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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNC0000272_LV-2022-0104 CPA_20220510ROY COOPER Governor ELIZABETH S. BISER Secretary RICHARD E. ROGERS, JR. Director CERTIFIED MAIL RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED 7018 1830 0001 8037 2209 NORTH CAROLINA Environmental Quality April 27, 2022 Blue Ridge Holding, LLC d/b/a PactivEvergreen Attn.: John McCarthy, General Manager 175 Main Street Canton, NC 28716 SUBJECT: Assessment of Civil Penalties for Violation(s) of N.C. General Statute(s) 143-215.1 Canton Mill WWTP Enforcement Case LV-2022-0104 NPDES Permit NC0000272 Haywood County Dear Mr. McCarthy: This letter transmits notice of a civil penalty assessed against Blue Ridge Holding, LLC in the amount of $10,274.64, including $274.64 in enforcement costs. Attached is a copy of the assessment document explaining this penalty. This action was taken under the authority vested in me pursuant to delegation provided by the Secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality. Any continuing violation(s) may be the subject of a new enforcement action, including an additional penalty. 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 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: NC DEQ / DWR / NPDES 1617 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1617 D_EQ�n�arH a awron�a a • mwr North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources 512 North Salisbury Street 11611 Mail Service Center I Raleigh. North Carolina 27699-1611 919.707.9000 Case Number LV-2022-0104 Page 2 or 2. Submit a written request for remission 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 at the address listed below. In determining whether a remission request will be approved, the following factors shall be considered: (a.) whether one or more of the civil penalty assessment factors in NCGS 143B-282.1 (b) were wrongfully applied to the detriment of the violator; (b.) whether the violator promptly abated continuing environmental damage resulting from the violation; (c.) whether the violation was inadvertent or a result of an accident; (d.) whether the violator has been assessed civil penalties for any previous violations; or (e.) 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 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 also requests that you complete and submit the enclosed "Justification for Remission Request." Both forms should be submitted to the following address: Case Number LV-2022-0104 Page 3 NC DEQ / DWR / NPDES 1617 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1617 or 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 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 mailing address for the Office of Administrative Hearings is: Office of Administrative Hearings 6714 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-6714 A copy of the petition must also be served on DENR as follows: Mr. Bill Lane, General Counsel NC Department of Environmental Quality 1601 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 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 G. Landon Davidson at 828-298-4500. Sincerely, fRichard E. Rogers, Jr. Director, Division of Water Resources ATTACHMENTS STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF HAYWOOD IN THE MATTER OF: Blue Ridge Holding, LLC— Canton Mill FOR VIOLATIONS OF: 15A NCAC 02B .0211 (12), ) 15A NCAC 02B .0211 (2), and ) NPDES Permit NC0000272 Condition A. (6.) ) G.S. 143- 215.1 (a) (1) ) NPDES Permit NC0000272 ) Case Number LV-2022-0104 Page 4 NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY CASE NO. LV-2022-0104 FINDINGS AND DECISION AND ASSESSMENT OF CIVIL PENALTIES Acting pursuant to North Carolina General Statute (hereby known as G.S.) 143-215.6A, I, Jeffrey O. Poupart, of the Division of Water Resources (hereby known as DWR), make the following: I. FINDINGS OF FACT A. Blue Ridge Holding, LLC d.b.a. PactivEvergreen (BRH) is a company organized in North Carolina and existing under the laws of the State of North Carolina. BRH holds NPDES permit NC0000272 for its Canton Mill facility in Haywood County. B. On November 23, 2021, the Asheville Regional Office (ARO) of NC DEQ - Division of Water Resources (DWR) received a notification from BRH stating that trace amounts of foam were being observed downstream of the Canton Mill's NPDES-permitted Outfall 001 in the Pigeon River [stream segment 5-(7)], a Class C water in the French Broad River Basin. C. On November 24, 2021, an email from BRH identified the source of the material causing the foam in the NPDES discharge as "soap" (Tall Oil) derived from