City of Lodi, California - Clean Water Act Public Notice

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

In accordance with Section 309(g)(4)(A) of the Clean Water Act (“CWA”), 33 U.S.C. § 1319(g)(4)(A), and 40 C.F.R. § 22.45 of the Consolidated Rules of Practice Governing the Administrative Assessment of Civil Penalties and the Revocation/Termination or Suspension of Permits (“Consolidated Rules”), the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) is providing notice of a proposed Administrative Penalty Assessment against the City of Lodi, California, located at 1331 South Ham Lane, Lodi, California, 95241, for alleged violations of the Clean Water Act (CWA) associated with the land application of sewage sludge.

Under Section 309(g) of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1319(g), the EPA is authorized to issue orders assessing civil penalties for various violations of the Clean Water Act.  The EPA may issue such orders after filing a Complaint commencing either a Class I or Class II penalty proceeding.  The EPA provides notice of the proposed assessment of a Class II civil penalty pursuant to 33 U.S.C. § 1319(g)(4)(A). Class II proceedings are conducted under the EPA’s Consolidated Rules, 40 C.F.R. Part 22.

In this case, the EPA alleges that Respondent failed to comply with certain requirements of Section 405 of the CWA, Disposal or Use of Sewage Sludge, and regulations promulgated thereunder at 40 C.F.R. Part 503. Specifically, the EPA alleges Respondent land applied sewage sludge in 2016 and 2017 to six agricultural fields at a sludge application rate exceeding agronomic loading rates, in violation of 40 C.F.R. § 503.14(d). In addition, in 2017, Respondent land applied sewage sludge on at least four occasions that failed to achieve the required volatile solids reduction percentage, in violation of 40 C.F.R. § 503.15(d). Respondent has reached agreement with the EPA on the terms of a proposed Consent Agreement/Final Order which would resolve this matter.  Under the proposed Consent Agreement/Final Order, Respondent will pay a civil penalty of $28,890.  Final approval of the proposed Consent Agreement/Final Order is subject to the requirements of 40 C.F.R. § 22.45.

The EPA will receive written comments on the proposed Administrative Penalty Assessment for a period of thirty (30) days from the date of publication of this notice.  All such comments shall be submitted to the Regional Hearing Clerk at the address provided below.  The procedures by which the public may submit written comments on a proposed Class II order or participate in a Class II proceeding, and the procedures by which a respondent may request a hearing, are set forth in the Consolidated Rules.  Persons wishing to obtain additional information on the proceeding, receive a copy of the EPA’s Consolidated Rules, review the proposed Consent Agreement/Final Order, comment upon the proposed penalty assessment, or otherwise participate in the proceeding should contact Regional Hearing Clerk, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 9, 75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA, 94105.  Please reference Docket No. CWA-07-2020-0033.  For Technical questions contact Bryant Harris, Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division, at harris.bryant@epa.gov, or 913-551-7770.  Persons with legal questions may contact Melissa Bagley, Office of Regional Counsel, at bagley.melissa@epa.gov, or 913-551-7522. In order to provide opportunity for public comment, the EPA will issue no final order assessing a penalty in this proceeding prior to forty (40) days from the date of this notice.

Summary

The EPA is providing notice of a proposed Administrative Penalty Assessment against the City of Lodi, California, located at 1331 South Ham Lane, Lodi, California, 95241, for alleged violations  of the Clean Water Act associated with the land application of sewage sludge.

​Program/Statute:  Clean Water Act (CWA)

Applicant/Respondent(s):

City of Lodi, California
1331 South Ham Lane
Lodi, California 95241

Proposed action: Public Notice of Clean Water Act Adminstrative Penalty Settlement

Docket ID: CWA-07-2020-0033

• City of Lodi, California proposed Consent Agreement Final Order (pdf) (1.06 MB)