WQCS00324_NOV-2019-PC-0572 Response_20190823

Johnnie W. Carswell, Chair
Scott Mulwee, Vice Chair
Wayne F. Abele, Sr., Commissioner
Jeffrey C. Brittain, Commissioner
Maynard M, Taylor, Commissioner
BURKE COUNTY
August 23, 2019
G. Landon Davidson, P.G., Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Asheville Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
2090 U.S. 70 Highway
Swannanoa, NC 28778
Subject: RESPONSE TO NOTICE OF VIOLATIONS
& INTENT TO ASSESS CIVIL PENALTY
Tracking Number: NOV-2019-PC-0572
Burke County Collection System
Burke County
Dear Mr. Davidson:
Kenneth B. Steen, County Manager
Kay H. Draughn, Clerk to the Board
J. R. Simpson, II, County Attorney
Kania Law Firm, P.A., Tax Attorney
We respond to your letter dated August 07, 2019 regarding the referenced Notice of
Violation as follows:
1. Pump Stations: Indian Hills Pump Station Telemetry/Alarms are working
properly. Corrections were made and automatic notifications are being received
via phones and emails to the appropriate operators. Auditable and visual on the
building are in working order.
2. Pump Stations: Indian Hills Pump #2 was returned to operation on July 16,
2019. In December 2018, Pump #2 had an electric motor failure. The motor was
removed and sent to a repair facility, re -installed and operated a few weeks.
Then a second failure required extensive troubleshooting to determine the cause.
A grounding issue was discovered and corrected, and the pump placed back into
service. Pump #1 remained in service during the event. This station was
designed to run one pump only with 100% back-up.
3. Inspections: No documentation for maintenance, annual inspection nor high
priority lines were available. Since the inspection conducted by your staff on July
24, 2019, maintenance/inspection of the pump station and collection system has
begun. Staff have mowed and inspected approximately 5,000 linear feet of
200 Avery Avenue - P.O. Box 219 - Morganton, NC 28680-0219
County Manager: [phone] — Clerk to the Board: [phone] — Fax: [phone]

gravity sewer. A contractor is being scheduled to clean and camera
approximately 4,200 linear feet (10%) of line included in the recent inspection.
Staff is utilizing forms given to them by Ms. Linda Wiggs to document
inspections. Photos are being taken of the collection system during inspection.
Time is being allocated each month until the entire collection system has been
inspected and documented. Repairs are being made as needed. A contractor is
being retained to provide preventive maintenance on the pump stations.
4. Spill Response Action Plan: Staff is preparing a written Spill Response Plan
and will be forwarded to your office as soon as it is available.
Since Items 3 and 4 will take several months to complete, we propose to send updated
documentation to you once per quarter until all items have been completed. If you have
any questions, you may reach me on my cell phone at 828-455-0557 or email me at
miles.champion(cD_burkenc.org. Thank you for your patience and consideration.
Sincerely,
'//' 14a ,
A. Miles Champion, Jr., P.E.
ec: Kenneth B. Steen, County Manager
Linda Wiggs, Environmental Senior Specialist