Notice of Violation and assessment of civil penalty in the amount of $3,043.67 ($3,000.00 civil penalty + $43.67 enforcement costs) against Town of Pittsboro. This assessment is based upon the following facts: a review has been conducted of the discharge monitoring report (DMR) submitted by Town of Pittsboro for the month of June 2007. This review has shown the subject facility to be in violation of the discharge limitations and/or monitoring requirements found in NPDES Permit NC0020354. The violations, which occurred in June 2007, are summarized in Attachment A to this letter. Based upon the above facts, I conclude as a matter of law that Town of Pittsboro violated the terms, conditions or requirements of NPDES Permit NCO020354 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 Quality, I, Shannon Langley, Division of Water Quality Regional Supervisor for the Raleigh Region, hereby make the following civil penalty assessment against Town of Pittsboro: No6e Caroliaa Aturall North Carolina Division of Water Quality Raleigh Regional Office Surface Water Protection Phone (919) 791-4200 Customer Service Internet: www ncwaterquality.org 1628 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1628 FAX (919) 571-4718 1-877-623-6748 An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer— 50% Recycled/10% Post Consumer Paper Pittsboro WWTP Case No. LV -2007-0349 2 of the 2 violations of G.S. 143-215.1(a)(6) and NPDES Permit No. $1,000.00 NC0020354, by discharging waste water into the waters of the State in violation of the Permit Weekly Average limit for BOD. 1 of the 1 violations of G.S. 143-215.1(a)(6) and NPDES Permit No. $2,000.00 NC0020354, by discharging waste water into the waters of the State in violation of the Permit Monthly Average limit for BOD. $3,000.00 TOTAL CIVIL PENALTY 43.67 Enforcement Costs $3,043.67 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 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 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 Point Source Compliance/Enforcement Unit Division of Water Quality 1617 Mail Service Center Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617 OR 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`bo the reasonableness of the amount of the civil penalty assessed. Requesting remission is not the prbper 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 aTemission request forecloses the option of an administrative hearing, such a request must be accompanied by a waiver of your right to an administrative 1, Pittsboro WWTP j Case No. LV -2007-0349 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 Quality 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 Quality 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 Quality also requests that you complete and submit the enclosed "Justification for Remission Request." Both forms should be submitted to the following address: Point Source Compliance/Enforcement Unit Division of Water Quality 1617 Mail Service Center Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617 M1: 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 original and one (1) copy of the petition must be filed with the Office of Administrative Hearings. The petition may be faxed - provided the original and one copy of the document is received in the Office of Administrative Hearings within five (5) business days following the faxed transmission. The mailing address for the Office of Administrative Hearings is: Pittsboro WWTP Case No. LV -2007-0349 Office of Administrative Hearings 6714 Mail Service Center Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-6714 Telephone (919) 733-2698 Facsimile: (919) 733-3478 and Mail or hand -deliver a copy of the petition to Mary Penny Thompson, 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 the Water Quality staff of the Raleigh Regional Office at 919-791-4200. ATTACHMENTS Acting W Raleigh Regional Office cc: Regional Supervisor w/ attachments Enforcement File w/ attachments Eastern NPDES Program C"eiifralFiles W'-attae1iriY6hts 511 Supervisor JUSTIFICATION FOR REMISSION REOUEST DWQ Case Number: LV -2007-0349 County: Chatham Assessed Party: Town of Pittsboro Permit No. (if applicable): NC0020354 Amount Assessed: $3,043.67 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: Pittsboro WWTP Case No. LV -2007-0349 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES COUNTY OF CHATHAM TOWN OF PITTSBORO IN THE MATTER OF ASSESSMENT ) WAIVER OF RIGHT TO AN OF CIVIL PENALTIES AGAINST ) ADMINSTRATIVE HEARING AND PITTSBORO WWTP ) STIPULATION OF FACTS PERMIT NO. NCO020354 ) FILE NO. LV -2007-0349 Having been assessed civil penalties totaling $3,043.67 for violation(s) as set forth in the assessment document of the Division of Water Quality dated, 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 t he 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 Quality 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 ADDRESS TELEPHONE SIGNATURE 20 ATTACHMENT A Town of Pittsboro CASE NUMBER: LV -2007-0349 PERMIT: NCO020354 FACILITY: Pittsboro WWTP COUNTY: Chatham REGION: Raleigh Limit Violations MONITORING OUTFALU VIOLATION UNIT OF CALCULATED % OVER PENALTY REPORT PPI LOCATION PARAMETER DATE FREQUENCY MEASURE LIMIT VALUE LIMIT VIOLATION TYPE $500.00 6-2007 001 Effluent BOD 06/02/07 3 X week mg/I 75 32 32667 Weekly Average Exceeded $500.00 6-2007 001 Effluent BOD 06/09/07 3 X week mgA 75 15 10000 Weekly Average Exceeded $2,000.00 6-2007 001 Effluent BOD 06/30/07 3 X week mgA 5 762 5231 Monthly Average Exceeded