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Home My WebLink AboutWQ0020680_CEI_NOD2021PC0444_20210824 SENT VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL ONLY: NO HARD COPY WILL BE MAILED August 24, 2021 Ben Parton, General Manager Email: benparton@gilkeylumber.com Gilkey Lumber SUBJECT: NOTICE OF DEFICIENCY Tracking Number: NOD-2021-PC-0444 Permit No. WQ0020680 Gilkey Lumber - Rutherfordton Facility Rutherford County Dear Permittee: The North Carolina Division of Water Resources conducted an inspection of the Gilkey Lumber - Rutherfordton Facility on August 16, 2021. This inspection was conducted to verify that the facility is operating in compliance with the conditions and limitations specified in Non-discharge Permit No. WQ0020680. A summary of the findings and comments noted during the inspection are provided in the enclosed copy of the inspection report. The Compliance Evaluation inspection was conducted by Division of Water Resources staff from the Asheville Regional Office. The following deficiency was noted during the inspection: Inspection Area Description of Deficiency _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Storage Freeboard records were not available at the time of the inspection. Permittee indicated they had stopped recording freeboard weekly. Permit Condition III.6 & IV.4 require monitoring and recording of weekly freeboard. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Remedial actions should have already been taken to correct this problem and prevent further occurrences in the future. The Division of Water Resources may pursue enforcement action for this and any additional violations of State law. To prevent further action, carefully review these deficiencies and address the causes of non-compliance to prevent the recurrence of similar situations. DocuSign Envelope ID: 1E037072-0A38-4B14-B529-4AD3A2DF2135 If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mikal Willmer with the Water Quality Regional Operations Section in the Asheville Regional Office at 828-296-4686 or via email at mikal.willmer@ncdenr.gov. Sincerely, G. Landon Davidson, P.G., Regional Supervisor Water Quality Regional Operations Section Asheville Regional Office Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ ATTACHMENTS: Inspection Report Ec: LF DocuSign Envelope ID: 1E037072-0A38-4B14-B529-4AD3A2DF2135 Compliance Inspection Report Permit:WQ0020680 Effective:02/15/17 Expiration:01/31/22 Owner :Gilkey Lumber Company Inc SOC: Contact Person: Region: County: Directions to Facility: Rutherford Asheville Michael B Parton Effective:Expiration:Facility:Gilkey Lumber - Rutherfordton Facility 2250 US Hwy 221 N Rutherfordton NC 28139 Title:Phone:828-286-9069 From Marion take Hwy. 221 south to Gilkey. Facility is located on the left. Secondary ORC(s): Phone:Certification:Primary ORC: System Classifications: On-Site Representative(s): Related Permits: Secondary Inspector(s): Primary Inspector: Inspection Date:Exit Time:Entry Time: Phone: 08/16/2021 10:30AM 12:30PM Mikal Willmer 828-296-4686 Facility Status: Permit Inspection Type: Reason for Inspection:Inspection Type: Not CompliantCompliant Routine Closed-Loop Recycle Compliance Evaluation Question Areas: Miscellaneous Questions Storage (See attachment summary) Page 1 of 4 DocuSign Envelope ID: 1E037072-0A38-4B14-B529-4AD3A2DF2135 Inspection Date: Permit: Inspection Type : Owner - Facility: Reason for Visit: WQ0020680 08/16/2021 Compliance Evaluation Gilkey Lumber Company Inc Routine Inspection Summary: Mikal Willmer with the Asheville Regional Office conducted a compliance evaluation inspection of Gilkey Lumber’s Wet-decking closed-loop recycle system. This inspection was conducted to determine whether the facility is being monitored and maintained in compliance with Permit No. WQ0020680. Ben Parton was present and assisted in the inspection. Gilkey’s wet-decking system is no longer in use. Timber is processed regularly so logs do not sit on the wet-decking pad for extended periods of time. All spray heads and piping have been removed. The recycle pond no longer receives stormwater flows from other areas of the facility and only receives runoff from where the logs are stored temporarily before processing. Schedule I.1 of the permit was completed in 2017 and approved by the Division. The spillway was retained in the recycle pond; however, the elevation was increased to accommodate a 25-yr 24-hr storm event. Operation and Maintenance: The earthen dam appears to have an adequate vegetative cover; however, some larger woody vegetation is becoming established and should be removed from the embankment. Any work completed to maintain the recycle pond shall be recorded and available for review. Freeboard: The facility is required to maintain 4.4’ of free board to accommodate a 25-yr 24-hour storm event. Weekly freeboard records were not available during the inspection and Mr. Parton indicated they had stopped recording weekly measurements. Please note, Gilkey is still required to record freeboard weekly per permit conditions III.6 and IV.4 as the water in the recycle pond is considered wastewater by the Division until properly closed out As discussed by the previous inspector, closure or incorporation into the stormwater system will require a closure plan that may include but is not limited to draining and properly disposing of all wastewater and sludge associated with the pond and sampling to verify there are no additional wastewater constituents in concentrations of concern. If the permittee wishes to retain the current permit for future wet-decking, freeboard shall be maintained and recorded, and a spill plan shall be kept up to date in the event of release. Page 2 of 4 DocuSign Envelope ID: 1E037072-0A38-4B14-B529-4AD3A2DF2135 Inspection Date: Permit: Inspection Type : Owner - Facility: Reason for Visit: WQ0020680 08/16/2021 Compliance Evaluation Gilkey Lumber Company Inc Routine Type Yes No NA NE Activated Sludge Spray, HR Activated Sludge Spray, LR Lagoon Spray, LR Single Family Spray, LR Reuse (Quality) Infiltration System Activated Sludge Drip, LR Single Family Drip Recycle/Reuse WASTEWATER RECYCLE P - Storage Yes No NA NE Storage Type?Pond Storage amount? # At what point is side-stream wastewater returned to treatment?NA Is there a Spill Control Plan? Aerated or Mixed?NONE If aeration is present, is it adequate? If present, are diffusers cleaned regularly? Is influent structure acceptable? Are banks/berms free of seepage and erosion? Are banks/berms free of excessive vegetation? Is pond lined? Liner Type Is liner acceptable? Are baffles/curtains acceptable? Does the pond have a freeboard marker? Required freeboard?4.4 Feet Actual freeboard?5 Feet Is there suitable grassed vegetation? Is the vegetation maintained? Is the area free of excessive weeds and/or woody species? Is the area free from signs of overflow? Page 3 of 4 DocuSign Envelope ID: 1E037072-0A38-4B14-B529-4AD3A2DF2135 Inspection Date: Permit: Inspection Type : Owner - Facility: Reason for Visit: WQ0020680 08/16/2021 Compliance Evaluation Gilkey Lumber Company Inc Routine Is color acceptable? Are floating mats acceptable? No excessive buildup of solids? Are aerators/mixers acceptable? Is effluent structure acceptable? If present, is pond cover acceptable? Adequate grass cover; however, woody vegetation is becoming established on the embankment. Comment: Page 4 of 4 DocuSign Envelope ID: 1E037072-0A38-4B14-B529-4AD3A2DF2135