Document 3JZjOm927p5yVJwVkDEn7DQEJ

From: To: Cc: Subject: Date: Attachments: Importance: Harris, Jamie S. (she/her/hers) Catron, Brad - FS, WY; Wolffing, Christopher - FS, WY; kathy.kennedy@usda.gov Shalkey, Jane FW: EPA Notice of RTCR Noncompliance: WY5680243 - Bighorn National Forest - Ranger Creek CG Thursday, February 22, 2024 5:22:22 PM WY5680243_Bighorn National Forest Ranger Creek CG_RTCR_L1 2023 Assess 2A NOV_2023.11.07 .pdf High Hello- Bighorn National Forest - Ranger Creek CG triggered a Level 1 Assessment in 2023 that was never completed. The attached notice of violation was sent to Chris Atkinson, who is no longer with this facility. The only way to return the system to compliance for this violation is to complete a Level 1 Assessment once the system is operating but before serving water to the public in 2024. The public notice is also required once the public is being served water. Thanks, Jamie ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jamie Harris (Pronouns: she/her/hers) Environmental Scientist | Revised Total Coliform Rule Manager | U.S. EPA Region 8 | Harris.Jamie@epa.gov | 303-3126072 (office) Make sure EPA received your sample results at https://sdwisdww.epa.gov/DWWR8WY. From: Morgan, Ronald <Morgan.Ronald@epa.gov> On Behalf Of EPA Region 8 Drinking Water Unit Sent: Wednesday, November 8, 2023 12:55 PM To: christopher.atkinson@usda.gov Cc: jason.ruybal@usda.gov; Harris, Jamie S. (she/her/hers) <Harris.Jamie@epa.gov>; Shalkey, Jane <Shalkey.Jane@epa.gov> Subject: EPA Notice of RTCR Noncompliance: WY5680243 - Bighorn National Forest - Ranger Creek CG Attached are official documents from EPA Region 8 regarding your public water system. Please read, take necessary actions, and retain for your records. UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION 8 1595 Wynkoop Street Denver, CO 80202-1129 Phone 800-227-8917 www.epa.gov/region8 Ref: 8WD-SDB November 7, 2023 SENT VIA EMAIL Bighorn National Forest - Ranger Creek CG c/o Chris Atkinson 2013 Eastside 2nd Street Sheridan, Wyoming 82801 christopher.atkinson@usda.gov Re: Notice of Noncompliance Revised Total Coliform Rule Failure to Conduct Level 1 Assessment PWS ID# WY5680243 NC Dear Mr. Atkinson: The purpose of this letter is to inform you that Bighorn National Forest - Ranger Creek CG has failed to submit a Level 1 Assessment to EPA by October 17, 2023, as required by 40 C.F.R. 141.859-141.860 of the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWR). Level 1 Assessments are triggered when the water system has multiple total coliform positive results in the same month or the system has failed to collect all required repeat samples after a total coliform positive routine sample. The Level 1 Assessment was due within 30 days after monitoring results triggered the Assessment. If you completed the Level 1 Assessment, please forward a copy to our office using one of the methods listed below. Include your PWS name and PWS ID# on all correspondence. Email: R8DWU@epa.gov Fax: 1(877) 876-9101 Mail: Refer to the address at the top of this letter. Use Mail Code 8WD-SDB on the envelope. If you cannot provide the Level 1 Assessment for this time period, this is a violation of NPDWR. If not already done, please take the following actions: (1) Complete a Level 1 Assessment and send it to EPA via one of the above methods within 30 days of receiving this letter. A blank Level 1 Assessment form is attached. A Microsoft Word version of the form is available at https://www.epa.gov/region8-waterops/revisedtotal-coliform-rule-level-1-assessment-form. (2) Within 30 days, notify your customers of this treatment technique violation by posting the notice in conspicuous locations throughout the distribution system frequented by persons served by the system, or by mail or direct delivery to each customer and service connection (where known); and (3) You must also use any other method reasonably calculated to reach other persons served by the system if they would not normally be reached by the notice required above. Such persons may include those served who may not see a posted notice because the posted notice is not in a location they routinely pass by. Other methods may include: Publication in a local newspaper or newsletter distributed to customers; use of E-mail to notify employees or students; or, delivery of multiple copies in central locations (e.g., community centers). Enclosed is a copy of a public notice that meets all of the Federal requirements or you may consult Template 2-21 at the following website: https://www.epa.gov/dwreginfo/publicnotification-instructions-and-templates-revised-total-coliform-rule-rtcr. (4) Please forward a copy of your public notice to our office within ten days of completion. You should be aware that violations of the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations may result in formal enforcement action taken against your water system. If formal enforcement action were to be necessary, the Safe Drinking Water Act provides for civil penalties of up to $67,544 