DOCUMENT 380
ELECTRONICALLY FILED
10/30/2019 4:13 PM
05-CV-2017-901319.00
CIRCUIT COURT OF
BALDWIN COUNTY, ALABAMA
JODY L. WISE, CLERK

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF BALDWIN COUNTY, ALABAMA
STATE OF ALABAMA ex rel.,
STEVE MARSHALL,
ATTORNEY GENERAL
and the ALABAMA DEPARTMENT
of ENVIRONMENTAL
MANAGEMENT,
Plaintiffs,
v.
UTILITIES BOARD of the
CITY OF DAPHNE
Defendant.

MOBILE BAYKEEPER, INC.,
Intervenor, Plaintiff,
v.
UTILITIES BOARD OF THE CITY OF
DAPHNE,
Defendant.

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CASE NO. CV-2017-901319

AMENDED JOINT MOTION FOR ORDER
Plaintiffs, the State of Alabama and the Alabama Department of Environmental
Management, Intervenor-Plaintiff, Mobile Baykeeper, Inc., and Defendant, Utilities Board of the
City of Daphne, by and through the undersigned counsel, respectfully request this Court to enter
the attached proposed Order on Settlement Agreement.
Respectfully submitted this 30th day of October, 2019.

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/s/ Robert D. Tambling
Robert D. Tambling (TAM001)
Assistant Attorney General
ADDRESS OF COUNSEL:
Office of the Attorney General
501 Washington Street
Montgomery, AL 36130
Telephone: (334) 242-7300
Fax: (334) 242-2433
Email: Robert.Tambling@AlabamaAG.gov

/s/ Carrie T. Blanton
Carrie T. Blanton (TOM024)
Assistant Attorney General

ADDRESS OF COUNSEL:
Alabama Department of Environmental Management
Office of General Counsel
P.O. Box 301463
Montgomery, AL 36130-1463
Telephone: (334) 271-7855
Email: carrie.blanton@adem.alabama.gov

/s/ J. Patrick Courtney III
J. Patrick Courtney III (COU004)
Attorney for Plaintiff Intervenor,
Mobile Baykeeper, Inc.
ADDRESS OF COUNSEL:
Law Offices of J. Patrick Courtney III
P.O. Box 2205
(1 North Royal Street)
Mobile, AL 36652
Telephone: (251) 694-1001
Fax: (251) 433-3752
Email: jpc3law@aol.com

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/s/ Jerome E. Speegle
Jerome E. Speegle (SPE011)
Attorney for Defendant,
Utilities Board of the City of Daphne
ADDRESS OF COUNSEL:
Jerome E. Speegle, Esq.
Speegle, Hoffman, Holman & Holifield, LLC
P.O. Box 11 (Mobile, AL 36601)
5 Dauphin Street, Suite 301
Mobile, AL 36602
Telephone: (251) 694-1700
Telephone: (251) 338-4283 (Direct)
Fax: (251) 694-1998
Email: jspeegle@speeglehoffman.com

CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I hereby certify that I have on this 30th day of October, 2019, electronically filed the
foregoing with the Clerk of the Court using the Alafile system and that the Clerk of Court using
the Alafile system will send notification of same to all parties.

/s/ Robert D. Tambling
Robert D. Tambling (TAM001)
Assistant Attorney General

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IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF BALDWIN COUNTY, ALABAMA
STATE OF ALABAMA ex rel.,
STEVE MARSHALL,
ATTORNEY GENERAL
and the ALABAMA DEPARTMENT
of ENVIRONMENTAL
MANAGEMENT,
Plaintiffs,
v.
UTILITIES BOARD of the
CITY OF DAPHNE
Defendant.

MOBILE BAYKEEPER, INC.,
Intervenor, Plaintiff,
v.
UTILITIES BOARD OF THE CITY OF
DAPHNE,
Defendant.

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CASE NO. CV-2017-901319

ORDER ON SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
I.
INTRODUCTION
A. The State of Alabama, by the authority of Attorney General Steve Marshall and the
Alabama Department of Environmental Management (hereinafter collectively the “Plaintiffs”) by
and through its undersigned counsel, filed a Complaint in this action on November 16, 2017,
alleging that Utilities Board of the City of Daphne (hereinafter the "Defendant") is in violation of
the Alabama Water Pollution Control Act, Ala. Code (1975) § 22-22-1, et seq. (hereinafter “the
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Act” or "AWPCA"). The Plaintiffs are seeking injunctive relief and the assessment of civil
penalties, pursuant to Ala. Code § 22-22A-5(18)b. The Complaint alleges that the Defendant
operates a wastewater treatment facility, known as the Daphne Water Reclamation Facility
(hereinafter “the Facility”), located at 29280 North Main Street in Daphne, under the authority of
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (hereinafter “NPDES”) Permit Number
AL0027561 (hereinafter “the Permit”). The Permit establishes limitations, terms, and conditions
on the discharge of pollutants from the Facility into Blakely River, a water of the State.
B. Intervenor-Plaintiff, Mobile Baykeeper, Inc. (hereinafter “Baykeeper”), a non-profit
corporation organized under the laws of the State as a 501(c)(3) for the purpose of preserving,
promoting, and protecting the natural, ecological, biological, economic, and cultural resources of
Mobile Bay and its associated waters, including but not limited to the Blakely River and areas
nearby and downstream (Mobile Bay, D’Olive Bay, etc.). Baykeeper commenced investigation of
certain of the violations of law in May 2017. On September 19, 2017, Baykeeper served its Federal
Clean Water Act 60-day notice letter detailing alleged violations. Subsequently, Baykeeper
prepared and submitted to the Parties its Investigation Report and Supplements thereto detailing
additional alleged violations. Baykeeper filed a Motion to Intervene in this matter on December
19, 2017, which was granted on February 21, 2018. Baykeeper is a “person” with “an interest
which is or may be adversely affected” by the outcome of an action within the scope of Ala. Code
§§ 22-22A-5(18)b and 22-22A-5(19). By Order dated March 21, 2018, Baykeeper’s claims or
requests for relief are limited to those brought by Plaintiffs. All other claims of Baykeeper were
stricken.
C. Defendant, Utilities Board of the City of Daphne, is a "person" within the meaning of
§ 22-22-1(b)(7) of the Act. Defendant has denied certain of the alleged violations set out in

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Baykeeper’s Complaint and the Investigative Reports.
D. The Plaintiffs, Intervenor-Plaintiff, and Defendant (hereinafter “Parties”) have
consented to the entry of this Order on Settlement Agreement (hereinafter “Settlement
Agreement”) without further adjudication of any of the factual or legal issues raised by the
Complaint herein.
E. NOW THEREFORE, without admission by the Defendant of the non-jurisdictional
allegations in the Complaint, without further adjudication of any issue of fact or law pertaining to
this action, and upon the consent and agreement of the Parties to this Settlement Agreement, it is
hereby ORDERED, ADJUDGED and DECREED as follows:
II.
JURISDICTION
This Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter herein and the Parties to this action
pursuant to Ala. Code § 22-22A-5, as the Complaint states claims for injunctive relief and civil
penalties upon which relief may be granted against the Defendant. Authority to bring this suit is
vested in the Attorney General and the Alabama Department of Environmental Management
pursuant to Ala. Code § 22-22A-5.
III.
VENUE
Venue is proper in the Circuit Court of Baldwin County, Alabama because it is the judicial
district in which the Defendant’s Facility is located, and in which the alleged violations occurred.
IV.
PARTIES
A. The Plaintiff, State of Alabama, is acting at the request and on behalf of the Attorney
General of the State of Alabama.
B. The Plaintiff, the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (hereinafter
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“the Department” or “ADEM”) is the State environmental agency responsible for administering
the Act.
C. Intervenor-Plaintiff, Baykeeper, is acting on behalf of its membership in support of its
mission to provide citizens a means to protect the beauty, health and heritage of the Mobile Bay
Watershed and associated coastal communities.
D. The Defendant is a municipal corporation in the State of Alabama, formed under the
laws of the State of Alabama, and is a “person” within the meaning of Section 22-22-1(b)(7) of
the AWPCA.
V.
BINDING EFFECT
The provisions of this Settlement Agreement shall apply to, and be binding upon, the
Defendant, and its officers, directors, employees, agents, servants, successors, and assigns, and
upon all persons, firms and corporations in active concert or participation with the Defendant and
assigns, and upon the State of Alabama and its representative, ADEM and its representatives, and
Baykeeper and its representatives.
VI.
OBJECTIVES
It is the express purpose of the Parties entering into this Settlement Agreement to further
the objectives set forth in Section 22-22-2 of the Act, and to resolve certain issues alleged by the
State, ADEM, and Baykeeper in the Complaint. In light of these objectives, the Defendant agrees,
inter alia, to cause the expeditious implementation of the remedial measures as herein set forth
and, in accordance with schedules agreed to by the Parties and approved by the Court, to take all
appropriate steps necessary to correct Permit limit violations, and to prevent bypasses and
unpermitted discharges of untreated or partially-treated wastewater. In addition, Defendant agrees

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to comply with the terms and conditions of its NPDES Permit and to submit to ADEM all NPDES
reports in a timely manner, and to do all lawful acts necessary to effectuate the provisions of this
Settlement Agreement.
VII.
REMEDIAL ACTIONS
A. Immediately upon issuance of the Order on this Settlement Agreement, the Defendant
shall comply with ADEM Admin. Code chap. 335-10-1 with regard to certified operator staffing
at the Facility and the collection system.

