HomeMy WebLinkAboutNC0004464_LV20170256_20170905DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES - CIVIL PENALTY ASSESSMENT (File)
Violator: Polk County
Facility Name: Woodland Mills WWTP
Permit Number: NC0004464
County: Polk
Case Number: LV-2017-0256
ASSESSMENT FACTORS
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;
All effluent violations may be detrimental to the receiving stream but may not be immediately quantified.
2) The duration and gravity of the violation;
One Monthly Average Ammonia Nitrogen exceeded the permit limit by 71.5%.
One Monthly Averageexceeded the permit limit by 15.3%.
3) The effect on ground or surface water quantity or quality or on air quality;
All effluent violations may be detrimental to the receiving stream but may not be immediately quantified.
4) The cost of rectifying the damage;
The cost is unknown.
5) The amount of money saved by noncompliance;
The amount of money saved is unknown.
The amount of money saved would include the cost of excess solids removal and additional aeration. It
would also include more operating and maintenance time on site and the cost of additional chemical
treatment.
The amount of money saved would include the cost of collection of the additional samples and the cost of
analyzing them at a certified lab.
6) Whether the violation was committed willfully or intentionally;
It does not appear to be either.
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
There have been four civil penalty enforcements in the twelve months prior to this violation.
8) The cost to the State of the enforcement procedures.
$118.68
or
C) 2 (Oc I C 9�-
Date
G. Landon Davidson, P.G., Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Asheville Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
Certified Mail # 7016 1370 0001 6571 7402
Return Receipt Requested
September 5, 2017
D Marche Pittman
Polk County
PO Box 308
Columbus, NC 28722-0308
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. NC0004464
Polk County
Woodland Mills WWTP
Case No. LV-2017-0256
Polk County
Dear Permittee:
This letter transmits a Notice of Violation and assessment of civil penalty in the amount of $368.68 ($250.00 civil penalty +
$118.68 enforcement costs) against Polk County.
This assessment is based upon the following facts: a review has been conducted of the Discharge Monitoring Report
(DMR) submitted by Polk County for the month of May 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. NC0004464. The violations,
which occurred in May 2017, are summarized in Attachment A to this letter.
Based upon the above facts, I conclude as a matter of law that Polk County violated the terms, conditions or requirements
of NPDES WW Permit No. NC0004464 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 Environmental Quality and the Director of the Division of Water Resources, I, G. Landon Davidson,
P.G., Regional Supervisor, Asheville Regional Office hereby make the following civil penalty assessment against Polk
County:
State of North Carolina I Environmental Quality I Water Resources
2090 U.S. 70 Highway, Swannanoa, NC 28778
828-296-4500
$250.00 1 of the 1 violations of 143-215. 1 (a)(6) and Permit NO.NC0004464, by discharging waste water into
the waters of the State in violation of the Permit Monthly Average for NH3-N - Conc.
$0.00 0 of the 1 violations of 143-215.1(a)(6) and Permit No.NC0004464, by discharging waste water into
the waters of the State in violation of the Permit Monthly Average for TSS - Conc.
$250.00 TOTAL CIVIL PENALTY
$118.68 Enforcement Costs
$368.68 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 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 Branch
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 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 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) dys 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 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 §15013-23.2) 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:
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 Janet Cantwell with the Division of Water Resources staff of the Asheville
Regional Office at (828) 296-4667 or via email atianet.cantwell@ncdenr.gov.
Sincerely,
-7!>� - 2
G. Landon Davidson, P. ., �egional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Asheville Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
ATTACHMENTS
Cc: WQS Asheville Regional Office - Enforcement File
NPDES Compliance/Enforcement Unit -Enforcement File
G:',Wr',.\V( \Volk\Wastewater',;"iinors\GVuodland Mills i�-t.t(i4lEnforcemems�.C.V-2017-(i2i(i.nf
JUSTIFICATION FOR REMISSION REQUEST
Case Number: LV-2017-0256 County: Polk
Assessed Party: Polk County/ Woodland Mills WWTP
Permit No.: NC0004464 Amount Assessed: $368.68
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.14313-282.1(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 (Le., 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 POLK
IN THE MATTER OF ASSESSMENT ) WAIVER OF RIGHT TO AN
OF CIVIL PENALTIES AGAINST ) ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING AND
STIPULATION OF FACTS
Polk County )
Woodland Mills WWTP 1
PERMIT NO. NC0004464 ) CASE NO. LV-2017-0256
Having been assessed civil penalties totaling $368.68 for violation(s) as set forth in the assessment document of the Division
of Water Resources dated September 5, 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
ADDRESS
TELEPHONE
SIGNATURE
20
ATTACHMENT A
Polk County
CASE NUMBER: LV-2017-0256
PERMIT: NC0004464 REGION: Asheville
FACILITY: Woodland Mills WWTP COUNTY: Polk
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
5/31/2017 5-2017
Nitrogen, Ammonia
Weekly
mg/I
12
20.60
71.5
Monthly
$250.00
Total (as N) -
Average
Concentration
Exceeded
5/31/2017 5-2017
Solids, Total
Weekly
mg/I
30
34.60
15.3
Monthly
$0.00
Suspended-
Average
Concentration
Exceeded
NPDES PERMIT NO.: NC0004464
FACILITY NAME: Woodland Mills WWTP
OWNER NAME: Polk County
GRADE: WW-3.
