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LAW OFFICE OF

DAVID A. LUDDER
A Professional Limited Liability Company

January 14, 2016

Certified Mail
Return Receipt Requested

Hon. Bennie E. Harton, Mayor


City of Reform
P. O. Box 489
Reform, Alabama 35481

Re: Notice of Violation and Intent to File Suit under the Clean Water Act

Dear Mayor Harton:

Pursuant to the Clean Water Act § 505, 33 U.S.C. § 1365, and 40 C.F.R. Part 135,
Subpart A, you are hereby notified that after the expiration of 60 days following service of this
notice, the Environmental Defense Alliance may file suit against the City of Reform for
discharges of pollutants in violation of NPDES Permit No. AL0020915 issued by the Alabama
Department of Environmental Management pursuant to Alabama’s NPDES permit program
approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under Clean Water Act § 402(b), 33
U.S.C. § 1342(b).

I. Violations of NPDES Permit No. AL0020915

Pursuant to § 402 of the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1342, the Alabama Department of
Environmental Management issued NPDES Permit No. AL0020915 authorizing the City of
Reform to discharge pollutants from the Reform Wastewater Treatment Plant, located at 103 3rd
Avenue Southeast in Reform, Pickens County, Alabama, into Lubbub Creek at approximately
Latitude 33.37305E North and Longitude 88.00417E West, subject to specific discharge
limitations. The City of Reform has discharged pollutants from Outfall 0011 into Lubbub Creek
in violation of the discharge limitations of NPDES Permit No. AL0020915 from January 2011
through December 2015 as described in Tables 1 through 6 attached hereto. Additional
violations may have occurred, but have not been reported to the Alabama Department of
Environmental Management.

II. History of Previous Violations and Enforcement Actions

On July 25, 1985, the Alabama Department of Environmental Management issued Order
No. 85-089-WP to the City of Reform. The Order recognized that the City had violated permit
discharge limitations during the months of August 1984 through April 1985 and that construction
of new or additional treatment works or modification of existing treatment works was necessary
to comply with permit discharge limitations. The Order required the submission of an
engineering report not later than December 15, 1985 and completion of construction not later

9150 McDougal Court — Tallahassee — Florida 32312-4208 — Telephone 850-386-5671


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than March 1, 1988. The Order required compliance with all permit limitations not later than
May 1, 1988. A penalty was not assessed for past violations.

On August 29, 1990, the Alabama Department of Environmental Management issued


Order No. 90-163-WP to the City of Reform. The Order recognized that the City had violated
permit discharge limitations during the months of April 1990 through June 1990 and that
modification of existing treatment works was necessary to comply with permit discharge
limitations. The Order required the submission of final design drawings and specification not
later than January 1, 1992 and completion of construction not later than October 1, 1992. The
Order required compliance with all permit limitations not later than April 1, 1993. A penalty was
not assessed for past violations.

On April 15, 1991, the Alabama Department of Environmental Management issued Order
No. 91-091-WP to the City of Reform. The Order recognized that the City had violated permit
discharge limitations and failed to maintain in good working order and operate as efficiently as
possible all treatment or control facilities or systems. The Order required the submission of an
engineering report not later than June 15, 1991. The Order did not require compliance with
permit discharge limitations by a date certain. A penalty of $2,000 was assessed for past
violations.

On August 2, 2001, the Alabama Department of Environmental Management issued


Order No. 01-194-CWP to the City of Reform. The Order recognized that the City had violated
permit discharge limitations during the months of April 1999 through January 2001. The Order
required the submission of an engineering report not later than October 1, 2001. The Order
required compliance with all permit limitations not later than July 17, 2004. The Order required
the payment of a penalty of $14,700 or completion of a Supplemental Environmental Project
(SEP) for past violations.

On October 27, 2006, the Alabama Department of Environmental Management issued


Warning Letter to the City of Reform. The Warning Letter” cited the City for numerous
violations of permit discharge limitations.

