STATE OF INDIANA

COUNTY OF MARION

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SS:

BEFORE THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT
OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

 

COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT
OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT,

Complainant,

v.

HAZLETON WATER DEPARTMENT,

Respondent.

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Case No. 2020-27148-D

 

AGREED ORDER

 

Complainant and Respondent desire to settle and compromise this action without hearing or adjudication of any issue of fact or law, and consent to the entry of the following Findings of Fact and Order. Pursuant to Indiana Code (IC) 13-30-3-3, entry into the terms of this Agreed Order does not constitute an admission of any violation contained herein. Respondent's entry into this Agreed Order shall not constitute a waiver of any defense, legal or equitable, which Respondent may have in any future administrative or judicial proceeding, except a proceeding to enforce this order.

 

I.  FINDINGS OF FACT

 

1.               Complainant is the Commissioner (Complainant) of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), a department of the State of Indiana created by IC 13-13-1-1.

 

2.               Hazleton Water Department (Respondent) owns and/or operates community public water system (PWS) with PWSID No. IN5226004, serving 288 persons. The PWS is located at 600 Catt Street, Hazleton, Gibson County, Indiana (the Site).

 

3.               IDEM has jurisdiction over the parties and the subject matter of this action pursuant to IC 13-30-3.

 

4.               Pursuant to IC 13-30-3 et seq., IDEM issued a Notice of Violation via Certified Mail to:

 

Clarence Cornwell, Town Council President

Hazleton Water Department

107 N. Main St.

Hazleton, IN 47640

 

5.               Pursuant to 327 IAC 8-4.1-16(a)(2)(C), to have Phase II of a Wellhead Protection Program (WHPP) approved, materials must be submitted within ten (10) years after IDEM approval of Phase I material for a small Community Public Water Supply System (CPWSS).

 

IDEM records indicate that on June 28, 2004, IDEM formally reviewed and approved Respondent’s Phase I WHPP for its CPWSS. The records further indicate that Respondent did not submit a Phase II WHPP within the prescribed time frame, as indicated in the Phase I approval letter. IDEM sent a Phase II WHPP Reminder Notification on August 23, 2012. IDEM sent Phase II WHPP Past Due Notifications on April 14, 2016; June 22, 2018; and January 21, 2020. To date, IDEM has not received a Phase II WHPP from Respondent, in violation of 327 IAC 8-4.1-16(a)(2)(C).

 

6.               Orders of the Commissioner are subject to administrative review by the Office of Environmental Adjudication under IC 4-21.5; however, in recognition of the settlement reached, Respondent acknowledges notice of this right and waives any right to administrative and judicial review of this Agreed Order.

 

II.  ORDER

 

1.          This Agreed Order shall be effective (Effective Date) when it is adopted by Complainant or Complainant’s delegate (as evidenced by signature), and the adopted Agreed Order has been received by Respondent. This Agreed Order shall have no force or effect until the Effective Date. In addition to addressing the violation cited in Paragraph 5 of the Findings of Fact above, this Agreed Order also addresses any additional violations of these same rules that may have occurred subsequent to the issuance of the Notice of Violation and prior to the Effective Date.

 

2.          Within 60 days of the Effective Date, Respondent shall submit to IDEM the material required by Indiana's Wellhead Protection Rule, 327 IAC 8-4.1-9, for the Phase II WHPP. Respondent shall develop and submit the Phase II WHPP materials that contain the following core elements:

 

a.       Comprehensive WHPP.

b.       Proof of Phase I WHPP Implementation.

c.       Updated schedule of implementation.

d.       Updated wellhead protection area (WHPA), considering new data if any.

e.       Updated potential sources of contamination inventory including a map.

f.        Report of any problems or concerns regarding WHPP.

g.       Contingency plan revisions (if needed).

h.       Documentation to confirm:

i.        Sanitary Setback Area meets requirements.

ii.        Abandoned wells are identified.

ii.        Wellhead is secured from unauthorized access.

iv.       All potential sources of contamination within the WHPA are managed.

vi.       Public education is ongoing.

vii.      Any new ground water contamination within the WHPA is reported.

 

3.     Within 30 days of the Effective Date, Respondent shall update the enclosed “System Basic Information Summary” document by either marking corrections or stating that the information is accurate directly on the attached document. Once completed, the document shall be submitted to the address in Order Paragraph 4.

 

4.          All submittals required by this Agreed Order, unless Respondent is notified otherwise in writing by IDEM, shall be sent to:

 

Jessica Irvine, Enforcement Case Manager

Office of Water Quality – IGCN 1255

Indiana Department of Environmental Management

100 North Senate Avenue

Indianapolis, IN 46204-2251

 

5.               In the event the terms and conditions of the following paragraphs are violated, Complainant may assess and Respondent shall pay a stipulated penalty in the following amount:

 

Paragraph:

Violation:

Stipulated Penalty:

2

Failure to submit a Phase II WHPP to IDEM.

