(A) Any user who after receiving a notice of violation shall continue to discharge in violation of this chapter or other pretreatment standards or requirements or is determined to be a chronic or persistent violator or who is determined to be in significant noncompliance, may be ordered to appear before the city. At said appearance, a compliance schedule may be given to the non-conforming user and an administrative penalty may be assessed. The fine shall be determined on a case-by-case basis which shall consider the type and severity of violations, duration of violation, number of violations, severity of impact on the POTW, impact on human health, the user's economic benefit from violation, history of violations, good faith of the user, shall be a non-arbitrary but appropriate amount and shall be based on the city's enforcement response plan.
(B) The administrative order may take any of the following three forms:
(1) Consent orders. The POTW Director/General Manager or his or her designee is hereby empowered to enter into consent orders, assurances of voluntary compliance, or other similar documents establishing an agreement with the industrial user responsible for the noncompliance. Such orders will include specific action to be taken by the industrial user to correct the noncompliance within a time period also specified by the order. Consent orders shall have the same force and effect as orders issued pursuant to § 53.144 below.
(2) Compliance orders. When the POTW Director/General Manager or his or her designee finds that an industrial user has violated or continues to violate the chapter or a permit or order issued hereunder, he or she may issue an order to the industrial user responsible for the discharge directing that, following a specified time period, sewer service shall be discontinued unless adequate treatment facilities, devices, or other related appurtenances have been installed and are properly operated. Orders may also contain such other requirements as might be reasonably necessary and appropriate to address the noncompliance, including the installation of pretreatment technology, additional self-monitoring, and best management practices.
(3) Cease and desist orders. When the POTW Director/General Manager finds that an industrial user has violated or continues to violate this chapter or any permit or order issued hereunder, the POTW Director/General Manager may issue an order to cease and desist all such violations and direct those persons in noncompliance to: a) comply forthwith, or b) take such appropriate remedial or preventive action as may be needed to properly address a continuing or threatened violation, including halting operations and terminating the discharge.
(C) Show cause hearing.
(1) The POTW Director/General Manager or his or her designee may issue to any user who causes or contributes to violations of this chapter, wastewater permit or order issued hereunder, an order to appear and show cause why the proposed enforcement action should not be taken. A notice shall be served on the user specifying the time and place of a hearing to be held by the POTW Director/General Manager regarding the violation, the reasons why the action is to be taken, the proposed enforcement action, and directing the user to show cause, before the POTW Director/General Manager, why the proposed enforcement action should not be taken. The notice of the hearing shall be served personally or by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested) at least ten days before the hearing. Service may be made on any agent or officer of the industrial user. Whether or not a duly notified industrial user or its representative appears, immediate enforcement action may be pursued.
(2) The city may itself conduct the hearing and take the evidence, or designate a representative to:
(a) Issue, in the name of the city, notices of hearings requesting the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of evidence relevant to any matter involved in such hearing;
(b) Take the evidence; and/or
(c) Transmit a report of the evidence and hearing, including transcripts and other evidence, together with recommendations to the city for action thereon.
(3) At any hearing held pursuant to this chapter, testimony may be taken under oath and recorded stenographically. The transcript, so recorded, will be made available to any member of the public or any party to the hearing upon payment of the usual charges thereof.
(4) After the city has reviewed the evidence, it may issue an order to the user responsible for the violating discharge directing that, following a specified time period, the sewer service will be discontinued unless adequate treatment facilities, devices, or other related appurtenances are properly operated. Further orders and directives as are necessary and appropriate may be issued.
(Ord. 21-03, passed 4-19-2021; Ord. 22-05, passed 3-21-2022)