In the Matter Of Objection to the Issuance of Permit Approval No. IN0061042

AquaSource Services And Technology, Floyd County, Indiana.

2002 OEA 41 (01-W-J-2770)

 

 

[2002 OEA 41, page 41 begins]

 

OFFICIAL SHORT CITATION NAMEWhen referring to 2002 OEA 41, cite this case as

            AquaSource Services and Technology, 2002 OEA 41.       

 

TOPICS:

wastewater treatment plant (WWTP)

new point source discharge

pollutant

Clean Water Act (CWA)

administrative review

33 U.S.C. § 1342(a)(1)

IC 4-21.5-3-24

315 IAC 1-3-7

327 IAC 5-1.5-35

327 IAC 5-2-8

327 IAC 5-2-16

327 IAC 5-3-3

misrepresentation

NPDES

point source

floodway

effluent

public hearing

public comment

noncompliance

enforcement

age of equipment

 

PRESIDING JUDGE:

Penrod

 

PARTY REPRESENTATIVES:

David Hatchett, Esq.

 

ORDER ISSUED:

December 18, 2002

 

INDEX CATEGORY:

Water

 

FURTHER CASE ACTIVITY:

[none]

 

[2002 OEA 41, page 42 begins]

STATE OF INDIANA            )                                   BEFORE THE INDIANA OFFICE OF

)                                   ENVIRONMENTAL ADJUDICATION

COUNTY OF MARION        )

 

IN THE MATTER OF:                                                )          

                                                                                    )

OBJECTION TO THE ISSUANCE OF                      )

PERMIT APPROVAL NO. IN0061042                     )           CAUSE NO. 01-W-J-2770

AQUASOURCE SERVICES AND                             )          

TECHNOLOGY                                                         )

FLOYD COUNTY, INDIANA                                   )

 

FINDINGS OF FACT, CONCLUSIONS OF LAW, AND FINAL ORDER

GRANTING AQUASOURCE'S DISPOSITIVE MOTION

 

This case is before the Indiana Office of Environmental Adjudication ("OEA") after a number of citizens and AquaSource Utility, Inc. ("AquaSource") each filed petitions for administrative review of the subject National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System ("NPDES") permit.

 

Having considered all of the citizen petitions as well as all motions and arguments presented by the parties, OEA finds further argument regarding the issues raised in the citizen petitions to be unnecessary. OEA now makes the following findings of fact and conclusions of law, and enters the following Order with respect to the Amended Petition, the petitions of C.O. Sterling and John Vellinger, and the motions of the parties. The following findings, conclusions and order do not address AquaSource's petition for administrative review, which OEA deferred pending resolution of all of the citizen petitions.

 

Findings of Fact

 

1.         Findings of fact that may be construed as conclusions of law and conclusions of law that may be construed as findings of fact are so deemed.

 

2.         AquaSource has constructed a new point source discharge in the form of the Spring Hills Wastewater Treatment Plant ("WWTP") in the area of Floyds Knobs, Indiana. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management ("IDEM") authorized construction of the WWTP on June 13, 2000 by issuing the Spring Hills Construction Permit approval No. 13814 ("Construction Permit"). The Construction Permit was appealed to OEA by many of these same petitioners under Cause No. 00-W-J-2536, with the appeal ending in the dismissal of all petitions.

 

3.         Wastewater sent to the WWTP will be treated and then discharged into Little Indian Creek, creating a new point source discharge. In late summer 2000, AquaSource applied for a NPDES permit for this anticipated point source discharge.

[2002 OEA 41, page 43 begins]

4.         On November 20, 2000, IDEM issued for public review and comment Draft NPDES Permit No. IN0061042 ("Draft NPDES Permit"). Although not required, IDEM also held a public hearing in this matter. See Draft NPDES Permit, Public Notice; see also 327 IAC 5-3-9 (hearing is at IDEM'S discretion).

 

5.         The following people commented on the Draft NPDES Permit: George Mouser, Robert Oster, Phil Scharf, Tim Fentress, Robert Boyd, and Pete Miller. IDEM summarized and responded to each of these comments in its April 11, 2001 Post Public Notice Addendum.

 

6.         On July 23 2001, IDEM issued AquaSource the final NPDES Permit for the WWTP ("NPDES Permit"). In its cover letter, IDEM noted that it had considered the public comments. See NPDES Permit, Cover Letter.

 

7.         In early August 2001, petitions for administrative review were filed by the following citizens: Pete Miller, Darryll R. Jones, Steven Kerr, C.O. Sterling, Tim Fentress, Robert Scharf, Philip Scharf, Jacquelyn S. Mensing, Yvonne M. Fentress, Robert Oster, John Vellinger, and George Mouser. During the same period, AquaSource filed a petition for administrative review of the Permit, raising issues that do not overlap with issues raised in any of the citizen petitions.

