Document RgbbwaRyZ6X7oYGY76zJZQNE

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION 8 1595 Wynkoop Street Denver, CO 80202-1129 Phone 800-227-8917 www.epa.gov/region08 Ref: Region 8, Montana Office SENT VIA EMAIL DIGITAL READ RECEIPT REQUESTED Kim Winchell, Mayor City of Cut Bank Kwinchell@cityofcutbank.org Re: Inspection Report for Cut Bank Water Treatment Plant, NPDES Permit No. MT0030562 Dear Mayor Winchell: On December 10, 2021, I conducted a desk audit of the Cut Bank Water Treatment Plant, located at 82 Pendergrass Road in Cut Bank, Montana, on the Blackfeet Reservation, to evaluate compliance with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit requirements and the Clean Water Act. On July 19, 2022, a representative of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency visited the City of Cut Bank's Water Treatment Plant in Cut Bank, Montana, to review the water treatment and wastewater treatment processes of the plant and complete the inspection process. The inspection was conducted under the authority of Section 308 of the Clean Water Act (Act). Enclosed is a report of the inspection. Based on the information reviewed and obtained during the inspection, I did not document any findings and am not requesting additional information at this time. I would like to thank you for your cooperation during the inspection. Please contact me at 406-457-5022 or Prideaux.lisakay@epa.gov if you have any questions regarding this letter or the enclosed report. Sincerely, Prideaux, Digitally signed by Prideaux, LisaKay LisaKay Date: 2022.09.20 15:36:00 -06'00' Lisa-kay Prideaux NPDES and Wetlands Enforcement Section Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division Enclosures: 1) NPDES Inspection Report 2) Photo Log cc: The Honorable Illif `Scott' Kipp Sr, Chairperson, Blackfeet Tribe (electronic) Gerald Wagner, Environmental Director, Blackfeet Tribe (electronic) John Damberger, Water Operator, City of Cut Bank (electronic) Page 1 of 4 NPDES Reconnaissance Inspection Report National Database Information Inspection Date: July 19, 2022 Inspection Type: Reconnaissance Inspection Entry/Exit Time: 15:00 / 16:56 NPDES ID Number: MT0030562 NAICS Code: 221310 Inspection ID: 202207_MT0030562 Lead inspector and affiliation: Lisa-kay Prideaux, U.S. EPA Region 8, Montana Operations Office Facility Location Information Site/Facility Name & Location: Cut Bank Water Treatment Plant 82 Pendergrass Road Cut Bank, Montana 59427 48.642654N; -112.347662W Mail Report to: Kim Winchell, Mayor City of Cut Bank Kwinchell@cityofcutbank.org Contact Information Facility Contacts: Name(s)/Title John Damberger / Water Plant Foreman / City of Cut Bank / Present during inspection Person/Company meeting definition of "Operator" Authorized Official(s) City of Cut Bank Kim Winchell / Mayor / City of Cut Bank / not present during inspection Tribe Representative(s) None present Indian Health Service Representative(s) None present Permit Information Is the permit on site and available? yes Discharge Category: periodic Monitoring Frequency: weekly if discharger discharge Effective Date: June 1, 2017 Expiration Date: December 31, Is the Facility under a 2021 compliance schedule? No Is correct contact information indicated on ICIS? Yes Indicate correct contact information: N/A Receiving Water(s): Cut Bank Creek Discharge point location (longitude, latitude): 48.641964N; -112.344691W Regulatory Inspector's source of information: Aerial imagery, EPA records, facility personnel, and site review. Areas Evaluated During Inspection Permit Effluent/Receiving Waters Records/Reports Flow Measurement Facility Site Review Monitoring Program Collection System Review Lagoon Self- Inspections Compliance Schedule Discharge Monitoring Reports Lift Station Operation and Maintenance Preventive and Emergency Operation and Maintenance Page 2 of 4 Report Review and Signature Drafter Signature/Name Address/Phone Number Prideaux Prideaux, LisaKay th Digitally signed by U.S. EPA Region 8, Montana Operations Office Date: 2022.09.20 10 West 15 Street, Suite 3200 , LisaKay 15:36:30 -06'00' Helena, Montana 59626 Lisa-kay Prideaux Reviewer Name 406-457-5022 Address/Phone Number U.S. EPA Region 8 1595 Wynkoop Street 8ENF-W-NW Denver, Colorado 80202 Stephanie Meyers Management Signature/Name Boeglin, Michael Digitally signed by Boeglin, Michael Date: 2022.09.20 14:12:53 -06'00' Michael Boeglin 303-312-6938 Address/Phone Number U.S. EPA Region 8 1595 Wynkoop Street 8ENF-W-NW Denver, Colorado 80202 303-312-6250 Date 09.15.2022 Date 09/15/2022 Date 09/20/2022 Page 3 of 4 Inspection Narrative and Site Description Introduction and Background The City of Cut Bank's Water Treatment Plant (facility) is located near the border of the Blackfeet Reservation just across Cut Bank Creek from the City of Cut Bank. The facility is currently under an individual NPDES permit, which expired on December 31, 2021, and is administratively extended until a new permit is issued. The City submitted a notice of intent (NOI) for coverage under the Drinking Water General Permit on November 