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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO
WESTERN DIVISION |
| UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
and
THE STATE OF OHIO,
Plaintiffs,
v.
THE CITY OF TOLEDO, OHIO,
A Municipal Corporation,
Defendant.
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Civil Action No. 3:91:CV7646
Plaintiffs, ) Judge James G. Carr |
| ____________________________ |
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| CONSENT DECREE |
WHEREAS:
Plaintiff,
United States of America ("United States"), on behalf
of the United States Environmental Protection Agency ("U.S.
EPA"), filed a complaint in this civil action on October 29,
1991, and amended its complaint on Dec. 17, 1992, against Defendant,
the City of Toledo, Ohio ("Toledo" or “Defendant”).
The
State of Ohio ("Ohio") was originally named as a defendant
pursuant to Section 309(e) of the Clean Water Act (also referred
to herein as the “Act”), 33 U.S.C. § 1319(e); Ohio
moved, and this Court granted Ohio’s motion, to be realigned
as a party plaintiff in this Action. Ohio then filed a complaint
and, subsequently, an amended complaint against Toledo.
Toledo
is a municipal corporation organized and existing under the laws
of the State of Ohio. Toledo owns and operates the Bayview Wastewater
Treatment Plant (“WWTP”) located in Lucas County, at
3900 N. Summit Street, Toledo, Ohio; the treatment plant discharges
pollutants into the Maumee River, which flows into Lake Erie.
The
United States brings its claims pursuant to Section 309 of the Act,
33 U.S.C. § 1319. In its amended complaint, the United States
seeks the imposition of civil penalties and injunctive relief for
violations of Section 301(a) of the Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1311(a),
and terms and conditions of National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System (“NPDES”) permits issued by Ohio as Permit Nos.
2PF00000*FD, as modified and renewed, including Permit Nos. 2PF00000*GD
and 2PF00000*HD, and Toledo’s Current Permit, as defined below.
Toledo’s current permit as of the date of the lodging of this
Consent Decree is 2PF00000*JD. The application number for these
permits, and thus the U.S. EPA number for these permits, is OH0027740.
Ohio brings its claims pursuant to Section 505(a) of the Act, 33
U.S.C. § 1365(a) and pursuant to Chapter 6111 of the Ohio Revised
Code. In its amended complaint, Ohio seeks the imposition of civil
penalties and injunctive relief pursuant to Section 301(a) of the
Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1311(a), Chapter 6111 of the Ohio Revised
Code, and terms and conditions of Toledo’s NPDES permits,
as described above in this Paragraph. Toledo’s payment of
these civil penalties and acceptance of the terms of this Decree
resolve the allegations in the amended complaints of the United
States and Ohio and other matters addressed herein.
Defendant,
without making any admission of fact or law or evidence of same,
or of any violation of any law or regulation, and Plaintiffs agree
by entering this Decree that settlement of these matters, without
further protracted litigation is fair, reasonable, and in the public
interest.
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| NOW, THEREFORE, it is hereby ORDERED,
ADJUDGED, and DECREED as follows: |
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I. JURISDICTION AND VENUE
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1.
This Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter of this action
and over the parties consenting thereto pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§
1345, 1355 and 1367, and Sections 309(b) and 505(a) of the Act,
33 U.S.C. §§ 1319(b)and 1365(a). The amended complaints
of the United States and the State of Ohio state claims upon which
relief can be granted under Section 309 of the Act, 33 U.S.C. §
1319. Venue is proper pursuant to Section 309(b) of the Act, 33
U.S.C. §§ 1319(b) and 1365(c), 28 U.S.C. §§
1391(b) and (c) and 1395(b). |
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II. APPLICABILITY
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2.
The provisions of this Consent Decree shall apply to and be binding
upon the parties to this action, their officers, directors, agents,
employees, successors, and assigns and any person having notice
of this Consent Decree who is, or will be, acting in concert or
participation with Toledo. Toledo shall provide a copy of this Consent
Decree to any successor in interest at least thirty (30) days prior
to transfer of that interest, and simultaneously shall verify in
writing to U.S. EPA that such notice has been given. Any sale or
transfer of Toledo’s interests in or operating role with respect
to the Bayview WWTP shall not in any manner relieve Toledo of its
responsibilities for meeting the terms and conditions of this Consent
Decree. In any action to enforce this Consent Decree, Toledo shall
not raise as a defense the failure by any of its officers, directors,
agents, employees, successors, assigns, or contractors to take actions
necessary to comply with the Decree
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III. OBJECTIVES
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3.
It is the express purpose of the parties in entering this Consent
Decree to further the objectives of the Act, as enunciated at Section
101 of the Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1251, and the objectives of Chapter
6111 of the Ohio Revised Code. All plans, reports, construction,
remedial maintenance, and other obligations in this Consent Decree
or resulting from the activities required by this Consent Decree
shall have the objective of causing Toledo to come into and remain
in full compliance with the terms and conditions of Toledo’s
Current Permit, to meet the objectives of U.S. EPA’s April
19, 1994 “Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Policy,” and
to eliminate sanitary sewer discharges, as these terms are defined
in Paragraph 4 of this Consent Decree. The remedies, timetables
and studies required under this Consent Decree are the feasible
alternatives to address those matters alleged as violations in the
amended complaints. |
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IV. DEFINITIONS
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4.
Unless otherwise defined herein, terms used in this Decree shall
have the meaning given to those terms in the Act, 33 U.S.C. §
1251 et seq., the regulations promulgated thereunder at 40 C.F.R.
§ 122, Chapter 6111 of the Ohio Revised Code, the regulations
promulgated under that Chapter, and in Toledo’s NPDES Permit,
No. 2PF00000*JD.
(a)
“Bayview WWTP” means the Bayview Wastewater Treatment
Plant.
(b)
“Combined Sewer Overflow” or “CSO” shall
mean any discharge from any outfall identified in Toledo’s
Current Permit, as defined below except for outfalls 001 and 002.
(c)
“Combined Sewer Overflow Outfall” or “CSO Outfall”
shall mean the outfall from which CSOs are discharged.
(d)
“Combined Sewer System" or “CSS” shall mean
the portion of Toledo’s Sewer System designed to convey municipal
sewage (domestic, commercial and industrial wastewaters) and stormwater
runoff through a single-pipe system to the Bayview WWTP or to a
combined sewer overflow structure.
(e)
“Defendant” shall mean the City of Toledo, Ohio.
(f)
“Design” shall include detailed plans and specifications.
(g)
“Infiltration” means the water entering a sewer system
and service connections from the ground, through means including,
but not limited to, defective pipes and sewer walls, pipe and sewer
joints, connections, and manhole walls.
(h)
“Inflow” means the water discharged into a sewer system,
including service connections, from sources including, but not limited
to, roof leaders, cellars, yard and area drains, foundation drains,
cooling water discharges, drains from springs and swampy areas,
manhole covers, cross connections from storm sewers and combined
sewers, catch basins, storm waters, surface run-off, street wash
waters, and drainage.
(i)
“Infiltration/Inflow” and “I/I” mean infiltration
and/or inflow.
(j)
“MGD” or “mgd” means million gallons per
day.
(k)
“Monthly Operating Report” or “MOR” is defined
as the discharge monitoring report which Toledo submits to the Ohio
Environmental Protection Agency on a monthly basis pursuant to Section
III.4 of Toledo’s NPDES Permit No. 2PF00000*JD, and any similar
provision in Toledo’s Current Permit.
(l)
“Ohio EPA” means the State of Ohio Environmental Protection
Agency.
(m)
“Outfall 001” and “outfall 002” refer to
the outfalls identified as outfalls 001 and 002 in Toledo’s
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit No. 2PF00000*JD,
effective November 1, 1994.
(n)
“Plaintiffs” mean the United States of America, on behalf
of U.S. EPA, and the State of Ohio.
(o) “Sanitary Sewer Discharge,” and “SSD”
shall mean any discharge to waters of the State or United States
from Toledo’s Sanitary Sewer System through a point source
not specified in any NPDES permit. SSDs include discharges from
portable overflows.
(p)
“Sanitary Sewer System” or “SSS” shall mean
all portions of Toledo’s Sewer System that are not a part
of the Toledo’s Combined Sewer System.
(q)
“Sewer System” shall mean the wastewater collection
and transmission system owned or operated by Toledo designed to
collect and convey municipal sewage (domestic, commercial and industrial)
to Toledo’s Wastewater Treatment Plants or to a combined sewer
overflow structure. “Sewer System” includes both the
“Combined Sewer System” and the “Sanitary Sewer
System.”
(r)
“Ten-year storm event” shall mean a rain event in which
the total amount of rainfall during a one-hour period during the
event exceeds the amount specified in the “Rainfall Frequency
Atlas of the Midwest” (Midwest Climate Center, National Weather
Service, 1992) for the ten-year return frequency, one-hour duration
storm event for Toledo.
(s)
“Toledo’s Current Permit” means Toledo’s
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit No. 2PF00000*JD,
effective November 1, 1994, and any such permit which succeeds Permit
No. 2PF00000*JD issued to Toledo, and which is in effect at a particular
time in question.
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V. COMPLIANCE PROGRAM AND SCHEDULES
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5.
Toledo is ordered and enjoined to achieve and maintain compliance
with Toledo’s Current Permit and the provisions of the Act,
33 U.S.C. § 1281 et seq. and Ohio Revised Code Chapter 6111
in accordance with the compliance program and schedules set forth
below.
A. Compliance with NPDES Permit
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6.
Toledo shall at all times comply with all effluent limitations applicable
to Outfall 001 in Toledo’s Current Permit and with the requirement
set forth in Toledo’s Current Permit that any discharges from
Combined Sewer Overflows may occur only during wet weather periods
when the flow in the sewer system exceeds the capacity of the sewer
system. |
2. Phase I Design
and Construction of Improvements at the Bayview WWTP and to Portions
of the Combined Sewer System
7.
Toledo shall submit for approval by U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA the design
of various Bayview WWTP improvements according to the following
schedule:
(a)
Within twelve months after the entry of this Consent Decree, Toledo
shall submit the design for improvements to its large pump stations,
including structural and mechanical renovations to the East Side
Pump Station and Bay View Pump Stations; and structural, mechanical
and electrical renovations to the Windermere Pump Station, including
new bar screens and variable frequency drives for two raw sewage
pumps;
(b)
Within fifteen months after the entry of this Consent Decree, Toledo
shall
submit the design for backup power for the secondary system, including
the addition of multiple diesel or gas fired electric generators
with sufficient capacity to run the electric blowers and the activated
sludge process;
(c)
Within twenty-seven months after the entry of this Consent Decree,
Toledo shall submit the design for replacement of the diesel drive
blowers in the Mechanical Equipment Building with electric motor
driven blowers. This will include structural, electrical and mechanical
renovations to the Mechanical Equipment Building, blower controls
and computer control through the plant’s control system;
(d)
Within twenty-four months after the entry of this Consent Decree,
Toledo shall submit the design for an equalization basin, to be
used to capture and store peak wastewater flows and to return the
stored wastewater to the Bayview WWTP for treatment, with a capacity
of no less than sixty million gallons;
(e)
Within fifteen months after the entry of this Consent Decree, Toledo
shall submit the design for an additional secondary clarifier with
the same capacity as Toledo’s existing tank number 12; and
(f)
Within twenty-one months after entry of this Consent Decree (consisting
of twelve months of pilot testing and nine months of design), Toledo
shall submit the design for ballasted flocculation facilities with
a firm design capacity of 185 million gallons per day (128,500 gallons
per minute), a hydraulic loading rate of no more than 60 gallons
per minute per square foot (at the firm design flow of 128,500 gallons
per minute); and appropriate chemical feed and chemical storage
systems, solids handling facilities (under no circumstances may
the solids stream from the facilities be directed back into the
liquid stream at the Bayview WWTP), and automatic, computerized
equipment for system control.
8.
Toledo shall construct, complete and place into operation the following
improvements to the Bayview WWTP in accordance with the following
schedule:
(a)
Within twenty-seven months after approval of the design by U.S.
EPA and Ohio EPA, improvements to the three large pump stations
in accordance with the design approved by U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA
pursuant to Paragraph 7(a);
(b)
Within twenty-four months after approval of the design by U.S. EPA
and Ohio EPA, a backup power source for the secondary system in
accordance with the design approved by U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA pursuant
to Paragraph 7(b);
(c) Within twenty-four months after approval of the design by U.S.
EPA and Ohio EPA, replacement of the blowers in accordance with
the design approved by U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA pursuant to Paragraph
7(c);
(d)
Within thirty months after approval of the design by U.S. EPA and
Ohio EPA, an equalization basin in accordance with the design approved
by U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA pursuant to Paragraph 7(d);
(e)
Within twenty-four months after approval of the design by U.S. EPA
and Ohio EPA, an additional secondary clarifier in accordance with
the design approved by U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA pursuant to Paragraph
7(e);
(f)
Within eighteen months after approval of the design by U.S. EPA
and Ohio EPA, ballasted flocculation facilities in accordance with
the design approved by U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA pursuant to Paragraph
7(f);
(g)
By October 10, 2001, modifications to the plant’s skimming
tanks in accordance with Ohio EPA Permit to Install No. 03-12308;
(h)
Within thirty-six months of the entry of this Consent Decree, secondary
renovations, including the renovation of the existing eleven final
tanks, replacement of electrical and control equipment for final
tanks seven through eleven, construction of a new secondary control
house, replacement of valve actuators on all aeration tanks, concrete
repairs to all aeration tanks and final tanks, new channel air diffusers,
piping and flow meters, and modification to secondary lighting;
and
(i) improvements to the Woodsdale, LaGrange, Parkside, Maumee and
Columbus CSO systems consisting of sewer separation and/or inflow/infiltration
removals that will eliminate or reduce wet weather flow to the Bayview
WWTP from these combined sewer areas.
9.
Within twelve months of the entry of this Consent Decree, Toledo
shall submit to U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA, for approval, a work plan
for conducting a two year study (“Ballasted Flocculation Study”)
of the effectiveness of the ballasted flocculation facilities constructed
pursuant to Paragraph 8(f). The study shall commence immediately
after construction of the ballasted flocculation facilities and
shall include, but not be limited to, an analysis of: (a) the effectiveness
of those facilities at removing suspended solids, carbonaceous biochemical
oxygen demand (or biochemical oxygen demand), total Kjeldahl nitrogen
(TKN) and ammonia; (b) any difficulties encountered in or limitations
involved with using those facilities over a range of flow conditions,
chemical feed rates and other operational control parameters; and
(c) measures that Toledo has taken to optimize use of those facilities.
10.
