Document Ozz2pybXbardqg8ov8dYyV8Xj

Ref: 8WD-SDR February 28, 2025 SENT VIA EMAIL DIGITAL DELIVERY RECEIPT REQUESTED Perry Owings, VA Water Plant Operator Veterans Administration Medical Center 1898 Fort Road Sheridan, Wyoming 82801 jacob.owings@va.gov Re: Notice of Noncompliance Lead and Copper Rule Failure to Perform Activities After Incurring a Lead Action Level Exceedance PWS ID# WY5680001 C Dear Perry Owings: The purpose of this letter is to inform you that Veterans Administration Medical Center Public Water System (System) has failed to perform the activities detailed below. These activities were required after the System exceeded the Lead Action Level in the January 1 to June 30, 2024, monitoring period. These activities were specified in the Action Level Exceedance (ALE) letter dated May 13, 2024, that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emailed to the System. Please address each of the items below. Violations 1. In accordance with 40 C.F.R. 141.85(b)(2) and 141.90(f)(1) of the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWR), all water systems that exceed the Lead Action Level are required to complete the initial Public Education (PE) requirements no later than 60 days after the end of the monitoring period or by August 30, 2024, for the January 1 to June 30, 2024, monitoring period. In addition, Systems must provide information with each water bill, no less than quarterly, or by November 30, 2024, for Action Level Exceedances incurred during the January 1 to June 30, 2024, monitoring period 40 C.F.R. 141.85(b)(2)(iii). This System does not issue water bills so the EPA allows a separate mailing of the required information. The System completed the initial PE requirements, but did not issue the follow up quarterly requirement before the specified deadline. However, the System completed the required PE on January 31, 2025. This was a violation of the NPDWR, and this violation has been returned to compliance with the Public Education documents submitted to EPA on February 25, 2025. Please complete the following requirements as soon as possible: a. This is a treatment technique violation and requires a Tier 2 Public Notice (PN) pursuant to 40 C.F.R. Part 141 Subpart Q Appendix A(I)(C)(1). In accordance with 40 C.F.R. 141.203, you must notify your customers of this Tier 2 violation by issuing PN as soon as practical but no later than 30 days after the System learns of this violation, or the date this letter is received by the System, whichever is earlier. This PN must be issued via mail or direct delivery to each customer receiving a bill and other service connections. In addition, you must use another method reasonably calculated to reach other persons regularly served by the system if they would not normally be reached by mail or direct delivery. Such persons may include those who do not pay water bills or do not have service connection addresses (e.g., house renters, apartment dwellers, university students, nursing home patients, prison inmates, etc.). Other methods may include: publication in a local newspaper; delivery of multiple copies for distribution by customers that provide their drinking water to others (e.g., apartment building owners or large private employers); posting in public places served by the system or on the internet; or delivery to community organizations. Enclosed is a copy of a Tier 2 PN template that meets all of the Federal requirements. If the PN is posted, the notice 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. b. Provide EPA with a copy of your PN and certification within 10 days of completion. A copy of the PN certification form is locate at the bottom of the enclosed Tier 2 PN instructions. Please send all forms 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: (303) 312-7517 Mail: Refer to the address at the top of this letter. Please use Mail Code 8WD-SDR on the envelope. To discuss these requirements in more detail, please call Chelsea Ransom at (303) 312-6876, or by email at ransom.chelsea@epa.gov. Sincerely, SETH TOURNEY Digitally signed by SETH TOURNEY Date: 2025.02.28 08:01:02 -07'00' Seth Tourney Supervisor, Rule Implementation Section Drinking Water Program Enclosures: Instructions for Lead and Copper Rule Tier 2 Violation Public Notice cc: Michael Alliot, Program Manager Sheridan Va Medical Center michael.alliot@va.gov Instructions for Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) Tier 2 Violation Public Notice Since lead and copper public education violations are treatment technique violations, they require Tier 2 public notification. You must provide public notice to persons served as soon as practical but within 30 days after you learn of the violation [40 CFR 141.203(b)]. Community Water Systems must use one of the following methods [40 CFR 141.203(c)]: Hand or direct delivery Mail, as a separate notice or included with the bill (if delivered within 30 days of the violation) Another method approved in writing by the state In addition, CWSs 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, print 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). 