Defendant shall certify such compliance in the

Engineering Report required by Paragraph B., below.
B. The Defendant shall prepare and submit to the Department, with a copy to Baykeeper,
an Engineering Report that addresses the need for changes, if any, in maintenance, capacity and
operating procedures, the potential for infiltration and inflow, the need for modification of existing
treatment and collection system works, and the need for new or additional treatment and collection
system works as necessary to achieve compliance with applicable rules and regulations and Permit
conditions. The Engineering Report shall, at a minimum, also address the following items:
1. Process control monitoring, including monitoring of MLSS, BOD, TSS, nitrates,
ammonia and 24/7 staffing and/or monitoring;
2. The advisability of a secondary disinfection system, for example, the current
chlorine back-up disinfection system.
The Engineering Report shall include a schedule for implementation of necessary
corrective actions, if any, and cost of such necessary corrective actions, if known.
The Engineering Report shall also identify all deficiencies discovered and any proposed or
completed corrective actions relevant to the violations described in the complaint. The Engineering
Report shall include a plan for continued maintenance and assessment of the collection system to
minimize future inflow and infiltration.

The Engineering Report shall be prepared by a
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professional engineer licensed to practice in the State of Alabama. The Engineering Report shall
be submitted so that it is received by the Department with a copy to Baykeeper no later than sixty
(60) days after entry of Order on Settlement Agreement. If the Department receives comments
from Baykeeper within fifteen (15) calendar days of the Department’s receipt of the Engineering
Report, the Department will review Baykeeper’s comments prior to making a determination
regarding the Engineering Report. If the Department reasonably determines through its review of
the submitted Engineering Report that the submittal is not sufficient, then the Defendant shall
modify the Engineering Report. The Defendant shall submit modifications to the Engineering
Report, if required, so that they are received by the Department, with a copy to Baykeeper, no later
than thirty (30) days after Defendant’s receipt of the Department’s comments.
C. The Defendant shall complete implementation of the recommendations provided in the
Engineering Report not later than 270 days after issuance of the Order on this Settlement
Agreement.
D. Until conclusion of the corrective actions outlined in the Engineering Report, the
Defendant shall prepare and submit every sixty (60) days detailed Progress Reports to the
Department, with a copy to Baykeeper, describing the Defendant’s progress towards achieving
compliance with the corrective actions presented in the Engineering Report, including the cost of
necessary corrective actions. The Defendant shall submit the Progress Reports so that the first
Progress Report is received by the Department no later than 120 days after issuance of the Order
on this Settlement Agreement and subsequent Progress Reports are received every sixty (60) days
thereafter that the Defendant’s performance obligations under the Order on this Settlement
Agreement remain incomplete. In addition, no later than fourteen (14) days following each due
date herein, the Defendant shall submit to the Department, with a copy to Baykeeper, a written

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notice of noncompliance, if applicable. Notices of noncompliance shall state the cause(s) of
noncompliance, the corrective action taken, and shall describe the Defendant’s ability to comply
with any remaining requirements of the Order on this Settlement Agreement.
E. The Defendant shall utilize an independent contractor or contractors to perform an
Audit of the Defendant’s sample collection, sample analysis, and laboratory procedures. The
Audit shall also investigate the Defendant’s SSO response procedures, including but not limited
to: estimation of SSO volumes, cleaning and disinfection, corrective actions, identification and
monitoring of the receiving water, and notification to ADEM, the public, the county health
department, and other affected entities. The results of the Audit and a schedule for implementation
of any recommendations from the Audit shall be submitted so that they are received by ADEM,
with a copy to Baykeeper, no later than ninety (90) days after issuance of the Order on this
Settlement Agreement. If corrective measures are included in the Audit’s recommendations, the
Defendant shall utilize an independent contractor or contractors to perform a second Audit and
shall provide the results of such to ADEM, with a copy to Baykeeper, no later than 180 days after
the issuance of the Order on this Settlement Agreement.
F. No later than sixty (60) days after issuance of the Order on this Settlement Agreement,
the Defendant shall develop an SSO Response Plan to establish timely and effective methods for
responding to notifiable SSOs. The SSO Response Plan shall be posted on the Defendant’s website
and shall be provided within seven (7) business days of any written public request. The SSO
Response Plan shall address each of the following:
1. General Information:
a. Approximate population of City/Town, if applicable;
b. Approximate number of customers served by the Defendant;

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c. Identification of any sub-basins designated by the Defendant, if applicable;
d. Identification of estimated linear feet of sanitary sewers;
e. Number of Pump/Lift Stations in the collection system;
2. Responsibility Information:
a. The title(s) and contact information of key position(s) who will coordinate the
SSO response, including information for a backup coordinator in the event that
the primary SSO coordinator is unavailable. The SSO coordinator is the person
responsible for assessing the SSO and initiating a series of response actions
based on the type, severity, and destination of the SSO.
b. The title(s), and contact information of key position(s) who will respond to
SSOs, including information for backup responder(s) in the event the primary
responder(s) are unavailable (i.e., position(s) who provide notification to the
Department, the public, the county health department, and other affected
entities such as public water systems; position(s) responsible for organizing
crews for response; position(s) responsible for addressing public inquiries).
3. SSO and Surface Water Assessment:
a. Identification of locations within the collection system at which an SSO is likely
to occur (e.g., based upon historical SSOs, lift stations where electricity may be
lost, etc.).
b. A map of the general collection system area, including identification of surface
waterbodies and the location(s) of public drinking water source(s). Mapping of
all collection system piping, pump stations, etc. is not required; however, if this
information is already available, it should be included.
c. Identification of surface waterbodies within the collection system area which
are classified as Swimming according to ADEM Admin. Code chap. 335-6-11.
References available to assist in this requirement include:
http://www.adem.state.al.us/alEnviroRegLaws/files/Division6Vol1.pdf
and
http://gis.adem.alabama.gov/ADEM_Dash/use_class/index.html.
d. Identification of surface waterbodies within the collection system area which
are not classified as Swimming as indicated in paragraph F.3.c above but are
known locally as areas where swimming occurs or as areas that are heavily
recreated.
4. Public Reporting of SSOs:
a. Contact information for the public to report an SSO to the Defendant, during
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both normal and outside of normal business hours (e.g., telephone number,
website, email address, etc.).
b. Information requested from the person reporting an SSO to assist the Defendant
in identifying the SSO (e.g., date, time, location, contact information).
c. Procedures for communication of the SSO report to the appropriate positions
for follow-up investigation and response, if necessary.
5. Procedures to immediately notify the Department, the county health department,
and other affected entities (such as public water systems) and Baykeeper upon
becoming aware of notifiable SSOs.