Upon approval by U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA of the work plan submitted
in accordance with Paragraph 9, Toledo shall commence the study
in accordance with the approved work plan and schedule set forth
in the approved work plan.
11.
Within sixty (60) days after completion of the Ballasted Flocculation
Study, Toledo shall submit a written report to U.S. EPA and Ohio
EPA, for approval, which contains the results of the study.
12.
Toledo currently anticipates that it will spend approximately $157,000,000
to complete the Bayview WWTP improvements required by this Section
V.B and that, as a result of these improvements, Toledo intends
to provide full biological treatment to approximately 99.5% of all
flows received at the Bayview WWTP in a typical year and that the
remaining 0.5% of flows at the Bayview WWTP will receive treatment
from Toledo’s ballasted flocculation facilities and disinfection
(as required by Toledo’s Current Permit) and dechlorination
(if applicable) prior to discharge.
C.
Long Term Control Plan
Toledo
shall develop a Long Term Control Plan for insuring that Toledo’s
CSOs comply with the requirements of Toledo’s Current Permit,
the Clean Water Act and the objectives of U.S. EPA’s April
19, 1994 “Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Policy.” To
develop the Long Term Control Plan, Toledo shall develop and implement
the following in accordance with this Section V.C: a public and
regulatory agency participation plan; a flow characterization study;
a water quality study; a hydraulic model; and a water quality model.
13.
Prior to completion of the work required by this Section V.B, Toledo
is prohibited from discharging flows from the Bayview WWTP as follows:
(a) flows from the 001 outfall that have not been treated by the
WWTP’s secondary aeration basins and secondary clarifiers
during any twenty-four hour period when the effluent flow rate from
outfall 001 has not exceeded 170 million gallons per day for at
least one entire hour during the twenty-four hour period; and
(b) flows from the 002 outfall during any twenty-four hour period
when the effluent flow rate from outfall 001 has not exceeded 170
million gallons per day for at least one entire hour during that
24-hour period.
14.
Upon completion of the work required by this Section V.B, Toledo
is prohibited from discharging flows from the Bayview WWTP as follows:
(a) flows from the 001 outfall that have not been treated by the
WWTP’s secondary aeration basins and secondary clarifiers
during any twenty-four hour period when the effluent flow rate from
outfall 001 has not exceeded 195 million gallons per day for at
least one entire hour during the twenty-four hour period; and
(b)
flows from the 002 outfall during any twenty-four hour period when
the effluent flow rate from outfall 001 has not exceeded 400 million
gallons per day for at least one entire hour during that 24-hour
period.
15.
Following completion of construction of the ballasted flocculation
facilities as required by Paragraph 8(f), Toledo’s wastewater
as measured at sampling locations 001 or 602 (as defined in Paragraphs
58(a) and (b) of this Consent Decree) shall not contain suspended
solids or CBOD5 levels in excess of the effluent limitations specified
for those parameters in Table 1 in this Consent Decree, and the
critical pH levels, as measured at sampling locations 001 or 602
shall not be greater than the maximum levels and/or are less than
the minimum levels set forth in Table 1.
16.
Public and Regulatory Agency Participation Plan
Within
thirty (30) days after entry of this Consent Decree, Toledo shall
submit to U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA, for approval, a plan for insuring
that there is ample public participation, and ample participation
by U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA, throughout all stages of Toledo’s
development of its Long Term Control Plan. The plan shall include,
at a minimum, a description of the measures that Toledo will take
to make the information it develops in the course of the planning
process available to the public for review and to solicit public
opinion on Toledo’s development of the Long Term Control Plan,
a schedule for holding transcribed public hearings at meaningful
times during the planning process to provide the public with that
information and to solicit information from the public regarding
the components of the Long Term Control Plan. The plan shall describe
how Toledo will take public opinion and information provided by
the public into account as Toledo develops its Long Term Control
Plan. The plan shall also set forth measures that Toledo will take
to insure that U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA are kept informed of Toledo’s
progress in developing its Long Term Control Plan. These measures
shall include scheduling periodic meetings with U.S. EPA and Ohio
EPA at meaningful times during the planning process.
17.
Upon approval by U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA of the plan submitted in
accordance with Paragraph 16, Toledo shall implement the plan.
18.
Flow Characterization Study
Within
thirty (30) days after entry of this Consent Decree, Toledo shall
submit to U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA, for approval, a work plan for conducting
a study (the “Flow Characterization Study”) to characterize
flows in Toledo’s Combined Sewer System and at the Bayview
WWTP to facilitate the calibration and validation of the Hydraulic
Model (required pursuant to Paragraphs 26-27) and the Water Quality
Model (required pursuant to Paragraphs 28-29), and to be used in
developing the Long Term Control Plan (required pursuant to Paragraphs
30-34). The Flow Characterization Study shall involve verifying
existing and/or collecting additional physical attribute data about
Toledo’s Combined Sewer System; monitoring CSO and WWTP flows
and flows within Toledo’s Sewer System; and monitoring groundwater
and rainfall at locations throughout the Sewer System and at the
WWTP. The study should incorporate existing monitoring data. The
work plan shall include a schedule for performing and completing
the study within one year after approval of such work plan. At a
minimum, the study shall include (and so the work plan shall describe
how Toledo’s study will accomplish) the following:
(a)
CSO flow and pollutant monitoring consistent with
the CSO flow and pollutant monitoring described in the “Requirements
Imposed Pursuant to Section 308(a) of the Clean Water Act”
issued by U.S. EPA on September 30, 1999. (Attachment 1);
(b)
Additional monitoring necessary to assure that, in conjunction with
existing monitoring information and the monitoring information generated
in accordance with subparagraph 18(a), Toledo has adequate data
to facilitate the calibration and validation of the Hydraulic Model
(required pursuant to Paragraphs 26-27) and the Water Quality Model
(required pursuant to Paragraphs 28-29), and to be used in developing
the Long Term Control Plan (required pursuant to Paragraphs 30-34).
This additional monitoring data shall include flow monitoring, using
permanent or temporary flow monitoring equipment: (i) at additional
CSO outfalls; (ii) within the interceptors in Toledo’s Combined
Sewer System; (iii) at the WWTP; and (iv) other key portions of
the Combined and Separate Sewer Systems that hydraulically influence
CSO outfalls.
(c)
rainfall monitoring in locations sufficient to provide coverage
throughout Toledo’s service area and in a manner that provides
sufficient data to accurately determine localized rain patterns.
(d)
development of digitized map(s) which: (i) illustrate the configuration
and location of all major trunk sewers, force mains, interceptors,
pump stations, siphons and other major appurtenances (and, to the
extent practical, include the size of the sewers so mapped) and
(ii) indicate the locations of all prior and proposed monitoring.
(e) development of schematic(s) which illustrate the hydraulic relationship
between all of the major components of the Sewer System mentioned
above in subparagraph (d);
(f)
a summary of existing CSO, river level, flow, WWTP, rainfall and
groundwater level monitoring data and a description of all additional
monitoring that must be carried out in order to assure that sufficient
data exists to adequately support development of the Hydraulic Model
(required pursuant to Paragraphs 26-27), the Water Quality Model
(required pursuant to Paragraphs 28-29), and the Long Term Control
Plan (required pursuant to Paragraphs 30-34); and a description
of the steps Toledo will take to obtain that additional data;
(g)
a description of the data management system that will organize,
analyze, and report all existing data to be utilized and all of
the data that Toledo will be collecting in accordance with the Flow
Characterization Study;
(h)
a description of the quality assurance and quality control program
Toledo will follow to ensure the accuracy and reliability of data
collected in accordance with this Flow Characterization Study;
(i)
a description of the amount and type of rainfall, flow, groundwater
and hydraulic grade line data that Toledo will collect, including
dry and wet weather monitoring, and minimum criteria (e.g., rainfall
amounts and intensities) for wet weather events;
(j) an evaluation of the adequacy, completeness and accuracy of
available Sewer System and WWTP attribute data (e.g., pipe diameters,
pipe segment lengths, invert elevations, pipe interior roughness
coefficients) to support development of the Hydraulic Model (required
pursuant to Paragraphs 26-27), the Water Quality Model (required
pursuant to Paragraphs 28-29), and the Long Term Control Plan (required
pursuant to Paragraphs 30-34), and a description of the steps Toledo
will take to obtain any necessary additional data and/or to verify
the accuracy of existing data; and
(k)
a schedule for the expeditious installation of CSO, WWTP, flow,
groundwater level, and rainfall monitoring equipment; a schedule
for the expeditious completion of all monitoring activities; a schedule
for the expeditious completion of all physical attribute data collection
activities; and a schedule for the expeditious completion and submission
of the Flow Characterization Report, pursuant to the requirements
of Paragraph 20.
19.
Upon approval by U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA of the work plan submitted
in accordance with Paragraph 18, Toledo shall commence the Flow
Characterization Study in accordance with the approved work plan
and schedule set forth in the approved work plan.
20.
Within thirty (30) days after completion of the Flow Characterization
Study, Toledo shall submit a written report (the “Flow Characterization
Report”) to U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA, for approval, which (a)
demonstrates that Toledo performed the Flow Characterization Study
in accordance with the approved work plan and schedule set forth
in the approved work plan, (b) provides the results of the Flow
Characterization Study including, but not limited to, (i) the digitized
map(s) and schematics described above in Paragraphs 18(d) and (e);
(ii) a detailed description of all CSO, WWTP, flow, groundwater
level and rainfall monitoring carried out; and (iii) a summary of
existing data that Toledo will use to support development of the
Hydraulic Model (required pursuant to Paragraphs 26-27), the Water
Quality Model (required pursuant to Paragraphs 28-29) and the Long
Term Control Plan (required pursuant to Paragraphs 30-34); and the
data collected in the Flow Characterization Study.
21. Upon receipt of U.S. EPA’s/Ohio EPA’s final approval
of the Flow Characterization Report, Toledo shall utilize the collected
data to complete the development of the Hydraulic Model (required
pursuant to Paragraphs 26-27), the Water Quality Model (required
pursuant to Paragraphs 28-29), and the Long Term Control Plan (required
pursuant to Paragraphs 30-34).
22.
Water Quality Study
Within
thirty (30) days after entry of this Consent Decree, Toledo shall
submit to U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA, for approval, a work plan for conducting
a study (“Water Quality Study”) to characterize the
water quality of the receiving streams into which Toledo’s
CSOs discharge. The Water Quality Study is to be used to facilitate
the calibration and validation of the Water Quality Model (required
pursuant to Paragraphs 28-29) and to be used in developing the Long
Term Control Plan (required pursuant to Paragraphs 30-34). The Water
Quality Study shall incorporate the results of water quality monitoring
and modeling efforts previously carried out by Toledo. The work
plan shall include a schedule for performing and completing the
Water Quality Study within one year after approval of such work
plan. At a minimum, the Water Quality Study shall include (and so
the work plan shall describe how Toledo’s study will accomplish)
the following:
(a)
Water quality monitoring consistent with the water quality monitoring
described in the “Requirements Imposed Pursuant to Section
308(a) of the Clean Water Act” issued by U.S. EPA on September
30, 1999. (Attachment 1);
(b)
Water quality monitoring and sediment oxygen demand characterization
necessary to determine the impact that CSO discharges are having
on dissolved oxygen levels throughout the Ottawa River and the Swan
Creek. The monitoring shall include monitoring to determine dissolved
oxygen levels immediately upstream and in appropriate locations
downstream of CSOs that discharge into the Ottawa River and the
Swan Creek, both during wet and dry weather; and monitoring necessary
to characterize sediment oxygen demand in appropriate locations
in the Ottawa River and the Swan Creek;
(c)
A summary of existing water quality monitoring data and modeling
efforts and a description of how the existing data and additional
monitoring to be carried out shall together adequately support development
of the Water Quality Model (required pursuant to Paragraphs 28-29)
and the Long Term Control Plan (required pursuant to Paragraphs
30-34);
(d)
a description of the data management system that will organize,
analyze, and report all of the data that Toledo will be utilizing
as part of this Water Quality Study;
(e)
a description of the quality assurance and quality control program
Toledo will follow to ensure the accuracy and reliability of data
collected in accordance with this Water Quality Study; and
(f)
a schedule for the expeditious completion of all monitoring activities;
and a schedule for the expeditious completion and submission of
the Water Quality Study Report, pursuant to the requirements of
Paragraph 24.
23.
Upon approval by U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA of the work plan submitted
in accordance with Paragraph 22, Toledo shall commence the Water
Quality Study in accordance with the approved work plan and schedule
set forth in the approved work plan.
24.
Within thirty (30) days after completion of the Water Quality Study,
Toledo shall submit a written Water Quality Study Report to U.S.
EPA and Ohio EPA, for approval, which (a) demonstrates that Toledo
performed the Water Quality Study in accordance with the approved
work plan and schedule set forth in the approved plan, (b) provides
the results of the Water Quality Study including, but not limited
to: (i) a detailed description of all monitoring carried out; (ii)
a summary of existing data that Toledo will use to support development
of the Water Quality Model (required pursuant to Paragraphs 28-29)
and the Long Term Control Plan (required pursuant to Paragraphs
30-34); and (iii) a summary of the data collected in the Water Quality
Study.
25.
Upon receipt of U.S. EPA’s/Ohio EPA’s final approval
of the Water Quality Study Report, Toledo shall utilize the collected
data to complete the development of the Water Quality Model (required
pursuant to Paragraphs 28-29) and the Long Term Control Plan (required
pursuant to Paragraphs 30-34).
26.
Hydraulic Model
Within
thirty (30) days after entry of this Consent Decree, Toledo shall
submit to U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA, for approval, a work plan for developing
a hydraulic model of Toledo’s Combined Sewer System (“Hydraulic
Model”) to be used, in conjunction with the Water Quality
Model (required pursuant to Paragraphs 28-29) for use in developing
the Long Term Control Plan (required pursuant to Paragraphs 30-34).
