OWASCO - The town of Owasco has been slapped with a $35,000 fine for discharging sewage into state waters without a State Pollution Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) permit.
On May 22, the State Department of Environmental Conservation sent a proposed consent order to the town setting the penalty and conditions for compliance.
The town will be in violation if it repeats the action. With the town prohibited from pumping, residents are asked to call the fire department to pump out their basements. Where will this water go? Until major fixes are made, it will go back into the ditch along the street and probably back into Hunter Brook, which the town was cited for, town officials said.
The order also said the town pumped untreated sewage out of a sanitary sewage collection line at Archie and Melrose avenues as many as 135 times since 1980.
“I have no idea where they got that figure,” said John Klink, Owasco town supervisor. He believes the DEC can only go back six years when considering a violation.
The order also sets up stipulated penalties of $500 per day up to 30 days, $750 per day from day 31 to 40, and $1,500 per day after the 41st day, if the town doesn't meet its deadlines to fix the problem.
Town officials will meet with the DEC in Syracuse June 27 to discuss the order.
Owasco has 30 days after the effective date of the order to pay. But the town can modify the order if it applies in writing, detailing modifications sought and grounds for change, or if the DEC, after hearing the town's case, changes its findings.
After meeting with DEC next Friday, the town hopes to reduce the fine and extend the time to fix the problem beyond June 1, 2009, the date set by the DEC to complete construction.
“We're going there with hat in hand. I don't imagine a decision on the 27th,” Klink said. “I'm hoping they will give us an opportunity to make it right in the most cost-effective way.”
He said the town would have to borrow money if it has to pay the fine.
State Assemblyman Brian Kolb and state Sen. David Valesky received copies of the consent order out of courtesy.
“This is the last piece in Sewer District No. 1,” Klink said.
Sewer District No. 1, where the present violation occurred, was rehabilitated in 2000 after a previous consent order was issued. It serves 960 homes.
The proposed consent order asks for a feasibility study evaluating alternatives for correcting the problem by June 30, a design report for the chosen alternative by Sept. 30, and engineering plans by Dec. 31. After the whole project is completed, the DEC wants an effectiveness report.
The town says it needs more time to gather data for a solution. Klink said town TV lines used to inspect the pipelines are outdated and need repair. He will ask the city of Auburn to borrow its TV lines to complete the inspection before the meeting.
“The engineers are looking into a variety of options,” Klink said.
Engineers Barton & Logoduice have been working on the problem and will attend the meeting along with the town attorney and Terry Deuel of the Environmental Facilities Corp.
The DEC's proposed solution involves putting a pump station on a vacant lot, laying pipeline under First, Second, and Third avenues and piping water under Owasco Road to a two-million gallon storage tank at a cost of $1,022,000.
“They're using a hammer for a mosquito,” Klink said. “It's important for folks to have a feeling for what we've done in the past. People in the town of Owasco have done a lot to improve the water and sewer system.”
Klink said the town had been working on Sewer Districts Nos. 2 and 3, including Burtis Point and Koenig Point, to provide water and sewer for homes along the lake to avoid pollution. The town is on the Environmental Facilities Corporation list to be considered for low interest loans for projects, but it's waiting to be selected. $4,198,990 is the estimated cost for that main trunk line.
Prior to the Dec. 23 rains which sparked the violation, the town had planned in its fall budget to improve Melrose Parkway drainage, which it recently completed. Both sides of the road were ditched, and perforated pipe was laid down so that rainwater wouldn't go into the sewage pipe.
On Dec. 23, the town had pumped out a sewer line at Archie Street and Havens Avenue to relieve backup into nearby residents' basements. Fourteen inches of melting snow and 3/4 inch of rain had overtaxed the system.
Klink explained later at a town board meeting, that he, highway superintendent Mike Wilson and councilman Edward Wagner met with DEC officials. Klink recalled the subsequent meeting with the DEC on Jan. 28.
“It was the oddest thing I've ever been through in my life,” he said. “One person told us to stop pumping and another said we had to protect people's property. It was a real conundrum.”
He said at the time he expected a fine and a consent order.
“The meter on Havens Avenue averages 90,000 gallons a day, but on Dec. 23, meters registered 280,000 gallons of water,” Klink said. The choice was to either allow water to get into people's cellars or to pump it.