the Kraft process. The method in which the Tall Oil was introduced into the wastewater treatment system was not disclosed or known at the time of the email communication. D. The November 24, 2021 email stated that BRH environmental staff reported observing dead and distressed fish downstream of Outfall 001 at multiple areas. BRH reported a total of "5-10" dead fish; no dead fish were observed above Outfall 001. BRH staff reported that the cause of the fish kill was unknown. Dissolved oxygen and other water quality parameters were reported to be within normal range downstream of Outfall 001. E. On November 29, 2021, DWR staff conducted an inspection of the facility and the Pigeon River extending approximately 6 miles downstream of Outfall 001. DWR staff observed dead fish at multiple locations. Case Number LV-2022-0104 Page 5 F. On November 29th, 2021, ARO received telephone notification that the BOD5 daily maximum effluent concentration had been exceeded for samples collected on November 23rd, 2021. On November 30th and December 1st, 2021, 2021, e-mail communication from BRH reported a BOD5 daily maximum effluent concentration exceeding the limits established in the Permit NC0000272 limit at Outfall 001. The dates in which the BOD5 daily maximum effluent limit was exceeded include November 23rd, 24th and 25th. G. On December 6, 2021, BRH submitted the required 5-day follow-up report describing the event, fulfilling Part II, Section e, 6. & 9 of Permit NC0000272. The total number of dead fish observed, per the report, exceeded 90 over an eight -day period. Distressed fish were observed for a seven-day period. The December 6, 2021 report included substantive background on the event including data on monitoring of the Pigeon River. The report identified two causes or sources of the wastewater treatment plant impact. One component identified as a cause of the release of Tall Oil was a temporary hose that was left in the open position with the end of the hose positioned outside of the secondary containment. The hose was attached to components of the tall oil process. The bypass of the secondary containment allowed the tall oil to flow into the facility's wastewater system. The second component of the impact was "believed" to be overflow from a weak liquor (i.e., pine liquor) containment tank. H. The December 2, 2021 BRH 5-day report also cited multiple corrective action measures underway or planned to address the causes of the discharge to the wastewater facility. I. On December 2, 2021, e-mail communication from BRH reported a BOD5 daily maximum effluent in compliance with permit limits for the sample collected on November 26, 2021. J. On December 8, 2021, DWR requested additional information from BRH regarding details presented in the 5-day follow-up report. K. On December 15, 2021, BRH submitted the supplemental information described in the December 8, 2021 additional information request from DWR. L. The 5-day follow-up report and additional requested information attributed the likely cause of the dead fish and permit violations to the inadvertent discharge of Tall Oil and/or Pine Weak Liquor to the WWTP. M. On January 3, 2022, Notice of Violation & Intent to Assess Civil Penalty NOV-2022-LV- 0002 was issued to BRH for three Daily Maximum and one Monthly Average BOD5 effluent limit violations at Outfall 001 associated with the discharges occurring 23-25 November, 2021. The facility received NOV-2022-LV-0002 on January 6, 2022. N. On January 3, 2022, Notices of Violation & Recommendation for Enforcement NOV- 2021-FK-0002 & NOV-2021-SS-0022 were issued to BRH for the fish kill and stream standards violations associated with the discharges occurring November 23-25, 2021. The following violations were identified: Case Number LV-2022-0104 Page 6 1. Cause or Permit Any Waste Discharge in Violation of Water Quality Standards — G.S. 143- 215.1 (a) (1) 2. Unlawful Discharge of Oils or Other Wastes: Fresh Surface Water Quality Standards for Class C Waters - 15A NCAC 02B .0211 (12) 3. Conditions of Best Usage 15A NCAC 02B.0211 (2) 4. Permit Condition Violation, A. (6.) Best Management Practices (BMP) Special Condition O. BRH responded to NOV-2022-LV-0002 on January 14, 2022. The response identified actions that likely could have prevented the loss of 1 to the mill sewer including, but not limited to, updated operator training on best management practices (BMPs), enhanced monitoring, and enhanced secondary containment. The response states that permit limit exceedances were caused by the negative impact of Tall Oil entering the mill sewer system. Based on the response, corrective measures are in