EPA v. EUNICE, CITY OF

Case summary

DATA SHEET: * DEFENDANT: THE CITY OF EUNICE OWNS AND OPERATES A WASTE WATER TREAT- MENT FACILITY IN EUNICE, LA, WHICH IS THE SUBJECT OF THIS REFERRAL. * VIOLATIONS: VIOLATION OF PERMIT EFFLUENT LIMITS HAS CONTINUED SINCE 1982. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH AO INTERIM LIMITS, FAILURE TO ELIMINATE FREQUENT BYPASSING, POOR OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE AND SCHEDULE VIOLATIONS OF AO'S ARE NOTED AS VIOLATIONS IN THIS REPORT. * PROPOSED RELIEF: SETTLEMENT IN THE FORM OF A CONSENT DECREE AND A MINIMUM CIVIL PENALTY IN THE AMOUNT OF $20,000. * RECENT CONTACT WITH DEFENDANT: A MEETING WITH THE CITY REPS WAS HELD ON FEB 13, 1987. THE MOST RECENT CONTACT WITH THE PERMITTEE WAS THROUGH A VISIT BY EPA PERSONNEL TO THE TREATMENT PLANT ON APRIL 13, 1987. * NATIONAL ISSUES: NATIONAL MUNICIPAL POLICY REQUIRES ALL CITIES TO ACHIEVE COMPLIANCE WITH THE ACT NLT JULY 1, 1988. THIS MATTER WARRANTS ACTION TO MEET THAT DEADLINE. * * SYNOPSIS: THE CITY OF EUNICE IS LOCATED IN ST. LANDRY PARISH, LA. THE EUNICE WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY, CONSTRUCTED IN 1956, IS AN ACTIVATED SLUDGE PLANT DESIGNED FOR A FLOW OF 2.5 MGD. THE UNIT PROCESSES CONSSIT OF PRIMARY CLARIFIERS, AERATION BASINS, FINAL CLARIFIERS, AND CHLORINATION FACILITIES. SLUDGE IS TREATED BY ANAEROBIC DIGESTION AND IS TO BE DIS- POSED AT A SANITARY LANDFILL. THE FACILITY SERVES A POPULA- TION OF APPROX 12,500 PEOPLE AND WAS CONSTRUCTED WITHOUT GRANT FUNDS. * THE CITY OF EUNICE IS AUTHORIZED BY THE USEPA NPDES PERMIT NO. LA0041751 TO DISCHARGE FROM THE CITY OWNED WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY INTO BAYOU MALLET VIA AN UNNAMED DITCH IN THE MERMENTAU RIVER BASIN. THE PERMIT BECAME EFFECTIVE MARCH 30, 1985, AND EXPIRES AT MIDNIGHT ON MARCH 29, 1990. * BOD AND TSS ARE TO BE MEASURED THREE TIMES PER WEEK USING SIX HOUR COMPOSITE SAMPLES. FLOW IS TO BE MEASURED DAILY USING A TOTALIZING METER. THE PH IS LIMITED BETWEEN 6.0 AND 9.0 STANDARD UNITS AND MEASURED THREE TIMES A WEEK USING GRAB SAMPLES. * SINCE 1982 AND BEFORE, THE CITY HAS BEEN IN VIOLATION OF ITS PERMITTED EFFUENT LIMITS. IN ADDITION, IT HAS FAILED TO ELIMINATE FREQUENT BYPASSING AND TO FULLY COMPLY WITH FIVE AOS, ISSUED BETWEEN FEB 15, 1983 AND APRIL 1, 1986. * ADMIN ORDER DATE ISSUED ----------- ----------- VI-83-050 FEB 15, 1983 VI-84-092 MAY 29, 1984 VI-84-426 MAY 29, 1984 VI-85-068 APRIL 3, 1985 VI-86-1204 APRIL 1, 1986 * ADMIN ORDER DOCKET NO. VI-83-050 CI

Defendants (1)

• EUNICE, CITY OFNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• CITY OF EUNICE

  930 COLLEGE ROAD, EUNICE, LA, 70535

  Registry ID: 110040011563

Statutes cited

• CWA 309 — Violation of Existing AO

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• EUNICE, CITY OFentered 1988-05-22

  Primary law: CWA

  Federal penalty: $20,000

Timeline (7 milestones)

• 1987-06-29Referred To Headquarters
• 1987-07-24Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 1988-05-18Complaint Filed With Court
• 1988-05-22Final Order Lodged
• 1988-05-22Final Order Entered
• 1988-05-22Concluded
• 1988-07-20Enforcement Action Closed