EPA v. SUNAPEE NH TOWN OF

Case summary

On November 3, 2015, Region 1 filed an Administrative Penalty Complaint against the Town of Sunapee, New Hampshire for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit noncompliance at its wastewater treatment facility. Specifically, EPA alleges that the Town discharged sewage sludge from its wastewater treatment facility into a navigable water of the United States without authorization of a NPDES permit issued pursuant to CWA 402 and improperly operated its wastewater treatment facility in noncompliance with its NPDES permit, both violations of CWA 301(a). Regarding the latter violation, on at least three occasions over the past two years, the Town negligently operated the wastewater treatment facility resulting, in one case, in a release to a wetland adjacent to the Sugar River On December 14 2015, Region 1 settled an Administrative Penalty Complaint against the Town of Sunapee, NH for NPDES permit noncompliance at its wastewater treatment facility in which the Town agreed to pay a $15,000 penalty. EPA alleges that the Town: (1) discharged sewage sludge from its wastewater treatment facility into a navigable water of the United States without authorization of a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit issued pursuant to CWA 402; and (2) improperly operated its wastewater treatment facility in noncompliance with its NPDES permit, both violations of CWA 301(a). Regarding the latter violation, on at least three occasions over the past two years, the Town negligently operated the wastewater treatment facility (e.g., leaving sludge pump overnight, having an inoperable alarm) resulting, in one case, in a release to a wetland adjacent to the Sugar River. The Town has taken steps to prevent a recurrence of such noncompliance.

Defendants (1)

• TOWN OF SUNAPEE NHNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• SUNAPEE W W T F

  50 TREATMENT PLANT ROAD, SUNAPEE, NH, 03782

  Registry ID: 110002320818

Statutes cited

• CWA 301 — NPDES Discharge without a Permit
• CWA 301/402 — NPDES Permit Violations

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• SUNAPEE NH TOWN OFentered 2015-12-14

  Primary law: CWA

  Federal penalty: $15,000

Timeline (3 milestones)

• 2015-11-03Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2015-11-03Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 2015-12-14Final Order Issued