The Hydraulic Model shall also be used in the development and implementation
of operation and maintenance procedures and to establish priorities
for, and evaluate the impacts of, proposed system modifications
and upgrades. At a minimum, the Hydraulic Model shall be capable
of (i) predicting stormwater flows generated by various wet weather
events in combined areas; (ii) predicting the hydraulic grade lines,
volume and flow rates of wastewater in force mains and gravity sewer
lines; (iii) predicting the hydraulic pressure and flow of wastewater
at any point in force mains throughout the Combined Sewer System;
(iv) predicting the flow capacity of each pump station (Toledo may
elect to perform manual calculations in lieu of utilizing the Model
to evaluate pump station capacity); (v) predicting the flow capacity
of gravity sewer lines; (vi) predicting the peak flows during wet
weather and dry weather conditions for pump stations and gravity
sewer lines; (vii) predicting the likelihood, location, duration
and volume of discharge from each CSO for a variety of storm events
(of varying durations and return frequencies); and (viii) developing
wet weather hydrographs for the separate sewer areas that are tributary
to the Combined Sewer System. These storms shall include, but not
be limited to, the most critical storm(s) having a ten year return
frequency, and duration of between 1 hour and 24 hours. The hydrographs
shall be developed for various storm recurrence intervals and shall
be combined with baseline wastewater flow and routed through gravity
sewer lines, pump stations, force mains, regulators and interceptors
by the Model. The Model shall include methods for estimating wastewater
flow, groundwater infiltration, and rain induced infiltration and
inflow (“I/I”). The hydrographs shall be developed using
historical flow and rainfall data and data collected by Toledo during
the Flow Characterization Study (required pursuant to Paragraphs
18-20). The work plan for developing the Hydraulic Model shall include:
(a)
a description of the Hydraulic Model;
(b)
specific attributes, characteristics, and limitations of the Hydraulic
Model;
(c)
identification of all input parameters, constants, assumed values,
and expected outputs;
(d)
a digitized map(s) that identifies and characterizes the portions
(including the specific gravity sewer lines) of the Sewer System
that shall be included in the Hydraulic Model;
(e)
identification of input data to be used;
(f) configuration of the Hydraulic Model;
(g)
procedures and protocols for performance of sensitivity analyses
(i.e., how the Hydraulic Model responds to changes in input parameters
and variables);
(h)
procedures for calibrating the Hydraulic Model to account for values
representative of the Sewer System and WWTP using actual system
and WWTP data (e.g., flow data);
(i)
procedures to verify the Hydraulic Model’s performance using
actual system and WWTP data (e.g., flow data);
(j)
procedures for modeling wet weather flows from separate sewer areas;
(k)
how representative values of the Hydraulic Model’s constant
values shall be determined by tests conducted in Toledo’s
Sewer System and WWTP; and
(l)
an expeditious schedule for the development and utilization of the
Hydraulic Model.
27.
Upon approval by U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA of the work plan submitted
in accordance with Paragraph 26, Toledo shall develop and utilize
the Hydraulic Model in accordance with the schedule included in
the approved work plan.
28.
Water Quality Model
Within
thirty (30) days after entry of this Consent Decree, Toledo shall
submit to U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA, for approval, a work plan for developing
a water quality model (the “Water Quality Model”) to
be used, in conjunction with the Hydraulic Model (required pursuant
to Paragraphs 26-27) in developing the Long Term Control Plan (required
pursuant to Paragraphs 30-34). At a minimum, the Water Quality Model
shall be capable of (a) accurately modeling water quality in the
Ottawa River, Swan Creek, and the Maumee River under existing and
future predicted conditions, during an appropriate range of both
dry and wet weather conditions, and across an appropriate range
of river flows; (b) assessing the impacts on water quality (both
absolute and relative to other sources) of CSOs under the aforementioned
ranges of conditions; and (c) assessing the changes in CSO impact
which will be expected to occur following implementation of the
various CSO control measures that Toledo evaluates in developing
its Long Term Control Plan (required pursuant to Paragraphs 30-34).
The work plan for developing the Water Quality Model shall include:
(a)
a description of the Water Quality Model;
(b)
specific attributes, characteristics, and limitations of the Water
Quality Model;
(c)
identification of all input parameters, constants, assumed values,
and expected outputs;
(d)
identification of input data to be used;
(e)
configuration of the Water Quality Model;
(f)
procedures and protocols for performance of sensitivity analyses
(i.e., how the Water Quality Model responds to changes in input
parameters and variables);
(g)
procedures for calibrating the Water Quality Model to account for
values representative of the receiving streams using actual water
quality monitoring data;
(h)
procedures to verify the Water Quality Model’s performance
using actual water quality monitoring data; and
(i) an expeditious schedule for the development and implementation
of the Water Quality Model.
29.
Upon approval by U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA of the work plan submitted
in accordance with Paragraph 28, Toledo shall implement the Water
Quality Model in accordance with the schedule included in the approved
work plan.
30.
Long Term Control Plan
Within
thirty (30) days after entry of this Consent Decree, Toledo shall
submit to U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA, for approval, a work plan for developing
a long term control plan (the “Long Term Control Plan”)
for insuring that Toledo’s CSOs comply with the requirements
of Toledo’s Current Permit, the Clean Water Act and the objectives
of U.S. EPA’s April 19, 1994 “Combined Sewer Overflow
(CSO) Policy.” The work plan shall include a schedule for
completing development of the Long Term Control Plan within thirty
months after approval by U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA of the work plan.
At a minimum, the Long Term Control Plan shall include (and so the
work plan shall describe how Toledo’s development of the Long
Term Control Plan will accomplish) the following:
(a) an assessment of the costs, effectiveness (in terms of pollutant
loading reductions, regardless of water quality impacts) and water
quality benefits of a wide range of alternatives for eliminating
or reducing and treating CSOs. Toledo shall use the results of the
Flow Characterization Study (performed in accordance with the requirements
of Paragraphs 18-20), the results of the Water Quality Study (performed
in accordance with the requirements of Paragraphs 22-24), the Hydraulic
Model (developed pursuant to the requirements of Paragraphs 26-27)
and the Water Quality Model (developed pursuant to the requirements
of Paragraphs 28-29) in performing this assessment. The alternatives
that shall be considered include taking no-action (other than the
improvements required by Section V.B); complete sewer separation;
separation of specific portions of the combined system; various
sizes of storage basins or tunnels at locations throughout the collection
system; construction of additional facilities (such as high rate
treatment or ballasted flocculation facilities) for providing primary
treatment or advanced primary treatment to CSOs; construction of
additional facilities for providing disinfection and dechlorination
of CSOs; construction of facilities for removing floatables from
CSOs; construction of relief sewers; relocation of CSOs; implementation
of pretreatment measures to reduce flows and or pollutants discharged
into the collection system from industrial users; and construction
and/or implementation of combinations of these alternatives. The
United States Environmental Protection Agency’s “Combined
Sewer Overflows Guidance for Long-Term Control Plan,” (“Guidance
for LTCP”) provides Guidance on performing alternatives analyses.
This assessment shall include:
(i)
An evaluation of a range of “sizes” of each alternative
that will reduce the number of untreated CSOs down to a range of
numbers of overflows per CSO outfall (such as 0, 1-3, 4-7 and 8-12).
(ii) An evaluation of the “Project Costs,” as that term
is described on pages 3-49 through 3-51 of the United States Environmental
Protection Agency’s “Combined Sewer Overflows Guidance
for Long-Term Control Plan,” (“Guidance for LTCP”)
for each alternative, or mix of alternatives, that Toledo has evaluated.
The determination of Project Costs shall include: (a) the total
“project costs” for each alternative or mix of alternatives,
and a break down of the “capital costs,” “annual
O & M costs,” and “life cycle costs” which
went into calculating the total “project costs” for
each alternative or mix of alternatives; and (b) the “project
costs” for each separate component of each alternative or
mix of alternatives, and a break down of the “capital costs,”
“annual O & M costs,” and “life cycle costs”
which went into calculating the “project costs” for
each separate component of each alternative or mix of alternatives.
The terms “capital costs,” “annual O & M costs,”
and “life cycle costs” are described on pages 3-49 through
3-51 of the Guidance for LTCP.
(iii)
An evaluation of Toledo’s financial capability to fund all
improvements that have been considered. This evaluation shall include
an evaluation of:
i.
Median household income/total project cost per household;
ii.
Per capita debt as a percent of full market property value;
iii.
Property tax revenues as a percent of full market property value;
iv.
Property tax collection rate;
v.
Unemployment;
vi.
Bond rating;
vii.
Grant and loan availability;
viii.
Current and projected residential, commercial and industrial user
fees;
ix.
Other viable funding mechanisms and sources of financing; and
24.
Other factors which Toledo believes are important for this financial
evaluation.
(iv) An analysis of the water quality impacts of each alternative
or mix of alternatives that are being considered. This analysis,
which shall utilize the results of the Water Quality Study (performed
in accordance with the requirements of Paragraphs 22-24) and the
Water Quality Model (developed in accordance with the requirements
of Paragraphs 28-29), shall include an analysis of the reductions
in BOD5, suspended solids, fecal coliform, any pollutant parameters
that the Water Quality Characterization determined are exceeding
or approaching the State of Ohio’s water quality criteria
for those parameters in the Maumee River, Ottawa River or Swan Creek,
and effluent toxicity that will result from implementation of each
alternative; as well as an analysis of the impacts to the pollutant
and dissolved oxygen levels in the receiving streams that will result
from each alternative or mix of alternatives.
(v) An analysis of the impact that each alternative or mix of alternatives
will have on the peak instantaneous and sustained flows to the Bayview
WWTP for a variety of storm events of varying durations and return
frequencies, including, but not limited to, the most critical storm
having a ten-year return frequency and duration of between one and
twenty-four hours.
(vi)
“Knee of the curve” cost-performance analyses of the
range of options that are being considered that will allow for the
comparison of the costs per unit of measure (in mass) of pollutants
removed from the discharge for each of the alternatives that are
being considered
(b)
Identification and selection of additional remedial measures (the
“Long Term Control Plan”) that are necessary to insure
that Toledo’s CSOs comply with the requirements of Toledo’s
Current Permit, including, but not limited to, any specific or general
water quality or technology based effluent limitations applicable
to Toledo’s CSOs, the Clean Water Act and the CSO Policy.
310
Upon approval by U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA of the work plan submitted
in accordance with Paragraph 30, Toledo shall commence development
of the Long Term Control Plan in accordance with the schedule and
terms set forth in the approved work plan. Development of the Long
Term Control Plan shall be consistent with the terms of this Consent
Decree, the CSO Policy and the Clean Water Act.
320
Within thirty (30) days after completion of development of the Long
Term Control Plan, Toledo shall submit a written report (the “Long
Term Control Plan Report”) to U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA, for approval,
which incorporates the Long Term Control Plan and explains what
steps Toledo took to comply with its Public and Regulatory Agency
Participation Plan (required pursuant to Paragraphs 16-17), including
how (if at all) Toledo took information provided by the public into
account in developing its Long Term Control Plan; and which demonstrates
that Toledo developed its Long Term Control Plan in accordance with
the work plan and schedule set forth in the approved work plan and
provides the results of the work Toledo performed in developing
the Long Term Control Plan including, but not limited to:
(a)
All of the information described in Paragraph 30 pertaining to Toledo’s
assessment of the costs, effectiveness, and water quality benefits
of alternatives for eliminating or reducing and treating CSOs;
(b) Identification and selection of additional remedial measures
that are necessary to insure that Toledo’s CSOs comply with
the requirements of Toledo’s Current Permit, including, but
not limited to, any specific or general water quality or technology
based effluent limitations and conditions applicable to Toledo’s
CSOs, the Clean Water Act and the CSO Policy; and
(c)
As expeditious a schedule as possible for design, construction and
implementation of all measures described in Paragraph 32(b). If
it is not possible for Toledo to design and construct all measures
simultaneously, Toledo shall develop a phased schedule based on
the relative importance of each measure, with highest priority being
given to eliminating discharges to sensitive areas and then to those
projects which most reduce the discharge of pollutants. The schedule
shall specify critical construction milestones for each specific
measure, including, at a minimum, deadlines for: (i) submission
of applications for all permits required by law, such as State of
Ohio permits to install; (ii) commencement of construction; (iii)
completion of construction; (iv) commencement of operation; and
(v) achievement of full operation. The schedule also shall include
a deadline for the completion of all construction and full implementation
of all measures under the Long Term Control Plan, which must be
as early as possible but in no event later than August 31, 2016.
330
Upon approval by U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA of the report submitted in
accordance with Paragraph 32, the Long Term Control Plan shall be
incorporated into this Consent Decree and Toledo shall implement
the Long Term Control Plan in accordance with the schedule included
in the approved Long Term Control Plan.
340
Upon completion of all construction and full implementation of all
measures under the Long Term Control Plan, Toledo’s CSOs shall
comply with the requirements of Toledo’s Current Permit, including,
but not limited to, any specific or general water quality or technology
based effluent limitations applicable to Toledo’s CSOs, the
Clean Water Act and the CSO Policy.
350 Toledo currently anticipates that it will spend $236,000,000
to complete the CSO improvements required by Sections V.B and V.C.
D. Elimination of SSDs
360
Toledo shall take the following measures, which are generally consistent
with the Ohio EPA’s Director’s Final Findings and Orders
(the “SSD DFFO”) issued to Toledo on June 23, 1999,
to eliminate all SSDs by November 1, 2006:
(a)
In accordance with the SSD DFFO, Toledo has completed intensive
sewer cleaning to eliminate root intrusions and grease accumulations,
correct deficiencies of the 116th Street interceptor sewer which
runs from Summit Street west to 290th Street, constructed a relief
pump station at Manhattan Boulevard, eliminated thirty-two cross-connections
between its storm and sanitary sewer systems, and eliminated the
cross-connection between the Lakeside Avenue sanitary sewer and
the Maumee Bay;
(b) By April 1, 2002, Toledo shall submit to U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA,
for approval, a plan for construction of Phase 2 improvements in
the Point Place area. The plan shall include an analysis of Toledo’s
pilot rehabilitation project as described in the SSD DFFO and the
improvements described above in Paragraph 36(a); a detailed description
of the remediation alternatives that Toledo considered in developing
its Phase 2 plan as described in the SSD DFFO, including information
regarding the costs and effectiveness of each alternative that was
considered; a detailed explanation of why Toledo chose the alternatives
that it chose; and a schedule for construction of the all Phase
2 improvements necessary to eliminate SSDs from the Point Place
area. The schedule shall include (i) submission to Ohio EPA and
U.S. EPA of a complete Permit to Install application package and
detailed plans for necessary Phase 2 improvements by June 1, 2003,
(ii) awarding of contracts for construction of Phase 2 improvements
by November 1, 2003, and (iii) completion of construction of all
improvements necessary to eliminate all SSDs in the Point Place
area by November 1, 2006. Upon approval by U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA,
Toledo shall implement the plan in accordance with the schedule
in the approved plan.
