EPA v. THE TOWN OF LAMBERT, MISSISSIPPI

Case summary

AUGUST 20, 2025 -ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER ON CONSENT On August 13, 2024, EPA inspectors, accompanied by an MDEQ inspector, conducted a Compliance Evaluation Inspection (CEI) of the WWTP and determined that the Town was not properly operating and maintaining its WWTP. Conditions at the WWTP included the presence of excessive solids and algae and/or duckweed in the chlorine contact chamber. The chlorine contact chamber exterior wall showed signs of leakage. In Lagoon Cell 1, one of three aerators was removed for repairs and the other two were inoperable, and there was no valve control to prevent effluent from entering cells. All of these issues reflect a failure on the part of the Town to properly operate and maintain the WWTP. Within thirty (30) days of the Effective Date of this Order on Consent, the Town shall draft and submit to the EPA for review and approval a wastewater treatment plant Operations and Maintenance Plan (OMP). The plan shall address specific measures and procedures to ensure the proper operation and maintenance of the WWTP to achieve compliance with all NPDES Permit limitations, including but not limited to: a. A daily operation sheet for the operation of the WWTP b. Procedures for preventative WWTP maintenance c. Instructions for vegetative growth control and trash removal and disposal d. Procedures for measuring flow e. Procedures for effluent sampling f. Protocol for proper lagoon operations g. A schedule by which any new or existing personnel are trained in the new OMP requirements h. Protocol for proper and timely use of chlorination treatment Within fourteen (14) days of the Effective Date of this Order on Consent, the Town shall submit to the EPA all non-submitted DMRs, including those that were generated after the August 13, 2024, CEI. If the Town has any difficulty submitting DMRs digitally, the Town will contact the EPA to make other arrangements. Within one-hundred and twenty (120) days of the Effective Date of this Order on Consent, the Town shall draft and submit to the EPA for review and approval a Corrective Action Plan (CAP) detailing the actions the Town will take to prevent the occurrence of further effluent violations. The corrective actions must occur within one-hundred and twenty (120) days of submission of the CAP. Within thirty (30) days of the date of receipt of comments identifying deficiencies, the Town shall modify the plan to address the identified deficiencies and resubmit the plan to the EPA for final review and approval. Should the EPA determine that the Town has failed to resolve any deficiencies, the EPA reserves the right to require additional revisions and resubmissions until the deficiencies are satisfactorily addressed. Resubmission of the plan without adequately addressing the EPA's comments may be deemed a violation of this Administrative Order on Consent. Upon approval of the CAP and/or OMP, the actions and timeframes set forth in both shall be enforceable under this Order on Consent. For the Duration of this Order on Consent, the Town shall submit quarterly progress reports to EPA and MDEQ. Upon the effective date of the Order on Consent, the first quarterly report shall be due ten (10) days after the end of the first full quarter. Subsequent quarterly reports are due within ten (10) days after the end of the reporting quarter.

Defendants (1)

• THE TOWN OF LAMBERTNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• LAMBERT POTW

  HWY 322 EAST, LAMBERT, MS, 38643

  Registry ID: 110008515534

Statutes cited

• CWA 301/402 — NPDES Permit Violations

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• THE TOWN OF LAMBERT, MISSISSIPPIentered 2025-08-20

  Primary law: CWA

Timeline (2 milestones)

• 2025-08-20Final Order Issued
• 2025-09-18Enforcement Action Data Entered