NOTICE OF VIOLATION

 

 

Via Certified Mail #:

 

 

 

To:

Mr. Jim Sarkine

d/b/a  Sarkine Picnic Park

6575 East CR 200 North

Avon, Indiana 46123

 

 

Case No. 2006-15805-W

 

Based on an investigation, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has reason to believe Jim Sarkine as owner and operator of the Sarkine Picnic Park (Respondent) has violated environmental statutes and rules.  The violations are based on the following:

 

1.                  Respondent owns a transient, noncommunity public water supply system (PWS) located at 6575 East CR 200 North, in Avon, Hendricks County, Indiana, operating under PWSID #2320896 and PWSID # 2320897 and serving a population of approximately 50 customers.

 

2.                  Pursuant to 327 IAC 8-2-4.1(f), all PWS systems shall monitor to determine compliance with the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for nitrate.

 

IDEM records indicate that Respondent failed to monitor its PWS system for nitrate during the years of 2004 and 2005, in violation of 327 IAC 8-2-4.1(f).

 

3.                  Pursuant to the public notice provisions of 327 IAC 8-2.1-7, the owner or operator of a PWS system which fails to perform monitoring required pursuant to 327 IAC 8-2-4.1(f) or 327 IAC 8-2-8(c), is required to notify persons served by the PWS system, in the manner provided for in these rules, of such failure.

 

IDEM records indicate that Respondent failed to notify persons served by its PWS system of its failure to perform the nitrate monitoring required pursuant to 327 IAC 8-2-4.1(f) during 2004 and 2005, in violation of the public notice provisions of 327 IAC 8-2.1-7.

 

4.         Pursuant to Indiana Code (IC) 13-18-20.5-2, PWS systems are required to pay annual operating fees.  Respondent has failed to pay the annual operating fee for 2004 that was assessed by an invoice dated July 7, 2005, in violation of IC 13-18-20.5-2, and is also considered delinquent.  Pursuant to IC 13-18-20.5-4, PWS systems that are delinquent in paying their annual operating fees may be assessed a delinquent fee.  Respondent has been assessed a delinquent fee by an invoice dated October 7, 2005, and has failed to pay its delinquent fee, in violation of IC 13-18-20.5-4.

 

In accordance with IC 13-30-3-3, the Commissioner herein provides notice that violations may exist and offers an opportunity to enter into an Agreed Order providing for the action required to correct the violations and for the payment of a civil penalty. The Commissioner is not required to extend this offer for more than 60 days.

 

As provided in IC 13-30-3-3, an alleged violator may enter into an Agreed Order without admitting that the violations occurred.  IDEM encourages settlement by Agreed Order, thereby resulting in quicker correction of the environmental violations and avoidance of extensive litigation.  Timely settlement by Agreed Order may result in a reduced civil penalty.  Also, settlement discussions will allow the opportunity to present any mitigating factors that may be relevant to the violations.

 

If an Agreed Order is not entered into within 60 days of receipt of this Notice of Violation, the Commissioner may issue a Notice and Order under IC 13-30-3-4 containing the actions that must be taken to correct the violations and requiring the payment of an appropriate civil penalty. Pursuant to IC 13-30-4-1, the Commissioner may assess penalties of up to $25,000 per day for each violation.

 

Please contact Ms. Christina Sorensen at (317)233-1190, within 15 days after receipt of this Notice, regarding your intent to settle this matter.  If you are willing to resolve this matter as provided for in the enclosed Agreed Order, please obtain the required signatures and return the signed Agreed Order to the Office of Enforcement at the above address within the 60 day settlement period.

 

 

 

For the Commissioner:

Date:

 

 

Signed September 8, 2006

 

Matthew T. Klein
Assistant Commissioner
for Compliance & Enforcement