per day of violation. We prefer to resolve problems before such formal enforcement is necessary and ask your cooperation to rectify problems quickly and effectively. If you have any questions, please contact Jamie Harris at 303-312-6072 or by email at harris.jamie@epa.gov. Sincerely, JUDY BLOOM Digitally signed by JUDY BLOOM Date: 2023.11.07 22:15:27 -07'00' Judy Bloom Supervisor, Drinking Water Section B Water Division Enclosure(s) cc: Mr. Jason Ruybal, Forest Engineer Bighorn National Forest jason.ruybal@usda.gov IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER ______________________ Failed to Perform Activities Required to Address [Water System Name] Coliform Bacteria Contamination of the Water System During recent routine monitoring, our water system tested positive for total coliforms. *Coliforms are bacteria that are naturally present in the environment and are used as an indicator that other, potentially harmful, waterborne pathogens may be present or that a potential pathway exists through which contamination may enter the drinking water distribution system. We found coliforms indicating the need to look for potential problems in water treatment or distribution. When this occurs, we are required to conduct assessments to identify problems and to correct any problems that are found.* We failed to conduct the required assessment by _________________________ . [date assessment was due] As our customers, you have a right to know what happened and what we are doing to correct this situation. What should I do? x You do not need to boil your water or take other corrective actions. However, if you have specific health concerns, consult your doctor. x If you have a severely compromised immune system, are pregnant, or are elderly, you may be at increased risk and should seek advice from your healthcare provider about drinking this water. You should also seek advice from your healthcare provider about using the water if you have an infant. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by bacteria and other disease-causing organisms are available from EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1800-426-4791. What does this mean? Since total coliform bacteria are generally not harmful themselves, this is not an emergency. If it had been you would have been notified within 24 hours. Failure to identify and correct the defects has the potential to cause continued distribution system contamination. Inadequately treated or inadequately protected water may contain disease-causing organisms. These organisms can cause symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, cramps, and associated headaches. What is being done? ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ [Describe corrective action including when your water system expects to return to compliance or resolve the violation.] For more information, please contact _______________________________ at ___________________________________. [name of contact] [phone number] or [mailing address] *Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.* This notice is being sent to you by ___________________________________ State Water System ID#: _________________. [water system name] [PWSID] Date distributed: _____________. Instructions for Public Notification Description of Violation or Situation Beginning April 1, 2016, a public water system triggers a Level 1 assessment when: For systems taking 40 or more samples (including routine and repeat samples) per month, the public water system exceeds 5.0 percent total coliform-positive samples for the month; For systems taking fewer than 40 samples (including routine and repeat samples) per month, the public water system has two or more total coliform-positive samples in the same month; or The public water system fails to take every required repeat sample after any single routine total coliform-positive sample. Treatment technique (TT) violations related to triggered assessments occur when any public water system has: Failed to conduct the triggered Level 1 or Level 2 assessment within 30 days after learning that it has exceeded the trigger; or Failed to correct any sanitary defect found through a Level 1 or Level 2 assessment within 30 days or in accordance with a schedule acceptable to EPA. TT violations related to any Level 1 assessment or to a Level 2 assessment that is not triggered by an E. coli MCL violation require similar Tier 2 public notice. You must provide public notice to persons served as soon as practical but no later than 30 days after you learn of the violation [40 CFR 141.203(b)]. You must issue a repeat notice every three months for as long as the violation persists. Check with EPA to make sure you meet all requirements. Community water systems (CWSs) must use one of the following methods to deliver the notice to consumers [40 CFR 141.203(c)]: x Hand or direct delivery x Mail, as a separate notice or included with the bill (if delivered within 30 days of the violation) x Another method approved in writing by the EPA Non-community