On February 13, 2024, the Regional Judicial Officer executed a Final Order ratifying the Consent Agreement entered into by the Director of ECAD and Mid-Centre County Authority ( Respondent ) for violations of its NPDES permit (NPDES Permit #PA0110965) effluent discharge limitations at the Mid-Centre County Authority Wastewater Treatment Plant ( WWTP located in Milesburg, PA (the Facility ). Respondent is the owner and operator of the WWTP that discharges treated domestic wastewater from the Facility into an unnamed tributary to Bald Eagle Creek that ultimately discharges to the West Branch Susquehanna River, which are jurisdictional waters of the United States within the meaning of 33 U.S.C. 1362(7).
Respondent had twenty-four (24) permit effluent limit exceedances from the Facility from September 2018 through September 2022 consisting of 5-day carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand, suspended solids, fecal coliform, ammonia-nitrogen, and total phosphorous. In addition, the Respondent failed to comply with the whole effluent toxicity testing and reporting requirements of the Permit. Under the terms of the Consent Agreement and Final Order, Respondent will pay a civil penalty of $17,500. EPA has coordinated with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection throughout the enforcement process. The EJSCREEN assessment indicates that the Facility is NOT located in an area of potential EJ concern. This Consent Agreement and Final Order initiates and concludes