 

8.         On September 17, 2001, a prehearing conference was held at OEA. Counsel for IDEM, counsel for AquaSource and most of the citizen petitioners appeared at the prehearing conference. However, two petitioners, C.O. Sterling and John Vellinger, did not attend and have since failed to participate in any stage of this administrative proceeding. At the prehearing conference, OEA deferred review of AquaSource's petition pending resolution of the citizen petitions. In addition, OEA ordered that any amendments to the citizens' petitions needed to be filed by October 17, 2001. The parties agreed that Philip Scharf would serve as designated spokesperson and point of contact for the participating citizen petitioners ("Scharf Petitioners").

 

9.         On October 15, 2001, the Scharf Petitioners filed their Amended Petition. The Amended Petition consolidated the various petitions' issued into one document but did not raise any additional issues challenging IDEM's issuance of the NPDES Permit. The citizen petitioners raised the following issues: (1) whether the WWTP must be built completely with all new components; (2) whether any permit noncompliance by AquaSource would cause further pollution in the receiving stream; (3) whether IDEM must alter permit terms in response to public comments; (4) whether the Construction Permit, which was unsuccessfully appealed by the Citizen Petitioners last year, can be challenged based on issues raised in this current appeal; and (5) whether floodway concerns, also addressed in the Construction Permit appeal, require the WWTP to be moved.

[2002 OEA 41, page 44 begins]

10.       On November 7, 2001, the OEA granted an enlargement of time for all parties to file dispositive motions and responses. The Scharf Petitioners filed a dispositive motion on November 19, 2001, to which AquaSource responded on December 7, 2001. AquaSource filed its Motion to Dismiss and/or for Summary Judgment on November 20, 2001. The Scharf Petitioners responded on November 27, 2001, and George Mouser filed a separate response on December 6, 2001. IDEM filed its concurrence in AquaSource's Motion to Dismiss and/or for Summary Judgment, and its concurrence in AquaSource's Response to the Scharf Petitioners' dispositive motion.

 

11.       On January 14, 2002, a telephonic status conference was held in which AquaSource, IDEM and the Scharf Petitioners participated. George Mouser, C.O. Sterling and John Vellinger did not participate. During the status conference, OEA scheduled oral argument to be held on February 14, 2002, in the event OEA determined that oral argument was necessary to supplement its review of the citizens' petitions.

 

12.       On January 18, 2002, AquaSource filed its Motion to Dismiss Designated Individuals, in which AquaSource requested that OEA dismiss at least two petitioners for failure to participate in the proceeding. On January 25 and January 30, 2002, OEA issued Proposed Orders of Default to C.O. Sterling and George Mouser. Mr. Mouser responded to the Proposed Order of Default by letter dated January 28, 2002.

 

13.       All parties have had a sufficient opportunity to present arguments and fully brief OEA on the issues raised in the citizen petitions and the motions of the parties.

 

Conclusions of Law

 

Burden of Proof

 

1.         It is the citizen petitioners' burden to persuade OEA that the NPDES Permit was issued contrary to law or that the NPDES Permit was somehow deficient as a matter of law. See In Re Objections to Issuance of NPDES Permit No. IN57151, Spring Creek Travel Plaza, IDEM Office of Hearings, Cause No. 93-W-J-895, 1994 WL 233940, *1 (Feb. 25, 1994). Notwithstanding this burden, the citizen petitioners have not offered legal support for their positions. Because the citizens' contentions are not grounded in the law (Ind. Code Article 13-18 and 327 IAC 5) governing NPDES permits, OEA has no basis to grant any relief sought by the citizen petitions.

 

Age of WWTP equipment

 

2.         The Citizen petitioners allege that some of the equipment used in the WWTP is not brand new and that a new point source discharge must be built completely with new equipment. Amended Petition, P4. However, even if some components of the WTTP are not brand new, OEA cannot grant any relief to the citizen petitioners because the age of the WTTP's components is irrelevant to whether the NPDES Permit was properly issued. 327 IAC 5-3-2(b)(1) provides:

 

[2002 OEA 41, page 45 begins]

 

A Person proposing a new discharge of pollutants shall submit an application at least one hundred eighty (180) days before the date on which the discharge is to commence, unless a later date is allowed by the commissioner (emphasis added).

 

The language of the regulation plainly focuses on a new "discharge," and not on whether the facility is new.