(c)
In accordance with the SSD DFFO, Toledo submitted to Ohio EPA a
report of the results of its flow monitoring study of the sanitary
sewer system contributing to surcharging in the River Road and Midland
Avenue area. The report includes a map indicating flow monitoring
locations, a full description of the project, presentation of the
results of the monitoring, structural and hydraulic problems observed
during the flow monitoring activities, a table ranking each sub-basin
according to its severity of rainfall induced inflow and infiltration,
and a plan for performing a Sanitary Sewer Evaluation Study (“SSES”)
in those sub-basins in which an SSES is warranted based upon the
results of Toledo’s flow monitoring study. The SSES includes
smoke testing, dye testing, televising, and other investigative
techniques as needed to determine causes and potential remedies
for the sewer surcharging in the River Road and Midland Avenue area.
The plan for performing the SSES described in this Paragraph 36(c)
includes a detailed description of the steps that Toledo will take
to perform the SSES and a schedule for performing the SSES, which
includes (i) awarding contracts for the SSES by January 1, 2001,
(ii) completing the SSES by November 1, 2001, and (iii) submission
of a final SSES Report to U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA, for approval, by
January 1, 2002. Toledo shall implement the plan in accordance with
the schedule in the plan for performing the SSES described in this
Paragraph 36(c).
(d) The SSES report required in Paragraph 36(c), above, shall include
a detailed description of the results of the SSES; a detailed description
of all remediation alternatives that Toledo considered in determining
additional remedial measures needed to eliminate SSDs in the River
Road and Midland Avenue area, including information regarding the
costs and effectiveness of each alternative that was considered;
a detailed explanation of why Toledo chose the alternatives that
it chose; and a schedule for construction of the Phase 3 and Phase
4 improvements as described in the SSD DFFO necessary to eliminate
SSDs from the River Road and Midland Avenue area. The schedule shall
include (i) submission to U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA of a complete Permit
to Install application package and detailed plans for necessary
Phase 3 improvements by September 1, 2002; (ii) awarding of contracts
for construction of Phase 3 improvements by February 1, 2003; (iii)
completion of construction of all Phase 3 improvements by June 1,
2004; (iv) submission to U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA of a complete Permit
to Install application package and detailed plans for necessary
Phase 4 improvements by June 1, 2005;
(v) awarding of contracts for construction of Phase 4 improvements
by November 1, 2005; and completion of construction of all improvements
necessary to eliminate all SSDs in the River Road and Midland Avenue
area by November 1, 2006. Upon approval by U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA,
Toledo shall implement the plan in accordance with the schedule
in the approved plan. Toledo currently anticipates that it will
spend between $40,000,000 and $80,000,000 to complete the SSD improvements
required by this Section V.D.
370
Toledo shall eliminate all points where Toledo knows SSDs may occur
by November 1, 2006. Following that date, Toledo shall have no SSDs.
380
Any SSD that occurs prior to November 1, 2006, shall be considered
to be a violation of this Consent Decree if Toledo is out of compliance
with its Sewer System Management, Operation and Maintenance Plan.
E. Separate Sewer System Monitoring And Reporting
390
Within 120 days after entry of this Consent Decree, Toledo shall
submit a Separate Sewer System Monitoring and Reporting Plan to
U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA, for approval, which will assure that Toledo
provides timely and complete notice to Ohio EPA, and other appropriate
Federal, State, and local agencies as required below, of all relevant
information regarding all SSDs:
(a)
Timely notice of SSDs includes at least the following:
(i) Telephonic or electronic reporting of all SSDs to Ohio EPA within
twenty-four (24) hours from the time Toledo becomes aware of such
SSD;
(ii)
Complete written notice (as described in Paragraph 39(b), below)
to Ohio EPA within five (5) days of the time Toledo becomes aware
of the SSD;
(iii)
If Toledo requires more than twenty-four (24) hours to stop a particular
SSD discharge event, submission of a separate written status report
to Ohio EPA every five (5) days until the SSD discharge has ceased;
and
(b)
Complete written notice to Ohio EPA as required by Paragraph 39(a)(ii),
above, shall include at least the following:
(i)
the cause of the SSD (known or suspected causes);
(ii)
estimated volume (if determinable);
(iii)
description of the source (e.g., manhole, pump station);
(iv)
location, by street address or any other appropriate method;
(v) date and duration of event;
(vi)
ultimate destination of the flow (e.g., name of surface water body,
land use location, name of surface water body via municipal separate
storm sewer system [reference location by basin and street address
and/or cross streets]);
(vii)
corrective actions or plans to eliminate future discharges from
the same location;
(viii)
name and title of person reporting the discharge; and
(ix)
weather conditions.
(c)
Toledo shall provide Ohio EPA and the Lucas County Health Department
with written monthly summaries of the information collected pursuant
to this Paragraph 39 within 30 days of the close of the month for
which the report is due.
(d) Toledo shall provide Ohio EPA with quarterly written summaries
of all information in Toledo’s possession pertaining to any
wastewater backups into buildings that occurred during the calendar
quarter for which the summaries are prepared.
400
Toledo shall implement the plan submitted in accordance with Paragraph
39 upon U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA’s approval of that plan.
F. SSD Response Plan
410
Within 120 days after entry of this Consent Decree, Toledo shall
submit an SSD Response Plan to U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA, for approval,
which will assure that Toledo takes appropriate measures to minimize,
to the extent practical, the environmental impacts and potential
human health risks of SSDs. The SSD Response Plan shall include
the following:
(a) procedures to provide timely and appropriate public notice,
including notification through the local news media where appropriate;
(b)
procedures to determine the need to limit public access to areas
impacted by SSDs and procedures for determining when it is appropriate
to no longer limit public access to such areas following halting
of the SSD and implementation of appropriate response measures;
(c)
procedures to limit, as appropriate, public access to and contact
with areas affected by an SSD. The geographic extent and duration
of a public access limitation shall be determined in consultation
and cooperation with the County Health Department, where appropriate;
(d)
procedures to remediate, where appropriate, as expeditiously as
possible, unsanitary conditions near or from the SSD after discharge
from that SSD;
(e)
procedures to ensure the rapid dispatch of personnel and equipment
to correct or repair the condition causing or contributing to any
SSD;
(f)
procedures to ensure the preparedness, including responsiveness
training, of Toledo’s employees and contractors necessary
for the effective implementation of the contingency plan in the
event of any SSD. The program should include coordination with other
agencies as appropriate;
(g)
procedures to minimize the volume of untreated wastewater discharged
during an SSD, including revisions to Toledo’s pretreatment
program; and
(h)
procedures to insure that adequate staff and equipment resources
committed and available to respond to SSDs.
420
Toledo shall implement the plan submitted in accordance with Paragraph
41 upon U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA’s approval of that plan.
G. Industrial Wastewater Release Minimization Plan
430
Within 180 days after entry of this Consent Decree, Toledo shall
submit an Industrial Wastewater Release Minimization Plan to U.S.
EPA and Ohio EPA, for approval, which will demonstrate how Toledo
shall make all practicable efforts to minimize the discharge of
industrial pollutants through CSOs and SSDs. These steps should
include, among others, imposition of Industrial User permit requirements
and cooperative efforts with industries to minimize their discharges
of pollutants during CSO and SSD events, as well as other measures
described in U.S. EPA’s 1995 document entitled Combined Sewer
Overflows–Guidance for Nine Minimum Controls (U.S. EPA, 1995b)
(EPA 832-B-95-003).
440
Toledo shall implement the plan submitted in accordance with Paragraph
43 upon U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA’s approval of that plan.
H. Sewer System Management, Operation and Maintenance Plan
450
Within 180 days after entry of this Consent Decree, Toledo shall
submit a Management, Operation and Maintenance (“MOM”)
Plan to U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA, for approval, which will demonstrate
how Toledo will provide proper management, operation and maintenance
of the gravity sewer lines, force mains, pump/ejector stations,
and other equipment associated with its Sewer System; minimize Sewer
System failures (such as wastewater backups into buildings) and
discharges from the Sewer System; maximize flow to the Bayview WWTP;
and provide maximum possible treatment to all CSOs. The Plan shall
include, but not be limited to, the following:
(a)
physical inspection and testing procedures (CCTV, visual, smoke,
dyed water, and others);
(b) preventative and routine maintenance schedules and procedures
and operating procedures and schedules;
(c)
corrective maintenance;
(d)
schedules for the maintenance of right-of ways (e.g., on-street
and off-street) and easements;
(e)
current staffing, organization, and resource commitments;
(f)
an inventory management system that includes:
(i)
lists of critical equipment and critical spare parts;
(ii)
an inventory of the critical spare parts and critical equipment
stored at Toledo’s facilities and other locations to assure
that they may be secured to allow repairs in a minimal amount of
time to maintain proper operation of Toledo’s Sewer System;
and
(iii)
procedures for maintaining and updating the routine/critical spare
parts and equipment inventories;
(g)
an information system that Toledo shall use to track implementation
of the MOM Program and to calculate management, operation, and maintenance
performance indicators such as:
(i)
the annual linear footage of gravity sewer inspections;
(ii)
the annual linear footage of gravity sewers mechanically cleaned;
(iii)
the number of manholes visually inspected annually; and
(iv)
the number of SSDs per mile of gravity sewer;
(h)
a tracking system for all maintenance activities, including pump
station equipment histories;
(i) procedures for generation of maintenance work orders; and
(j)
reports listing equipment problems and work orders generated during
the prior month;
460
The Plan also shall contain procedures to assure that preventative
maintenance activities are scheduled appropriately, and shall include,
but not be limited to, the following:
(a)
periodic service and calibration of all instrumentation such as
flow meters, liquid level sensors, alarm systems, elapsed time meters,
and remote monitoring equipment;
(b)
routine inspection and service for all pumps including, but not
limited to: engines, motors, generators, pumps, wet wells, impellers,
seals, bearings, wear clearances, couplings, drives, and related
equipment; and routine inspection and service for air release valves;
(c)
inspection and cleaning of Toledo’s Sewer System and manholes
in accordance with a schedule that ensures that Toledo cleans its
entire Sewer System at least once every three years;
(d)
inspection and maintenance of all force mains and siphons;
(e) routine inspection of all sewer and force main right-of-ways,
including inspection of: creek crossings and related appurtenances,
stream bank encroachment towards gravity sewer lines and force mains,
and right-of-way or easement accessibility (including the need to
control vegetative growth or encroachment of man-made structures
or activities that could threaten the integrity of the affected
gravity sewer lines or force mains). Inspections shall include the
development of written reports, and, where appropriate, representative
photographs or videos of appurtenances being inspected (manholes,
creek crossings, etc.). The MOM Program shall specifically include
procedures by which field inspection personnel shall report, both
verbally and in writing, to designated management officials of any
observed SSDs, dry weather CSOs and any evidence of SSDs and dry
weather CSOs that may have occurred since the last inspection; and
(f) provisions governing replacement of sewers as necessary to assure
the proper operation and maintenance of Toledo’s Sewer System.
470
The Plan also shall include provisions for insuring that the maximum
flow is transported to the WWTP prior to discharging from any CSOs
and that CSO discharges are minimized and treated to the maximum
extent practicable.
480
Within six months of completion of all of the improvements required
pursuant to Section V.B, above, and on a biannual basis thereafter,
Toledo shall submit to U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA for approval an updated
MOM plan which takes into account any improvements at the Bayview
WWTP or in Toledo’s Sewer System which could impact Toledo’s
management, operation and maintenance of Toledo’s Sewer System,
and Toledo’s practical experience in using those improvements.
The updated plan shall contain the provisions described in Paragraphs
45-47.
490
Toledo shall implement the plans submitted in accordance with Paragraphs
45-47 upon U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA’s approval of that plan.
I. WWTP Operations and Maintenance Plan
500
Within three months following entry of this Consent Decree, Toledo
shall submit to U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA for approval an operations
and maintenance plan for the Bayview WWTP that addresses, at a minimum,
the following:
(a) provisions to keep, to the maximum extent feasible, all essential
units online at all times or maintained in a full state of readiness;
(b)
provisions to assure that Toledo maximizes wastewater flows through
its aeration basins and secondary clarifiers prior to bypassing
those portions of the Bayview WWTP;
(c)
provisions to assure that Toledo maximizes flows through its primary
clarifiers prior to bypassing those portions of the Bayview WWTP;
(d)
provisions to assure the prompt and efficient emptying of the grit
collection boxes;
(e)
provisions to assure the elimination of waste activated sludges
or other sludges and recycle streams from being recycled back to
the head of the plant; and
(f)
provisions to assure that Toledo operates and maintains all treatment
facilities at the Bayview WWTP in a manner that maximizes the removal
of pollutants from any discharge.
510
Within one year after completion of construction of all of the improvements
required pursuant to Section V.B, above, and on a biannual basis
thereafter, Toledo shall submit to U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA for approval
an updated operations and maintenance plan which takes into account
any improvements at the Bayview WWTP or in Toledo’s Sewer
System which could impact Toledo’s operation and maintenance
of the Bayview WWTP, and Toledo’s practical experience in
using those improvements. The updated plan shall contain the provisions
described in Paragraph 50. The updated plan also shall set forth
the procedures for starting up the ballasted flocculation facilities
during wet weather events which will cause those facilities to achieve
optimal suspended solids removal rates as rapidly as possible; procedures
for steady state operations of the ballasted flocculation facilities
including specific provisions governing chemical and ballast feed
rates; procedures for maintaining the ballasted flocculation facilities;
and shall specify the percent removal of suspended solids that the
ballasted flocculation facilities will consistently achieve during
steady state operations. The parties anticipate that the ballasted
flocculation facilities will be able to achieve at least 40% (and
probably much greater than 40%) removal of suspended solids on a
continuous basis during steady state operations.
520
Toledo shall immediately and continuously implement its approved
plans, submitted pursuant to Paragraphs 50-51, upon approval by
U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA.
J. EPA Approval of Designs and Plans Prepared in Accordance With
Parts V.B Through V.I
530 For all designs and plans submitted by Toledo for U.S. EPA approval
in accordance with Sections V.B through V.I, above, U.S. EPA, after
providing Ohio EPA with reasonable opportunity for consultation,
may (a) approve the plan, in whole or in part; (b) approve the plan
upon specified conditions, directing that Toledo modify its submission,
or (c) any combination of the above. In reviewing submissions under
this paragraph, EPA’s primary approval criteria will be technical
feasibility, appropriateness, cost-effectiveness and compliance
with the requirements of Toledo’s Current Permit, this Consent
Decree, the Clean Water Act and, where applicable, the CSO Control
Policy. Within 21 working days following receipt of a notice of
disapproval or direction to modify the submission from U.S. EPA
(or within such longer time set forth in such notice), Toledo shall
submit a modified plan to U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA in accordance with
U.S. EPA’s directions. Any stipulated penalties applicable
to the submission shall accrue during the 21-day or otherwise specified
period but shall not be payable if U.S. EPA determines that Toledo
has complied with U.S. EPA’s directions upon resubmission
of the plan.
