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EPA in Kansas

Thorn Creek Basin Sanitary District - Clean Water Act Public Notice

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

In accordance with Section 309(g)(4)(A) of the Clean Water Act (“CWA”), 33 U.S.C. § 1319(g)(4)(A), and 40 C.F.R. § 22.45 of the Consolidated Rules of Practice Governing the Administrative Assessment of Civil Penalties and the Revocation/Termination or Suspension of Permits (“Consolidated Rules”), the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) is providing notice of a proposed Administrative Penalty Assessment in the form of an Expedited Settlement Agreement (“ESA”) against Thorn Creek Basin Sanitary District, Chicago Heights, Illinois, for alleged violations in Cook County, Illinois.

Under Section 309(g) of the CWA, 33 U.S.C. § 1319(g), the EPA is authorized to issue orders assessing civil penalties for various violations of the CWA. The EPA may issue such orders after filing a Complaint commencing either a Class I or Class II penalty proceeding. The EPA provides notice of the proposed assessment of a Class I civil penalty pursuant to 33 U.S.C. § 1319(g)(4)(A). Class I proceedings are conducted under the EPA’s Consolidated Rules, 40 C.F.R. Part 22.

In this case, the EPA alleges that Respondent violated the requirements of its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit (Permit ILL027723), Section 405 of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1345 and/or 40 C.F.R 503. The EPA alleges that Respondent failed to: (1) monitor for Arsenic, Mercury, Molybdenum, and Selenium at the frequency required in 2018 and (2) land applied biosolids above agronomic rate twice in 2019. Respondent has reached agreement with the EPA on the terms of a proposed ESA which would resolve this matter. Under the proposed ESA, Respondent will pay a civil penalty of $4,000. Final approval of the proposed ESA is subject to the requirements of 40 C.F.R. § 22.45.

The EPA will receive written comments on the proposed Administrative Penalty Assessment for a period of thirty (30) days from the date of publication of this notice. All such comments shall be submitted to the Regional Hearing Clerk at the email address provided below. The procedures by which the public may submit written comments on a proposed Class I order or participate in a Class I proceeding, and the procedures by which a respondent may request a hearing, are set forth in the Consolidated Rules. Persons wishing to obtain additional information on the proceeding, receive a copy of the EPA’s Consolidated Rules, review the proposed ESA, comment upon the proposed penalty assessment, or otherwise participate in the proceeding should contact Regional Hearing Clerk, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 7, at R7_Hearing_Clerk_Filings@epa.gov or 913-551-7972. Please reference Docket No. CWA-07-2021-0003. For Technical questions contact Erin Kleffner, Compliance Officer, Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division, at kleffner.erin@epa.gov or 913-551-7921. Persons with legal questions may contact Sarah Moreno, Paralegal, Office of Regional Counsel, at moreno.sarah@epa.gov or 913-551-7206. In order to provide opportunity for public comment, the EPA will issue no final order assessing a penalty in this proceeding prior to forty (40) days from the date of this notice.

2020.12.17
Date
/s/ David Cozad
David Cozad
Director
Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division
U.S. EPA, Region 7

Summary

The EPA is providing notice of a proposed Administrative Penalty Assessment in the form of an Expedited Settlement Agreement (“ESA”) against Thorn Creek Basin Sanitary District, Chicago Heights, Illinois, for alleged violations in Cook County, Illinois. 

Program/Statute:  Clean Water Act (CWA)

Applicant/Respondent(s):

Thorn Creek Basin Sanitary District
Chicago Heights, IL

Proposed action: Public Notice of Clean Water Act Adminstrative Penalty Settlement

Docket ID: CWA-07-2021-0003


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