 

3.         The need for a NPDES permit under the Clean Water Act ("CWA") is triggered by a new discharge, and does not consider the age of the facility from which the discharge emanates. See 33 USC § 1342(a)(1) (authorizing U.S. EPA or a state to "issue a permit for the discharge of any pollutant, or combination of pollutants"). See also Rybachek v. U.S. EPA, 904 F.2d 1276, 1293 (9th Cir, 1990) (U.S. EPA can determine that a mine is a "new source," even if that mine reused the same wastewater treatment plant equipment and had a NPDES permit previously, when the mine discharges from or into a new location); 327 IAC 5-1.5-35 (definition of "new discharge" focuses on whether the source commenced "the discharge of pollutants at a particular site" (emphasis added).

 

4.         As required by the CWA and 327 IAC 5, the NPDES Permit issued to AquaSource ensures that any "discharge of a pollutant" from the WWTP meets all applicable effluent limitations. Part I of the NPDES Permit includes numerous effluent limitations and monitoring requirements for pollutants. See NPDES Permit, pp. 2-9. As Part II of the NPDES Permit provides, "any person who violates a permit condition" is subject to enforcement. See NPDES Permit, p. 12. In short, the effluent limitations in the NPDES Permit must be met, regardless of the age of the facility or any of its components. See also NPDES Permit, p. 14 (equipment must be maintained to ensure compliance with effluent limitations).

 

5.         The citizen petitioners fail to point to any actual misrepresentation by AquaSource to IDEM.

 

6.         If the age of the WWTP were relevant OEA cannot grant the relief sought by the citizen petitioners. The citizen petitioners ask that OEA revoke the permit for misrepresentation under 327 IAC 5-2-8. That regulation provides, in relevant part:

 

The following conditions apply to all NPDES permits and shall be incorporated into the permits either expressly or by reference...(4)(a) Permits may be modified, revoked and reissued, or terminated for cause.

 

This regulation merely speaks to the various conditions that IDEM must include in a NPDES permit.

[2002 OEA 41, page 46 begins]

7.         Two other regulations explain who actually holds the authority to revoke a permit for misrepresentation. 327 IAC 5-2-16 and 327 IAC 5-3-3 confer that power to the Commissioner of IDEM. Only after IDEM takes action pursuant to these regulations, such as by revising or terminating the permit, can any opportunity arise for permit review before OEA. OEA lacks the authority to provide the relief sough under the citizen petitions.

 

8.         The citizen petitioners also note that the President of the Floyd County Commissioners now believes that the WWTP should be constructed with all new equipment. Taken as true, this allegation still does not provide a basis for OEA to grant review of the NPDES Permit. Local issues are not within OEA's jurisdiction. See In Re Objections to Renewal of Operating Permit for T.H. Landfill Miami County, IDEM Office of Hearings, Cause No. 89-S-J-264, 1991 WL 540843, *1 (Feb. 15, 1991).

 

9.         The argument that all of the WWTP's equipment must be brand new fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted Ind TR 12 (B)(6) and must be dismissed.

 

Ability of WWTP to meet compliance criteria

 

10.       The citizen petitioners argue that the NPDES Permit must be overturned because previous wastewater treatment facilities in Floyd County have contributed to water pollution and have failed to meet compliance criteria. Amended Petition, P2. This argument raises issues which are unrelated to the instant case and over which OEA has no review authority.

 

11.       The citizen petitioners have not shown that the WWTP will not be able to meet its compliance criteria. Allegations of potential harms from future management of a facility do not challenge the permit's terms and are not reviewable by OEA in a permit appeal. See In Re Objection to Issuance of Approval No. A W 4504, Mr. Gettelfinger, Washington, Indiana, OEA, Cause No. 98-S-J-1958 1998 WL 918589, *2 (Dec. 8, 1998).

 

12.       Even if noncompliance can be shown in the future, it will be subject to a separate enforcement action, one that cannot be raised in this permit appeal. See In Re Objection to Issuance of Section 401 WQC COE ID: 199600554, RDI/Caesars Riverboat Casino, LLC, OEA, Cause No. 97-W-J-1824, 1998 WL 768493, *2 (Jan. 5, 1998) enforcement matters cannot be appealed in a permit action).

 

13.       If AquaSource were to violate its NPDES Permit, IDEM has sufficient authority to bring an enforcement action. In the meantime, OEA has no authority to review speculative claims regarding harms that are expressly reserved to IDEM's enforcement jurisdiction. The citizen petitioners' "noncompliance" argument fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted and must be dismissed.

[2002 OEA 41, page 47 begins]

IDEM's responses to public comments

 

14.       The citizen petitioners argue that IDEM was required to hold a public hearing and that IDEM ignored public comments. These assertions are without merit.

