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The Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) has levied a $16,000 fine against the Hannibal Board of Public Works (BPW) for violations of the Clean Water Law during sanitary sewer overflows. The letter from the DNR was made public during Wednesday afternoon’s meeting of the BPW Board at city hall.
According to a memo from Heath Hall, director of operations at the BPW, one reason the MDNR gave for the violation letter and potential civil penalties is the amount of sanitary sewer overflows the BPW has reported in 2010 - seven from February through April. Hall noted that three of the reported sanitary sewer overflows were cited in the MDNR’s letter as violations of the Clean Water Law.
Based on a phone conversation between officials with the BPW and MDNR, it is believed the fine is a “negotiable penalty.”
In its letter of response the BPW sought clarifications as to why two of the violations were given since in neither instance did wastewater reach a waterway.
“Once the SSOs (sanitary sewer overflows) were discovered, HBPW took proactive measures with Missouri Department of Natural Resources direction to limit the impact of the SSO,” wrote Mathew Munzlinger, water and wastewater facilities engineer with the BPW.
For additional details, see the Thursday, Nov. 18, edition of the Courier-Post.
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) has levied a $16,000 fine against the Hannibal Board of Public Works (BPW) for violations of the Clean Water Law during sanitary sewer overflows. The letter from the DNR was made public during Wednesday afternoon’s meeting of the BPW Board at city hall.
According to a memo from Heath Hall, director of operations at the BPW, one reason the MDNR gave for the violation letter and potential civil penalties is the amount of sanitary sewer overflows the BPW has reported in 2010 - seven from February through April. Hall noted that three of the reported sanitary sewer overflows were cited in the MDNR’s letter as violations of the Clean Water Law.
Based on a phone conversation between officials with the BPW and MDNR, it is believed the fine is a “negotiable penalty.”
In its letter of response the BPW sought clarifications as to why two of the violations were given since in neither instance did wastewater reach a waterway.
“Once the SSOs (sanitary sewer overflows) were discovered, HBPW took proactive measures with Missouri Department of Natural Resources direction to limit the impact of the SSO,” wrote Mathew Munzlinger, water and wastewater facilities engineer with the BPW.
For additional details, see the Thursday, Nov. 18, edition of the Courier-Post.
