EPA v. THE TOWN OF SLEDGE, SLEDGE, MISSISSIPPI

Case summary

MAY 9, 2025 - ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER ON CONSENT On August 13, 2024, the EPA and MDEQ conducted a Compliance Evaluation Inspection (CEI) at the Facility to evaluate the Facility's compliance with the requirements of Sections 301(a) and 402 of the CWA, 33 U.S.C. ?? 1311(a) and 1342, the regulations promulgated thereunder, and the 2019 NPDES Permit. The CEI identified several violations of the CWA and the 2019 NPDES Permit, including exceedances of effluent limits established in the 2019 NPDES Permit. In addition, the CEI found that the Town violated the Operations and Maintenance Requirements Section of the 2019 NPDES Permit by having inoperable aeration in Lagoon Cell No. #1 and an inoperable rotating biological contactor ( RBC ) in Lagoon Cell No.3. The EPA's findings and recommendations were summarized in a CEI Report dated October 3, 2024. On January 17, 2025, the EPA sent the Town a Notice of Violation (NOV)/Show Cause letter outlining the effluent limit and operation and maintenance violations of the 2019 NPDES Permit. Specifically, from October 2021 through September 2024, the Town exceeded the effluent limitations for Ammonia-Nitrogen (Weekly Average) (4 of the last 12 quarters); and E. Coli. On February 12, 2025, the EPA and the Town held a Show Cause meeting during which the Town outlined its potential plans to place a staff gauge at the outfall; repair and place in service the aerators in Lagoon Cell No.1, repair and place in service the rotating biological contactor ( RBC ) in Lagoon Cell No.3 and mow/chop down the vegetation growing in the berms of the lagoons. The Town has violated the Effluent Limitations and Monitoring Requirements Section of the 2019 NPDES Permit, issued pursuant to Section 402 of the CWA, 33 U.S.C. ? 1342, by discharging pollutants into the unnamed tributary of David Bayou, in excess of the limitations established in its 2019 NPDES Permit for E. Coli, and Ammonia-Nitrogen. The Town has violated the Operations and Maintenance Requirements Section T-28 of the 2019 NPDES Permit by having inoperable aeration in Lagoon Cell No. #1 and inoperable RBC in Lagoon Cell No.3. Based on the above, the EPA finds that the Town is in violation of Section 301(a) of the CWA, 33 U.S.C. ? 1311(a), and the above referenced provisions of its 2019 NPDES Permit. Based on the foregoing EPA FINDINGS and pursuant to the authority of Section 309(a) of the CWA, 33 U.S.C. ? 1319(a), IT IS HEREBY ORDERED AND AGREED TO that the Town comply with the following requirements. Corrective Measures for Existing Facility. The Town shall complete the following actions for achieving compliance with the CWA: (1) within 30 days of the effective date of this Order the Town shall install a staff gauge at the outfall; (2) within 120 days of the effective date of this Order the Town shall repair and place in service the aerators in Lagoon Cell No.1, and mow/chop down the excess vegetation growing in the berms of the Lagoons; and (3) within 365 days of the effective date of this Order the Town shall repair and place into service the RBC in Lagoon Cell No.3. Should the Town require more time to complete the improvements to the existing Facility, it may request an extension of the deadline, as detailed in paragraph 21, which the EPA may, in its discretion, approve in writing. The Town shall submit to the EPA written quarterly progress reports (Quarterly Reports) for improvements to the existing Facility. The Town shall begin to submit these Quarterly Reports to the EPA within 30 days after the first full calendar quarter (Jan?, Mar, April-June, July-Sept, and Oct-Dec) of the effective date of this AOC and shall continue to submit such reports within 30 days after each calendar quarter thereafter until the submission of the Final Report.

Defendants (2)

• SLEDGE, MISSISSIPPINamed in settlement
• THE TOWN OF SLEDGENamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• SLEDGE POTW

  LAGOON ROAD, SLEDGE, MS, 38670

  Registry ID: 110008516258

Statutes cited

• CWA 301/402 — NPDES Permit Violations

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• THE TOWN OF SLEDGE, SLEDGE, MISSISSIPPIentered 2025-05-09

  Primary law: CWA

Timeline (2 milestones)

• 2025-05-09Final Order Issued
• 2025-06-24Enforcement Action Data Entered