6. Standard Procedures to include, at a minimum:
a. General SSO Response Procedures (e.g., procedures for dispatching staff to
assess/correct an SSO; procedures for routine SSO corrective actions such as
those for sewer blockages, overflowing manholes, line breakages, pump station
power failure, etc.; procedures for disinfection of affected area, if applicable);
b. Procedures for collection and proper disposal of the SSO, if feasible.
c. General procedures for coordinating instream water quality monitoring,
including, but not limited to, procedures for mobilizing staff, collecting
samples, and typical test methods should the Department or the Defendant
determine monitoring is appropriate following an SSO. Identification of a
contractor who will collect and analyze the sample(s) may be listed in lieu of
the procedures.
d. References to other documents (such as Standard Operating Procedures for SSO
Responses) may be acceptable for this section; however, the referenced
documents shall be identified and shall be reviewed at a frequency of at least
that required by the Administrative Procedures Section of the Permit. Attached
as an Exhibit is a draft Sanitary Sewer Overflow Response Plan (“SSORP”)
which Defendant proposes to submit to ADEM.
G. Immediately upon issuance of the Order on this Settlement Agreement, the Defendant
shall fully implement the SSO Response Plan developed in accordance with Paragraph F of this
Settlement Agreement. Defendant shall certify that the SSO Response Plan has been fully
implemented in the subsequent quarterly Progress Report submitted to the Department.
H. The Defendant shall fully comply with the Permit limitations for Enterococci, Total
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Suspended Solids (hereinafter “TSS”), TSS Percent Removal, and Five Day Carbonaceous
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (hereinafter “CBOD5”) immediately upon issuance of the Order on
this Settlement Agreement.
I. The Defendant shall comply with all other terms, conditions, and limitations of the
Permit immediately upon issuance of the Order on this Settlement Agreement.
J. The Defendant shall submit a certification to the Department, signed by a professional
engineer licensed to practice in the State of Alabama, indicating whether the Defendant is in
compliance with all requirements of the Order on this Settlement Agreement. The Defendant shall
submit such certification so that it is received by the Department no later than 300 days after
issuance of the Order on this Settlement Agreement.
K. As part of its ongoing maintenance and operations, the Defendant will adhere to the
following protocols:
1. Daphne Utilities will continue its program of monitoring its collection system,
including required maintenance on lift stations, periodic smoke testing of sewer
mains, cleaning and inspection of mains, maintenance of easement areas,
installation of inflow dishes and manholes, investigation of system components,
and coordination of repairs and/or rehabilitation as needed (including inflow
dishes on manholes and pipe relining).
2. Daphne Utilities will continue for so long as it is needed, its oil recycling program
to educate the public on the detrimental effects of improper grease and cooking
oil disposal.
3. Daphne Utilities will notify Baykeeper contemporaneously with notification to
ADEM and other parties in the event of a sanitary sewer overflow (“SSO”) that
requires public notification under ADEM rules and regulations.

L. Baykeeper will promptly place a notice on its website and issue public notification of
all SSO’s for which Baykeeper has received the above notice from Daphne Utilities. Baykeeper
will give to Daphne Utilities prompt notice of any SSOs or other potential violations or issues

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reported to them or which they discover.
VIII.
CAPACITY ASSURANCE
Whenever there is a significant expansion of the Facility Collection System (by adding
new customers) the Defendant shall engage a professional engineer registered in the State of
Alabama to review and certify the Facility has adequate capacity that is capable of handling the
increase in flow.
IX.
EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS
Nothing in this Settlement Agreement shall relieve the Defendant of its obligation to
comply at all times with all limitations in its NPDES Permit(s), including any modifications,
extensions or reissuances.
X.
CIVIL PENALTY
Defendant is assessed and agrees to pay a civil penalty in the amount of Sixty-Three
Thousand Dollars ($63,000.00) to be disbursed as follows:
1. Twenty-One Thousand Dollars ($21,000.00) to the State Treasury to the credit of
the General Fund.
2. Twenty-One Thousand Dollars ($21,000.00) to the Attorney General’s Office for
reasonable costs incurred to recover such civil penalty. This sum shall be deposited
to the credit of the operating funds of the Office of Attorney General.
3. The Defendant shall submit both payments (paragraph 1 and 2) by certified check
to the address listed below on or before thirty (30) days after issuance of the Order
on this Settlement Agreement.
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DIVISION
OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL
501 WASHINGTON AVENUE
MONTGOMERY, AL 36130-0152
4. Twenty-One Thousand Dollars ($21,000.00) to the Alabama Department of
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Environmental Management for reasonable costs incurred to recover such penalty.
This sum shall be deposited to the operating funds of ADEM. The Defendant shall
submit said payment by certified check and referencing this civil action to the
address listed below on or before thirty (30) days after issuance of the Order on
this Settlement Agreement.
ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
MONTGOMERY OFFICE
ATTN: OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL
1400 COLISEUM BOULEVARD
MONTGOMERY, AL 36110-2400
XI.
STIPULATED PENALTIES
A. The Defendant shall pay to the State of Alabama and ADEM stipulated civil penalties
for each day it fails to meet any of the milestone dates established by Paragraphs B., D., E., and J.
of Section VII. of the Order on this Settlement Agreement. The stipulated civil penalties for failure
to meet each milestone date, except for Force Majeure Acts as hereinafter defined, shall be as
follows:
Period of Noncompliance

Penalty per Day per Violation

1st to 30th day

$300

31st to 60th day

$600

After 60 days

$1,200

B. Stipulated civil penalties shall automatically begin to accrue on the first day the
Defendant fails to meet any of the schedules of performance required by Paragraphs B., D., E.,
and J. of Section VII. of this Settlement Agreement. Payment of stipulated civil penalties as set
forth above shall not abate any other rights or remedies which may be available to the State or
ADEM by reason of the Defendant’s failure to comply with requirements of this Settlement
Agreement, and all applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations, NPDES permit(s) and all
other applicable permits. Notification to the Defendant by the State or ADEM of the assessment
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of any stipulated penalty is not required.
C. Stipulated civil penalties shall be paid by splitting the total amount due and submitting
equal portions via cashier’s or certified checks payable to the State of Alabama and ADEM at their
respective addresses noted in Section X. herein.
D. In the event a stipulated civil penalty is not paid when due, the stipulated civil penalty
shall be payable with interest from the original due date to the date of payment, at the statutory
judgment rate set forth at 28 U.S.C. § 1961 (a).
XII.
MOBILE BAYKEEPER PAYMENT
Defendant shall pay Mobile Baykeeper or its designee Twenty-Three Thousand Dollars
($23,000) within ten (10) days of the entry of this Consent Decree as consideration for its
agreement to take the actions and perform the duties set out in Section VII(L). Defendant shall
within thirty (30) days of the entry of this Consent Decree pay to Mobile Baykeeper or its
designee an additional $27,000 as consideration for the same actions and performance of the
same duties set out in Section VII(L) of the Consent Decree.
XIII.
FORCE MAJEURE
A. “Force Majeure” for the purposes of this Settlement Agreement is defined as an event
arising from causes beyond the control of the Defendant or of any entity employed by the
Defendant, including its consultants and contractors, which delays or prevents the performance of
any obligation under this Settlement Agreement.
B. When circumstances are occurring or have occurred which may delay the completion
of any requirement of this Settlement Agreement, whether or not due to a Force Majeure event,
the Defendant shall so notify the State and ADEM in writing within fifteen (15) days after the

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Defendant knew, or should have known, of the delay or anticipated delay. The notice shall
describe in detail the basis for the Defendant’s contention that it experienced or anticipates that it
will experience a Force Majeure delay, the anticipated length of the delay, the precise cause or
causes of the delay, the measures taken or to be taken to prevent or minimize the delay, and the
timetable by which those measures will be implemented. Failure to so notify the State and ADEM
shall constitute a waiver of any claim of Force Majeure as to the event in question.
C. If the State and ADEM find that a delay in performance is, or was, caused by a Force
Majeure event, they shall extend the time for performance, in writing, for a period to compensate
for the delay resulting from such event and stipulated penalties shall not be due for such period.
In proceedings on any dispute regarding a delay in performance, the dispute resolution provisions
of Section XIV. RETENTION OF JURISDICTION/DISPUTE RESOLUTION shall apply, and
the Defendant shall have the burden of proving that the delay is, or was, caused by a Force Majeure
event, and that the amount of additional time requested is necessary to compensate for that event.
D. Compliance with a requirement of this Settlement Agreement shall not by itself
constitute compliance with any other requirement. An extension of one compliance date based on
a particular event shall not automatically extend another compliance date or dates. The Defendant
shall make an individual showing of proof regarding the cause of each delayed incremental step
or other requirement for which an extension is sought. The Defendant may petition for the
extension of more than one compliance date in a single request.
XIV.
RETENTION OF JURISDICTION/DISPUTE RESOLUTION
A. This Court shall retain jurisdiction of this matter for the purposes of implementing and
enforcing the terms and conditions of this Settlement Agreement and for the purpose of
adjudicating all disputes among the Parties that may arise under the provisions of this Settlement
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Agreement.
B. Submission of any matter to the Court for resolution shall not extend any of the
deadlines set forth in this Settlement Agreement, unless the Parties agree to such extension in
writing or the Court allows the extension upon motion.
XV.
RIGHT OF ENTRY
Without limiting the authority otherwise available to it, the State, ADEM, and their
authorized representatives and contractors shall have authority at all times, upon the presentation
of credentials, to enter the premises of the Defendant to:
1. Monitor the program of activities required by this Settlement Agreement;
2. Verify any data or information submitted to the State or ADEM;
3. Obtain samples from the municipal treatment and collection system;
4.

