Document NGDd482wmrQMJbQR0bvJvNL5p

Purpose: NPDES SSO Inspection Trip Report Facility: City of Cahokia Heights, Illinois NPDES ID Number (No NPDES Permit): ILN000019 Dates of Inspection: May 4, 2022 - May 6, 2022 Illinois EPA Inspectors: None EPA Inspectors: Dean Maraldo, EPA Region 5; (312) 353-2098; maraldo.dean@epa.gov Joan Rogers, EPA Region 5; (312) 886-2785; rogers.joan@epa.gov Ted Flatebo, EPA Region 5; (312) 886-9402; flatebo.ted@epa.gov City of Cahokia Heights Representatives: None Inspection Trip Report Prepared by: Joan Rogers, EPA Region 5 Inspector DINO Digitally signed by DINO MARALDO EPA Inspector Signature and Date: _M_A__R_A__L_D_O_____D14a_:t3e_0::21_00_2-20_.50'_50.02_'3__________________________ JOAN Digitally signed by JOAN ROGERS EPA Inspector Signature and Date: _R_O__G_E__R_S______D15a_:t3e_9::21_08_2-20_.50'_50.02_'0__________________________ Flatebo, Digitally signed by Flatebo, Theodore EPA Inspector Signature and Date: _T_h_e_o__d_o_r_e_____D12a_:t0e_2::2_404_2-20_.50_'50.0_2'3__________________________ Approver Name & Title: Ryan Bahr, Manager, Water Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Branch Section 2 Digitally signed by Bahr, Bahr, Ryan Ryan Date: 2022.05.24 Approval Signature and Date:______________17_:5_5:4_2_-0_5'_00_' ___________________________ Page 1 City of Cahokia Heights May 4, 2022 - May 6, 2022 Table of Contents Section 1: May 4, 2022............................................................................................................................ 2 Section 2: May 5, 2022............................................................................................................................ 4 Section 3: May 6, 2022.......................................................................................................................... 12 Section 1: May 4, 2022 On May 4, 2022, EPA staff members Dean Maraldo, Joan Rogers, and Ted Flatebo traveled to Cahokia Heights (City) and observed locations in Cahokia Heights that have had previous Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs) or where the City has to manually operate a lift station. EPA attorneys Deborah Carlson and Gillian Asque and Department of Justice attorneys Lauren Grady and Nick McDaniel accompanied the EPA inspectors. Collectively, the inspectors and attorneys will be referred to as the EPA Team in this trip report. EPA notified the City of the activities prior to the trip. All photos taken by Joan Rogers, Environmental Scientist/Inspector, U.S. EPA Table 1 describes the locations, times, and observations from May 4, 2022. Table 1: May 4, 2022 Observations Location Time Lauralee & Violet Lift Station 12:58 P.M. Block House Lift Station 1:15 P.M. Manhole near Block House Lift Station Lady of Snows Lift Station 1:20 P.M. 1:37 P.M. Lake Drive and North 82nd Street intersection 1:54 P.M. SSO from cleanout on North 82nd Street Observations The lift station was not overflowing. The lift station was enclosed with orange plastic fencing and not secured. The door to the Block House was not locked. The wet well inside the Block House was partially covered with a plywood board. The manhole was unsecured and was full of water. The lift station was unsecured. The pump was running at the time of observation. Water was actively being discharged via a rigid pipe into the manhole at the top of the hill. Erosional rills along the banks of Canal #1 near the overpass over the canal were observed. Mr. Joe Stitely, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency inspector, joined the EPA Team. The cleanout was not overflowing. EPA Team spoke with the property owner who lives next door. He suggested that if the ditches were cleaned out, there would be less flooding in the area. Page 2 City of Cahokia Heights May 4, 2022 - May 6, 2022 North 82nd Street & Bluff Street Lift Station 2:21 P.M. North 82nd Street and Ridge Avenue manhole 2:26 P.M. Canal #1 and ditch from behind homes on North 82nd Street 2:44 P.M. Lake Drive Pill Box Lift Station (Lake Drive and 71st Street) 63rd Street and