place or being implemented. BRH restated that discharge from the tall oil process and overflow from the weak liquor tank were "likely causes" of the wastewater treatment plant impact. P. G.S. 143- 215.1 (a) (1) states that no person shall cause or permit any waste, directly or indirectly, to be discharged to or in any manner intermixed with the waters of the State in violation of the water quality standards applicable to the assigned classifications. Q. Title 15A NCAC 02B .0211 (12) states "Oils, deleterious substances, or colored or other wastes: only such amounts as shall not render the waters injurious to public health, secondary recreation, or to aquatic life and wildlife, or adversely affect the palatability of fish, aesthetic quality, or impair the waters for any designated uses." R. Title 15A NCAC 02B .0211 (2) states "The conditions of waters shall be such that waters are suitable for all best uses specified in this Rule. Sources of water pollution that preclude any of these uses on either a short-term or long-term basis shall be deemed to violate a water quality standard;" S. NC0000272 Permit Special Condition A. (6.) Best Management Practices (BMP) requires implementation of BMPs specified in the subject NPDES permit. The reported circumstances of the Tall Oil release and subsequent introduction into the wastewater system indicate a failure to implement multiple BMPs. Section A.1. for example, "requires the permittee to return spilled or diverted spent pulping liquors, soap and turpentine to the process to the maximum extent practicable...... at a rate that does not disrupt the receiving wastewater treatment system". Case Number LV-2022-0104 Page 7 T. The impacted stream is the Pigeon River, classified C waters within the French Broad River Basin. The Pigeon River segment impacted is listed as impaired due to poor benthos bioclassification. U. The cost to the State of the enforcement procedures in this matter totaled $274.64. Based upon the above Findings of Fact, I make the following: II. CONCLUSIONS OF LAW A. Blue Ridge Holding, LLC is a "person" within the meaning of G.S. 143-215.6A pursuant to G.S. 143-212 (4). B. The Pigeon River constitutes waters of the State within the meaning of G.S. 143-212 (6). C. Blue Ridge Holding, LLC violated NC000272 Permit by discharging effluent in excess of the Daily maximum and Monthly average limits for BOD5. D. Blue Ridge Holding, LLC may be assessed civil penalties pursuant to G.S. 143-215.6A (a) (1), which provides that a civil penalty of not more than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) per violation per day may be assessed against a person who violates any classification, standard, limitation, or management practice established pursuant to G.S. 143-214.1, 143-214.2, or 143-215. E. The State's enforcement cost in this matter may be assessed to BRH pursuant to G.S. 143- 215.3 (a) (9) and G.S. 143B-282.1 (b) (8). F. Jeffrey O. Poupart of the Division of Water Resources, pursuant to delegation provided by the Secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality and the Director of the Division of Water Resources, has the authority to assess civil penalties in this matter. Based upon the above Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, I make the following: III. DECISION Accordingly, Blue Ridge Holding, LLC is hereby assessed a civil penalty of: $ $7,500 for three of three violations of Permit NC0000272, by discharging wastewater into the waters of the State in violation of the Permit Daily Maximum limit for BOD, 5-day (20 Deg. C) — Concentration. Case Number LV-2022-0104 Page 8 $ $2,500 for one violation of Permit NC0000272, by discharging wastewater into the waters of the State in violation of the Permit Monthly Average limit for BOD, 5-day (20 Deg. C) — Concentration. $ $10,000 TOTAL CIVIL PENALTY, authorized by G.S. 143-215.6A $ 274.64 Enforcement Cost $ $10,274.64 TOTAL AMOUNT DUE As required by G.S. 143-215.6A(c), in determining the amount of penalty, I considered the factors set out in 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 violations; (2) The duration and gravity of the violations; (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 violations were 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 Date - Jeffrey O. Poupart Division of Water Resources ROY COOPER Governor ELIZABETH S. BISER Secretary RICHARD E. ROGERS, JR. Director Violator: County: Case Number: Permit Number: NORTH CAROLINA Environmental Quality DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES CIVIL PENALTY ASSESSMENT FACTORS Blue Ridge Holding, LLC — Canton Mil Haywood LV-2022-0104 NC0000272 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; The discharge of an industrial process by-product, referred to as "soap" (Tall Oil), to the waste stream entering the NPDES-permitted wastewater system resulted in an impact to the wastewater treatment process. The wastewater plant's inability to fully treat the effluent resulted in a fish kill with dead and distressed fish observed six miles downstream of the NPDES outfall. The discharge of effluent having an elevated level of BOD5 could negatively impact the aquatic habitat and not be immediately observable. 