BROKEN BOW— The City of Broken Bow will have to pay penalties to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) after multiple violations of the Clean Water Act were found over the last few years at the Waste Water Treatment Facility (WWTF).
According to documents from the EPA, the Broken Bow facility was found to have exceeded the authorized discharge limit allowed to be placed into Mud Creek which included E. coli and ammonia. Other violations included discharging pollutants that produced films, colors, and deposits, failing to calibrate the flow meter, failing to monitor and report parameters as required, and failing to submit annual sludge reports to the EPA.
The documents also state that the violations from November 2015 to February 2019 could result in fines up to $21,933 per day with a maximum of $274,159 administered in fines.
While hefty fines could have taken place, the EPA and the Broken Bow Board Of Public Works reached a settlement where the city will pay $6,500 in fines.
On January 13, 2020 the City of Broken Bow Board of Public Works held its regular meeting where it learned that the EPA had rejected their request to lower the fine to $4,500 and could go no lower than $6,500. The board then voted five to zero to accept and pay the penalty from the EPA.
City Clerk Stephanie Wright said the approval does not have to go in front of the City Council as the Board of Public Works can spend up to $500,000 without council approval.