Pittsburgh Drive intersection 3:00 P.M. 3:10 P.M. Beachland Lift Station (Lake 3:15 P.M. Street and Beachland Place) East St. Louis' CSO Outfall 003 at Frank Holten State Park Lake (Lake Drive and North 47th Street) 4200 Missouri Avenue Lift Station (previously named the Pocket Road Lift Station in EPA reports) 3:26 P.M. 3:53 P.M. The submersible pump in the manhole was not running but the EPA Team could hear water moving in the manhole. The EPA Team observed that the flow in the manhole was flowing to the southwest instead of to the northeast and to the East St. Louis Trunk line, as it was supposed to do. EPA did not hear any water movement from this manhole and there was no evidence of an overflow. Mr. Stitely stated that he heard a report that there was a debris blockage in the East St. Louis (ESL) sewer pipe on State Street and the ESL sewer workers removed it approximately one week ago. There was light flow in the ditch to Canal #1. The EPA Team observed both the inlet flow to the culverts under Lake Street and the outlet flow to Canal #1. The EPA Team observed that there was no warning light installed at this lift station. The wet well was full. There is a water hydrant flusher attached to a hydrant near this intersection. The dripping from the flusher has eroded a hole beneath the flusher. The lift station structure is dented, and the cover is not secured. In the street, there is a hole where a drinking water line is exposed. The hole is not secured, and EPA observed a copper water tap line coming from the underground pipe. The EPA Team observed evidence of fishing activity and no signage indicating that this was a CSO (Combined Sewer Overflow) Outfall. The gate around the lift station was closed and had a chain around the gates, but it was not locked. The EPA Team observed that the pump was continuously running, but water was coming back into the wet well from the location of the force main out of the station. Wet well was low, it contained approximately 6 inches of water. Page 3 City of Cahokia Heights May 4, 2022 - May 6, 2022 401 Jackson Lift Station (Pocket Road and Jackson Street) 4:07 P.M. 600 Golden Road Lift Station (Golden Street and Dorsey Street) 4:15 P.M. Stormwater culvert for water from the bluff to go under Route 157. Creston Drive Lift Station (Creston Drive near Hazel Avenue) 4:37 P.M. 4:58 P.M. There was a sheet of plywood and small wood pieces on top of the wet well, but it was not secured. Yellow caution tape was strung around the electric pole at the lift station. This lift station was recently renovated (October 2020). On the day of observation, the pumps were not functional and there was a towbehind pump located at the site. The floats in the wet well were pulled out and were lying on the ground near the wet well. The level of water in the wet well was high. The electrical panel and gate were not secured. The red light on top of the control panel was flashing on and off. A large concrete culvert under Route 157 allows flow off the bluff to flow under the road and to the neighborhood ditches below. This lift station is fenced, locked, and the fence has security tape through the slats. Section 2: May 5, 2022 Beginning in the evening on May 4, 2022, and through the late morning of May 5, 2022, the region received approximately one inch of rain. On May 5, 2022, EPA inspectors Ted Flatebo and Joan Rogers (EPA) observed many of the same locations that the EPA Team observed on May 4, 2022. Below are the observations by EPA. Table 2 describes the locations, times, and observations from May 5, 2022. Table 2: May 5, 2022 Observations Location Time SSO from cleanout on North 82nd Street 9:33 A.M. North 82nd Street & Bluff Street Lift Station 9:37 A.M. North 82nd Street & Belleview Avenue Lift Station 9:39 A.M. Observations The clean out was flowing at the time of observation. Heard sound of flowing water coming from manhole in the center of the intersection. Water was observed flowing in the sanitary sewer system to the southwest, which is in the opposite direction of the City of East