On June 25, 2007, the Alabama Department of Environmental Management issued Order
No. 07-132-CWP to the City of Reform. The Order recognized that the City had violated permit
discharge limitations during the months of July 2005 through November 2006. The Order
required the submission of an engineering report not later than December 22, 2007. The Order
required implementation of the recommendations in the engineering report and compliance with
permit discharge limitations not later than December 21, 2009. A penalty of $6,100 was assessed
for past violations.

On August 28, 2009, the Conservation Alabama Foundation, Inc. served a notice of intent
to sue the City of Reform. The notice recognized that the City had violated permit discharge
limitations during the months of July 2005 through April 2009.

2
On October 28, 2009, the Alabama Department of Environmental Management and
Attorney General filed Civil Action No. CV-2009-900044 against the City of Reform. The
complaint alleged that the City had violated permit discharge limitations during the months of
July 2005 through April 2009. The complaint requested that the court order the City to take
action to ensure that similar violations will not recur in the future and impose a penalty.

On November 4, 2010, the court entered an “Order on Settlement Agreement” proposed


by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, Attorney General, and City of
Reform. The Order required the submission of an engineering report describing a corrective
action plan not later than December 4, 2010. The Order incorporated by reference any corrective
action plan submitted by the City. The Order did not require compliance with permit discharge
limitations by a date certain. A penalty of $22,500 was assessed for past violations.

After a September 4, 2012 conference call with a representative of the Attorney General’s
Office, the City’s engineer wrote to the Alabama Department of Environmental Management:

During this conference call, the City was asked to provide a final implementation
deadline for meeting the requirements of the Order. As we discussed, the Order
itself did not give specific milestones, rather it relied on schedules set forth in an
engineering report from Sentell Engineering, Inc. (hereafter "the Engineer") dated
December 3, 2010. Subsequent progress report filings by the Engineer noted
construction delays and implementation problems and provided extended
completion schedules with no final compliance date.

No further enforcement action is indicated in the Alabama Department of Environmental


Management’s electronic facility file (eFile) system.

III. Sanctions

The Court may assess civil penalties of up to $37,500 per violation. Each day a violation
continues is a separate violation. Violations of monthly average limits and weekly average limits
are counted as violations for each day of the month and each day of the week, respectively. See
Atlantic States Legal Found. Inc. v. Tyson Foods, Inc., 897 F.2d 1128 (11th Cir. 1990). In
addition, the Court may award litigation expenses and attorney fees. Suit may be avoided if the
violations alleged herein have been permanently abated before the expiration of sixty (60) days
following the date of this notice. Please advise the undersigned of any measures that you may
undertake which you contend have permanently abated these violations before suit is filed.

Sincerely,

David A. Ludder
Attorney for
Environmental Defense Alliance

3
cc:

Hon. Gina McCarthy, Administrator


U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Ariel Rios Building
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20460

Hon. Heather McTeer Toney, Regional Administrator


U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-Region 4
Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center
61 Forsyth Street, SW
Atlanta, Georgia 30303-3104

Hon. Lance LeFleur, Director


Alabama Department of Environmental Management
P.O. Box 301463
Montgomery, Alabama 36130-1463

4
Table 1

BOD, Carbonaceous (5-Day)

Discharge Limit Discharge Violation Violation Date(s) Days in Violation

# 5.0 mg/L 2.8 mg/L Jul 2015 31


Monthly Average
14 mg/L Jun 2015 30

8.5 mg/L May 2015 31

9.3 mg/L Feb 2015 28

7.8 mg/L Jan 2015 31

9.8 mg/L Dec 2014 31

22.9 mg/L Nov 2014 30

18.6 mg/L Oct 2014 31

8.7 mg/L Sep 2014 30

13.0 mg/L Aug 2014 31

17.7 mg/L Jul 2014 31

8.5 mg/L Nov 2013 30

8.0 mg/L Sep 2013 30

7.7 mg/L Jun 2013 30

8.5 mg/L May 2013 31

7.6 mg/L Apr 2013 30

5.4 mg/L Mar 2013 31

8.9 mg/L Feb 2013 28

5.8 mg/L Oct 2012 31

8.3 mg/L Jun 2012 30

10 mg/L May 2012 31

10.1 mg/L Apr 2012 30

6.8 mg/L Mar 2012 31

18.1 mg/L Feb 2012 29

9.6 mg/L Jan 2012 31

7.9 mg/L Dec 2011 31

6.6 mg/L Nov 2011 30

T-1
Table 1

BOD, Carbonaceous (5-Day)