29, 2021. On December 10, 2021, I, EPA inspector Lisa-kay Prideaux conducted a desk audit of the Cut Bank Water Treatment Plant, located at 82 Pendergrass Road in Cut Bank, Montana, on the Blackfeet Reservation, to evaluate compliance with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit requirements and the Clean Water Act. The desk audit report was issued on December 30, 2021. Corrective actions taken to address the findings within the desk audit were completed on March 7, 2022. While planning an inspection trip on the Blackfeet Reservation, I contacted Mr. Damberger to see if I could visit the water treatment plant for a tour of the facility; he agreed. On July 19, 2022, I met with Mr. Damberger at approximately 15:00 to review the water treatment and wastewater treatment processes of the plant. After arriving at the facility, I presented my inspector credentials to Mr. Damberger, water plant operator, and had an opening conference to explain the purpose of the inspection. I asked a series of questions to review information covered in the December 2021 report. Throughout the inspection, observations and photograph descriptions were documented in a field logbook. All photographs taken during the inspection are included in the attached photo log. After the brief review, Mr. Damberger walked me through the water treatment process, and then outside to observe the treatment ponds. The treatment process includes a flocculation tank using alum, settling (in a settling basin), course and fine filtration units, and storage. Chlorination is added at two points in the treatment process; prechlorination occurs between settling and filtration, and post-chlorination (to drinking water standards), occurs as finished water enters the clear well prior to distribution. Up to 1.5 million gallons per day (mgd) of treated water is produced. The filters are backwashed with finished water to remove the flocculation residue daily in the summer months, and once every 3-4 days during the winter. Backwash water drains to a two-cell, infiltration-percolation (IP) system east of the facility. Sludge from the settling basin and backwash effluent are drained to one cell; discharge is switched to the other cell when the first cell reaches capacity. At the time of the site visit, the facility was discharging into the north cell (photo 572), while the south cell (photo 571) percolated. The treatment cells each have a large screen at the end of the cell (photo 574) just prior to the discharge pipe that join at a junction box (photo 573) and discharge through a v-notch weir prior to the outfall (001). Due to infiltration and evaporation of the ponds, the facility has not discharged since March 2007 and foresees a discharge as an emergency only. Sludge is cleaned from the ponds approximately every 3-5 years and is disposed of in a drying bed at the City's wastewater treatment plant. A closing conference was held on-site with Mr. Damberger, during which I explained this report would complement the desk audit, and that both reports should be kept together. The inspection concluded at approximately 17:00. Page 4 of 4 UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION 8 1595 Wynkoop Street Denver, CO 80202-1129 Phone 800-227-8917 www.epa.gov/region08 Ref: 8 Montana SENT VIA EMAIL DIGITAL READ RECIEPT REQUESTED Gerald Wagner Environmental Director Blackfeet Tribe Beo.director@gmail.com Re: Inspection Report for Starr School Wastewater Lagoon, NPDES Permit #MTG589101 Dear Mr. Wagner: On July 20, 2022, a representative of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency inspected the Starr School wastewater treatment lagoons, in Browning, Montana, to evaluate compliance with the site's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System General Permit for Wastewater Lagoon Systems. The inspection was conducted under the authority of Section 308 of the Clean Water Act (Act). Enclosed is a report of the inspection. Inspection findings are summarized within the enclosed inspection report in a table titled "Findings, Corrective Actions and Recommendations." Within thirty (30) days of receipt of this report, please provide the EPA with a summary of corrective actions taken to address each of the findings identified in the report and any information that may change the findings or content of the report. This summary should be sent to: Lisa-kay Prideaux U.S. EPA Region 8 Prideaux.Lisakay@epa.gov Please contact me at 406-457-5022 or Prideaux.Lisakay@epa.gov if you have any questions regarding this letter or the enclosed report. Sincerely, Prideaux, Digitally signed by Prideaux, LisaKay LisaKay Date: 2022.09.23 07:30:22 -06'00' Lisa-kay Prideaux NPDES and Wetlands Enforcement Section Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division Enclosures: 1) NPDES Wastewater Lagoon Inspection Report 2) Photo Log cc: The Honorable Illif `Scott' Kipp Sr, Chairperson, Blackfeet Tribe (electronic) Wilby Fish, Wastewater Plant Operator, Blackfeet Tribe (electronic) Barry Adams, Water Quality Coordinator, Blackfeet Tribe (electronic) 2