Inspect and evaluate any portions of the Defendant’s treatment and collection
system; and

5. Inspect and review any records required to be kept under the terms and conditions
of this Settlement Agreement or any NPDES Permit and the AWPCA. This
provision of this Settlement Agreement is in addition to and in no way limits or
otherwise affects the State or ADEM’s statutory authorities to conduct inspections,
to require monitoring and to obtain information from the Defendant as authorized
by law.
6. The State and ADEM agree to provide the Defendant an opportunity to obtain split
samples of wastewater samples taken by ADEM from the Defendant’s treatment or
collection system. The State and ADEM further agree to provide the Defendant
with the quality assured/quality-controlled laboratory analytical results of samples
obtained from the Defendant’s treatment or collection system, and any nonprivileged (including non-attorney work product) reports prepared concerning such
results. ADEM will use its best efforts to coordinate field inspections of the
Defendant’s treatment or collection system with the Defendant by notifying the
Defendant, if practicable, of such inspections upon arrival at the field inspection
location.

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XVI.
NOT A PERMIT/COMPLIANCE WITH OTHER STATUTES/REGULATIONS
A. This Settlement Agreement is not and shall not be construed as a permit, nor a
modification of any existing permit, issued pursuant to the Alabama Water Pollution Control Act,
nor shall it in any way relieve the Defendant of its obligations to obtain a permit for its wastewater
treatment and collection system or facilities and to comply with the requirements of any NPDES
permit or with any other applicable federal or State law or regulation. Any new permit, or
modification of an existing permit, must be complied with in accordance with applicable federal
and State laws and regulations.
B. Nothing herein shall be construed as relieving the Defendant of the duty to comply with
the AWPCA, the regulations promulgated thereunder, and all applicable permits issued thereunder,
or as relieving the Defendant of its duty to comply with State law and the regulations promulgated
thereunder. The State of Alabama and ADEM reserve the right to seek additional relief should
Defendant fail to achieve substantial compliance with the terms and conditions of its Permits.
XVII.
NON-WAIVER PROVISIONS
A. The Settlement Agreement in no way affects or relieves the Defendant of any
responsibility to comply with any federal, State, or local law or regulation.
B. Nothing contained in this Settlement Agreement shall be construed to prevent or limit
the State's or ADEM’s rights to obtain penalties or further or additional injunctive relief under the
AWPCA or other State statutes or regulations, including, but not limited to, criminal punishment
under § 22-22-14 of the Act, for other violations not expressly specified in the Complaint.
C. The Parties agree that the Defendant is responsible for achieving and maintaining
complete compliance with all applicable federal and State laws, regulations, and permits, and that

16

 DOCUMENT 380

compliance with this Settlement Agreement shall be no defense to any actions commenced
pursuant to said laws, regulations, or permits, except as set forth herein.
D. This Settlement Agreement does not limit or affect the rights of the Defendant,
Baykeeper, ADEM or the State against any third parties which are not Parties to this Settlement
Agreement. The Parties recognize that this Settlement Agreement resolves only matters between
the State, ADEM, Baykeeper, and the Defendant and that its execution does not preclude the
Defendant from asserting any legal or factual position in any action brought against the Defendant
by any person or entity not a Party to this Settlement Agreement.
E. The Parties reserve any and all legal and equitable remedies available to enforce the
provisions of this Settlement Agreement.
F. This Settlement Agreement shall not limit any authority of ADEM under any applicable
statute, including the authority to seek information from the Defendant or to seek access to the
property of the Defendant nor shall anything in this Settlement Agreement be construed to limit
the authority of the State to undertake any action against any person in response to conditions that
may present an imminent and substantial endangerment to the environment or to the public health
or welfare.
G. Application for construction grants, State Revolving Loan Funds, or any other grants
or loans, or delays caused by inadequate Facility planning or plans and specifications, on the part
of the Defendant shall not be cause for extension of any required compliance date in this Settlement
Agreement.
H. Obligations of the Defendant under the provisions of this Settlement Agreement to
perform duties scheduled to occur after the date of issuance of this Settlement Agreement, shall be
legally enforceable from that date. Liability for stipulated penalties, if applicable, shall accrue for

17

 DOCUMENT 380

violation of such obligations and payment of such stipulated penalties may be demanded by the
State or ADEM as provided in this Settlement Agreement.
I. It is the intent of the Parties hereto that the clauses hereof are severable, and should any
clause(s) be declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid and unenforceable, the
remaining clauses shall remain in full force and effect.
J.

The State of Alabama and ADEM reserve the right to elect to file a civil action for

statutory penalties or injunctive relief against the Defendant for any violation of the AWPCA by
the Defendant discovered after the Date of Entry of this Settlement Agreement concerning
different violations than these set forth herein.
K. This Settlement Agreement was negotiated, mutually drafted, and executed by the
Parties in good faith to avoid further litigation and is a settlement of claims which were contested,
denied and disputed. The execution of this Settlement Agreement is not an admission of any fact,
liability or wrongdoing of any kind regarding any of the matters addressed in the Settlement
Agreement.
XVIII.
RELEASE
The Plaintiffs and Plaintiff-Intervenor herein waive and release any and all civil claims
against Defendant under the AWPCA, the Alabama Environmental Management Act and the
Federal Clean Water Act that could have been brought prior to the entry of this Order on Settlement
Agreement.
XIX.
REVIEW OF SUBMISSIONS
The State and ADEM agree to use their best efforts to expeditiously review all
documents, plans and other deliverables that the Defendant is required to submit to them pursuant

18

 DOCUMENT 380

to the terms and conditions of this Settlement Agreement. ADEM agrees to use its best efforts to
coordinate with the Defendant to expedite evaluation of permit applications submitted by the
Defendant consistent with Alabama law.
XX.
FORM OF NOTICE
A. Unless otherwise specified or agreed to in writing by all parties, all reports, notices, or
any other written communications required to be submitted under this Settlement Agreement shall
be sent to the respective Parties at the following addresses:
Alabama Department of Environmental Management
Chief of Water Division
1400 Coliseum Blvd.
Montgomery, Alabama 36110-2059
Office of Attorney General
Robert D. Tambling
501 Washington Avenue
Montgomery, Alabama 36130-0152
Mobile Baykeeper, Inc.
Casi L. Callaway
450-C Government Street
Mobile, Alabama 36602
Law Offices of J. Patrick Courtney III
P.O. Box 2205
(1 North Royal Street)
Mobile, AL 36652
B. Notifications to or communications with ADEM or the Alabama Attorney General's
office shall be deemed submitted on the date they are received. Notifications to or communications
with Defendant shall be deemed received ten (10) days after the date they are postmarked.
XXI.
MODIFICATION
This Settlement Agreement contains the entire agreement of the Parties and shall not be

19

 DOCUMENT 380

modified by any prior oral or written agreement, representation or understanding. Prior drafts of
this Settlement Agreement shall not be used in any action involving the interpretation or
enforcement of this Settlement Agreement. This Settlement Agreement may not be amended or
modified except by written order of this Court. Any modification of this Settlement Agreement
by the Parties shall be in writing and approved by the Court before it will be deemed effective;
however, minor changes which do not significantly alter the remedial action to be conducted by
the Defendant may be made by the Parties, provided such changes are agreed upon in writing.
XXII.
TERMINATION
A. This Settlement Agreement shall terminate upon the granting of a motion to the Court
after each of the following has occurred:
1. The Defendant has achieved compliance with all provisions contained in this
Settlement Agreement;
2. The Defendant has paid all penalties and other monetary obligations due hereunder
and no penalties or other monetary obligations due hereunder are outstanding or
owed to the State or ADEM;
3. The Defendant has certified compliance pursuant to Paragraphs 1 and 2 above to
the Court and all Parties; and
4. Upon receipt of such certification from the Defendant, ADEM shall review to
determine if compliance has been achieved and shall then respond to the Defendant
in writing. If the State or ADEM disputes the Defendant’s full compliance, this
Settlement Agreement shall remain in effect pending resolution of the dispute by
the Parties or the Court.
B. The Defendant may petition the State and ADEM for termination of the obligations of
any paragraph of this Settlement Agreement, and such petition shall be provided to Baykeeper,
provided that the Defendant has satisfied each and every term and condition of that paragraph, and
has certified to the State and ADEM that it has satisfied each and every term and condition of that
paragraph.
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 DOCUMENT 380

XXIII.
SIGNATORIES
The Assistant Attorney General on behalf of the State of Alabama, the Associate General
Counsel of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, the signatories for Mobile
Baykeeper, Inc., and the signatories for the Defendant certify that they are fully authorized to enter
into the terms and conditions of this Settlement Agreement and to execute and legally bind such
Parties to this document.