$200 per week, or part thereof.

3

Failure to submit the “System Basic Information Summary” document in the manner specified.

$100 per week, or part thereof.

 

6.          Stipulated penalties shall be due and payable no later than the 30th day after Respondent receives written notice that IDEM has determined a stipulated penalty is due, the 30th day being a “Due Date.” IDEM may notify Respondent at any time that a stipulated penalty is due. Failure to notify Respondent in writing in a timely manner of a stipulated penalty assessment shall not waive IDEM’s right to collect such stipulated penalty or preclude IDEM from seeking additional relief against Respondent for violation of this Agreed Order. Neither assessment nor payment of stipulated penalties shall preclude IDEM from seeking additional relief against Respondent for a violation of this Agreed Order. Such additional relief includes any remedies or sanctions available pursuant to Indiana law, including, but not limited to, civil penalties pursuant to IC 13-30-4.

 

7.          Penalties are payable by check to the “Environmental Management Special Fund.” Checks shall include the Case Number 2020-27148-D, of this action and shall be mailed to:

 

Indiana Department of Environmental Management

Accounts Receivable

IGCN, Room 1340

100 North Senate Avenue

Indianapolis, IN 46204

 

8.          This Agreed Order shall apply to and be binding upon Respondent, its successors and assigns. Respondent’s signatories to this Agreed Order certify that they are fully authorized to execute this Agreed Order and legally bind the party they represent. No change in ownership, corporate, or partnership status of Respondent shall in any way alter its status or responsibilities under this Agreed Order.

 

9.          In the event that the monies due to IDEM pursuant to this Agreed Order are not paid on or before their Due Date, Respondent shall pay interest on the unpaid balance and any accrued interest at the rate established by IC 24-4.6-1. The interest shall be computed as having accrued from the Due Date until the date that Respondent pays any unpaid balance. The interest shall continue to accrue on the first of each month until the civil penalty and any interest accrued are paid in full. Such interest shall be payable to the “Environmental Management Special Fund.” and shall be payable to IDEM in the manner specified above.

 

10.      In the event that any terms of this Agreed Order are found to be invalid, the remaining terms shall remain in full force and effect and shall be construed and enforced as if this Agreed Order did not contain the invalid terms.

 

11.      Respondent shall provide a copy of this Agreed Order, if in force, to any subsequent owners or successors before ownership rights are transferred. Respondent shall ensure that all contractors, firms and other persons performing work under this Agreed Order comply with the terms of this Agreed Order.

 

12.      This Agreed Order is not and shall not be interpreted to be a permit or a modification of an existing permit. This Agreed Order, and IDEM’s review or approval of any submittal made by Respondent pursuant to this Agreed Order, shall not in any way relieve Respondent of its obligation to comply with the requirements of its applicable permits or any applicable Federal or State law or regulation.

 

13.      Complainant does not, by his approval of this Agreed Order, warrant or aver in any manner that Respondent’s compliance with any aspect of this Agreed Order will result in compliance with the provisions of any permit, order, or any applicable Federal or State law or regulation. Additionally, IDEM or anyone acting on its behalf shall not be held liable for any costs or penalties Respondent may incur as a result of Respondent’s efforts to comply with this Agreed Order.

 

14.      Nothing in this Agreed Order shall prevent or limit IDEM’s rights to obtain penalties or injunctive relief under any applicable Federal or State law or regulation, except that IDEM may not, and hereby waives its right to, seek additional civil penalties for the same violations specified in the Notice of Violation.

 

15.      Nothing in this Agreed Order shall prevent IDEM (or anyone acting on its behalf) from communicating with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) or any other agency or entity about any matters relating to this enforcement action. IDEM or anyone acting on its behalf shall not be held liable for any costs or penalties Respondent may incur as a result of such communications with the US EPA or any other agency or entity.

 

16.      This Agreed Order shall remain in effect until Respondent has complied with the terms and conditions of this Agreed Order and IDEM issues a Resolution of Case (close out) letter to Respondent.

 

REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

 

TECHNICAL RECOMMENDATION:

RESPONDENT:

Department of Environmental Management

Hazleton Water Department

 

By:__________________________

By:________________________

Samantha K. Groce, Chief

 

Water Enforcement Section

 

Surface Water, Operations &

Printed:_____________________

Enforcement Branch

 

Office of Water Quality

Title:_______________________

 

 

Date:________________________

Date:_______________________

 

 

COUNSEL FOR RESPONDENT:

 

 

 

By:________________________

 

 

 

Date:______________________

 

APPROVED AND ADOPTED BY THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL

MANAGEMENT THIS ___________ DAY OF ________________, 20___.

 

 

For the Commissioner:

 

 

Signed on September 24, 2020

 

Martha Clark Mettler

 

Assistant Commissioner

 

Office of Water Quality