Discharge Limit Discharge Violation Violation Date(s) Days in Violation

# 5.0 mg/L 11.2 mg/L Oct 2011 31


Monthly Average
9.43 mg/L Sep 2011 30

7.8 mg/L Aug 2011 31

8.3 mg/L Jul 2011 31

15.1 mg/L Jun 2011 30

8.0 mg/L May 2011 31

9.4 mg/L Apr 2011 30

18.6 mg/L Mar 2011 31

18.3 mg/L Feb 2011 28

17.7 mg/L Jan 2011 31

# 7.5 mg/L 10.3 mg/L Jul 2015 7


Weekly Average
18.9 mg/L Jun 2015 7

20.8 mg/L May 2015 7

13.3 mg/L Feb 2015 7

12.1 mg/L Jan 2015 7

15.1 mg/L Dec 2014 7

31.6 mg/L Nov 2014 7

21.5 mg/L Oct 2014 7

12.4 mg/L Sep 2014 7

30 mg/L Aug 2014 7

25.0 mg/L Jul 2014 7

11.6 mg/L Nov 2013 7

11.4 mg/L Sep 2013 7

14.8 mg/L Jun 2013 7

9.3 mg/L May 2013 7

9.9 mg/L Apr 2013 7

7.6 mg/L Mar 2013 7

14.7 mg/L Feb 2013 7

T-2
Table 1

BOD, Carbonaceous (5-Day)

Discharge Limit Discharge Violation Violation Date(s) Days in Violation

# 7.5 mg/L 9.3 mg/L Jan 2013 7


Weekly Average
8.4 mg/L Nov 2012 7

9.4 mg/L Oct 2012 7

10.3 mg/L Sep 2012 7

11.1 mg/L Jun 2012 7

14.0 mg/L May 2012 7

12.3 mg/L Apr 2012 7

8.9 mg/L Mar 2012 7

45.0 mg/L Feb 2012 7

11.7 mg/L Jan 2012 7

11.0 mg/L Dec 2011 7

16.9 mg/L Nov 2011 7

15.5 mg/L Oct 2011 7

13.1 mg/L Sep 2011 7

8.8 mg/L Aug 2011 7

12.8 mg/L Jul 2011 7

30.8 mg/L Jun 2011 7

9.8 mg/L May 2011 7

13.1 mg/L Apr 2011 7

35.6 mg/L Mar 2011 7

24.4 mg/L Feb 2011 7

25.5 mg/L Jan 2011 7

# 20.4 lbs/day 22.3 lbs/day Jun 2015 30


Monthly Average
23.5 lbs/day Apr 2015 30

30.5 lbs/day Feb 2015 28

27.3 lbs/day Jan 2015 31

25.69 lbs/day Nov 2014 30

26.9 lbs/day Oct 2014 31

T-3
Table 1

BOD, Carbonaceous (5-Day)

