Monticello is fined for plant violations

The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality and the city of Monticello have signed consent administrative orders fining the city $23,375 for violations at its wastewater treatment plants.

The department found dozens of violations at the west plant that discharges into Tenmile Creek, which drains into the Saline River and later into the Ouachita River. The utility had 21 discharge violations in April and failed to submit 27 discharge monitoring reports on time, and failed to conduct required monitoring for effluent toxicity from Dec. 31, 2014, through June 30, 2015, among other violations.

The department additionally found dozens of violations at the city’s east plant, which discharges into an unnamed tributary of Godfrey Creek, which then flows into Lower Cutoff Creek, followed by Cutoff Creek, Seven Devils Lake and Bayou Bartholomew in the Ouachita River Basin.

From July 1, 2012, through April 30, the utility had nine discharge violations and failed to submit 34 discharge monitoring reports on time and failed to conduct additional monitoring.

Monticello will only have to pay $6,025 of the $12,050 fine at the west plant if the city has no further violations within six months of the order. The city will only have to pay $5,662 of the $11,325 fine at the east plant if it has no further violations there within six months.

The orders were signed Aug. 3 by Mayor Zack Tucker and published this week.