21

 DOCUMENT 380

WE HEREBY CONSENT to the entry of this Settlement Agreement in the State of Alabama v.
Utilities Board of the City of Daphne, Civil Action No. CV-2017-901319.00.

FOR THE PLAINTIFF
THE STATE OF ALABAMA:

Date: October 30, 2019

/s/ Robert D. Tambling
Robert D. Tambling (TAM001)
Assistant Attorney General

ADDRESS OF COUNSEL:
Office of the Attorney General
501 Washington Street
Montgomery, AL 36130
Telephone: (334) 242-7300
Fax: (334) 242-2433
Email: Robert.Tambling@AlabamaAG.gov

FOR THE PLAINTIFF
ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT:

Date: October 30, 2019

/s/ Carrie T. Blanton
Carrie T. Blanton (TOM024)
Assistant Attorney General

ADDRESS OF COUNSEL:
Alabama Department of Environmental Management
Office of General Counsel
P.O. Box 301463
Montgomery, AL 36130-1463
Telephone: (334) 271-7855
Email: carrie.blanton@adem.alabama.gov

22

 DOCUMENT 380

FOR THE INTERVENOR-PLAINTIFF
MOBILE BAYKEEPER, INC.:

Date: October 30, 2019

/s/ J. Patrick Courtney III
J. Patrick Courtney III (COU004)
Attorney for Plaintiff Intervenor,
Mobile Baykeeper, Inc.

ADDRESS OF COUNSEL:
Law Offices of J. Patrick Courtney III
P.O. Box 2205
(1 North Royal Street)
Mobile, AL 36652
Telephone: (251) 694-1001
Fax: (251) 433-3752
Email: jpc3law@aol.com

FOR THE DEFENDANT
UTILITIES BOARD OF THE CITY OF DAPHNE:

Date: October 30, 2019

/s/ Jerome E. Speegle
Jerome E. Speegle (SPE011)
Attorney for Defendant,
Utilities Board of the City of Daphne

ADDRESS OF COUNSEL:
Jerome E. Speegle, Esq.
Speegle, Hoffman, Holman & Holifield, LLC
P.O. Box 11 (Mobile, AL 36601)
5 Dauphin Street, Suite 301
Mobile, AL 36602
Telephone: (251) 694-1700
Telephone: (251) 338-4283 (Direct)
Fax: (251) 694-1998
Email: jspeegle@speeglehoffman.com

Dated and entered this ______ day of ______________ 2019.

___________________________
CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE OF
BALDWIN COUNTY
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Exhibit to Section VII., F. 6(d)

-DRAFTDAPHNE UTILITIES
SANITARY SEWER OVERFLOW RESPONSE PLAN (SORP)
NEED TABLE OF CONTENTS
NEED "REVISION" SHEET

I.

PURPOSE
This Sanitary Sewer Overflow Response Plan (SORP) has been prepared in accordance with Alabama
Department of Environmental Management (ADEM or "Department") guidelines. The purpose of this
SORP is to provide response and reporting guidelines to minimize the adverse effects to the public and the
environment that may be caused by a Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO). This SORP applies only to the
sanitary sewer collection system and Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) owned and operated by Daphne
Utilities.

II.

GENERAL
The SORP is designed to define appropriate actions by Daphne Utilities upon notification of a possible
sanitary sewage overflow within the sanitary sewer system or at the WRF. Daphne Utilities shall dispatch
the appropriate crews to investigate the possible overflow, identify the responsible party or parties, and
provide appropriate response to minimize the effects of the overflow on public health and quality oflocal
waterways. The SORP further includes provisions related to regulatory compliance pursuant to the
directions provided by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) and that
notification and reporting is made to the appropriate local and state agencies, and to the affected public.
For purposes of this SORP, a "confirmed sewage spill" is also sometimes referred to as "sewer overflow,"
"overflow," or "SSO."
This SORP is effective beginning January 1, 2019. This SORP supercedes Daphne Utilities' Sanitary
Sewer Overflow Response Procedure (latest revision October 2017)
This plan will be reviewed and/or updated annually to incorporate any changes in contact information;
system components; personnel; and /or applicable regulations.

III.

OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this SORP are:
•
•
•
•
•

IV.

To protect the public health and the environment
To meet ADEM regulations and NPDES permit requirements
To develop and implement procedures to mitigate the effects of an SSO
To protect collection system and WRF personnel
To ensure the longevity of the collection system and WRF equipment

SYSTEM INFORMATION:
Daphne Utilities owns, operates, and maintains a Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) and a sanitary sewer
collection system serving portions of the cities of Daphne and Spanish Fort as well as unicorporated areas
in the surround communities of Baldwin County (See Appendix A for map of service area). The population
served is 25,000 people through approximately 12,000 individual connections.
The collection system is subdivided into twenty (20) sub-basins generally referred to as:

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 DOCUMENT 380

64&98

Bayview

Canterbury

Captain O'Neal

Dauphine Acres

Dog Pound

Jubilee Square

D'Olive Bridge

Lake Forest East

Lake Forest West

Lea Ave

Park City

Sehoy and Creekwood

Southeast Daphne

Jubilee Pointe

Spanish Fort

Timbercreek

US90 and Malbis

Walmart

Windscape

The collection system is comprised of approximately 210 miles of sewer pipe. Gravity lines ranging in size
from 6" to 24" diameter comprise 160 total miles, lift station force mains comprise 35 miles, and the
reamining 17 miles are low-pressure mains.
The system currently has 81 total sewage pumping stations (See Appendix B for a list of stations and
locations).

V.

SSO AND SURFACE WATER ASSESSMENT
The Daphne Utilities' collection system service area includes a number of surface water bodies including
Mobile Bay and several named and unnamed tributaries. According to the ADEM's use and classification
map of Alabama waterways, none of these surface waters are classified as "swimming."
(http://gis.adem.alabama.gov/AD EM_Dash/use_class/index.html. Last accessed November I, 2018).
However, Mobile Bay at Village Point Park and at Mayday Park are areas where wading I swimming is
known to occur. Furthermore, D'Olive Creek at Gator Alley Boardwalk and Mobile Bay at Lake Forest
Yacht Club and Bayfront Park are known areas ofrecreation to include fishing and canoeing I kayaking.
Appendix C is a map of surface water bodies within the service area.
Daphne Utilities is the primary public water agency within its service area. All drinking water is produced
from groundwater wells greater than 150' in depth. Contamination of public drinking water supplies by
SSOs is unlikely.
Daphne Utilities has identified locations within the collection system where previous SSOs have occurred,
along with identifying areas where sanitary sewer mains are located adjacent to tributaries. A map of these
locations is provided in Appendix C.

VI.

SANITARY SEWER OVERFLOW RESPONSE PROCEDURES
The Sanitary Sewer Overflow Response Procedure presents a strategy for Daphne Utilities to mobilize
labor, materials, tools and equipment to correct and/or repair any condition, which may cause or contribute
to an unpermitted discharge from Daphne Utilities' sanitary system. A wide range of potential system
failures are considered by the plan. Being prepared to respond to system failures could lessen the effect of
overflows to surface waters, land, or buildings.

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 DOCUMENT 380

A. Notification of Possible SSO
1. Members of the public may detect and report a possible overflow. Daphne Utilities' Customer
Service Department or after-hours on-call answering service is primarily responsible for
receiving phone calls from the public with notification of possible overflows from the sanitary
sewer collection system. The primary phone number for Daphne Utilities (251-626-2628) is
available and answered 24 hours per day. The Customer Service Department or the afterhours answering service is then responsible for forwarding the possible overflow information
to the Daphne Utilities SSO Coordinator (Section VII.B.). Contact information for customers
to report possible SSOs is posted on the Daphne Utilities's website and on Social Media
contact pages. Emergency Response to overflows shall be available 24 hours per day, 365
days of the year.
2. The person at Daphne Utilities receiving the call from the public will obtain all relevant
information (Appendix E: Sewer Leak Report) available regarding the possible overflow
including:
a.
Time and date call was received;
b.
Specific location and/or address of possible overflow;
c.
Description of problem; and
d.
Caller's name and call back phone number.
3. Pump stations are monitored by SCADA and provide alarms to Daphne Utilities' operator on
duty indicating a potential SSO. The operator on duty shall convey all information regarding
alarms to the SSO Coordinator to initiate the investigation.
4. Sanitary sewer overflows detected by any Daphne Utilities' personnel in the course of their
normal duties shall be reported to the SSO Coordinator or designee. Dispatched personnel
should record all relevant overflow information and shall dispatch additional response crews,
equipment or contracted services as necessary.
5. It is the responsibility of the SSO Coordinator or designee to gather and document all spill
response data as soon as possible.
6. A Sewer Overflow Incident Report (Appendix F) should be completed by the SSO
Coordinator or designee immediately following the responding crew's confirmation of an
overflow. The SSO Coordinator or designee is responsible for reviewing, updating, signing,
and submitting the final sewer inspection or overflow report form to the appropriate agencies,
including but not limited to ADEM and the Baldwin County Health Department per current
NPDES Permit requirements.