Discharge Limit Discharge Violation Violation Date(s) Days in Violation

# 20.4 lbs/day 22.9 lbs/day Sep 2014 30


Monthly Average
30.1 lbs/day Jul 2014 31

22.4 lbs/day Nov 2013 30

26.4 lbs/day May 2013 31

27.1 lbs/day Apr 2013 30

32.6 lbs/day Feb 2013 28

27.6 lbs/day Feb 2012 29

30.6 lbs/day Jan 2012 31

# 30.6 lbs/day 35.7 lbs/day Jun 2015 30


Weekly Average
41.8 lbs/day Apr 2015 7

43.7 lbs/day Feb 2015 7

46.9 lbs/day Jan 2015 7

45.6 lbs/day Nov 2014 7

31.6 lbs/day Oct 2014 7

65.2 lbs/day Sep 2014 7

44.5 lbs/day Jul 2014 7

35.3 lbs/day May 2013 7

36.7 lbs/day Apr 2013 7

55.6 lbs/day Feb 2013 7

33.2 lbs/day Jan 2013 7

58.9 lbs/day Feb 2012 7

57.7 lbs/day Jan 2012 7

56.4 lbs/day Dec 2011 7

32.5 lbs/day Oct 2011 7

36.8 lbs/day Sep 2011 7

TOTAL VIOLATIONS 1965

T-4
Table 2

Nitrogen, Ammonia Total (as N)

Discharge Limit Discharge Violation Violation Date(s) Days in Violation

# 1.5 mg/L 2.72 mg/L May 2015 31


Monthly Average
3.66 mg/L Apr 2015 30

2.39 mg/L Mar 2015 31

5.5 mg/L Feb 2015 28

4.20 mg/L Jan 2015 31

12.7 mg/L Dec 2014 31

7.05 mg/L Nov 2014 30

3.6 mg/L Oct 2014 31

4.46 mg/L Sep 2014 30

7.88 mg/L Aug 2014 31

10.0 mg/L Jul 2014 31

2.5 mg/L Sep 2013 30

4.36 mg/L Jun 2013 30

4.6 mg/L May 2013 31

2.32 mg/L Apr 2013 30

3.59 mg/L Mar 2013 31

3.0 mg/L Feb 2013 28

3.33 mg/L Aug 2012 31

2.88 mg/L Jul 2012 31

2.8 mg/L Jun 2012 30

10.5 mg/L May 2012 31

5.41 mg/L Apr 2012 30

5.72 mg/L Mar 2012 31

3.99 mg/L Feb 2012 29

4.79 mg/L Jan 2012 31

10.4 mg/L Dec 2011 31

12.9 mg/L Nov 2011 30

4.00 mg/L Oct 2011 31

T-5
Table 2

Nitrogen, Ammonia Total (as N)

Discharge Limit Discharge Violation Violation Date(s) Days in Violation

# 1.5 mg/L 3.07 mg/L Sep 2011 30


Monthly Average
2.12 mg/L Aug 2011 31

3.52 mg/L Jul 2011 31

1.83 mg/L Jun 2011 30

10.6 mg/L May 2011 31

7.31 mg/L Apr 2011 30

6.12 mg/L Mar 2011 31

7.57 mg/L Feb 2011 28

6.81 mg/L Jan 2011 31

# 2.2 mg/L 5.51 mg/L May 2015 7


Weekly Average
4.62 mg/L Apr 2015 7

3.38 mg/L Mar 2015 7

6.7 mg/L Feb 2015 7

6.80 mg/L Jan 2015 7

14.8 mg/L Dec 2014 7

11.9 mg/L Nov 2014 7

7.89 mg/L Oct 2014 7

4.46 mg/L Sep 2014 7

16.6 mg/L Aug 2014 7

14.6 mg/L Jul 2014 7

7.0 mg/L Sep 2013 7

3.74 mg/L Aug 2013 7

10.2 mg/L Jun 2013 7

6.6 mg/L May 2013 7

2.69 mg/L Apr 2013 7

5.16 mg/L Mar 2013 7

4.8 mg/L Feb 2013 7

2.50 mg/L Jan 2013 7

T-6
Table 2

Nitrogen, Ammonia Total (as N)