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 either end. You will need to update the information presented in brackets with the appropriate information. 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 presented in this notice in italics with an asterisk on either end. Description of the Violation This template is written for systems which have not met timing, content, delivery and/or State reporting requirements for Public Education. The Lead and Copper Rule requires a water system that exceeds the lead action level based on tap water samples collected in accordance with 141.86 to deliver the public education materials to their consumers. The following may help you explain the violation: This is a treatment violation, but it does not mean there is lead in your drinking water. However, it is important that we take measures to control lead levels in the water, because ingesting lead can cause serious health consequences. Corrective Action In your notice, describe corrective actions you are taking. You can use the following language, if appropriate, or develop your own text:  We conducted a lead public education program in [month, year]. You should have received a brochure explaining in more detail steps you can take to reduce exposure until lead service lines are replaced and the system is in compliance with the Lead and Copper Rule. If consumers ask for information on testing their water, you should have on hand the names of laboratories consumers can call. Tell consumers to call NSF International at 1(800) NSF-8010 or the Water Quality Association at 1(800) 749-0234 for information on appropriate filters. For more information on lead, have consumers visit the EPA Ground Water and Drinking Water Website at https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water. 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 your primacy agency within 10 days after the original or any repeat notice(s) [40 CFR 141.31(d)]. Certification of Public Notification I certify that the attached public notification was issued (PWS Operator/Responsible Party) from ________________________________ to . (Date) (Date) The attached notice was issued by _______________________________________________. (Method of delivery) Signature Date ______________________ IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER [Water System Name] Water Contains High Levels of Lead Our water system recently violated a drinking water requirement. Even though this is not an emergency, as our customers, you have a right to know what happened, what you should do, and what we did (are doing) to correct this situation. We routinely sample water at consumers' taps for lead. [Water System Name] found elevated levels of lead in drinking water in some homes/buildings between [Month, Year] and [Month, Year]. Lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Please read this information closely to see what you can do to reduce lead in your drinking water. What should I do? Listed below are some steps you can take to reduce your exposure to lead: Call us at the number below to find out how to get your water tested for lead. Find out whether your pipes contain lead or lead solder. Run your water for 15-30 seconds or until it becomes cold before using it for drinking or cooking. This flushes any standing lead from the pipes. Don't cook with or drink water from the hot water tap; lead dissolves more easily into hot water. Do not boil your water to remove lead. Boiling water makes the lead more concentrated - the lead remains when the water evaporates. What does this mean? This is not an emergency. If it had been, you would have been notified within 24 hours. Typically, lead enters water supplies by leaching from lead or brass pipes and plumbing components. New lead pipes and plumbing components containing lead are no longer allowed for this reason. However, many older homes may contain lead pipes. Your water is more likely to contain high lead levels if water pipes in or leading to your home are made of lead or contain lead solder. These homes may want to consider using pitcher filters or alternate water supplies for drinking water. Exposure to lead in drinking water can cause serious health effects in all age groups. Infants and children can have decreases in IQ and attention span. Lead exposure can lead to new learning and behavior problems or exacerbate existing learning and behavior problems. The children of women who are exposed to lead before or during pregnancy can have increased risk of these adverse health effects. Adults can have increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney or nervous system problems. What is being done and when do we expect to resolve the issue? [Describe corrective action.] For more information, please contact [name of contact] at [phone number] or [mailing address]. For more information on reducing lead exposure around your home/building and the health effects of lead, visit EPA's Web site at http://www.epa.gov/lead or contact your health care provider. 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 [water system name]. State Water System ID#: ___________. Date distributed: _______________.