Document 069VkJgOJX4OGr60J6nQJpmMn

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION 6 1201 ELM STREET, SUITE 500 DALLAS, TEXAS 75270-2102 January 19, 2023 TRANSMITTED VIA E-MAIL Mr. Carol Monroe, Region II Director Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) #2 Backgate Road Tennessee Colony, Texas 75803 carol.monroe@tdcj.texas.gov Administrative Order; Docket Number: CWA-06-2023-1708 TDCJ - Beto Unit Wastewater Treatment Facility TPDES Permit Number: TX0075388 Dear Mr. Monroe: Enclosed is an Administrative Order (AO) issued to TDCJ for violations of the Clean Water Act (CWA) (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.). Violations were identified during a review of the permit file and discharge monitoring reports submitted for the TDCJ - Beto Unit Wastewater Treatment Facility. The violations alleged are for failure to meet permit effluent limitations. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requests that you immediately confirm receipt of this e-mail and the attached order by a response e-mail to vaughn.alan@epa.gov. This AO does not assess a monetary penalty; however, it does require compliance with applicable federal regulations. The first compliance deadline is within thirty days of the effective date of the AO. The EPA is committed to ensuring compliance with the requirements of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program and my staff will assist you in any way possible. Please reference AO Docket Number CWA-06-2023-1708 and TPDES Permit Number TX0075388 on your response. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Alan Vaughn of my staff, at (214) 665-7487 or vaughn.alan@epa.gov. Sincerely, Digitally signed by Seager, Cheryl Date: 2023.01.19 14:30:43 -06'00' Cheryl T. Seager, Director Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division ec: kristy.deaver@tceq.texas.gov UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY Region 6 1201 Elm St. Suite 500 Dallas, TX 75270-2102 FINDINGS OF VIOLATION AND COMPLIANCE ORDER Docket Number: CWA-06-2023-1708; TPDES Permit Number: TX0075388 STATUTORY AUTHORITY The following findings are made, and Order issued, under the authority vested in the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Section 309(a) of the Clean Water Act (the Act), 33 U.S.C. 1319(a). The Administrator of EPA delegated the authority to issue this Order to the Regional Administrator of EPA Region 6, who delegated this authority to the Director of the Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division. FINDINGS 1. Texas Department of Criminal Justice (Respondent) is a "person," as that term is defined at Section 502(5) of the Act, 33 U.S.C. 1362(5), and 40 C.F.R. 122.2. 2. At all times relevant to this Order (all relevant times), Respondent owned or operated the Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Beto Unit Wastewater Treatment Facility (facility) located at 1391 Farm-to-Market Road 3328, Tennessee Colony, Anderson County, Texas 75861, and was, therefore, an "owner or operator" within the meaning of 40 C.F.R. 122.2. 3. At all relevant times, the facility acted as a "point source" of a "discharge" of "pollutants" with its final wastewater discharge to the Trinity River above Lake Livingston in Segment No. 0804 of the Trinity River Basin, which is a "water of the United States," within the meaning of Section 502 of the Act, 33 U.S.C. 1362, and 40 C.F.R. 122.2. 4. Because Respondent owned or operated a facility that acted as a point source of discharges of pollutants to waters of the United States, Respondent and the facility were subject to the Act and the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program. 5. Under Section 301 of the Act, 33 U.S.C. 1311, it is unlawful for any person to discharge any pollutant from a point source to waters of the United States, except with the authorization of, and in compliance with, an NPDES permit issued pursuant to Section 402 of the Act, 33 U.S.C. 1342. 6. Section 402(a) of the Act, 33 U.S.C. 1342(a), provides that the Administrator of EPA may issue permits under the NPDES program for the discharge of pollutants from point sources to waters of the United States. Any such discharge is subject to the specific terms and conditions prescribed in the applicable permit. 7. Section 402 of the Act, 33 U.S.C. 1342, authorizes states to request approval from EPA to administer their own permit programs for discharges into navigable waters within their jurisdiction. Pursuant to this provision, the State of Texas requested approval from EPA to administer its own permit program for discharges into navigable waters within Texas, and such approval was granted by EPA on September 14, 1998. Therefore, pursuant to the State's permit program, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) issued Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) permits. Violation of a TPDES permit is a violation of Section 301(a) of the Act, 33 U.S.C. 1311(a). 8. Respondent applied for and was issued TPDES Permit No. TX0075388 (permit) under Section 402 of the Act, 33 U.S.C. 1342, which was issued on May 9, 2017, and re-issued on April 22, 2022. At all relevant times, Respondent was authorized to discharge pollutants from the facility to waters of the United States only in compliance with the specific terms and conditions of the permit. 9. The permit includes "Monitoring and Reporting Requirements" that require Respondent to sample and test its effluent and monitor its compliance with permit conditions according to specific procedures, in order to determine the facility's compliance or noncompliance with the permit and applicable regulations. The permit also requires Respondent to file with TCEQ certified Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs) of the results of monitoring, and Noncompliance Reports when appropriate. 