Discharge Limit Discharge Violation Violation Date(s) Days in Violation

# 2.2 mg/L 2.62 mg/L Sep 2012 7


Weekly Average
6.67 mg/L Aug 2012 7

4.05 mg/L Jul 2012 7

7.54 mg/L Jun 2012 7

13.4 mg/L May 2012 7

6.71 mg/L Apr 2012 7

7.91 mg/L Mar 2012 7

5.28 mg/L Feb 2012 7

5.90 mg/L Jan 2012 7

13.0 mg/L Dec 2011 7

14.3 mg/L Nov 2011 7

12.2 mg/L Oct 2011 7

4.68 mg/L Sep 2011 7

3.77 mg/L Aug 2011 7

5.92 mg/L Jul 2011 7

2.59 mg/L Jun 2011 7

14.1 mg/L May 2011 7

9.46 mg/L Apr 2011 7

10.2 mg/L Mar 2011 7

11.2 mg/L Feb 2011 7

10.6 mg/L Jan 2011 7

# 6.1 lbs/day 6.5 lbs/day May 20115 31


Monthly Average
19.6 lbs/day Apr 2015 30

11 lbs/day Mar 2015 31

16.1 lbs/day Feb 2015 28

14.7 lbs/day Jan 2015 31

21.7 lbs/day Dec 2014 31

8.06 lbs/day Nov 2014 30

T-7
Table 2

Nitrogen, Ammonia Total (as N)

Discharge Limit Discharge Violation Violation Date(s) Days in Violation

# 6.1 lbs/day 8.7 lbs/day Aug 2014 31


Monthly Average
17.1 lbs/day Jul 2014 31

7.31 lbs/day Jun 2013 30

12.8 lbs/day May 2013 31

8.38 lbs/day Apr 2013 30

11.3 lbs/day Mar 2013 31

11.2 lbs/day Feb 2013 28

17.1 lbs/day May 2012 31

9.95 lbs/day Apr 2012 30

11.5 lbs/day Mar 2012 31

7.05 lbs/day Feb 2012 29

14.6 lbs/day Jan 2012 31

21.7 mg/L Dec 2011 31

# 9.2 lbs/day 14.7 lbs/day May 2015 7


Weekly Average
29.9 lbs/day Apr 2015 7

19.7 lbs/day Mar 2015 7

21.1 lbs/day Feb 2015 7

23.3 lbs/day Jan 2015 7

36.5 lbs/day Dec 2014 7

10.7 lbs/day Nov 2014 7

9.67 lbs/day Oct 2014 7

11.1 lbs/day Sep 2014 7

22.2 lbs/day Aug 2014 7

26.0 lbs/day Jul 2014 7

15.4 lbs/day Jun 2013 7

15.5 lbs/day May 2013 7

9.39 lbs/day Apr 2013 7

15.7 lbs/day Mar 2013 7

T-8
Table 2

Nitrogen, Ammonia Total (as N)

Discharge Limit Discharge Violation Violation Date(s) Days in Violation

# 9.2 lbs/day 18.5 lbs/day Feb 2013 7


Weekly Average
11.6 lbs/day Aug 2012 7

29.1 lbs/day May 2012 7

12.1 lbs/day Apr 2012 7

18.7 lbs/day Mar 2012 7

10.2 lbs/day Feb 2012 7

29.9 lbs/day Jan 2012 7

56.0 lbs/day Dec 2011 7

11.0 lbs/day Oct 2011 7

TOTAL VIOLATIONS 2179

T-9
Table 3

Oxygen, Dissolved (DO)

