EPA v. PELICAN, CITY OF WWTP

Case summary

On April 25, 2022, EPA Region 10 issued a compliance agreement and final order resolving NPDES permit noncompliance at the City of Pelican 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 entered into an administrative order on consent with EPA in July 2021 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, floating solids, and related floating black water debris and to ensure proper primary treatment, eliminating the discharge of approximately 2952 pounds of biochemical oxygen demand to Lisanski Inlet. The City of Pelican agreed to pay a civil penalty of $12,000 in the consent agreement and final order to resolve past NPDES permit violations. These settlements further EPA's national compliance initiative to reduce significant noncompliance, and improve surface water quality by assuring discharges comply with NPDES permit requirements. Additionally, taking formal enforcement actions signals NPDES permittees that EPA is vigilant and will respond to noncompliance situations as appropriate and necessary.

Defendants (1)

• CITY OF PELICAN, ALASKANamed 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 2022-04-25

  Primary law: CWA

  Federal penalty: $12,000

Timeline (5 milestones)

• 2021-12-07Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2022-04-25Final Order Issued
• 2022-04-25Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 2022-06-22Enforcement Action Closed
• 2022-06-22NPDES Closed