10. The permit contains "Effluent Limitations and Monitoring Requirements" that place certain limitations on the quality and quantity of effluent discharged by Respondent. The relevant discharge limitations are specified in Attachment A, which is incorporated herein by reference. 11. Certified DMRs filed by Respondent with TCEQ in compliance with the permit show discharges of pollutants from the facility that exceed the permitted effluent limitations established in the permit, as specified in Attachment B, which is incorporated herein by reference. 12. Each instance in which Respondent discharged pollutants to waters of the United States in amounts exceeding the effluent limitations contained in the permit was a violation of the permit and Section 301 of the Act, 33 U.S.C. 1311. Docket No. CWA-06-2023-1708 Page 2 SECTION 309(a)(3) COMPLIANCE ORDER GENERAL PROVISIONS Based on the foregoing Findings and pursuant to the authority of Section 309(a)(3) of the Act, 33 U.S.C. 1319(a)(3), EPA hereby orders Respondent to take the following action: A. Take such measures as are necessary to comply with all permit conditions, including Effluent Limitations and Monitoring and Reporting Requirements, no later than thirty (30) days from the effective date of the Order. B. Within thirty (30) days of the effective date of this Order, Respondent shall submit a list of the specific actions taken to correct the Total Suspended Solids, Total Copper, Ammonia Nitrogen, Whole Effluent Toxicity, and Total Residual Chlorine violations. C. Within thirty (30) days of the effective date of this Order, Respondent shall provide written certification to EPA Region 6 that the violations cited herein have been corrected and the facility is compliant with the requirements of the permit. D. In the event the Respondent believes complete correction of the violations cited herein is not possible within thirty (30) days of the effective date of this Order, Respondent shall, within thirty (30) days of the effective date of this Order, submit a comprehensive written plan for the elimination of the cited violations within the shortest possible time. Such plan shall describe in detail the specific corrective actions to be taken and why such actions are sufficient to correct the violations. The plan shall include a detailed schedule for the elimination of the violations within the shortest possible time, as well as measures to prevent these or similar violations from recurring. E. Any information or correspondence submitted by Respondent to EPA under this Order shall be addressed to the following: Mr. Alan Vaughn Water Enforcement Branch (ECDWM) U.S. EPA, Region 6 1201 Elm St. Suite 500 Dallas, TX 75270-2102 and vaughn.alan@epa.gov Respondent may seek federal judicial review of the Order pursuant to Chapter 7 of the Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. 701-706. Issuance of this Section 309(a)(3) Compliance Order shall not be deemed an election by EPA to waive any administrative, judicial, civil or criminal action to seek penalties, fines or other relief under the Act for the violations cited herein, or other violations that become known to EPA. EPA reserves the right to seek any remedy available under the law that it deems appropriate. Failure to comply with this Section 309(a)(3) Compliance Order or the Act may result in further administrative action, or a civil judicial action initiated by the United States Department of Justice. This Order does not constitute a waiver or modification of the terms or conditions of Respondent's NPDES permit, which remain in full force and effect. Compliance with the terms and conditions of this Order does not relieve Respondent of its obligation to comply with any applicable federal, state, or local law or regulation. The effective date of this Order is the date it is received by Respondent. -DQXDU\ Date Digitally signed by Seager, Cheryl Date: 2023.01.19 14:30:00 -06'00' Cheryl T. Seager, Director Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division Attachment A Texas Department of Criminal Justice (Beto Unit) - TX0075388 Permit Limits Effluent Characteristics Discharge Limitations Outfall 001 Total Copper Daily Avg. mg/L (lbs/day) 0.048 (0.577) Ammonia Nitrogen Total Suspended Solids Whole Effluent Toxicity - C. dubia 2 (24) 15 (180) Monthly Avg. Minimum 100% Daily Max. mg/L (lbs/day) 0.1 10 40 7 Day Minimum 100% The effluent shall contain a chlorine residual of at least 1.0 mg/L after a detention time of at least 20 minutes (based on peak flow) and shall be monitored daily by grab sample at each chlorine contact chamber. The Permittee shall dechlorinate the chlorinated effluent to less than 0.1 mg/L of chlorine residual and shall monitor chlorine residual daily be grab sample after the dechlorination process. The effluent shall contain a minimum dissolved oxygen of 6.0 mg/L and shall be monitored twice per week by grab sample. Attachment B Texas Department of Criminal Justice - TX0075388 Effluent Violations Monitoring Period Outfall Parameter 01/31/2020 001 Solids, total suspended 06/30/2020 TX1 Whole Effluent Toxicity [WET] - C. dubia 06/30/2020 TX1 Whole Effluent Toxicity [WET] - C. dubia 08/31/2021 001 Oxygen, dissolved [DO] 01/31/2022 001 Copper, total [as Cu] 01/31/2022 001 Copper, total [as Cu] 01/31/2022 001 Solids, total suspended 01/31/2022 001 Solids, total suspended 02/28/2022 001 Copper, total [as Cu] 03/31/2022 001 Chlorine, total residual 03/31/2022 001 Copper, total [as Cu] 03/31/2022 001 Copper, total [as Cu] 05/31/2022 001 Copper, total [as Cu] 05/31/2022 001 Copper, total [as Cu] 06/30/2022 001 Copper, total [as Cu] 07/31/2022 001 Nitrogen, ammonia total [as N] Statistical Base DAILY AV 7 DA MIN MO AV MIN MO MIN DAILY AV DAILY MX DAILY AV DAILY MX DAILY AV MO MIN DAILY AV DAILY MX DAILY AV DAILY MX DAILY AV DAILY MX Units mg/L % % mg/L mg/L mg/L mg/L mg/L mg/L mg/L mg/L mg/L mg/L mg/L mg/L mg/L Permit DMR Limit Value 15. 21.4 100. 80. 100. 80. 6. 4.2 .048 .0783 .1 .135 15. 23.4 40. 53.3 .048 .0671 1. .22 .048 .0663 .1 .105 .048 .0495 .1 .105 .048 .059 10. 14.