Discharge Limit Discharge Violation Violation Date(s) Days in Violation

$ 6.0 mg/L 0.4 mg/L Sep 2015 1


Daily Minimum
2.3 mg/L Aug 2015 1

1.9 mg/L Jun 2015 1

1.0 mg/L May 2015 1

3.1 mg/L Mar 2015 1

2.0 mg/L Feb 2015 1

2.2 mg/L Jan 2015 1

2.3 mg/L Dec 2014 1

3.0 mg/L Nov 2014 1

2.4 mg/L Oct 2014 1

2.0 mg/L Sep 2014 1

4.3 mg/L Aug 2013 1

3.0 mg/L Jul 2013 1

2.0 mg/L Jun 2013 1

4.7 mg/L May 2013 1

4.9 mg/L May 2012 1

2.7 mg/L Oct 2011 1

5.4 mg/L Sep 2011 1

4.2 mg/L Jul 2011 1

5.2 mg/L Jun 2011 1

5.6 mg/L May 2011 1

4.0 mg/L Apr 2011 1

4.5 mg/L Mar 2011 1

4.7 mg/L Feb 2011 1

5.6 mg/L Jan 2011 1

TOTAL VIOLATIONS 25

T-10
Table 4

E. Coli

Discharge Limit Discharge Violation Violation Date(s) Days in Violation

# 126 colonies/100 mL 13700 colonies/100 mL Sep 2015 30


Monthly Average
(June - Sep) 20700 colonies/100 mL Aug 2015 31

440 colonies/100 mL Jul 2015 31

653 colonies/100 mL Jun 2015 30

5670 colonies/100 mL Sep 2014 30

23800 colonies/100 mL Aug 2014 31

41600 colonies/100 mL Jul 2014 31

306 colonies/100 mL Jun 2014 30

385 colonies/100 mL Sep 2013 30

# 548 colonies/100 mL 934 colonies/100 mL May 2015 31


Monthly Average
(Oct - May) 628 colonies/100 mL Apr 2015 30

726 colonies/100 mL Mar 2015 31

4000 colonies/100 mL Feb 2015 28

8860 colonies/100 mL Jan 2015 31

4340 colonies/100 mL Dec 2014 31

478000 colonies/100 mL Nov 2014 30

26000 colonies/100 mL Oct 2014 31

584 colonies/100 mL May 2014 31

1190 colonies/100 mL Apr 2013 30

# 487 colonies/100 mL 7470 colonies/100 mL Oct 2015 1


Daily Maximum
(Jun - Sep) 48800 colonies/100 mL Sep 2015 1

155000 colonies/100 mL Aug 2015 1

1990 colonies/100 mL Jul 2015 1

4000 colonies/100 mL Jun 2015 1

16200 colonies/100 mL Sep 2014 1

13000 colonies/100 mL Aug 2014 1

112000 colonies/100 mL Jul 2014 1

517 colonies/100 mL Jun 2014 1

T-11
Table 4

E. Coli

Discharge Limit Discharge Violation Violation Date(s) Days in Violation

# 487 colonies/100 mL 866 Colonies/100 mL Sep 2013 1


Daily Maximum
(Jun - Sep) 613 colonies/100 mL Aug 2013 1

1300 colonies/100 mL Jun 2013 1

# 2507 colonies/100 mL 36500 colonies/100 mL Oct 2015 1


Daily Maximum
(Oct - May) 4200 colonies/100 mL May 2015 1

12700 colonies/100 mL Feb 2015 1

24200 colonies/100 ml Jan 2015 1

12600 colonies/100 mL Dec 2014 1

199000 colonies/100 mL Nov 2014 1

112000 colonies/100 mL Oct 2014 1

3300 colonies/100 mL May 2013 1

15200 colonies/100 mL Apr 2013 1

TOTAL VIOLATIONS 599

T-12
Table 5

Solids, Total Suspended

Discharge Limit Discharge Violation Violation Date(s) Days in Violation

# 35 mg/L 41.8 mg/L Mar 2011 31


Monthly Average
44 mg/L Feb 2011 28

37 mg/L Jan 2011 31

# 45 mg/L 47 mg/L Aug 2014 7


Weekly Average
49 mg/L Apr 2011 7

66.5 mg/L Mar 2011 7

71 mg/L Feb 2011 7

48 mg/L Jan 2011 7

$ 85 Percent Removal 83.8 Percent Jun 2015 30

84.4 Percent Jan 2015 31

83.7 Percent Dec 2014 31

72.8 Percent Nov 2014 30

78.8 Percent Oct 2014 31

76.2 Percent Feb 2014 28

33.8 Percent Jan 2014 31

77.0 Percent Feb 2013 28

74.4 Percent Jan 2013 31

81.2 Percent Oct 2012 31

TOTAL VIOLATIONS 427

Table 6

pH

Discharge Limit Discharge Violation Violation Date(s) Days in Violation

$ 6.0 s.u.
5.10 s.u. Oct 2014 1
Daily Minimum

# 8.5 s.u.
8.7 s.u. Nov 2015 1
Daily Maximum

TOTAL VIOLATIONS 2

T-13

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