St. Louis collection system where this water is designed to drain to. Heard sound of flowing water coming from manhole in Belleview Avenue. Page 4 City of Cahokia Heights May 4, 2022 - May 6, 2022 Lake Drive Pill Box Lift Station (Lake Drive and 71st Street) 9:49 A.M. The EPA Team observed that there was no warning light installed at this lift station. Two City of Cahokia Heights employees were actively bypassing this lift station at the time of observation. They were using a pump in the back of a pickup truck and a three-inch hose. The employees stated it would take them a few hours to complete the bypass for this lift station and then they would continue to bypass additional inoperable lift stations in the afternoon. 600 Golden Road Lift Station (Golden Street and Dorsey Street) 10:09 A.M. The hose the City employees were using to bypass had at least four small holes in it where sanitary waste was leaking out. Some of the sanitary waste was falling into the open manhole where the waste was being pumped out of, and some of the sanitary waste was being released into the roadside ditch. EPA did not observe this wastewater reach a Water of the United States. This lift station was recently renovated (October 2020). On the day of observation, the pumps were not functional and there was a towbehind pump located at the site. The floats in the wet well were pulled out and were lying on the ground near the wet well. The electrical panel and gate were not secured. The red light on top of the control panel was flashing on and off. 4200 Missouri Avenue Lift Station (previously named the Pocket Road Lift Station in EPA reports) 10:14 A.M. The wet well was approximately 30% full. City of Cahokia staff stated they would manually bypass this lift station on May 5, 2022, but it appeared they had not yet bypassed it. The gate around the lift station was closed and had a chain around the gates, but it was not locked. The EPA Team observed that the pump was continuously running, but water was coming back into the wet well from the location of the force main out of the station. Wet well was high, there was only about 6 inches between the water level and the top of the wet well. The water level in the wet well appeared to be steady at the time of observation. Page 5 City of Cahokia Heights May 4, 2022 - May 6, 2022 401 Jackson Lift Station (Pocket Road and Jackson Street) 10:24 A.M. There was a sheet of plywood and small wood pieces on top of the wet well, but it was not secured. Yellow caution tape was strung around the electric pole at the lift station. 323 Pfieffer Road Lift Station (Pfieffer Road and Johnson Lane) 10:28 A.M. The wet well was approximately 30% full. City of Cahokia staff stated they would manually bypass this lift station on May 5, 2022, but it appeared they had not yet bypassed it. The gate around the lift station was closed and had a chain around the gates, but it was not locked. The open wet well was covered by a wooden pallet. Lady of Snows Lift Station Lauralee & Violet Lift Station Diversion Station (Jerome Lane and Mousette Lane) City of East St. Louis Stormwater Pump Station SSO from cleanout on North 82nd Street 10:41 A.M. 10:50 A.M. 11:16 A.M. 11:32 A.M. 11:42 A.M. The wet well was approximately 30% full. City of Cahokia staff stated they would manually bypass this lift station on May 5, 2022, but it appeared they had not yet bypassed it. The lift station was unsecured. The pump was running at the time of observation. Water was actively being discharged via a rigid pipe into the manhole at the top of the hill. The lift station was not overflowing. The lift station was enclosed with orange plastic fencing and not secured. A strong sewage odor was noted near the wet well. Both lift stations were secured and no problems were observed. Adjacent to the station there is hole in the ground with a large concrete pipe exposed. The pipe had a crack in it but it was not leaking and there was no water in the hole. The door to the pump station was secured. EPA could not readily identify if the pump station was