 

15.       Although IDEM elected to hold a public hearing in this case, it was not required to do so. See 327 IAC 5-3-9. More importantly, IDEM is under no obligation to change a permit simply because it receives public comments. See In Re Objections to Issuance of NPDES Permit IN 54429, Chemical Waste Management, Inc., IDEM Office of Hearings, Cause No. 91-W-J-462, 1993 WL 588733, *4 (Jan. 6, 1993) (IDEM does not have to respond to all public comments and does not need to make a change to the NPDES permit in response to comments). The citizen petitioners' claim regarding IDEM's failure to modify the NPDES Permit in response to comments is without basis and must be dismissed.

 

Review of construction permit

 

16.       The citizen petitioners argue that OEA should review the Construction Permit to determine if misrepresentation played a factor in its issuance. Any issues related to the Construction Permit were heard over a year ago and dismissed in an earlier OEA cause. See In Re Objection to Issuance of Permit Approval No. 13814, Reynolds Group Clark County, OEA, Cause No. 00-W-J-2536 (Jan. 3, 2001 Final Order Granting Motion to Dismiss). The citizen petitioners cannot challenge a permit that is not the subject of this appeal. Further, the doctrine of res judicata prevents the citizen petitioners from relitigating any Construction Permit issues.

 

17.       In any event, the citizens' claims of misrepresentation rely solely on their irrelevant issue of the age of the WWTP's equipment. As explained above, the components of the WWTP do not need to be brand new, and regulations governing the termination of the NPDES Permit grant such termination powers to IDEM, not OEA. The citizen petitioners' request for review of the Construction Permit must be dismissed.

 

Floodplain and floodway concerns

 

18.       Lastly, the citizen petitioners argue that the WWTP needs to be moved out of the floodplain and floodway. This identical argument was made during an unsuccessful appeal of the Construction Permit. See In Re Objection to Issuance of Permit Approval No. 13814, Reynolds Group, Clark County, OEA, Cause No. 00-W-J-2536 (Jan. 3, 2001 Final Order Granting Motion to Dismiss).

 

19.       Moreover, floodway issues fall within the province of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and cannot be reviewed by OEA. In Re Objection to Issuance of Solid Waste Facility Permit, Alternate Disposal, Inc., Lake County, OEA, Cause No. 96-S-J-1674, 1997 WL 297843, *4 (May 5, 1997). Because OEA lacks jurisdiction over this issue, it must be dismissed.

[2002 OEA 41, page 48 begins]

Dismissal for failure to participate

 

20.       C.O. Sterling and John Vellinger, despite petitioning for OEA review of the NPDES Permit in August 2001, have since not participated in this administrative proceeding. George Mouser submitted a short response to AquaSource's dispositive motion but has failed to participate in many stages of this proceeding.

 

21.       Indiana Code § 4-21.5-3-24 and 315 IAC 1-3-7(b) authorize OEA to dismiss any party who fails to file a responsive pleading or who otherwise fails to participate in the proceeding. Each of OEA's orders advised all parties that a failure to participate in any stage of the proceeding would provide grounds for default or dismissal. Because these petitioners declined to follow OEA's deadlines and orders to appear in this matter, their petitions will be dismissed. Further, the substantive issues raised in the petitions are addressed above.

 

Order Granting AquaSource's Motions and Denying the Citizens Motion

 

After consideration of the citizen petitions and all of the arguments and evidence presented by the parties, and based upon the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, the Chief  Administrative Law Judge ("CALJ") hereby GRANTS AquaSource's Motion to Dismiss and/or for Summary Judgment and DENIES the citizens' dispositive motion. The CALJ also GRANTS AquaSource's Motion to Dismiss Designated Individuals. It is further ORDERED that each of the citizens' petitions is dismissed with prejudice.

 

This Order does not address the petition for administrative review filed by AquaSource, the review of which OEA deferred pending consideration of the citizen petitions.

 

You are hereby further notified that pursuant to provisions of Indiana Code § 4-21.5-7-5, the Office of Environmental Adjudication serves as the Ultimate Authority in administrative review of decisions of the Commissioner of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. This is a Final Order subject to Judicial Review consistent with applicable provisions of IC 4-21.5. Pursuant to IC 4-21.5-5-5, a Petition for Judicial Review of this Final Order is timely only if it is filed with a civil court of competent jurisdiction within thirty (30) days after the date this notice is served.

 

IT IS SO ORDERED in Indianapolis , Indiana this 18th day of December, 2002.

 

                                                                        Wayne E. Penrod,

Chief Administrative Law Judge

 

[2002 OEA 41: end of opinion]

 


 

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