water systems (NCWSs) must use one of the following methods to deliver the notice to consumers [40 CFR 141.203(c)]: x Posting in conspicuous locations x Hand delivery x Mail x Another method approved in writing by the EPA In addition, both CWSs and NCWSs must use another method reasonably calculated to reach others if they would not be reached by the first method [40 CFR 141.203(c)]. Such methods could include newspapers, e-mail, or delivery to community organizations. If you mail, post, or hand deliver, EPA recommends printing your notice on your system's letterhead, if available. The notice on the reverse is appropriate for mailing, posting, or hand delivery. If you modify this notice, you must still include all required public notice elements from 40 CFR 141.205(a) and leave the mandatory language unchanged (see below). All posted notices must remain in place for as long as the violation or situation persists but in no case for less than seven days, even if the violation or situation is resolved. Mandatory Language Mandatory language on health effects (from Appendix B to 40 CFR 141 Subpart Q) must be included as written and is presented in this notice in italics with an asterisk on each end. *Coliforms are bacteria that are naturally present in the environment and are used as an indicator that other, potentially harmful, waterborne pathogens may be present or that a potential pathway exists through which contamination may enter the drinking water distribution system. We found coliforms indicating the need to look for potential problems in water treatment or distribution. When this occurs, we are required to conduct assessments to identify problems and to correct any problems that are found.* You are also required to include one or both of the following statements, also presented in this notice in italics with an asterisk on each end, as appropriate for the violation: *We failed to conduct the required assessment.* *We failed to correct all identified sanitary defects that were found during the assessment that we conducted.* You must also include standard language to encourage the distribution of the public notice to all persons served, where applicable [40 CFR 141.205(d)]. This language is also provided below and presented in this notice in italics with an asterisk on each end. *Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.* Corrective Action The specific cause(s) of total coliforms in the distribution system that triggered the assessment will likely differ from system to system. Your notice must describe the corrective action(s) you are taking [40 CFR 141.205(a)(7)] to address the TT violation and when you expect to return to compliance or resolve the situation [40 CFR 141.205(a)(8)]. You can use one or more of the following statements, if appropriate, or develop your own text. x We have begun to correct the sanitary defect(s) identified during an assessment of our water system by taking the following corrective actions: [Describe corrective actions]. x To ensure that our water system is protected against contamination, we are working with EPA to implement the following corrective actions: [Describe corrective actions]. x We completed the required assessment and identified the cause of the sanitary defect to be addressed [describe the issue or problem found, for example, damage to the storage tank, a missing vent screen, etc.] We are currently correcting the problem on a schedule approved by EPA. After Issuing the Notice Make sure to send a copy of each type of notice and a certification that you have met all the public notification requirements to EPA within 10 days after the original or any repeat notice(s) [40 CFR 141.31(d)]. It is a good idea to inform your consumers when the violation has been resolved. See Template 1-6 of the Revised Public Notification Handbook (2nd Revision of Document: EPA 816-R-09-013, March 2010) and Template NC-7 of the Public Notification Handbook for Transient Non-community Water Systems, EPA 816-R-09-009, March 2010 for a "problem corrected" notice template. Send the copy of your public notice and certification to: Email: R8DWU@epa.gov (preferred) Fax: 1(877) 876-9101 Mail: Refer to the address at the top of your notice of violation letter. Use Mail Code 8WD-SDB on the envelope. If you have questions about your Revised Total Coliform Rule violation, please call Jamie Harris, the RTCR Manager at 1-303-312-6072. CERTIFICATION OF PUBLIC NOTIFICATION I _____________________________ certify that the attached public notice was issued from (PWS Operator/Responsible Party) ________________________ to ___________________. The notice attached was delivered by (Date) (Date) ___________________________________ for failure to complete a Level 1 Assessment that (Describe method of delivery - by hand, mail, etc) was due on ________________. (Date) Signature __________________________________________ Date ___________________________ Public Water System Name: ___________________________ PWS ID Number: _________________ Rev. 05/23/2019