B. Dispatch of Appropriate Crews to Site of Sewer Overflow
Failure of any element within the Daphne Utilities wastewater system that causes a sanitary sewage
overflow will trigger a response to isolate the SSO, stop the SSO from occurring, and formulate a plan
to correct the problem. Crews and equipment shall be available to respond to any SSO locations 24
hours per day, 7 days per week. Crews will be dispatched to any site of a reported SSO immediately
upon notification.
1. Preliminary Assessment of Damage to Private and Public Property
The response crews should use discretion in assisting property owners/occupants who are
affected by a SSO on private property. Appropriate photographs and video footage, if
possible, should be taken of the area of the SSO and impacted area, allowing for thorough
documentation of the nature and extent of the impact. Photographs or video recordings are to
be filed with the Sewer Overflow Incident Report Form report.
2. Coordination with Hazardous Material Response
Upon arrival at the scene of a SSO, should a suspicious substance (e.g., oil sheen, foamy
residue) be found on the ground surface, or should a suspicious odor (e.g., gasoline) not
common to the sewer system be detected, response crew leader should contact the Wastewater
Manager or Supervisor for guidance before taking further action.
The Wastewater Manager or Wastewater Supervisor will alert the local fire department if
necessary. The response crew leader shall await the arrival of the local fire department. After
arrival of the local fire department, response crew members will take direction from the
commanding officer of the local fire department. Only when the commanding officer

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 DOCUMENT 380

determines it is safe and appropriate for the response crew members to proceed can
containment, clean-up, and corrective activities be performed in accordance with the SORP.
Remember that vehicle engines, portable pumps, or open flames (e.g., cigarette lighters)
can provide the ignition for an explosion or fire should flammable vapors or fluids be
present at the site. Maintain a safe distance and observe caution until and after
assistance arrives.
C. Overflow Correction, Containment, and Clean Up
This section describes specific actions to be performed by response crews during an SSO. The primary
objectives of these actions are to:
•
Protect public health, the environment, and property by minimizing SSO impacts as soon as
possible
•
Contain the SSO to the maximum extent possible including attempts to prevent the discharge
of sanitary sewage into waters of the state
•
Communicate preliminary overflow information as soon as practical to the public and
regulatory agency and within established regulatory timeframes
•
Establish perimeters with appropriate barricades and controlled access zones with vehicles or
natural topography (e.g., hills, berms)
•
Determine the apparent cause of the overflow
1.

Responsibilities of Response Crew upon Arrival
It is the responsibility of the first personnel who arrive at the site of a sanitary sewer overflow
to protect the health and safety of the public by mitigating the impact of the overflow to the
extent possible. Should the overflow not be the responsibility of Daphne Utilities, but there is
imminent danger to public health, public or private property, or to the waters of the State then
prudent action should be taken until the responsible party assumes control and provides
remedial actions. Upon arrival at a SSO the response crew should do the following:
a. Determine the cause of the sanitary sewer overflow.
b. Request appropriate personnel, materials, supplies, and/or equipment which can be
dispatched to minimize the impact of the overflow
c. Should it be determined the cause of the SSO is not the responsibility of Daphne
Utilities, dispatched personnel will take appropriate action to protect public health,
property (public and private), and waters of the state from imminent danger.

2.

Initial Measures for Containment
Upon arrival, the responding crew shall initiate measures to contain the SSO, thereby
minimizing the impact to public health or the environment. These measures may include, but
are not limited to:
a. Stopping flow by closing valves or turning off pumps at nearby or upstream lift
stations
b. Jetting or otherwise clearing line blockages
c. Diverting flow to containment areas (i.e., detention ponds, ditches, etc.)
d. Installing spill containment socks or booms

3.

Additional Measures Under Potentially Prolonged Overflow Conditions
In the event of a prolonged sewer line blockage, sewer line collapse, disabled lift station or
other event, a determination shall be made to set up portable bypass pumping until repairs can
be made.
a. Appropriate measures shall be taken to effectively handle the sewage flow
b. Monitoring shall be implemented as necessary
c. Regulatory agency notifications and/or permits shall be addressed in conjuction with
emergency repairs
d. Public notification provided as outlined in the following sections

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 DOCUMENT 380

4.

Cleanup
Sewer overflow sites are to be promptly cleaned to the highest degree possible following an
overflow. No readily identifiable residue is to remain in the area of the SSO.
a. The SSO site is to be secured to deter access to the site by the public until the site has
been thoroughly cleaned.
b. Where practical, the area is to be flushed and cleaned of any sewage or wash-down
water.
c. Solids and debris are to be removed and transported to WRF for proper disposal.
d. Where appropriate, the overflow site is to be disinfected with the application of a
dilute bleach solution, chlorinated water and/or lime. Daphne Utilities' SSO Cleanup
SOP is incorporated by reference (Copy Located in Appendix H)
e. Any ponds formed by the SSO will be pumped dry to the extent possible and the
residue returned to the wastewater collection system or properly disposed of at the
WRF.
f. Where possible, photos will be taken before and after cleanup. Photos will be filed
with the Sewer Overflow Incident Report.

5.

Post Cleanup
The Operations Manager or his designee shall conduct a follow-up visit at the site of the
overflow to ensure the provisions of this SORP and other directives were followed. The
Wastewater Manager is responsible for confirming the Sewer Overflow Incident Report was
satisfactorily completed and copies provided to the General Manager, Operations Manager,
and Operations Coordinator.

6.

Water Quality Monitoring
Should ADEM or Daphne Utilities determine monitoring of waters is appropriate following
an SSO, Daphne Utilities' Water Quality Monitoring Policy is incorporated by reference
(Copy located in Appendix H). Determination of monitoring may be based upon amount of
overflow, location of overflow, and potential impact to the public.

D. Overflow Report
The Sewer Overflow Incident Report shall be completed by the response personnel, who shall
promptly notify the Operations Manager when the overflow is eliminated. The proper completion of
the Sewer Overflow Incident Report must include the following information:
1. Determination if the SSO is "Notifiable" by evaluating whether the overflow reached a
surface water of the state OR poses an imminent health hazard (volume of overflow is not a
determining factor). In making the determination whether an SSO is notifiable, the following
factors should be evaluated:
a. Sewage overflow into storm water conveyance system (ditch, storm drain, etc.)
which drains to surface water of the state
b. Whether public contact with the affected area is likely to occur
c. Overflows where observation or on-site evidence indicates all sanitary sewage was
retained on land and did not reach surface water AND where cleanup of debris is
possible
d. Any other pertinent information relating to each individual SSO
2.

Determine the Estimated Start Date I Time of the SSO
a. Information reported to Daphne Utilities and later substantiated by sewer
investigator or response crew, or when DU personnel became aware of the SSO
b. Visual observation

3.

Determine the End Date I Time of the SSO
a. When flow is controlled and contained
b. The arrival time of the sewer investigator or response crew, if the overflow stopped
between the time it was reported and the time of arrival

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 DOCUMENT 380

4.

Determine the Volume of the Overflow:
The volume of the overflow may be estimated or calculated. As appropriate, one of the
following methods may be used.
a. Estimate the flow rate (gallons per minute) and multiply by the duration (in minutes)
of the overflow
1. All Daphne Utilities personnel responding to overflow situations will have
been trained on the manhole overflow simulator and the Overflow Rate
Calculation Guide (attached to SSO Incident Report Form) to identify and
estimate flow rates.
b. Calculate the estimated amount of the overflow by:
1. SCADA-indicated pump runtimes
2. Measuring the volume if overflow is contained
3. Counting upstream connections and multiplying by 8-10 gallons per hour
per connection (for overflow occuring during the hours of 6:00am to
8:00pm)
4. Mathematical determination (e.g., theoretical pipe flow capacity) based on
site-specific conditions

5.

Document the overflow calculation method (show your work)
The method used for calculating the overflow (estimated or calculated) shall be documented,
signed, and attached to the Sewer Overflow Incident Report Form.

6.

Identify and Document Corrective Measures to Stop and Contain the Overflow
Document corrective measures on the Sewer Overflow Incident Report Form

7.

