EPA v. PELICAN, CITY OF WWTP

Case summary

EPA Region 10 Settles with City of Pelican, AK for CWA Violations On July 8, 2021, EPA Region 10 issued an administrative order on consent to the City of Pelican, Alaska for its wastewater treatment facility in Pelican, Alaska. The City of Pelican failed to meet NPDES permit effluent limits, did not conduct required septic tank monitoring in accordance with NPDES permit frequencies, and did not provide adequate operations and maintenance of the four 10,000 gallon septic tanks resulting in operable isolation valves needed for sludge removal and poor insulation conditions. The City?s wastewater treatment facility is a designated Clean Water Action Section 301(h) facility with only primary treatment. Adequate primary treatment is necessary to ensure adequate dilution provides protection in the Lisianski Inlet for human health and marine habitat protection. To return to compliance, the Respondent has agreed to prepare an Operations & Maintenance manual for facility operations, including sludge depth monitoring frequencies, and upgrade the septic tank valves and tank insultation. These additional efforts will help the City ensure the tanks do not discharge sewage chunks and related floating black water debris (a/k/a floaters) and to ensure proper primary treatment. The estimated cost of implementing this injunctive relief has not yet been determined to a degree of good engineering certainty by the City; however, a 2011 consultant's report indicated the upgrade costs could exceed $41,000.This settlement furthers EPA's national compliance initiative to reduce significant noncompliance, and improve surface water quality by assuring discharges comply with NPDES permit requirements.

Defendants (1)

• PELICAN, CITY OF WWTPNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• PELICAN, CITY OF (WWTP)

  159 BREAKWATER ROAD, PELICAN, AK, 99832

  Registry ID: 110010112083

Statutes cited

• CWA 301/402 — NPDES Permit Violations

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• PELICAN, CITY OF WWTPentered 2021-07-08

  Primary law: CWA

Timeline (4 milestones)

• 2021-06-30Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2021-07-08Final Order Issued
• 2021-07-08Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 2025-08-07NPDES Closed