2) The duration and gravity of the violation; On November 22, 2021 a repair to a process system involving a temporary hose disconnection resulted in a discharge of Tall Oil by-product to the wastewater system; the discharge was identified on November 23, 2021. On November 23, 2021 facility staff noted changes in wastewater influent indicative of Tall Oil in the wastewater flow which adversely impacted the treatment process. Elevated levels of BOD5 were reported for the period November 23 - 25, 2021. The impact resulted in violations of the NPDES (NC0000272) permit limits for BOD5 at levels 35.6%, 64.5% and 53.4% above permit limits. Dead fish were observed by facility staff from November 23- 30, 2021. BOD5 levels returned to normal or were compliant with permit limits on December 1, 2021. The receiving stream, the Pigeon River, is listed as impaired for benthos starting at the location of permit NC0000272 / Outfall 001. 3) The effect on ground or surface water quantity or quality, or on air quality; The discharge of wastewater above permit limits resulted in the exceedance of stream standards resulting in dead and distressed fish. For the duration of the event, the surface water quality did not meet its classified use. 4) The cost of rectifying the damage; The costs to rectify the damage is unknown. North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources 512 North Salisbury Street 11611 Mail Service Center 1 Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1611 919.707.9000 The amount of money saved by noncompliance. The amount of money saved by noncompliance is unknown but would include some or all of the corrective measures identified in the BRH responses. BRH corrective measures referenced include, but were not limited to, expanded operator training, expanded communication systems, remote visual monitoring systems, increased secondary containment, etc. The subject permit requires extensive best management practices under Special Condition A. (6) to prevent the release of Tall Oil to the wastewater treatment system. A portion of the referenced corrective measures (e.g., operator training) are listed as required best management practices in the NPDES permit. 6) Whether the violation was committed willfully or intentionally. The violations do not appear to have been committed willfully or intentionally. However, failure or neglect to implement adequate best management practices resulted in the release and subsequent impact to the wastewater treatment system. 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 Within the last five years, the facility has been previously assessed a total of $939.18 for two violations of permit limits, LV-2019-0121 and LV-2019-01222. 8) The cost to the State of the enforcement procedures. The total costs for enforcement procedures is $274.64. ..577/2.0 Date Jeffrey O. Poupart Division of Water Resources Case Number LV-2022-0104 Page 9 JUSTIFICATION FOR REMISSION REQUEST Case Number: LV-2022-0104 County: Haywood Assessed Party: Blue Ridge Holding, LLC d/b/a PactivEvergreen Permit Number NC0000272 Amount Assessed: $10,274.64 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 applies. 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: Case Number LV-2022-0104 Page 10 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COUNTY OF HAYWOOD IN THE MATTER OF ASSESSMENT ) WAIVER OF RIGHT TO AN OF CIVIL PENALTIES AGAINST ) ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING AND STIPULATION OF FACTS Blue Ridge Holding d/b/a PactivEvergreen) Canton Mill WWTP ) NPDES PERMIT NC0000272 CASE NUMBER LV-2022-0104 Having been assessed civil penalties totaling $10,274.64 for violation(s) as set forth in the assessment document of the Division of Water Resources dated April 22, 2022, 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 within thirty (30) days of receipt of the notice of assessment. No new evidence in support of a remission request will be allowed after thirty (30) days from the receipt of the notice of assessment. This the day of , 2022. Signature ADDRESS TELEPHONE EMAIL