Identify and Document Long-Term Corrective Measures to Mitigate Future
Occurrences if warranted
Document long-term corrective measures (if warranted) on Sewer Overflow Incident Report
Form

8.

Photograph and Describe any Damage to Public I Private Property
Attach photographs, video, and any narrative description of the overflow to the SSO Incident
Rpeort Form.

VII.

REGULATORY AGENCY NOTIFICATION
The Notification Plan establishes procedures that the Daphne Utilities shall follow to provide formal notice
to ADEM and other regulatory agencies as necessary in the event of SSOs. The following reporting criteria
explain to whom various forms of notification should be sent to, and lists agencies/individuals to be
contacted.

A. Notification Procedure
The Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) and the Baldwin County Health
Department (BCHD) shall be notified as soon as possible after confirmation of an SSO, but no later
than twenty-four (24) hours.
1. Notification to ADEM shall be made via the eSSO Electronic Reporting System. For SSOs
lasting longer than 24 hours, the initial eSSO notification must be updated with the date/time
the SSO ended. In the event the eSSO system is unavailable, the Department is to be
contacted within 24 hours via the SSO Hotline at 334-274-4200. In the event the Hotline is
utilized, a written follow-up report, ADEM Form 415 (Copy located in Appendix G) shall be
submitted to the Department within 5 calendar days.
2. Notification to the Baldwin County Health Department shall be made via email to the contacts
listed in Appendix F (Emergency Contacts). Notification to the BCHD shall include:
a. Indication an SSO occurred
b. Source and cause of the SSO

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 DOCUMENT 380

c. Date of SSO
d. Estimated volume if known
e. Location of SSO
f. Utlimate destination (water body) overflow
g. Attempts to notify the public already performed by Daphne Utilities
B. Responsible Officials
1. SSO Coordinator - This person is responsible for coordinating the SSO response. This
individual shall assess the SSO and initiate a series ofresponses based on the type, severity,
and destination of the SSO. The SSO Coordinator is responsible for organizing crews for
response, containment, and cleanup. The primary SSO Coordinator shall be the Wastewater
Manager and the backup shall be the Wastewater Supervisor.
2. SSO Responders - These individuals will conduct response, containment, and cleanup of an
overflow under the direction of the SSO Coordinator. Primary SSO Responders are the
wastewater collections system personnel and any Daphne Utilities' personnel on emergency
standby duty.
3. SSO Reporter - This person is responsible for providing notification to ADEM, the BCHD,
the public, and other affected entities. The primary SSO Reporter shall be the Operations
Manager and the backup SSO Responder shall be the Wastewater Manager or the General
Manager.
4. Public Inquiries and media relations shall be the responsibility of the Communications
Manager and/or the General Manager.
5. Contact information for the above is listed in Appendix F (Emergency Contacts) and shall be
updated annually or at any time positions I titles change if known.

VIII.

PUBLIC NOTIFICATION OF SSOs
In the event a notifiable SSO reaches a surface water of the state and/or may imminently and substantially
endanger human health based on potential for public exposure, including human contact, appropriate public
notification measures shall be undertaken to warn the public of the SSO and to minimize the potential for
public exposure.
A. Public Notification Methods and Timing
Various public notification measures are available to inform the public ofSSOs and may be
implemented in combinations depending on the potential for public exposure and health risks. Among
these measures are:
1. Immediate Press Release to local print and broadcase media outlets
2. Notification to BCHD who provide a media press release within 24 hours
3. Social Media Posts (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, etc.) and DU Website notifications
4. "Opt-In" text messaging and automated phone messaging system
5. Signage on local waterways where overflow occurred or drained into
6. Flyers, doorhangers, or other directed notifications
Notification to the Public shall be made as soon as feasibly possible, but in no event more than
than 24 hours after confirmation of an SSO.
B. Procedures for Determining Appropriate Public Notification Method
Notifiable SSOs shall be categorized as Class 1, 2, or 3 depending on potential for public exposure.

I.

Revision: 12/15/2018

A Class 1 SSO is characterized as an overflow directly into a primary local waterway and
easily accessible to the general public (i.e., Mobile Bay, D'Olive Creek, Lake Forest Lake,
Yancey Branch, Tiawasee Creek) AND directly impacting those water bodies identified in
Section V. (SSO and Surface Water Assessment) as receiving heavy recreational use. Public
Notification for a Class I SSO may include, but is not limited to:
a. Immediate press releases to local media outlets
b. Notice to Baldwin County Health Department who will also issue a press release
c. Posting on Daphne Utilities' website and social media pages

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 DOCUMENT 380

d.
e.

Activation of"opt-in" notification system
Signage where appropriate and in accordance with Section VIII. D. outlined below

2.

A Class 2 SSO is characterized as an overflow into a surface water of the state OR that has
the potential to impact the public at large. Public Notification for a Class 2 SSO may include,
but is not limited to:
a. Notice to Baldwin County Health Department who will issue a press release
b. Posting on Daphne Utilities' website and social media pages
c. Signage if appropriate and in accordance with Section VIII. D. outlined below

3.

A Class 3 SSO is characterized as an overflow that does not reach a surface water of the state
but has the potential for limited public impact. Public notification for a Class 3 SSO may
include, but is not limited to :
a. Directed notifications to the affected public such as flyers or doorhangers
b. Notice to Baldwin County Health Department and providing statement that the
affected public has already been notified by Daphne Utilities. (The BCHD may still
choose to issue its own press release)
c. Posting on Daphne Utilities' website and social media pages
d. Signage if appropriate and in accordance with Section VIII. D. outlined below

In the event of an extreme weather event which floods the entire system and causes multiple overflows,
Daphne Utilities will provide public notification as soon as feasibly possible following the event; and
according to the methods outlined above based on the aggregate volume of all overflows.
C. Required Information
In the event of a notifiable SSO, public notification shall include the following information:
1. Indication an SSO occurred
2. Source and cause of the SSO if known
3. Date ofSSO
4. Estimated volume if known
5. Location ofSSO
6. Ultimate destination (water body) overflow
7. Where appropriate, public education statements to inform the public on methods to prevent
future SSOs (i.e., grease recycling, check cleanout caps, protect storm drains, etc.)
8. Means to contact Daphne Utilities both during normal and after business hours to report an
SSO or for additional information.

D. Specific Procedures for Installation of Signage
In the event signage is used to provide public notification, the following shall be utilized where
practical:
1. Signs shall be 11"X17''
2. Signs will be reproduced and customized for each incident to include at a minimum:
a. Indication an SSO has occurred
b. Date of SSO
c. Location of SSO
d. Caution Statement
e. Contact information for obtaining additional information
3. Signs shall be installed in locations downstream of the overflow and where the public is likely
to access the waterway. As approprate, examples include, but are not limited to:
a. Gator Alley Boardwalk on east and west sides of North Main Street, and on the west
side of US 98 at the Hampton Inn
b. Yacht Club public boat launch and Yacht Club boat slips
c. Bayfront Park at pier
d. Mayday Park at pier and Kayak launch
e. Lake Forest Lake Dam behind Jubilee Square and behind Bayview Townhomes

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 DOCUMENT 380

4.

IX.

Signs shall remain in place for a minimum of 24 hours but not longer than 72 hours from time
of overflow unless specific conditions warrant a longer amount of time.

SSO RESPONSE PLAN ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES
A. Copies of the SORP
A copy of this SORP shall be maintained at the WRF, the Central Services Facility, and the main
administrative offices of Daphne Utilities. A copy shall be made available for inspection by ADEM at
anytime.
A copy of this SORP shall be publicly available on the Daphne Utilities' website.

B. Training on the SORP
Any personnel required to implement portions of this SORP shall be trained in the procedures
contained herein at least once per year. Personnel requiring training are:
l. All WRF personnel
2. All wastewater collection and lift station personnel
3. Wastewater Manager
4. Field Services Manager and Field Services Supervisors
5. Operations Manager
6. Operations Coordinator
7. Operations Assistant
8. GIS Technician
9. Environmental Compliance Supervisor
10. Communications Manager
11. General Manager
12.Any other employee deemed necessary
Any new employee in any of these positions shall receive training on this SORP during orientation.
Should significant revisions be made to this SORP, training regarding the revisions shall be conducted
as soon as possible for all above personnel. Documentation of such training shall be maintained and
provided to ADEM upon request.

C. Review of the SORP
Daphne Utilities shall complete a review and evaluation of the SORP annually. The emergency
contact list shall be updated at a minimum annually, or as needed if positions changed if known.
Evaluation and review of the SORP shall be signed and dated by the responsible official or the
appropriate designee.

