Document peB22qm8neLMmjo1Mz2dzqXJd

Ref: 8 Montana CERTIFIED MAIL and EMAIL RETURN RECEIPT and DIGITAL READ RECIEPT REQUESTED Privacy Traditional Homes, LLC 36332 Fulkerson Lane Polson, Montana 59860 Privacy Re: Inspection Report for Hillcrest Development/Traditional Homes, LLC, Unpermitted Dear Privacy : On September 15, 2023, representatives of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes inspected the Hillcrest development construction site in Polson, Montana, to evaluate compliance with the site's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit for stormwater construction discharges. 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: Privacy Privacy U.S. EPA Region 8 (8 Montana) NPDES and Wetlands Enforcement Section Helena, MT 59626 Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Acting Environmental Division Director Polson, MT canalirrigation ditch is connected to the Flathead River in the west and flows north and east exiting into Flathead Lake. At the time of the inspection, there was no water running through the canal, however, evidence of recent water was documented (photo 9204). Areas noted where no BMP was in place to control the pollutant source include, but is not limited to, vehicle entrance/exit site (photos 9188 and 9218), stockpile materials (photos 91929197, 9201, and 9217), open disturbed ground (photos 9189 9191, 9201, 9203, 9205, and 9217), and Polson B Canalirrigation ditch (photos 9195, 9196, 9198, and 92019204). After walking the site, we spoke with Privacy to let him know that we completed the inspection and were not going to wait forPrivacy as it appeared he was not available. I provided a business card to Privacy to pass along to Privacy and stated if he had questions of our site visit to call, and that an inspection report would be forthcoming. Preliminary findings were emailed to Privacy on September 15, 2023. Privacy has not responded to the preliminary findings email. After the inspection, a review of the rainfall recorded at the PolsonKMTPOLSO70, Montana weather station (closest weather station approximately 1.4 miles away from site) from the NOAA website was conducted. The weather station's raingage reported nineteen precipitation events over 0.25 inches (including when there are multiple, smaller storms that alone produce less than 0.25 inches, but together produce 0.25 inches or more in 24 hours) from September 29, 2022, to September 15, 2023. x November 1, 2022, at 0.12 inches; x November 2, 2022, at 0.23 inches; x November 3, 2022, at 0.35 inches; x November 5, 2022, at 0.33 inches; x December 1, 2022, at 0.32 inches; x December 21, 2022, at 0.47 inches; x December 24, 2022, at 0.29 inches; x December 26, 2022, at 0.11 inches; x December 27, 2022, at 0.13 inches; x December 28, 2022, at 0.43 inches; x January 28, 2023, at 0.25 inches; x May 6, 2023, at 0.25 inches; x May 7, 2023, at 1.19 inches; x May 8, 2023, at 0.17 inches; x May 9, 2023, at 0.11 inches; x May 10, 2023, at 0.18 inches; x May 22, 2023, at 0.14 inches; x May 23, 2023, at 0.11 inches; x June 17, 2023, at 0.14 inches; x June 18, 2023, at 0.13 inches; x August 22, 2023, at 0.78 inches; x August 23, 2023, at 0.60 inches; x August 30, 2023, at 0.62 inches; x August 31, 2023, at 0.77 inches; Inspection based upon 2022 Construction General Permit for Stormwater Discharges from Construction Activities Page 4 of 6 Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Construction General Permit (CGP), are authorized to discharge pollutants in accordance with the effluent limitations and conditions set forth herein. Permit coverage is required from the "commencement of construction activities" (see Appendix A) until one of the conditions for terminating CGP coverage has been met (see Part 8.2)." Part 1.1 of the CGP states the five eligibility conditions requiring permit coverage: operator definition, construction activities, site location, discharge qualifications, and Endangered Species Protection criteria. Corrective Action: Obtain coverage under the 2022 CGP. Visit https://www.epa.gov/npdes/2022constructiongeneral permitcgp for application instructions. Provide the EPA and the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes with a copy of the confirmation that an application for coverage has been submitted. Inspection based upon 2022 Construction General Permit for Stormwater Discharges from Construction Activities Page 6 of 6