540
Notwithstanding the receipt of a notice of disapproval pursuant
to Paragraph 53, Toledo shall proceed, if directed by U.S. EPA,
to take any action required by any nondeficient portion of Toledo’s
submission. Implementation of any nondeficient portion of a submission
shall not relieve Toledo of any liability for stipulated penalties.
550
In the event that a resubmitted plan or portion thereof is disapproved
in whole or in part or approved with conditions by U.S. EPA, U.S.
EPA may again require Toledo to correct the deficiencies or conditions
in accordance with the preceding paragraphs. U.S. EPA also retains
the right to modify or develop any disapproved or conditioned portion
of the resubmitted plan. Toledo shall implement any such plan, report
or item as modified or developed by U.S. EPA, subject only to its
right to invoke the procedures set forth in Section XII, Dispute
Resolution.
560
If upon resubmission, a plan is disapproved or modified in whole
or in part by U.S. EPA due to a material defect previously identified
and not corrected, Toledo shall be deemed to have failed to submit
its plan timely and adequately unless it invokes the dispute resolution
procedures set forth in Section XII and U.S. EPA’s action
is overturned pursuant to that Section. If U.S. EPA’s disapproval
or modification is upheld, stipulated penalties shall accrue for
such violation from the date on which the initial submission was
originally required, except as provided in Paragraph 97. Whether
U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA disapprove of Toledo’s submissions or
approve the submissions with modifications shall not affect the
burden of proof or the standard of review set forth in Section XII,
Dispute Resolution, of this Consent Decree.
K. Class IV Operator Compliance
570
Toledo shall implement all necessary steps to assure that the Bayview
WWTP is under the responsible charge of a State of Ohio certified
Class IV wastewater treatment plant operator. The term "responsible
charge" means the physical on-site supervision of technical
operations and maintenance of the wastewater treatment works at
all times.
L. Wastewater Monitoring
580 Upon completion of construction of the ballasted flocculation
facilities as required by Paragraph 8(f):
(a)
Toledo shall monitor all discharges from outfall 001 in accordance
with all monitoring requirements for all parameters specified in
Toledo’s Current Permit at a location after the location where
all wastestreams that are discharged from outfall 001 are joined.
This sampling location shall be referred to for purposes of this
Consent Decree as “sampling location 001.”
(b)
Whenever Toledo is utilizing its ballasted flocculation facilities,
Toledo shall also monitor its secondary effluent flows in accordance
with all monitoring requirements specified in Toledo’s Current
Permit for volume, suspended solids, CBOD5 and pH at a location
downstream of Toledo’s secondary clarifiers but before where
those flows are joined with flows from Toledo’s ballasted
flocculation facilities. This sampling location shall be referred
to for purposes of this Consent Decree as “sampling location
602.”
(c)
Toledo shall monitor all flows from its ballasted flocculation facilities
in accordance with all monitoring requirements specified in Toledo’s
Current Permit for volume, suspended solids and CBOD5. This sampling
location shall be referred to for purposes of this Consent Decree
as “sampling location 603.”
(d) Toledo shall include the results of its monitoring under this
paragraph in the Monthly Operating Reports that it submits to the
Ohio EPA. |
| |
VI. FUNDING |
590
Compliance with the terms of this Consent Decree by Toledo is not
conditioned on the receipt of federal or state grant funds or upon
Toledo’s financial capabilities. In addition, failure to comply
is not excused by the lack of federal or state grant funds, or by
the processing of any applications for the same, or by Toledo’s
financial capabilities. Toledo reserves the right to petition EPA
and Ohio EPA for a change in compliance dates if it experiences
significant adverse changes in its financial capabilities.
|
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VII. REPORTING |
600
Beginning with the end of the next full calendar quarter after entry
of this Consent Decree and for every calendar quarter thereafter
until this Consent Decree terminates in accordance with Section
XXVII, Termination, below, Toledo shall submit written status reports
to U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA. In each report, Toledo shall provide the
following:
(a)
a statement setting forth the deadlines and other terms that Toledo
is required by this Consent Decree to meet since the date of the
last quarterly statement, whether and to what extent Toledo has
met these requirements, and the reasons for any noncompliance;
(b)
a general description of the work completed within the three-month
period, and a projection of work to be performed pursuant to this
Consent Decree during the three-month period. Notification to U.S.
EPA and Ohio EPA of any anticipated delay shall not, by itself,
excuse the delay; and
(c) copies of all Monthly Operating Reports, monthly SSD reports
and quarterly reports of wastewater backups into buildings that
Toledo submitted to Ohio EPA pursuant to Paragraphs 39-40, above,
in the previous calendar quarter; and copies of all written reports
of 002 discharges and bypass notifications that Toledo submitted
to Ohio EPA pursuant to Paragraphs 61-62, below.
610
For each discharge from outfall 002, whether such discharge was
anticipated or unanticipated, Toledo shall submit to Ohio EPA a
written report containing all information required under Toledo’s
NPDES Permit No. 2PF00000*JD, Part III, Sections 11-12, pertaining
to such discharge including, but not limited to, a detailed explanation
of why the discharge was necessary to avoid loss of life, personal
injury, or severe property damage, why Toledo believed that there
were no feasible alternatives to the discharge based upon existing
equipment at the Bayview WWTP, the total amount of wastewater discharged
from outfall 001 during the 24-hour period during which the discharge
from outfall 002 occurred, and the total amount of flow discharged
from outfall 002. Toledo must submit each such report to Ohio EPA
no later than five days from the date of such discharge from outfall
002.
620 For each time Toledo bypasses wastewater flow from any equipment
at the Bayview WWTP, including but not limited to the aeration basins
and secondary clarifiers, Toledo shall submit to Ohio EPA a written
report containing all information required under Toledo’s
NPDES Permit No. 2PF00000*JD, Part III, Sections 11-12, pertaining
to such bypass including, but not limited to, a detailed explanation
of why the discharge was necessary to avoid loss of life, personal
injury, or severe property damage; whether there were feasible alternatives
to the bypass based upon existing equipment at the Bayview WWTP
and, if not, the reasons supporting Toledo’s conclusions;
and the total amount of wastewater bypassed during the 24-hour period
of time. Toledo must submit each such report to Ohio EPA no later
than five days from the date of such bypass. |
| |
VIII. COMMUNICATIONS
|
630
Except as specified otherwise, when written notification (including
all reports) or communication with the United States U.S. EPA, the
United States Department of Justice, the United States’ Attorney,
the State of Ohio, Ohio EPA, Toledo is required by the terms of
this Consent Decree, it shall be addressed as follows:
As to the United States Department of Justice:
Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section
Environment and Natural Resources Division
U.S. Department of Justice
Post Office Box 7611
Washington, D.C. 20044-7611
Reference Case No. 90-5-1-1-3554
As to the United States Attorney:
Holly Taft Sydlow
Assistant United States Attorney
Northern District of Ohio
Western Division
1716 Spielbush Avenue
305 United States Courthouse
Toledo, Ohio 43624
As to U.S. EPA :
Chief
Water Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Branch
Water Division
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5
77 West Jackson Blvd
Chicago, Illinois, 60604
and
Gary O. Prichard
Associate Regional Counsel
Office of Regional Counsel
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5
77 West Jackson, Blvd.
Chicago, Illinois 60604
As to the State:
Northwest District Office
Division of Surface Water
Attn: Enforcement Group Leader
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
347 Dunbridge Rd.
P.O. Box 466
Bowling Green, Ohio 43402-0466,
Margaret A Malone
Assistant Attorney General
State of Ohio Office of Attorney General
30 East Broad Street, 25th Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215?3824,
and
Randy Bournique
Enforcement Coordinator
Division of Surface Water
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
122 South Front Street
Columbus, Ohio 43216-3669
As to Toledo:
Law Director
City of Toledo
One Government Center, Suite 2250
Toledo, Ohio 43604
Director of Public Utilities
420 Madison Street, Suite 100
Toledo, Ohio 43604
Any party, upon written notification to the
other parties, may change the addresses to whom communications with
that party shall be sent. All notifications or communications shall
be deemed submitted on the date they are postmarked and sent by
first class mail or certified mail, return receipt requested. |
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IX. STIPULATED PENALTIES
|
640
Toledo shall be liable for stipulated penalties in the amounts set
forth in this Section to the United States and the State of Ohio
for failure to comply with the requirements of this Consent Decree
specified below, unless excused under Section X, Force Majeure.
"Compliance" by Toledo shall include all requirements
of this Consent Decree, including, but not limited to, completion
of the activities required under this Consent Decree or any work
plan or other plan approved pursuant to this Consent Decree within
the specified time schedules and deadlines established by and approved
under this Consent Decree or any work plan or other plan.
650
For each failure to comply with the compliance schedule deadlines
(including schedule deadlines contained in any plan or report approved
by U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA) specified in Section V, Compliance Program
or with the Supplemental Environmental Project completion deadlines
set forth in Paragraphs 107 and 119 (other than those requirements
specifically identified in other Paragraphs of this Section, if
any), Toledo shall pay the following stipulated penalties per violation
per day:
Period of Noncompliance with Requirement
|
Penalty Per
Day |
| 1st day to 30th day |
$ 1000 |
| 31st day to 60th day |
$ 2500 |
| Each day beyond 60 days |
$ 5000 |
660
Prior to completion of construction of the ballasted flocculation
facilities as required by Paragraph 8(f), for any failure to comply
with any effluent limitations in Toledo's Current Permit applicable
to Outfall 001 other than acute or chronic toxicity limitations,
Toledo shall pay the following stipulated penalties per violation
per day:
Period of Noncompliance with Requirement
|
Penalty |
| Daily Effluent Limit |
$ 1000 per day |
| 7-Day Average Limit |
$ 2500 per 7 day period |
| 30-Day Average Limit |
$ 10000 per 30 day period |
Toledo shall pay a stipulated penalty of $5,000
for violations of any acute or chronic toxicity effluent limits.
Mass limits and concentration limits for the same parameter shall
be separate effluent limitations so that, for example, a violation
of a seven-day concentration limitation for suspended solids and
a violation of a seven-day mass limitation for suspended solids
shall be considered to be two separate “7-Day Average Limit”
violations. Seven-day and thirty-day effluent limitations apply
to any and all consecutive seven and thirty-day periods. Toledo
is required to pay only one stipulated penalty for each day per
violation of a seven-day or thirty-day effluent limitation (e.g.,
Toledo will not have to pay a penalty for seven days of violation
of the seven-day concentration limitation for suspended solids if
it is also required to pay a stipulated penalty for the same days
for violation of the thirty-day concentration limitation for suspended
solids).
670
Following completion of construction of the ballasted flocculation
facilities as required by Paragraph 8(f), for any failure to comply
with any effluent limitations in Toledo's Current Permit applicable
to discharges from the Bayview WWTP as determined based upon compliance
monitoring performed in accordance with the monitoring requirements
in Toledo’s Current Permit, other than acute or chronic toxicity
limitations, Toledo shall pay the following stipulated penalties
per violation per day:
Period of Noncompliance with Requirement
|
Penalty |
| Daily Effluent Limit |
$ 1000 per day |
| 7-Day Average Limit |
$ 2500 per 7 day period |
| 30-Day Average Limit |
$ 10000 per 30 day period |
Toledo shall pay a stipulated penalty of $5,000
for violations of any acute or chronic toxicity effluent limits.
Loading limits and concentration limits for the same parameter shall
be separate effluent limitations so that, for example, a violation
of a seven-day concentration limitation for suspended solids and
a violation of a seven-day loading limitation for suspended solids
shall be considered to be two separate “7-Day Average Limit”
violations. Seven-day and thirty-day effluent limitations apply
to any and all consecutive seven and thirty-day periods. Toledo
is required to pay only one stipulated penalty for each day per
violation of a seven-day or thirty-day effluent limitation (e.g.,
Toledo will not have to pay a penalty for seven days of violation
of the seven-day concentration limitation for suspended solids if
it is also required to pay a stipulated penalty for the same days
for violation of the thirty-day concentration limitation for suspended
solids).
680
Following completion of construction of the ballasted flocculation
facilities as required by Paragraph 8(f), Toledo also shall be liable
for the following stipulated penalties if its wastewater as measured
at sampling locations 001 or 602 (as defined in Paragraphs 58(a)
and (b) of this Consent Decree), contains suspended solids or CBOD5
levels in excess of the effluent limitations specified for those
parameters in Table 1, or if the critical pH levels, as measured
at sampling locations 001 or 602 are greater than the maximum levels
and/or are less than the minimum levels set forth in Table 1:
Period of Noncompliance with Requirement
|
Penalty Per
Day |
| Daily Effluent Limit |
$ 1000 per day |
| 7-Day Average Limit |
$ 2500 per 7 day period |
| 30-Day Average Limit |
$ 10000 per 30 day period |
For purposes of this Consent Decree, loading
limits and concentration limits for the same parameter shall be
separate effluent limitations so that, for example, a violation
of a seven-day concentration limitation for suspended solids and
a violation of a seven-day loading limitation for suspended solids
shall be considered to be two separate “7-Day Average Limit”
violations. Seven-day and thirty-day effluent limitations apply
to any and all consecutive seven and thirty-day periods. For purposes
of calculating compliance with the seven and thirty-day effluent
limitations for suspended solids or CBOD5 set forth in Table 1 for
sampling station 602, Toledo shall report in its Monthly Operating
Reports, and shall use, the monitoring results at sampling station
602 for each day the ballasted flocculation facilities are used,
and the results at sampling station 001 for each day the ballasted
flocculation facilities are not used. Toledo is required to pay
only one stipulated penalty for each day per violation of a seven-day
or thirty-day effluent limitation (e.g., Toledo will not have to
pay a penalty for seven days of violation of the seven-day concentration
limitation for suspended solids if it is also required to pay a
stipulated penalty for the same days for violation of the thirty-day
concentration limitation for suspended solids). Toledo shall not
be required to pay a stipulated penalty under this Paragraph if
Toledo is already required to pay a stipulated penalty under Paragraph
67 for a violation of the same effluent limitation for the same
period of time for discharges as monitored pursuant to Toledo’s
Current Permit.
690
For each failure to submit a timely and adequate plan or permit
to install required under Sections V.B through V.I, Toledo shall
pay the following stipulated penalties per violation per day:
Period of Noncompliance with Requirement
|
Penalty Per
Day |
| 1st day to 30th day |
$ 1000 |
| 31st day to 60th day |
$ 2500 |
| Each day beyond 60 days |
$ 5000 |
Stipulated penalties under this Paragraph shall
begin to accrue on the date that Toledo receives written notice
from U.S. EPA or Ohio EPA of disapproval of the report, plan, or
schedule and shall continue to accrue until Toledo submits a revised
report, plan or schedule to U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA which U.S. EPA
and Ohio EPA ultimately approve.
