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Home My WebLink AboutWQ0012694_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_20210504DocuSign Envelope ID: F24E7AEB-F658-41DB-9850-4CO2C919378F ROY COOPER Governor DIONNE DELLI-GATTI Secretary S. DANIEL SMITH Director NORTH CAROLINA Environmental Quality May 4, 2021 Ms. Katharine Brooks, Administrator/Trustee Maharishi University of Enlightenment 1770 Brahmanand Saraswati Blvd. Fairfield, Iowa 52556 Subject: Compliance Evaluation Inspection East Campus, Wastewater Irrigation System Permit No. WQ0012694 Watauga County Dear Ms. Brooks, On April 14, 2021, staff of the North Carolina Division of Water Resources (DWR) Winston- Salem Regional Office (WSRO) performed an announced compliance inspection of the subject wastewater irrigation system. This compliance inspection was conducted by DWR staff person Patrick Mitchell. The subject system is currently permitted as zero flow and was found to be inactive at the time of inspection. However, the following deficiency warrants your attention and action: The entry gate into the subject facility was locked at the time of the inspection. The designated primary operator in responsible charge (ORC) did not have key/combination for gaining access. Permit Condition V.3. requires that the Division shall be granted access for purposes of inspection. As a reminder, Permit Condition III.3. requires a minimum ORC visitation frequency of once per quarter while the system is inactive. There must be access provided to the facilities to allow adequate inspection, maintenance, etc. Please notify our office when access to the subject facility is provided. Failure to provide access may lead to additional violations and potential enforcement actions. In addition to the deficiency listed above, the items of concern listed below also warrant your attention. • At the time of inspection, the staff gauge serving the above ground effluent storage tank indicated there is approximately 8.5 feet of freeboard remaining in the structure. The wastewater treatment package plant (WWTP) was found to be full. Reportedly the water in the WWTP was generated from stormwater inflow into the system. It is this office's understanding that the WWTP gravity flows into the above ground effluent storage tank. Either an irrigation events (in compliance with the Permit Attachment A — PPI-002) or pump and haul operations will need to be conducted soon to prevent potential bypass overflows and illegal discharges of wastes to _1121,..„E\93 North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources Winston-Salem Regional Office 1450 West Hanes Mill Road, Suite 3001 Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27105 336.776.9800 DocuSign Envelope ID: F24E7AEB-F658-41DB-9850-4CO2C919378F surface waters. Permit No. WQ0012694 prohibits bypasses and discharges to surface waters. • The subject system continues to be in a deteriorated state (e.g., effluent storage tank rusting, WWTP rusting, unknown if pumps, blowers, etc. function, unknown if drip irrigation or supply line pipes are intact, etc.). Repair and/or replacement work will be required before the system can be returned to use. As a reminder, Permit Condition I.1. requires that the WSRO shall be notified prior to reactivation to allow for an inspection of the system. Our office appreciates your attention to the above -mentioned deficiency and items of concern. Please be aware that failure to properly address the items listed above may result in the issuance of a Notice of Violation. Please refer to the enclosed compliance inspection report form for additional observations and comments. If you have any questions regarding this letter, please contact Patrick Mitchell or me at the letterhead address or phone number, or by email at patrick.mitchell@ncdenr.gov or lon.snider@ncdenr.gov. Sincerely, �DocuSiiggned by:by� LOA, 1. �%A,Iiter —14 9 5C9 EA.. Lon T. Snider, Regional Supervisor Water Quality Regional Operations Section Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ — WSRO enc: Compliance Inspection Report cc: Scott Vasgaard, ORC (Electronic Copy) Watauga County Environmental Health (Electronic Copy) Laserfiche File WQ0012694 WSRO Electronic Files Page 2 of 2 Compliance Inspection Report Permit: WQ0012694 Effective: 02/01/19 Expiration: 01/31/24 Owner : Maharishi University of Enlightenment SOC: Effective: Expiration: Facility: MUE - East Campus WWTP County: Watauga 3600 Heavenly Mtn Dr Region: Winston-Salem Contact Person: Katharine Brooks Boone NC 28607 Title: Phone: 845-439-4585 Directions to Facility: US 421 N from Winston-Salem, approaching Boone, take left turn at Bamboo Rd, follow for 3.2 miles to end of pavement proceed straight on dirt pavement (Bamboo Rd), left onto George Hays Rd, left onto Gordon Day Rd which becomes Virgil Day Rd System Classifications: SI, WW2, Primary ORC: Scott Richard Vasgaard Secondary ORC(s): On -Site Representative(s): Related Permits: Inspection Date: 04/14/2021 Primary Inspector: Patrick Mitchell Secondary Inspector(s): Certification: 18595 Phone: 828-297-6234 Entry Time 10:OOAM Exit Time: 12:30PM Phone: 336-776-9698 Reason for Inspection: Routine Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Permit Inspection Type: Wastewater Irrigation Facility Status: Compliant ❑ Not Compliant Question Areas: Miscellaneous Questions (See attachment summary) Permit: WQ0012694 Owner - Facility: Maharishi University of Enlightenment Inspection Date: 04/14/2021 Inspection Type : Compliance Evaluation Reason for Visit: Routine Inspection Summary: On April 14, 2021, WSRO staff conducted an announced inspection of the subject facility. Mr. Scott Vasgaard, ORC attempted to accompany staff on the inspection but was unable to do so due to locked gate (see item #1 below). The primary purpose of this inspection was to review the facilities that could not be inspected during the previous visit due to overgrown, thick vegetation. The majority of the inspection reflects compliance with the permit. However, the following items warrant attention: 1. The entry gate into the development was locked preventing vehicular access. Staff had to walk an extended distance into the system. According to the ORC, the lock must have recently been replaced; the ORC no longer has access. Permit requires a minimum of once per quarter ORC visitation frequency while system is inactive (Condition 111.3.). 2. There was approx. 8.5 ft. of available freeboard present (gauge reading 29.5 of 38.0 ft.) in the effluent storage tank at the time of inspection. Irrigation or pump & haul will need to be conducted soon to prevent bypass overflow. The last comprehensive inspection (February 2019) found available freeboard to be approx. 18 ft. at that time. 3. The package plant WWTP is nearly full, reportedly because of rain-stormwater flow. Reportedly the plant gravity flows into the effluent storage tank. The ORC should continue to inspect the system; a clogged pipe could result in bypass overflows. Also, if adequate freeboard is not maintained in the effluent storage tank (as listed in #2 above), this may result in bypass overflow from the effluent storage tank and/or the package plant. 4. The system continues to be in disrepair (rusting, vegetation growing on sides of units, etc.) and none of the pumps or other parts of the system could be tested due to no electricity present on the system. It is unknown if system is fully operational. Permit requires Permittee to notify the WSRO prior to reactivation to allow inspection. OTHER NOTES: - The overgrown vegetation that prevented access for inspection last visit has been mowed and system is accessible for inspection now. - Facility is still vacant and for sale. According to the ORC, currently there are no proposed activities, and the Division has received no notifications from the Permittee regarding reactivation. - Residuals were removed from the package plant not long after facility went into inactive status, but wastewater remains in the plant and effluent storage tank. Rain-stormwater has contributed to wastewater levels in the system.