9/30/15 - CONSENT AGMT ISSUED, ASSESSING A PENALTY A PENALTY OF $50,000. WITHIN 30 DAYS, TOWN SHALL PAY $12,000. WITHIN 6 MONTHS, TOWN SHALL PAY $12,500. WITHIN 12 MONTH, TOWN SHALL PAY $12,500. WITHIN 18 MONTHS, TOWN SHALL PAY $12,500.
ALLEGATIONS:
ON MAY 10, 2013, EPA SENT AN NOV TO THE TOWN REGARDING PERMIT EFFLUENT LIMIT VIOLATIONS SELF-REPORTED TO THE INTEGRATED COMPLIANCE AND INFORMATION SYSTEM (ICIS). THE NOV REQUIRED THE TOWN TO PROVIDE A WRITTEN EXPLANATION OF THE CAUSE OF THE TOWN'S pH, COPPER, MERCURY, AND CYANIDE VIOLATIONS AND A SUMMARY OF THE CORRECTIVE ACTIONS PLANNED OR TAKEN TO ADDRESS THE EXCEEDANCES.
ON JUNE 27, 2013, THE TOWN PROVIDED A RESPONSE, WHICH STATED THAT THE TOWN REQUIRED THEDENTAL OFFICES TO INSTALL MERCURY TRAPS AS A RESULT OF THE NCDENR ORDER ISSUED IN 2003. ADDITIONALLY, THE TOWN HAS SLIP LINED TARGETED AREAS OF THE SYSTEM CLOSEST TO THE DENTAL OFFICES TO ADDREESS HISTORICAL MERCURY BUILD UP. THE LATERAL FROM DR. CHERYL LOCKLEAR'S DENTAL OFFICE WAS REPLACED IN OCT 2008. AT THE TIME OF THE NOV RESPONSE, DR. DOUGLAS JACKSON'S LATERAL LINE HAD NOT BEEN REPLACED.
ON FEB 25, 2014, EPA SENT THE TOWN AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW CAUSE LETTER NOTIFYING THE TOWN OF ADDITIONAL VIOLATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH EFFLUENT LIMIT EXCEEDANCES AND REQUISTING THAT THE TOWN PARTICIPATE IN A SHOW CAUSE MEETING WITH EPA. EPA AND THE TOWN HELD A SHOW CAUSE MEETING ON MAR 6, 2014. DURING THE MEETING, THE TOWN DISCUSSED ITS PROGRESS WITH INVESTIGATING THE SOURCE