WQ0041163_NOV and Intent to Assess_20190930

ROY COOPER
Governor
MICHAEL S. REGAN
Secretary
LINDA CULPEPPER
Director
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
September 30, 2019
CERTIFIED MAIL # 7013 1710 0002 1922 3955
RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
Debbie Hinson, City Manager
P.O. Box 50
Trinity, NC 27370
Subject: NOTICE OF VIOLATION & INTENT TO ASSESS CIVIL PENALTY
Tracking No. NOV-2019-CV-0006
Construction of Sewer Extension without a permit
Wastewater Collection System Extension
Steeplegate Village Phase 1
Randolph County
Dear Ms. Hinson,
On September 9, 2019, this Office received a Fast Track Sewer Extension application from the
City of Trinity for the construction and installation of approximately 1,645 linear feet of 8-inch
gravity sewer as part of the Steeplegate Village Phase 1 project. Upon review of this application,
performed on September 10, 2019, this Office requested additional information, due to page (4) of
(5) of the Fast Track application being incomplete. The revised/completed application page was
received by this Office on September 20, 2019. Permit No. WQ0041163 was then issued, effective
September 20, 2019. On September 25, 2019, this Office received an Engineer's Certification for
Permit No. WQ0041163, submitted electronically by Mark Allred, Planning Director CZO for the
City of Trinity. Upon receipt of the Engineer's Certification, this Office contacted Mark Allred via
telephone on September 26, 2019, to request explanation of how 1,645 linear feet of sewer
extension had been completely installed in less than five days. Mr. Allred reported at that time that
the sewer extension authorized by Permit WQ0041163, had been completely installed prior to the
City of Trinity obtaining the permit.
You are hereby advised that construction of a sewer system without benefit of a permit from this
Division is a violation of North Carolina General Statute 143-215.1 (a) (2). Additionally, entering
into a contract for the construction and installation of sewer systems without benefit of a permit
from this Division is a violation of North Carolina General Statute 142-215.1 (a) (8). The
enforcement options available to the Division for violations of the previously referenced statutes
are found at NSGS 143-215.6 A, B, and C and include civil penalties, criminal penalties, and / or
D North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
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Winston-Salem Regional Office 1 450 West Hanes Mill Road, Suite 300 I Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27105
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injunctive relief. The civil penalties for the violations may be as high as $25,000 per day, per
violation.
This Office is considering a recommendation in favor of an enforcement action to include the
potential assessment of a civil penalty. Prior to making any such decision, it is vital that we have
all the relative information. If you wish to provide additional information regarding the noted
violations and/or an explanation as to why the Division should not assess a civil penalty in this
matter, please respond to me in writing within ten (10) business days after receipt of this Notice.
Any additional information will be reviewed, and if an enforcement action is still deemed
appropriate, this information, along with other relevant information, will be considered in the
matter. If you have any questions, please contact Justin Henderson or me at [phone].
Sincerely,
D0CU gg�Sed<by:
14 49E2 5C94
on m er, egional Supervisor
Winston Salem Regional Office
Division of Water Resources — NCDEQ
cc: Mark Allred, Planning Director -City of Trinity- mallredktrinity-nc.gov
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