operating. The clean out was flowing at the time of observation. Lake Drive Pill Box Lift Station (Lake Drive and 71st Street) City of East St. Louis' CSO Outfall 003 at Frank Holten State Park Lake (Lake Drive and North 47th Street) 11:48 A.M. 11:52 A.M. At the time of observation, City of Cahokia Heights staff was no long present, and the lift station was no longer being actively bypassed. The EPA Team observed fishing bobs and fishing line entangled in the vegetation around the CSO Outfall. This was evidence of fishing activity and there was no signage indicating that this was a CSO Outfall. Page 6 City of Cahokia Heights May 4, 2022 - May 6, 2022 City of East St. Louis Pump Station (47th Street and State Street) 11:56 A.M. The door to the pump station was secured. EPA could not readily identify if the pump station was operating. 1: BELL0001 (edited to remove Personally Identifiable Information (PII)) Description: SSO from the cleanout on North 82nd Street. Location: North 82nd Street. Camera Direction: Northwest and down Date/Time: May 5, 2022/10:34 A.M. Page 7 City of Cahokia Heights May 4, 2022 - May 6, 2022 2: BELL0002 Description: The non-functioning lift station at Lake Street and 71st Street was being bypassed by the City of Cahokia Heights personnel. The hose used to bypass the lift station leaked sewage. One of the leaks of sewage went into the ditch by the side of the 71st Street. Location: Lake Street and 71st Street. Camera Direction: Southeast Date/Time: May 5, 2022/10:53 A.M. 3: BELL0003 (edited to remove PII) Description: Two other hose leaks from the bypass hose dripped back into the wet well. Location: Lake Street and 71st Street Camera Direction: Down Date/Time: May 5, 2022/10:53 A.M. Page 8 City of Cahokia Heights May 4, 2022 - May 6, 2022 4: BELL0004 Description: The wet well at the Golden and Dorsey lift station was almost full. Location: Golden and Dorsey Lift Station. Camera Direction: Down Date/Time: May 5, 2022/11:09 A.M. 5: BELL0005 Description: A tow behind pump was parked at the Golden and Dorsey lift station. City personnel manually turn it on to dewater the wet well. Location: Golden and Dorsey. Camera Direction: East Date/Time: May 5, 2022/11:11 A.M. Page 9 City of Cahokia Heights May 4, 2022 - May 6, 2022 6: BELL0006 Description: The wet well at the Pocket Road lift station was approximately 90% full. Location: Pocket Road Lift Station. Camera Direction: Down Date/Time: May 5, 2022/11:18 A.M. 7: BELL0007 Description: Jackson Street lift station is non-functioning and needs to be manually dewatered by City personnel. Location: Jackson Street lift station. Camera Direction: North Date/Time: May 5, 2022/11:24 A.M. Page 10 City of Cahokia Heights May 4, 2022 - May 6, 2022 8: BELL0008 Description: The Pfieffer Street wet well level was low on the day of the inspection. Location: Pfieffer Street Lift Station. Camera Direction: Down Date/Time: May 5, 2022/11:28 A.M. 9: BELL0009 Description: An overview of the Pfieffer Street Lift Station. Location: Pfieffer Street Lift Station. Camera Direction: North Date/Time: May 5, 2022/11:30 A.M. Page 11 City of Cahokia Heights May 4, 2022 - May 6, 2022 10: BELL0010 Description: Open erosional hole by a storm water pipe near the Diversion Station. There is a crack in the pipe that was first observed by EPA in April, 2022. Location: Diversion Station. Camera Direction: Date/Time: May 5, 2022/12:16 A.M. Section 3: May 6, 2022 On May 6, 2022, the EPA Team, without the DOJ attorneys present, drove past the SSO cleanout on North 82nd Street. It was overflowing. The EPA Team then met with City of Cahokia Heights employees Dennis Traiteur, Sharlin Pfeffer, Van McCall and Hurst-Roche contractors Jim Nold, and Terry Sudholdt. The EPA Team relayed the observations from the previous two days. The EPA Team also discussed the deliverables submitted as a response to the Administrative Order on Consent, including the deliverables due on May 14th, 2022. The EPA Team exited the City at approximately 10:30 A.M. Page 12 City of Cahokia Heights May 4, 2022 - May 6, 2022