eDMR PERIOD: 05-2017 (May 2017)
PERMIT VERSION: 4.0
CLASS: WW-2
ORC: Juanita Reed James
ORC HAS CHANGED: No
VERSION: 1.0
PERMIT STATUS: Activ
COUNTY: Polk
ORC CERT NUMBER: 24074
STATUS: Processed
SAMPLING LOCATION: EFFLUENT DISCHARGE NO.: 001 NO DISCHARGE*: NO
t
e
Q
s
F
ti
°
e"
d'
1
a
s
Z'
50050
00010
00400
50060
C0310
C0610
C0530
31616
Continuous
Weekly
Weekly
2Xweek
Weekly
Weekly
Weekly
Weekly
Recorder
Grab
Grab
Grab
Grab
Grab
Grab
Grab
FLOW
TEMP-C
pH
CHLORINE
BOD - Cone
NH3-N - Cone
TSS - Co
FCOLI BR
2400 clock
Hrs
2400 clock
Hrs
Y/B/N
mgd
deg c
an
ag/l
-9/1
mg/l
#/100m1
1
1716
0.25
Y
0.0022
18.6
2
1423
0.50
Y
0.0019
18.8
3
1735
0.42
Y
0.0037
19.6
7.1
< 15
19
23.3
43.7
4
1450
0.42
Y
0.0024
19.1
6.1
< 15
< 1
5
1755
0.42
Y
0.0046
18.5
6
0.0004
7
0.0004
S
1045
0.50
Y
0.0004
18 -
9
1223
0.55
Y
0.003
18.2
7
< 15
20.3
19.9
28.6
< 1
10
1605
0.33
Y
0.0032
20.1
< 15
11
1800
0.50
Y
0.002
18.9
12
1750
0.25
Y
0.003
17.8
13
1
1
10.0018
14
0.0018
15
1252
0.28
Y
0.0018-
20.7
16
1005
0.58
Y
0.0025
20.4
6.86
< 15
35.7
22.7
42.7
316
17
1628
0.25
Y
0.0028
20.3
18
1430
0.42
Y
0.0027
20.7
< 15
19
1630
0.17
Y
0.004
20.4
20
0.00196
21
0.00196
22
1315
0.25
B
0.00196
22.1
< 15
23
1350
0.30
B
0.0043
20.9
24
1345
0.42
B
0.0056
21.1
25
1405
0.43
B
0.0046
21.4
6.5
17.4
19
33.2
< 1
26
0.0025
27
1645
0.25
B
0.0025
21.9
< 15
2e 1
1
10.0018
29
0.0018
H
H 111
H
H
H
H
30
1650
0.20
B
0.0018
21.7
< 15
31
1145
0.58
B
0.0023
22.1
6.3
< 15
17.5
18
24.7
<4
Monthly Average Limit:
0.015
30
12
30
200
Monthly Average:
0.002506
20.059091
0
21.98
20.58
34.58
3.161822
Daily Maximum:
0.0056
22.1
7.1
0
35.7
23.3
43.7
316
Daily Minimum:
0.0004
17.8
6.1
0
17.4
18
24.7 10
****No Reporting Reason: ENFRUSE = No Flow-Reuse/Recycle; ENV WTHR = No Visitation- Adverse Weather; NOFLOW = No Flow; HOLIDAY = No Visitation -Holiday
for
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NPDES PERMIT NO:: NC0004464
FACILITY NAME: Woodland Mills W WTP
OWNER NAME: Polk County
GRADE: WW-3.
eDMR PERIOD: 05-2017 (May 2017)
PERMIT VERSION: 4.0
CLASS: WW-2
ORC: Juanita Reed James
ORC HAS CHANGED: No
VERSION: 1.0
PERMIT STATUS: Active
COUNTY: Polk
ORC CERT NUMBER: 24074
STATUS: Processed
Report Comments:
On the 3rd, 4th, 9th, 18th, 25th and 31st, BOD data valid; Blank was >0.20mg/L. On the 16th and 31st, BOD data valid; GGA was greater than 228.5mg/L. On the 4th, BOD
data valid; Sample ran out of hold time.
Your facility exceeded the monthly permit discharge limits on the items listed below:
TOTAL SUSPENDED SOLIDS, 34.58mg/1 monthly average. AMMONIA NITROGEN, 20.58mg/1 monthly average.
The staff of James and James and the staff of Polk County Government are working together with Dave Odom, Odom Engineering to find the best alternative to alleviate this
issue. James and James has the facility pumped as needed; there is not currently a digester. James and James has also completed a repair in the wall between the clarifier and the
aeration basin. There was an approximate 1" hole allowing the aeration to rapidly flow into the clarifier. This caused the clarifier to stay in turmoil. This repair has greatly
improved the quality of the water in the clarifier has had aided with the turbidity from the hydraulic surge.
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Cantwell, Janet
From: Primary James james <j env@yahooxom>
Sent: Friday, July 21, 2017 2:35 PM
To: Davidson, Landon
Cc: Cantwell, Janet; Juanita James; Marche Pittman; Mickey Edwards; Ange' High
Subject: NOV-2017-LV-0472
Attachments: NOV-2017-LV-0472 WOODLAND MILLS.pdf
Good afternoon Mr. Davidson,
Please find attached a letter from Ms. James in regards to the above referenced NOV on
Woodland Mills (NC0004464).
If you should have further questions, please feel free to contact me.
Trish Bryan
Administrative Assistant
James & James Environmental Management., Inc.
jjenv@yahoo.com
828.697.0063
828.697.0065 - Fax
1