“It's up to the DEC,” he said. “We'll make our case.”
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net
The town will be in violation if it repeats the action. With the town prohibited from pumping, residents are asked to call the fire department to pump out their basements. Where will this water go? Until major fixes are made, it will go back into the ditch along the street and probably back into Hunter Brook, which the town was cited for, town officials said.
The order also said the town pumped untreated sewage out of a sanitary sewage collection line at Archie and Melrose avenues as many as 135 times since 1980.
“I have no idea where they got that figure,” said John Klink, Owasco town supervisor. He believes the DEC can only go back six years when considering a violation.
The order also sets up stipulated penalties of $500 per day up to 30 days, $750 per day from day 31 to 40, and $1,500 per day after the 41st day, if the town doesn't meet its deadlines to fix the problem.
Town officials will meet with the DEC in Syracuse June 27 to discuss the order.
Owasco has 30 days after the effective date of the order to pay. But the town can modify the order if it applies in writing, detailing modifications sought and grounds for change, or if the DEC, after hearing the town's case, changes its findings.
After meeting with DEC next Friday, the town hopes to reduce the fine and extend the time to fix the problem beyond June 1, 2009, the date set by the DEC to complete construction.
“We're going there with hat in hand. I don't imagine a decision on the 27th,” Klink said. “I'm hoping they will give us an opportunity to make it right in the most cost-effective way.”
He said the town would have to borrow money if it has to pay the fine.
State Assemblyman Brian Kolb and state Sen. David Valesky received copies of the consent order out of courtesy.
“This is the last piece in Sewer District No. 1,” Klink said.
Sewer District No. 1, where the present violation occurred, was rehabilitated in 2000 after a previous consent order was issued. It serves 960 homes.
The proposed consent order asks for a feasibility study evaluating alternatives for correcting the problem by June 30, a design report for the chosen alternative by Sept. 30, and engineering plans by Dec. 31. After the whole project is completed, the DEC wants an effectiveness report.
The town says it needs more time to gather data for a solution. Klink said town TV lines used to inspect the pipelines are outdated and need repair. He will ask the city of Auburn to borrow its TV lines to complete the inspection before the meeting.
“The engineers are looking into a variety of options,” Klink said.
Engineers Barton & Logoduice have been working on the problem and will attend the meeting along with the town attorney and Terry Deuel of the Environmental Facilities Corp.
The DEC's proposed solution involves putting a pump station on a vacant lot, laying pipeline under First, Second, and Third avenues and piping water under Owasco Road to a two-million gallon storage tank at a cost of $1,022,000.
“They're using a hammer for a mosquito,” Klink said. “It's important for folks to have a feeling for what we've done in the past. People in the town of Owasco have done a lot to improve the water and sewer system.”
Klink said the town had been working on Sewer Districts Nos. 2 and 3, including Burtis Point and Koenig Point, to provide water and sewer for homes along the lake to avoid pollution. The town is on the Environmental Facilities Corporation list to be considered for low interest loans for projects, but it's waiting to be selected. $4,198,990 is the estimated cost for that main trunk line.
Prior to the Dec. 23 rains which sparked the violation, the town had planned in its fall budget to improve Melrose Parkway drainage, which it recently completed. Both sides of the road were ditched, and perforated pipe was laid down so that rainwater wouldn't go into the sewage pipe.
On Dec. 23, the town had pumped out a sewer line at Archie Street and Havens Avenue to relieve backup into nearby residents' basements. Fourteen inches of melting snow and 3/4 inch of rain had overtaxed the system.
Klink explained later at a town board meeting, that he, highway superintendent Mike Wilson and councilman Edward Wagner met with DEC officials. Klink recalled the subsequent meeting with the DEC on Jan. 28.
“It was the oddest thing I've ever been through in my life,” he said. “One person told us to stop pumping and another said we had to protect people's property. It was a real conundrum.”
He said at the time he expected a fine and a consent order.
“The meter on Havens Avenue averages 90,000 gallons a day, but on Dec. 23, meters registered 280,000 gallons of water,” Klink said. The choice was to either allow water to get into people's cellars or to pump it.
“It's up to the DEC,” he said. “We'll make our case.”
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net
Citizen
Hot Jobs
New! Off the Menu
The Citizens' Say
Post your comment - click hereThere are No comments posted.