700
For each failure to submit timely and adequate reports or other
written documents required by this Consent Decree, but not included
in Paragraph 69, Toledo shall pay the following stipulated penalties
per violation per day:
Period of Noncompliance with Requirement
|
Penalty Per
Day |
| 1st day to 30th day |
$ 250 |
| 31st day to 60th day |
$ 500 |
| Each day beyond 60 days |
$ 1000 |
710
Prior to completion of the work required under Section V.B of this
Consent Decree, for each twenty-four hour period that Toledo discharges
flows from the Bayview WWTP’s 001 outfall that have not been
treated by the WWTP’s secondary aeration basins and secondary
clarifiers when the effluent flow rate from outfall 001 has not
exceeded 170 million gallons per day for at least one entire hour
during that twenty-four hour period, Toledo shall pay a stipulated
penalty of $1,000.
720
Prior to completion of the work required under Section V.B of this
Consent Decree, for each twenty-four hour period that Toledo discharges
from outfall 002 at any time during that twenty-four hour period
when the effluent flow rate from outfall 001 has not exceeded 170
million gallons per day for at least one entire hour during that
twenty-four hour period, Toledo shall pay a stipulated penalty of
$10,000.
730
Following completion of the work required under Section V.B of this
Consent Decree, for each twenty-four hour period that Toledo discharges
flows from the Bayview WWTP’s 001 outfall that have not been
treated by the WWTP’s secondary aeration basins and secondary
clarifiers when the effluent flow rate from outfall 001 has not
exceeded 195 million gallons per day for at least one entire hour
during that twenty-four hour period, Toledo shall pay a stipulated
penalty of $1,000.
740
Following completion of the work required under Section V.B, for
each 24-hour period that Toledo discharges at any time from outfall
002 when the effluent flow rate from outfall 001 has not exceeded
400 million gallons per day for at least one entire hour during
that 24-hour period, Toledo shall pay a stipulated penalty of $10,000
750
For each day that Toledo discharges from a combined sewer overflow
in violation of Paragraph 6 of this Consent Decree, Toledo shall
pay a stipulated penalty of $5,000 per day per outfall.
760
For each day that an SSD occurs prior to November 1, 2006, while
Toledo is out of compliance with its Sewer System Management, Operation
and Maintenance Plan, Toledo shall pay stipulated penalties of $3,000
per day for each day of each SSD occurring. These stipulated penalties
shall be in addition to any stipulated penalties for Toledo’s
failure to comply with its Sewer System Management, Operation and
Maintenance Plan.
770
For each day that an SSD occurs on or after November 1, 2006, Toledo
shall pay stipulated penalties of $10,000 per day per location for
each day of each SSD occurring except that Toledo shall not be liable
for stipulated penalties for SSDs which are caused by a ten-year
storm event.
780
For each CSO that violates the water quality-based or technology-based
effluent limitations and conditions in Toledo’s NPDES permit
(including the General Effluent Limitations) that occurs subsequent
to completion of all construction and full implementation of all
measures under the Long Term Control Plan or August 31, 2016, whichever
is earlier, Toledo shall pay stipulated penalties of $5,000 per
day for each day of each CSO occurring.
79.
For each failure to comply with any other requirement of this Consent
Decree not specified in Paragraphs 65-78 above, Toledo shall pay
the following stipulated penalties:
Period of Noncompliance with Requirement
|
Penalty Per
Day |
| 1st day to 30th day |
$ 250 |
| 31st day to 60th day |
$ 500 |
| Each day beyond 60 days |
$ 1000 |
80.
Multiple penalties may accrue on any one day for different violations
of different requirements of this Consent Decree even if such violations
are caused by the same set of circumstances.
81.
Except as described in Paragraph 69, above, and Paragraph 97, below,
all penalties shall begin to accrue on the day after the complete
performance is due or the day a violation occurs, and shall continue
to accrue through the final day of the correction of the noncompliance
or completion of the activity.
82.
Following U.S. EPA or Ohio EPA's determination that Toledo has failed
to comply with a requirement of this Consent Decree, U.S. EPA or
Ohio EPA may give Toledo written notification of the same, describe
the noncompliance, and demand payment of stipulated penalties for
the noncompliance. All penalties accruing under this Section shall
be due and payable to the United States and the State of Ohio within
30 days following Toledo’s receipt of such demand for payment
which describes the noncompliance. However, penalties shall accrue
as provided in the preceding Paragraph regardless of whether or
when U.S. EPA or Ohio EPA has notified Toledo of a violation.
83.
Any stipulated penalties incurred by Toledo shall be paid as follows.
Sixty-seven percent (67%) of the penalty shall be paid to the United
States by a cashier’s check or certified funds payable to
"Treasurer of the United States," and shall be tendered
to U.S. EPA, Region V, Post Office Box 70753, Chicago, Illinois
60673, within 30 days of Toledo’s receipt of a demand for
payment of stipulated penalties from either the United States (or
EPA) or the State of Ohio (or Ohio EPA). The transmittal letter
accompanying the check shall specify the caption and docket number
of this action and the facility and the violations for which the
stipulated penalties are being paid. A copy of the letter and the
check shall simultaneously be sent to U.S. EPA Region V, Water Compliance
Branch, Compliance Section, WCC-15J, 77 West Jackson Boulevard,
Chicago, Illinois 60604, and to Chief, Environmental Enforcement
Section, United States Department of Justice, Post Office Box 7611,
Washington, D.C. 20044-7611. Thirty-three percent (33%) of the penalty
shall be paid to the State of Ohio by a cashier’s check or
certified funds payable to “Treasurer, State of Ohio,”
within 30 days of Toledo’s receipt of a demand for payment
of stipulated penalties from either the United States (or EPA) or
the State of Ohio (or Ohio EPA) along with a copy of the same letter
to be submitted to the United States, and sent to
Jena Suhadolnik, Administrative Assistant (or by a person subsequently
designated by the State of Ohio)
Office of the Attorney General
Environmental Enforcement Section
30 East Broad Street, 25th Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43266-0410.
84.
In any dispute over the applicability of stipulated penalties, Toledo
shall bear the burden of proving that it is not subject to stipulated
penalties, in accordance with Section XII, Dispute Resolution.
85.
The stipulated penalties herein shall be in addition to other remedies
or sanctions available to the United States by reason of Toledo’s
failure to comply with the requirements of this Consent Decree,
Toledo’s Current Permit, or the Clean Water Act. The payment
of such stipulated penalties shall not be construed to relieve Toledo
from specific compliance with this Decree or federal or state law,
or limit the authority of U.S. EPA or Ohio EPA to require compliance
with such laws. The United States and State of Ohio are specifically
authorized to seek injunctive relief in this civil action to address
any violation of this Consent Decree.
86.
If Toledo invokes dispute resolution as provided in Section XII,
below, penalties shall continue to accrue as provided in Paragraphs
69, 81 and 97 during such dispute resolution period, but need not
be paid to the United States until the following:
(a
If the dispute is resolved by agreement or by a decision of U.S.
EPA that is not appealed to this Court, accrued penalties determined
to be owing shall be paid to the United States within 30 days of
the agreement or the receipt of U.S. EPA's decision or order;
(b
If the dispute is appealed to this Court and the United States prevails
in whole or in part, Toledo shall pay all accrued penalties determined
by the Court to be owed to the United States within 60 days of receipt
of the Court's decision or order, except as provided in subparagraph
86(c) below;
(c
If the District Court's decision is appealed by any Party, Toledo
shall pay all accrued penalties determined by the District Court
to be owing to the United States into an interest-bearing escrow
account within 60 days of receipt of the Court's decision or order.
Penalties shall be paid into this account as they continue to accrue,
at least every 60 days. Within 15 days of receipt of the final appellate
court decision, the escrow agent shall pay the balance of the account
to U.S. EPA or to Toledo to the extent that such party(ies) prevail(s).
87.
If Toledo fails to pay stipulated penalties when due, the United
States or Ohio may institute proceedings in this action to collect
the penalties, as well as interest.
88.
Nothing in this Consent Decree shall be construed as prohibiting,
altering, or in any way limiting the ability of the United States
to seek any other remedies or sanctions available by virtue of Toledo's
violation of this Decree or of Toledo’s Current Permit or
of the Act.
|
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X. FORCE MAJEURE
|
89.
“Force Majeure” for the purposes of this Consent
Decree is defined as an event arising from causes beyond the control
of Toledo or the control of any entity controlled by Toledo, including
its consultants and contractors, which delays or prevents the performance
of any obligation under this Consent Decree. Nothing in this section
is intended to relieve Toledo of its duty to use all due diligence
to complete the requirements of this Consent Decree in a timely
matter or of Toledo’s obligation to meet all discharge limitations
and other obligations contained in Toledo’s Current Permit
and as set forth in Paragraph 6 of this Consent Decree. Unanticipated
or increased costs or changed financial circumstances are not Force
Majeure events. Failure to apply for a required permit or approval,
or to provide in a timely manner all information required to obtain
a permit or approval necessary to meet the requirements of this
Consent Decree, are not Force Majeure events. However, if a permitting
authority fails to issue, renew or modify--or delays in issuing,
renewing or modifying--a lawful permit, order or other action required
for any part of the work under this Consent Decree, Toledo is entitled
to seek relief under the Force Majeure provisions of this Consent
Decree.
90.
If any event occurs that causes or may cause delay in the completion
of any requirement of this Consent Decree, whether or not due to
a Force Majeure event, Toledo shall so notify U.S. EPA, in writing,
within fourteen (14) days after Toledo knows, or, in the exercise
of due diligence should have known of the event. The notice shall
describe in detail the bases for Toledo’s contention that
it experienced a Force Majeure event, the precise cause or causes
of the event, the measures taken or to be taken to prevent or minimize
the noncompliance or event, and the timetable by which those measures
will be implemented. Failure to so notify U.S. EPA shall constitute
a waiver of any claim of Force Majeure as to the event in question.
91. If U.S. EPA finds that a delay in performance is, or was, caused
by a Force Majeure event, it shall extend the time for performance,
in writing, for a period to compensate for the delay resulting from
such event and stipulated penalties shall not be due for such period.
In proceedings on any dispute regarding a delay in performance,
the provisions of Section XII, Dispute Resolution, shall apply,
and Toledo shall have the burden of proving that the delay is, or
was, caused by a Force Majeure event, and that the amount of additional
time requested is necessary to compensate for that event.
92.
Compliance with a requirement of this Consent Decree shall not by
itself constitute compliance with any other requirement. An extension
of one compliance date based on a particular event shall not automatically
extend another compliance date or dates. Toledo shall make an individual
showing of proof regarding the cause of each delayed incremental
step or other requirement for which an extension is sought. Toledo
may petition for the extension of more than one compliance date
in a single request. |
| |
XI. FORCE MAJEURE BETWEEN TOLEDO
AND THE STATE |
93.
If any event occurs that causes or may cause Toledo to violate any
provision of this Consent Decree, Toledo shall notify the Ohio EPA
in writing within fourteen (14) days from when it knows, or in the
exercise of reasonable diligence under the circumstances should
have known, that compliance with the Decree would be prevented or
delayed, describing in detail the precise cause or causes of the
delay or violation, the anticipated length of the delay if applicable,
the measures taken by Toledo to prevent or minimize the delay and
the timetable by which those measures will be implemented. Toledo
shall adopt all reasonable measures to avoid or minimize any such
violation. Toledo shall make all reasonable efforts to identify
events that cause or may cause a violation of this Consent Decree.
94.
In any action by the State of Ohio to enforce any of the provisions
of this Consent Decree, Toledo may raise at that time the question
of whether it is entitled to a defense that its conduct was caused
by circumstances beyond its control such as, by way of example and
not limitation, acts of God, strikes, acts of war or civil disturbances.
While the State of Ohio does not agree that such a defense exists,
it is, however, hereby agreed by Toledo and the State of Ohio that
it is premature at this time to raise and adjudicate the existence
of such a defense and that the appropriate point at which to adjudicate
the existence of such a defense is at the time, if ever, that the
proceeding to enforce this Consent Decree is commenced by the State.
At that time the burden of proving that any delay was or will be
caused by circumstances beyond the control of Toledo shall rest
with Toledo. Failure by Toledo to timely comply with the notice
requirements of Paragraph 93 shall, at the option of Ohio EPA, constitute
a waiver by Toledo of any right it may have to raise such a defense.
Changed financial circumstances or increased costs associated with
the implementation of any action required by this Consent Decree
shall not in any event constitute circumstances entirely beyond
the control of Toledo or serve as a basis for an extension of time
under this Section XI. |
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XII. DISPUTE RESOLUTION
|
95.
Any dispute that arises between Toledo and the United States or
State of Ohio with respect to the meaning or application of any
of the requirements of this Consent Decree shall be, in the first
instance, the subject of informal negotiations between those parties
to attempt to resolve such disputes. Such period of informal negotiations
shall not extend beyond thirty (30) days from the date when notice
of a dispute is given by one party to the others, unless all parties
to the dispute have agreed in writing to extend that period. After
informal negotiations, if the parties to the dispute are unable
to agree upon the meaning or application of the requirements of
this Consent Decree, then Toledo shall comply with the position
taken by the United States and the State of Ohio, subject only to
Toledo's right to petition the Court as set forth in Paragraph 96
, below. This dispute resolution process shall not apply to the
issuance, renewal, modification, denial or revocation of a permit
and the issuance of orders or other actions of the Director of Environmental
Protection (Ohio EPA). Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the
dispute resolution process shall in any event apply to disputes
between Toledo and the State of Ohio with respect to the meaning
or application of any requirements of this Consent Decree that relate
to the review, modification, disapproval and/or approval of the
Long Term Control Plan and/or Long Term Control Plan Report submitted
to Ohio EPA pursuant to Paragraphs 30 and/or 32 of this Consent
Decree.
96.
Within thirty (30) days of the end of the informal negotiations
period for resolution of the dispute set forth in Paragraph 95,
above, Toledo may petition the Court for relief. Such petition shall
set forth the nature of the dispute and proposal for its resolution.
The United States and/or the State of Ohio shall have thirty (30)
days to respond to the petition and propose an alternate resolution.
In any such dispute, the Court will conduct a de novo review in
which Toledo shall bear the burden of demonstrating that its actions
or positions taken are in accordance with, and will assure Toledo's
compliance with, the terms, conditions, requirements and objectives
of this Consent Decree, the Clean Water Act, Toledo’s Current
Permit, and where applicable, the CSO Policy. Any party may request
an evidentiary hearing for good cause.
