The Public Works Department is facing a $40,000 fine for illegally discharging raw sewage into Hull Bay.
The Planning and Natural Resources Department issued a notice of violation Jan. 13 setting the fine and requiring Public Works to submit a plan within 15 days to fix the broken outflow pipe from the Brassview treatment plant that is the cause of the problem, the Independent reported Thursday.
As of Wednesday, Public Works had not filed a response, according to Austin Moorehead, PNR's environmental protection director.
Moorehead said his department could issue another order to PNR for failing to respond as required or refer the matter to the Attorney General's Office.
As a last resort, it could also refer the Hull Bay violations to the federal Environmental Protection Agency but in that case any money collected would go to the federal, not the territorial, government.
PNR is also retesting Hull Bay and nearby waters, Moorehead told the Independent, for contaminants that cause pink eye, diarrhea and other illnesses. Tests started Wednesday and will wind up Friday. Tests in August were negative.
Brassview's treatment plant processes sewage from 40 homes in the Bonne Resolution gut and discharges 40,000 gallons of treated and chlorinated sewage each day, the Independent said.