Signature of Responsible Official I Duly Authorized Representative:

Date:

Name and Title of Responsible Official I Duly Authorized Representative:

Evaluation I Review Date:

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 DOCUMENT 380

APPENDIX A

Map of Service Area

Revision: 131512018 pg. 10

DOCUMENT 380

APPENDIXB
List of Pumping Stations and Locations
Station
Number
1

Lift Station Name

Location I Address

HWY64&98

2

JOHNSON ROAD EAST

SE comer of98 and 64. In front of Whitney
Bank
End of gravel road

3

VALERIE LANE

offDaphmont Dr

4

WARREN DRlVE

Next to park

5

DOG POUND

911 Shop Ln

6

PINEWOOD

Holy Cross Dr near old Judge Roy Bean's

7

CAP'T O'NEAL (Hires Ln)

Cap't O'Neal

8

ASHLEY GA TES

912 Van Ave I between bldgs 5 & 6

9

BAYSIDE ACADEMY

Cap't O'Neal @ Dryer

IO

BELROSE AVE

End ofroad

11

LEA AVENUE

Comer of Lea and Old County Rd

12

CAMERON COURT

End of cul de sac - I 00' down brick path

13

WHITING CT

End of cul de sac behind iron gate

14

VILLADRlVE

Behind M.M. parking lot on the right

15

MERCY MEDICAL

Behind facility

16

HARBOR PLACE

In landscape island in cul de sac

17

DELCHAMPS I PUBLIX

Bay Front Park

18

BAY FRONT PARK

Above ground vault next to Building

19

FIRESTATION #2

28280 N. Main St

20

WBILEE POINTE (Southtrust)

Jubilee Pointe shopping center

21

DAPHNE 98, OFFICE PARK

28080 Hwy98

22

OLD YMCA, HWY 98

East side of98 (Planet Fitness)

23

D'OLIVE LANDING

D'Olive Landing SID off Yacht Club Drive

24

MONROE STREET

at Hwy 98 I Prudential Nichols parking lot

25

BAY BLUFF

End of Madison St off Yacht Club Dr

26

BAY VILLAGE APARTMENTS

Yacht Club Dr

27

EAST BAY APARTMENTS

Behind Bldg 18

28

WORLD GYM

End of Merrit blvd

29

WEST YANCY BRANCH

Hwy98

30

WINDS CAPE

5th Ave & Hwy 98

31

PARK CITY

End of 5th Ave south

32

EAGLE CREEK

Soaring Eagle Ct

33

DAUPHINE ACRES

Comer of Caroline and Camellia

34

WILSON AVE

Wilson Ave

35

LOCKE RD

Locke Rd

36

BROOKHAVEN PUMP STATION

Bainbridge Dr (West)

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 DOCUMENT 380

37

SPORTS COMPLEX

Off Whispering Pines

38
39

DAPHNE MIDDLE SCHOOL
KRYSTAL RIDGE

Hwy 13
End of cul-de-sac

40

CANTERBURY PLACE

Lawson Rd at Canterbury entrance

41

CANTERBURY TRACE

Next to 28950 Canterbury Way

42

LAWSON ROAD

Ridgewood Dr @ Lawson in median

43

MELANIE LOOP

Near Edgar Cir

44

Down cart path from Well 6

45

ARAGON CIRCLE I LAKE FOREST 9TH
HOLE
RIDGEWOOD & DONNETTE LOOP

Ridgewood Dr

46

DONNETTE LOOP

137 Donnette Loop

47

GRANDE POINTE

133 Lake Front Dr

48

BAYVIEW BRIDGE

Bayview Dr next to lake

49

GORDON CIRCLE

Lakeview Loop at Gordon Circle

50

NICHOLE PLACE

Across from Vista Circle

51

D'OLIVE BRIDGE I D'Olive Creek

Across from WWTP on N. Main St

52

JUBLIEE SQUARE (Gayfers)

Hwy90

53

1-10 OVERLOOK

Right rear of Overlook Bldg

54

INTERSTATE 10

Spanish Fort Town Center Site

55

SPANISH MAIN

Off Spanish Main

56

CONFEDERATE POINT

#6 Confederate Pointe, down driveway on left

57

CORA SLOCUMB

Cora Slocumb

58

GENERAL CAMBY

Gen Canby Loop

59

BLAKELY WAY UNIT 7

Maureen Cir

60

RHETT DR I MAUREEN CIRCLE

Rhett Dr

61

TWELVE OAKS DRIVE

Twelve Oaks Dr

62

TIMBERCREEK EAST

Elderberry Dr (east side)

63

TIMBERCREEK WEST

Elderberry Dr (west side)

64

ROCKWELL SCHOOL

Hwy31

65

SAWWOOD STREET (Timbercreek Comm.)

End of cul-de-sac North

66

Lowe's I FREDERICK BLVD

Between Lowe's and Sam's

67

HISTORIC MALBIS, HWY 90

Hwy 90 East of Hwy 181

68

HISTORIC MALBIS #2

St. Simon & Gregor

69

CHAMBERLAIN

Co. RD 64 west of entrance to Chamberlain

70

AUSTIN PLACE

Rand Ave

71

MAINTENANCE BLDG I PUBLIC WORKS

Off Public Works Rd

72

CHELCEY PLACE

Sable Court

73

JUBILEE RIDGE

Jubilee Ridge Townhomes off Hwy 64

74

HWY 90 EAST (Cancer Center)

9301Hwy90

75

HWY 90 WEST (Harley Shop)

8083 Hwy 90

76

South 64

Comer of Armstead and Lett Ave

77

RIDGEWOOD

235 Ridgewood Dr

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 DOCUMENT 380

78

WHISPERING PINES

987 Whispering Pines Rd

79

Hwy 31 /Spanish Fort

Hwy 31 Just west of225

80

Winged Foot

Zoeller Lane

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 DOCUMENT 380

APPENDIXC
Surface Waters and Locations of Previous SSOs

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 DOCUMENT 380

APPENDIX 

Sewer Leak Report

Revision: 12/15/2018 pg. 15

DOCUMENT 380

APPENDIX 

Sewer Overflow Incident Report

Revision: 1211512018 pg. 16

DOCUMENT 380

APPENDIXF
Emergency Contacts

Daphne Utilities
Staff:

Name

Phone Number(s)
251-455-7272
251-380-8557
251-654-7803
251-210-1659
251-210-1643

(cell)
(office)
(cell)
(office)

Email

General Manager

Danny Lyndall

Danny@daphneutilities.com

Operations Manager

Bobby Purvis

Operations Assistant

Arlene Ethier

Operations
Coordinator

Art Anderson

251-583-4433 (cell)
251-210-1661 (office)

Art@daphneutilities.com

Communications
Manager

Samantha Coppels

251-533-5880 (cell)
251-210-1644 (office)

Samantha@daphneutilities.com

Field Services
Manager
Wastewater Manager
Wastewater
Supervisor
Wastewater
Supervisor
WRF Supervisor
Environmental
Compliance Supv.
GIS Specialist

Martin Dale

Martin@daphneutilities.com

Goeff Wilkins
James McPherson

goeff@daphneutilities.com
james@daphneutilities.com

Tony James

tony@daphneutilities.com

Sharon Surra
Johnnie Grimes

Sharon@daphneutilities.com
johnnie@daphneutilities.com

Alex Godfrey

alex@daphneutilities.com

bobby@daphneutilities.com
Arlene@daphneutilities.com

Health
Department,;.
Loren Powers

251-947-3618

Loren.powers@adph.state.al.us

Camilla English

251-947-3618

Camilla.english@adph.state.al. us

ADEM
24-hour Hotline for
SSO Reporting
Chief, Water Division
Chief, Municipal
Chief, Industrial I
Municipal
Regional Inspector

334-274-4200
Glenda Dean
Emily Anderson
Daphne Lutz

334-271-7823
334-271-7801
334-270-5602

Stephanie Ammons

334-274-4151

sammons@adem.alabama.gov

Media Outlets:
AL.Com (print)
WPMI (broadcast)
WKRG (broadcast)
WALA (broadcast)

Other Officials:

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 DOCUMENT 380

Daphne Police
Department
Daphne Fire
Department
Spanish Fort Police
Department
Spanish Fort Fire
Department
Sheriffs Office
Baldwin County EMA
Daphne City Hall
Spanish Fort City Hall

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pg. 18

 DOCUMENT 380

Appendix 

ADEM Form 415

Revision: 12/15/2018 pg. 19

DOCUMENT 380

Appendix 

SOPs Incorporated by Reference

Revision: 2.5154520 8 pg. 20