97. Except as provided in this Consent Decree, agreed to in writing
by the parties, or ordered by the Court, the filing of a petition
asking the Court to resolve a dispute shall not in and of itself
extend or postpone any deadline or obligation of Toledo, provided
that payment of any stipulated penalties with respect to the disputed
matter shall be stayed pending resolution of the dispute. Notwithstanding
the stay of payment, stipulated penalties shall accrue from the
first day of any failure or refusal to comply with any term or condition
of this Consent Decree, except as provided in Paragraph 69. In the
event that Toledo does not prevail on the disputed issue, stipulated
penalties, if applicable, shall be assessed and paid as provided
in Section IX, Stipulated Penalties. For any dispute which may arise
out of a disapproval in whole or in part or an approval with conditions
by U.S. EPA or the State of Ohio of Toledo’s Long Term Control
Plan Report submitted in accordance with Paragraph 32, stipulated
penalties shall not accrue during the period, if any, beginning
on the 31st day after the Court’s receipt of the United States’
and/or the State of Ohio’s response submission, as set forth
in Paragraph 96, above, regarding the dispute until the date that
the Court issues a final decision regarding such dispute. The preceding
sentence shall not apply if Toledo did not have a reasonable basis
for the dispute or if the petition was filed for the purposes of
delay.
|
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XIII. CIVIL PENALTY
|
98.
Toledo shall pay a civil penalty of $435,000 to the United States
and $65,000 to the State of Ohio within 30 days following entry
of this Consent Decree. Payment to the United States shall be made
via Fed wire Electronic Funds Transfer (“EFT”) to the
Department of Justice Lockbox Bank in accordance with specific instruction
to be timely provided to Toledo upon entry of this Consent Decree
and shall reference DOJ case No. 90-5-1-1-3554, the Civil Action
Number assigned to this case by the United States District Court,
Northern District of Ohio, and File No. ___ for the United States
Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio. Any funds
received at the Lockbox bank after 11:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) shall
be credited on the next business day. Toledo shall advise the Financial
Litigation Unit of the United States Attorney’s Office for
the Northern District of Ohio at the time payment is being wire-transferred.
In addition, Toledo shall confirm to U.S. EPA and the Department
of Justice that payment has been made by providing notice in the
manner specified in Section VIII, Communications, above.
Payment to Ohio shall be made by cashier’s check or certified
funds, payable to “Treasurer, State of Ohio,” and shall
be sent to:
Jena Suhadolnik, Administrative Assistant (or a person subsequently
designated
by the State of Ohio) at:
Office of the Attorney General
Environmental Enforcement Section
30 East Broad Street, 25th Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43266-0410.Payment may also be made by electronic
transfer to the designated accounts pursuant to instructions sent
by Ohio upon request by Toledo. A copy of the check and transmittal
letter or other evidence of payment shall be sent to Ohio and Ohio
EPA at the addresses set forth in Section VIII, Communications,
above.
99. Nothing in this Section XIII, Civil Penalty, or in Section IX,
Stipulated Penalties, shall be construed to limit any other remedies
available for violations of this Consent Decree, any NPDES permit,
or any regulation or provision of law, including, but not limited
to, injunctive relief and civil or criminal contempt sanctions.
Where an act or omission that constitutes a violation of this Consent
Decree also constitutes a violation of statute, the United States,
U.S. EPA or Ohio may elect, in the sole discretion of each, to seek
civil penalties under statute. However, in an action for civil penalties
based upon a violation of a statute, the parties stipulate that
evidence that Toledo has paid a stipulated penalty to the United
States, U.S. EPA, and/or the State of Ohio for the same violation
for the same day in issue is admissible and can be considered as
a factor in mitigation of a penalty.
100.
Interest shall accrue on any amounts overdue to the United States
under the terms of this Consent Decree at the rate established by
the Secretary of the Treasury, pursuant to 31 U.S.C. § 1317.
Interest shall accrue on any amounts overdue to Ohio under the terms
of this Consent Decree at the rate of 10 percent, pursuant to Ohio
Revised Code § 1343.03. |
| |
XIV. SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL
PROJECTS |
101.
In consideration of the settlement of this enforcement action under
the Clean Water Act, the City shall conduct two Supplemental Environmental
Projects, titled ”The Duck Creek Wetland Restoration, Conservation
and Public Access Project,” or “Duck Creek Project,”
and the “Stickney West Industrial Park” (“SWIP”)
Project, respectively. Paragraphs 102 - 110 address the Duck Creek
Project and Paragraphs 111 - 122 address the SWIP Project.
102.
The parties agree that the goals of the Duck Creek Project will
be: 1) to secure water quality improvement, 2) to restore, enhance
and create wetlands in the Duck Creek basin, 3) to provide for public
access to the project area for educational, recreational, and environmental
purposes, 4) to mitigate the effects of storm water run off to the
water quality, and 5) to apprise the public in the city of Toledo
of the benefits of the Duck Creek Project.
103.
The City will meet these goals by taking necessary actions: (a)
to restore existing low ecological value wetlands in the Duck Creek
riparian corridor to naturally functioning higher value wetlands;
b) to place these wetlands in perpetual conservation, (c) to make
improvements to roads, trails, and/or parking which will facilitate
public access to the project area for recreational, educational,
and environmental purposes, (d) to provide for vegetative buffer
strips in the upland areas surrounding Duck Creek which will be
designed to function as a filtering system for storm water run off
that enters the creek, and (e) to sponsor a public outreach program
about the Duck Creek Project. The public outreach program must acknowledge
that the Project will be implemented as part of this Consent Decree.
104.
The City shall expend not less than $500,000 on this Project and
this expenditure shall be for the purpose of improving water quality
as more fully described above. No part of this expenditure shall
include federal funds, including low interest federal loans, federal
contracts of federal grants. Expenditures unrelated to the goals
of the Duck Creek Project as stated above will not count towards
the requisite expenditure of $500,000.
105.
Within 180 days following entry of this Consent Decree, the City
shall submit a Project Plan for EPA approval for the Duck Creek
Project outlining the preliminary scope of work for the Project.
This plan shall describe the work to be conducted under the various
phases of the Project including, but not limited to, Site Suitability
Review, Design, Construction, and Planting and Monitoring. The plan
shall identify the specific wetland target sites which will be evaluated
during the Site Suitability Review phase. Each phase shall include
submittal for EPA approval of a detailed scope of work for the subsequent
phase of the Project. The plan shall include a schedule of milestones
for completing each phase and project area of the SEP.
106.
The City may use outside consultants or agencies, contractors, or
employees of any City agency or department to accomplish the tasks
in the Duck Creek Project Plan. Project costs associated with using
employees of the City shall be credited toward the Duck Creek Project
costs at their actual pay rate and cost to City government.
107. Upon approval of the Duck Creek Project Plan by EPA, the City
shall implement the plan according to the schedule of milestones
included in the plan. The City shall submit a Duck Creek Project
Completion Report no later than 5 years from the date of entry of
this Consent Decree. The completion report shall contain the following
information:
a.
A detailed description of the SEP as implemented;
b.
A description of the operating problems encountered and the solutions
thereto;
c.
Itemized costs, documented by purchase orders, force accounts and
receipts or canceled checks (which must be made available to the
United States, if requested);
d.
A description of the environmental and public benefits resulting
from the implementation of the Duck Creek Project.
108. If, following receipt of the Duck Creek Project Report, EPA
determines that the Project has not been completed satisfactorily,
and/or if the City fails to comply with any of the terms or provisions
of the Duck Creek Project Plan requirements and this decree, and/or
if the City fails to expend or obligate the full $500,000 on the
Duck Creek Project in accordance with the SEP Plan requirements,
the City shall pay any portion of the amount not expended or obligated
on the Duck Creek Project, up to $500,000, to the United States
Treasury and the State of Ohio as a stipulated penalty in accordance
with Paragraph 83.
109.
The City hereby certifies that it is not required to perform or
develop the Duck Creek Project by any federal, State, or local law
or regulation; nor is the City required to perform the Duck Creek
Project by agreement, grant, or as injunctive relief in this or
any other case or in compliance with State or local requirements.
The City further certifies that it has not received, and is not
presently negotiating to receive credit for the Duck Creek Project
in any other enforcement action.
110. Within 120 days of the approval of the Duck Creek Project Plan
by EPA, the City shall start submitting progress reports on a quarterly
basis. The progress report shall outline the status of each ongoing
Duck Creek Project phase and identify any impediment which may delay
project progress or completion.
111.
The parties agree that the goals of the SWIP Project will be to
clean up certain “brownfields” properties that have
been abandoned or otherwise left in a state of disrepair so that
such properties may be used for industrial or other beneficial purposes.
Furthermore, EPA approves the City of Toledo, Ohio Supplemental
Environmental Project Proposal For the Stickney West Industrial
Park, dated November 27, 2000 (“SWIP SEP Proposal”),
which documents the manner in which investigation and cleanup will
be conducted and is attached as Exhibit “A.”
112.
The City will meet these goals by taking necessary actions to: (a)
Investigate and assess environmental conditions at the Gorney Parcel
4, Shepherd, and Toledo Recycling North Parcels (collectively, the
“SWIP SEP Project Parcels”), as such properties are
depicted on the photograph attached to the SWIP SEP Proposal as
Exhibit “B;” and (b) Perform environmental remediation
and restoration upon all or discrete portions of the SWIP SEP Project
Parcels consistent with the State of Ohio’s Voluntary Action
Program standards, Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3746 et seq., and as
described in the SWIP SEP Proposal.
113. The City shall expend not less than $500,000 on the SWIP SEP
Project and this expenditure shall be for the purpose of improving
environmental quality as more fully described above. No part of
this expenditure shall include federal funds, including low interest
federal loans, federal contracts of federal grants. Expenditures
unrelated to the goals of the SWIP Project as stated above will
not count towards the requisite expenditure of $500,000 and a minimum
of $300,000 will be spent toward actual remediation and restoration
of the SWIP SEP Project Parcels as provided in the SWIP SEP Proposal.
The City shall also sponsor a public information program designed
to apprise the public in the City of Toledo of the benefits of the
SWIP SEP Project. The public information program must acknowledge
that the SWIP SEP Project will be implemented as a part of this
Consent Decree.
114.
Within 90 days following entry of this Consent Decree, the City
shall submit to EPA a copy of signed contractual agreements to perform
Task 1a pursuant to the SWIP SEP Proposal. Those agreements, which
demonstrate a commitment to complete Phase I Property Assessments
pursuant to the SWIP SEP Proposal, shall include a detailed description
of the specific portions of the SWIP SEP Parcels which will be addressed
and the specific technical plan for accomplishing the assessment
and determining the scope and extent of remediation activities.
The plan shall include a Project budget detailing assessment costs
and estimating remediation priorities and costs.
115. Within 90 days of completion of Task 1a in accordance with
Paragraph 114 above, the City shall submit to EPA signed copies
of contractual agreements to perform Task 1b pursuant to the SWIP
SEP Proposal. These agreements, which demonstrate a commitment to
complete Phase II Property Assessments, Preliminary Risk Assessment
and underground storage tank (“UST”) Investigations
pursuant to the SWIP SEP Proposal, shall describe sampling and other
activities that will be conducted under the SWIP SEP Project and
shall include a detailed description of the specific portions of
the SWIP SEP Parcels which will be addressed, the specific technical
plan for accomplishing the activities and a Project budget detailing
assessment and analytical costs.
116. Following completion of Task 1b in accordance with Paragraph
115 above, the City shall submit to EPA signed copies of contractual
agreements to perform Tasks 2 and 3 pursuant to the SWIP SEP Proposal.
These agreements, which demonstrate a commitment to complete cleanup
of contaminated media, UST removal, building demolition and waste
disposal, as described more fully in the SWIP SEP Proposal, shall
include detailed descriptions of the specific portions of the SWIP
SEP Parcels which will be addressed, the specific technical plans
for accomplishing the activities, a Project budget detailing the
costs to perform these activities and a schedule of milestones for
completing each phase of Tasks 2 and 3.
117.
Following completion of Tasks 2 and 3 in accordance with Paragraph
116 above, the City shall submit to EPA, signed copies of contractual
agreements to perform Task 4 pursuant to the SWIP SEP Proposal.
These agreements, which demonstrate a commitment to prepare NFAs
for the SWIP SEP Parcels and prepare a SEP Completion report for
the SWIP Project, as more fully described in the SWIP SEP Proposal,
shall include detailed descriptions of the specific portions of
the SWIP SEP Parcels which will be addressed, a descriptions of
the activities necessary to complete Task 4 and a Project budget
detailing the costs to perform these.
118.
The City may use outside consultants or agencies, contractors, or
employees of any City agency or department to accomplish the tasks
in the SWIP SEP Project. Projects costs associated with using employees
of the City shall be credited toward the SWIP SEP Project costs
at their actual pay rate and cost to City government.
119.
The City shall submit a SWIP SEP Project Completion Report no later
than 5 years from the date of entry of this Consent Decree. The
Project Completion Report shall contain the following information:
a.
A detailed description of the SWIP SEP Project as implemented;
b.
A description of the operating problems encountered and the solutions
thereto;
c.
Itemized costs, documented by purchase orders, force accounts and
receipts or canceled checks (which must be made available to the
United States, if requested);
d.
A description of the environmental and public benefits resulting
from the implementation of the SWIP Project.
120. If, following receipt of the SWIP Project Completion Report,
EPA determines that the Project has not been completed satisfactorily,
and/or if the City fails to comply with any of the terms or provisions
of the SWIP SEP Proposal and this decree, and/or if the City fails
to expend or obligate the full $500,000 on the SWIP Project in accordance
with the SWIP SEP Proposal, the City shall pay any portion of the
amount not expended or obligated on the SWIP Project, up to $500,000,
to the United States Treasury and the State of Ohio as a stipulated
penalty in accordance with Paragraph 83.
121.
The City hereby certifies that it is not required to perform or
develop any portion of the SWIP Project by any federal, State, or
local law or regulation; nor is the City required to perform the
SWIP Project by agreement, grant, or as injunctive relief in this
or any other case or in compliance with State or local requirements.
The City further certifies that all work done pursuant to the SWIP
Project is not required to be performed by any other person under
any contractual arrangement with the City. The City certifies that
it has not received, and is not presently negotiating to receive
credit for any portion of the SWIP Project in any other enforcement
action.
