Document DMmYaMENYxOjBzONddNznrgL4
May 14, 2025
TRANSMITTED VIA EMAIL
Michael Dozier Wastewater Management Director City of Santa Fe P.O. Box 909 Santa Fe, NM 87504-0909 mldozier@santafenm.gov
Re: Administrative Order Docket Number: CWA-06-2024-1765 Santa Fe Wastewater Treatment Facility, NPDES Permit: NM0022292
Dear Mr. Dozier:
On April 24, 2025, our office received a request from you regarding Administrative Order (AO), Docket No. CWA-06-2024-1765, issued to the City of Santa Fe, New Mexico. The request is for an extension of required Activities Nos. 3, 5, 8, and 9 in the schedule of compliance incorporated into the AO.
The request is due to delays in the repair schedule related to weather conditions, unforeseen repairs when the basin was drained and taken out of service, and equipment and parts availability for activities #3 and 5. Activities No. 8 and 9 would allow more time to complete all written procedures and training needs since multiple modules and various protocols have been developed for both the operations and the laboratory staff.
The extension request has been approved and the due dates have been extended based on the following changes to the schedule of compliance.
Activity 3 5 8
Description
Collect influent and effluent samples for analysis, to be conducted by an outside laboratory, to determine if the cyanide exceedances are real or an artifact of false positives. Repair failed process air piping and diffuser grids to increase the secondary treatment aerobic volume. Build a comprehensive base of knowledge management tools and decision trees to guide plant staff with use of the developed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
Original Due Date
September 30, 2024
September 30, 2024
September 30, 2024
Extended Due Date
June 30, 2025
June 30, 2025
October 31, 2025
Train laboratory staff to improve laboratory sampling and
9 handling practices, data management, workflow, and
September 30, October 31,
develop communications protocol for all testing performed
2024
2025
to support treatment operations and regulatory compliance.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is committed to ensuring the implementation of, and compliance with, the Clean Water Act (CWA), 33 U.S.C. 1251-1387, and NPDES permits issued under the CWA, which helps to meet its mission of protecting human health and the environment. This office helps meet the mission through compliance assistance and/or enforcement proceedings where necessary.
Granting this extension to the AO is by the discretion of this office. Issuance of an extension 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.
Sincerely,
Enclosure
Cheryl T. Seager, Director Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division
e.c. Ms. Shelly Lemon NMED Water Bureau Chief shelly.lemon@env.nm.gov
Ms. Susan LucasKamat NMED Surface Water Quality Bureau susan.lucaskamat@env.nm.gov