EPA Region 10 Settles with City of Pelican, AK for CWA Violations
On July 8, 2021, EPA Region 10 issued an administrative order on consent to the City of Pelican,
Alaska for its wastewater treatment facility in Pelican, Alaska. The City of Pelican failed to meet
NPDES permit effluent limits, did not conduct required septic tank monitoring in accordance with
NPDES permit frequencies, and did not provide adequate operations and maintenance of the four
10,000 gallon septic tanks resulting in operable isolation valves needed for sludge removal and poor
insulation conditions. The City?s wastewater treatment facility is a designated Clean Water Action
Section 301(h) facility with only primary treatment. Adequate primary treatment is necessary to ensure
adequate dilution provides protection in the Lisianski Inlet for human health and marine habitat
protection. To return to compliance, the Respondent has agreed to prepare an Operations &
Maintenance manual for facility operations, including sludge depth monitoring frequencies, and
upgrade the septic tank valves and tank insultation. These additional efforts will help the City ensure
the tanks do not discharge sewage chunks and related floating black water debris (a/k/a floaters) and to
ensure proper primary treatment. The estimated cost of implementing this injunctive relief has not yet
been determined to a degree of good engineering certainty by the City; however, a 2011 consultant's
report indicated the upgrade costs