122. Within 120 days of submitting signed contractual agreements
to perform Task 1a pursuant to the SWIP SEP Proposal to EPA as described
in Paragraph 114 above, the City shall start submitting progress
reports on a quarterly basis. The progress report shall outline
the status of each ongoing SEP project phase and identify any impediment
which may delay project progress or completion.
|
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XV. RIGHT OF ENTRY
|
123.
U.S. EPA and Ohio EPA, and their representatives, contractors, consultants,
and attorneys shall have the right of entry into and upon the Bayview
WWTP, at all reasonable times, upon proper presentation of credentials,
for the purposes of:
(a)
Monitoring the progress of activities required by this Consent Decree;
(b)
Verifying any data or information required to be submitted pursuant
to this Consent Decree;
(c)
Obtaining samples and, upon request, splits of any samples taken
by Toledo or its consultants. Upon request, Toledo will be provided
with splits of all samples taken by the United States or Ohio; and
(d)
Otherwise assessing Toledo’s compliance with this Consent
Decree.
124.
This Section XV, Right of Entry, in no way limits or affects any
right of entry and inspection held by the United States, U.S. EPA,
Ohio, and Ohio EPA pursuant to applicable federal or state laws,
regulations, or permits. |
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XVI. PERMIT OBLIGATIONS
|
125.
This Consent Decree does not authorize or approve the construction
of any physical structure or facilities, or the modification of
any existing treatment works or sewer system. Approval of such construction
or modification shall be as required by applicable county, state,
or federal laws or regulations, including applicable requirements
of Ohio law with regard to permits to install.
126.
This Consent Decree is not and shall not be interpreted to be a
permit or modification of any existing permit issued pursuant to
Section 402 of the Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1342, nor shall it be interpreted
to be such. This Consent Decree does not relieve Toledo of any obligation
to apply for, obtain and comply with the requirements of any new
or existing NPDES permit or to comply with any federal, state or
local laws or regulations.
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XVII. CERTIFICATION
|
127.
Any report, plan, or other submission that Toledo is required by
this Consent Decree to submit, including reports, plans or other
submissions that Toledo is also required to submit by its NPDES
Permit, shall be signed by an official or authorized agent of Toledo
and shall include the following certification:
I certify under penalty
of law that the document and all attachments were prepared
under my direction or supervision in accordance with a system
designed to assure that qualified personnel properly gathered
and evaluated the information submitted. Based on my inquiry
of the person or persons who manage the system, or those persons
directly responsible for gathering the information, the information
submitted is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, true,
accurate and complete. I am aware that there are significant
penalties for submitting false information, including the
possibility of fine and imprisonment for knowing violations. |
128.
Toledo shall not object to the admissibility into evidence of any
report, plan, or other submission prepared in accordance with this
Paragraph or the information contained in said reports in any proceeding
to enforce this Consent Decree.
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XVIII. AMENDMENT OF AMENDED COMPLAINT
|
129. Pursuant to Rule 15(b), Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the
parties have consented and requested, and the Court hereby orders
that the Amended Complaints of the United States and the State of
Ohio be amended to conform to certain issues raised and evidence
brought forth during the course of this civil action. The United
States and the State of Ohio hereby add to their Amended Complaints
the following claims: (1) the City of Toledo has violated and continues
to violate Section 301 of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. §
1311(a), and Chapter 6111 of the Ohio Revised Code by discharging
pollutants from CSOs in violation of general effluent limitations
contained in Toledo’s current permit; and (2) the City of
Toledo has violated and continues to violate Section 301(a) of the
Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1311(a), and Chapter 6111 of the Ohio Revised
Code by discharging pollutants to waters of the State or United
States from Toledo’s Sanitary Sewer System through point sources
without authorization under any NPDES permit or otherwise as provided
in Section 301(a) of the Act.
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XIX. EFFECT OF SETTLEMENT
|
130.
This Consent Decree in no way affects or relieves Toledo of its
responsibility to comply with any federal, state, or local law,
regulation, or permit. The parties agree that Toledo is responsible
for achieving and maintaining complete compliance with all applicable
federal and State laws, regulations, and permits, and that compliance
with this Consent Decree shall be no defense to any actions commenced
pursuant to said laws, regulations, or permits.
131.
Except as expressly provided herein, this Consent Decree is entered
in full and final settlement of this action for all parties to the
following extent: the Consent Decree resolves those civil claims
specifically alleged in the United States' and Ohio’s Amended
complaints, as further amended by Paragraph 129 of this Consent
Decree, that have occurred prior to July 1, 2001 that are disclosed
in Monthly Operating Reports that were received by Ohio EPA before
July 15, 2001, including all civil claims under the Act for the
violations of numeric and general effluent limitations set forth
in Toledo’s NPDES permits, including Toledo’s current
permit, identified in the Preamble to this Decree as having the
EPA permit number OH0027740, violations of monitoring requirements
and bypassing prohibitions set forth in those same permits that
occurred prior to July 1, 2001 that are disclosed in Monthly Operating
Reports that were received by Ohio EPA before July 15, 2001. Nothing
in this Consent Decree is intended to nor shall be construed to
operate in any way to resolve: (a) any civil claim based upon matters
not disclosed in Monthly Operating Reports received by Ohio EPA
before July 15, 2001, except for SSD violations that were otherwise
disclosed to Ohio EPA before July 15, 2001, or upon violations of
any kind occurring in whole or in part on or after July 1, 2001;
and (b) any criminal liability of Toledo.
132.
The United States and Ohio expressly reserve all remedies available
to them for all violations of the Act or Ohio Revised Code Chapter
6111 not specifically described in Paragraph 131, above.
133.
Nothing herein shall be construed to limit the authority of the
United States or the State to undertake any action against any person,
including Toledo, in response to conditions that may present an
imminent and substantial endangerment to the public health, welfare,
or the environment.
134.
Nothing herein shall be construed to limit the authority of the
United States to act under Section 308 of the Act, 33 U.S.C. §
1318.
135.
The United States and the State reserve any and all legal and equitable
remedies available to enforce the provisions of this Decree.
136.
This Consent Decree does not limit or affect the rights of Toledo,
the State of Ohio, or the United States as against any third parties
(except as provided by operation of law), nor does it limit the
rights of third parties, not parties to this Consent Decree, against
Toledo. |
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XX. FAILURE OF COMPLIANCE
|
| 137.
The United States and Ohio reserve any and all legal and equitable
remedies available to enforce the provisions of this Consent Decree.
Toledo reserves all legal and equitable defenses to enforcement
under this Consent Decree which are not specifically waived.
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XXI. CONTINGENT LIABILITY OF STATE
|
138. Ohio is a party plaintiff hereto pursuant to Section 309(e)
of the Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1319(e). Ohio shall have no liability
under this Consent Decree, except as required by Section 309(e)
of the Act in the event that the laws of Ohio prevent Toledo from
raising revenues needed to comply with this Consent Decree. The
Attorney General of the State of Ohio hereby certifies that the
present laws of Ohio do not prevent Toledo from raising revenues
needed to comply with this Consent Decree.
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XXII. COSTS OF SUIT
|
139.
Each party shall bear its own costs and attorneys' fees in this
action. |
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XXIII. PUBLIC COMMENT
|
140.
The parties agree and acknowledge that final approval by the United
States and entry of this Consent Decree is subject to the requirements
of 28 C.F.R. § 50.7, which provides for notice and an opportunity
for public comment. Toledo shall not withdraw its consent to this
Consent Decree during the period of governmental and judicial review
between lodging and entry of this Consent Decree and hereby consents
to entry of this Decree without further notice. |
| |
XXIV. PUBLIC DOCUMENTS
|
141. All information and documents submitted by Toledo to U.S. EPA
or Ohio EPA pursuant to this Consent Decree shall be subject to
public inspection, unless identified and supported as confidential
by Toledo in accordance with 40 C.F.R. Part 2. |
| |
XXV. CONTINUING JURISDICTION
|
142.
The Court shall retain jurisdiction over this case until termination
of this Consent Decree in order to enforce or modify the Consent
Decree and to interpret the rights and obligations of the parties
to this Consent Decree. During the pendency of this Consent Decree,
any party may apply to the Court for any relief necessary to construe
and effectuate this Consent Decree. |
| |
XXVI. MODIFICATION
|
143.
There shall be no material modification of this Consent Decree without
written approval by all parties to this Consent Decree and the Court.
Any modification to this Consent Decree shall be in writing and
signed by the parties. |
| |
XXVII. TERMINATION
|
144.
This Consent Decree shall terminate after the United States and
the State of Ohio have certified to this Court that Toledo has been
in compliance with all provisions of this Consent Decree for a period
of two years following completion of all construction of all improvements
required by this Decree, including but not limited to completion
of all projects required under Section XIV, Supplemental Environmental
Projects.
The parties enter into this Consent Decree and submit it to the
Court that it may be approved and entered.
FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
____________________________ DATED:________________
JOHN C. CRUDEN
Acting Assistant Attorney General
Environmental and Natural Resources
Division
U.S. Department of Justice
Washington, D.C. 20530
______________________________ DATED:_______________
STEVEN D. ELLIS
Trial Attorney
Environmental Enforcement Section
Environment and Natural Resources Division
United States Department of Justice
P.O. Box 7611
Washington, D.C. 20044
(202) 514-3163
Consent Decree, United States and State of Ohio v. City of Toledo,
Ohio, Civil Action No. 3:91:CV7646.
EMILY M. SWEENEY
United States Attorney
Northern District of Ohio
_________________________ DATED:________________
By: HOLLY TAFT SYDLOW
Assistant United States Attorney
Northern District of Ohio
Western Division
Four Seagate, Suite 308
Toledo, Ohio 43604
(419) 259-6376
____________________________ DATED:_________________
SYLVIA LOWRANCE
Acting Assistant Administrator of Enforcement
and Compliance Assurance
United States Environmental Protection Agency
401 M. Street S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20460
Consent Decree, United States and State of Ohio v. City of Toledo,
Ohio, Civil Action No. 3:91:CV7646.
____________________________ DATED:__________________
DAVID A. ULLRICH
Acting Regional Administrator
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region 5 (R-19J)
77 West Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, Illinois 60604-3590
____________________________ DATED:__________________
GARY O. PRICHARD
Associate Regional Counsel
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region 5 (C-14J)
77 West Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, Illinois 60604-3590
(312) 886-0570
FOR THE STATE OF OHIO
BETTY MONTGOMERY
Attorney General of Ohio
By: _______________________ DATED:__________________
MARGARET A. MALONE
Assistant Attorney General
Environmental Enforcement Section
Office of the Attorney General
30 East Broad Street/25th Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215-3824
Consent Decree, United States and State of Ohio v. City of Toledo,
Ohio, Civil Action No. 3:91:CV7646.
FOR THE CITY OF TOLEDO
By: _______________________ DATED:__________________
BARBARA E. HERRING
Director of Law
City of Toledo
One Government Center, Suite 2250
Toledo, Ohio 43604
Consent Decree, United States and State of Ohio v. City of Toledo,
Ohio, Civil Action No. 3:91:CV7646.
Consent Decree entered and approved this ______ day of ___________,
2001.
_________________________________
JAMES G. CARR, JUDGE
United States District Court
Northern District of Ohio, Western Division
|
144. This Consent Decree shall terminate after the United States and
the State of Ohio have certified to this Court that Toledo has been
in compliance with all provisions of this Consent Decree for a period
of two years following completion of all construction of all
improvements required by this Decree, including but not limited to
completion of all projects required under Section XIV, Supplemental
Environmental Projects.
The parties enter into this Consent Decree and submit it to the Court
that it may be approved and entered.
FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
____________________________ DATED:________________
JOHN C. CRUDEN
Acting Assistant Attorney General
Environmental and Natural Resources
Division
U.S. Department of Justice
Washington, D.C. 20530
______________________________ DATED:_______________
STEVEN D. ELLIS
Trial Attorney
Environmental Enforcement Section
Environment and Natural Resources Division
United States Department of Justice
P.O. Box 7611
Washington, D.C. 20044
(202) 514-3163
Consent Decree, United States and State of Ohio v. City of Toledo,
Ohio, Civil Action No. 3:91:CV7646.
EMILY M. SWEENEY
United States Attorney
Northern District of Ohio
_________________________ DATED:________________
By: HOLLY TAFT SYDLOW
Assistant United States Attorney
Northern District of Ohio
Western Division
Four Seagate, Suite 308
Toledo, Ohio 43604
(419) 259-6376
____________________________ DATED:_________________
SYLVIA LOWRANCE
Acting Assistant Administrator of Enforcement
and Compliance Assurance
United States Environmental Protection Agency
401 M. Street S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20460
Consent Decree, United States and State of Ohio v. City of Toledo,
Ohio, Civil Action No. 3:91:CV7646.
____________________________ DATED:__________________
DAVID A. ULLRICH
Acting Regional Administrator
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region 5 (R-19J)
77 West Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, Illinois 60604-3590
____________________________ DATED:__________________
GARY O. PRICHARD
Associate Regional Counsel
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region 5 (C-14J)
77 West Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, Illinois 60604-3590
(312) 886-0570
FOR THE STATE OF OHIO
BETTY MONTGOMERY
Attorney General of Ohio
By: _______________________ DATED:__________________
MARGARET A. MALONE
Assistant Attorney General
Environmental Enforcement Section
Office of the Attorney General
30 East Broad Street/25th Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215-3824
Consent Decree, United States and State of Ohio v. City of Toledo,
Ohio, Civil Action No. 3:91:CV7646.
FOR THE CITY OF TOLEDO
By: _______________________ DATED:__________________
BARBARA E. HERRING
Director of Law
City of Toledo
One Government Center, Suite 2250
Toledo, Ohio 43604
Consent Decree, United States and State of Ohio v. City of Toledo,
Ohio, Civil Action No. 3:91:CV7646.
Consent Decree entered and approved this ______ day of ___________,
2001.
_________________________________
JAMES G. CARR, JUDGE
United States District Court
Northern District of Ohio, Western Division
|
| |
TABLE 1
EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS FOR PARAGRAPHS 15 AND 68 |
| |
Concentration (mg/l) |
Loading (kg/day) |
Monitoring Rqmts |
| Parameter |
30 day |
7 day |
30 day |
7 day |
Meas.
Freq. |
Sample
Type |
| Total Suspended Solids |
25 |
40 |
12,321 |
19,713 |
Daily |
Composite |
| CBOD5 |
25 |
40 |
12,321 |
19,713 |
Daily |
Composite |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Monitoring for the parameter pH shall
be continuous with the critical value reported daily. pH values shall
not be less than 6.5 Standard Units (S.U.), nor greater than 9.0 S.U.
Critical values shall be the minimum and maximum value reported each
day. |
|