NC0058815_NOV2021PC0588_CEI_20211206

ROY COOPER.
Governor
ELIZABETH S. BISER
Secretary
S. DANIEL SMITH
Director
Hope Valley, Inc.
Attn: Angela Morrow, Director
P.O. Box 467
Dobson, NC 27017
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
December 6, 2021
SUBJECT: Compliance Evaluation Inspection & Notice of Violation
Case #: NOV-2021-PC-0588
NC Individual NPDES Permit NC0058815
Hope Valley, Inc.
Surry County
Dear Ms. Morrow:
Ron Boone, of the NC Division of Water Resources (DWR), Winston-Salem Regional Office, met
with Martin Semones, Operator in Responsible Charge of the Hope Valley Inc. Wastewater
Treatment Plant (WWTP), to perform a compliance evaluation inspection, on November 9, 2021.
Mr. Semones's assistance and cooperation are greatly appreciated. The attached Water
Compliance Inspection Report summarizes the findings of the inspection.
The inspection was prompted, in part, by many missing discharge monitoring reports (DMR)
dating back to January 2021. Please note each missing DMR is a separate violation. When asked
about the missing DMRs Mr. Semones indicated he had no excuse whatsoever for not getting the
nine DMRs submitted as required by the permit. He offered no justification for the missing
reports.
Please be aware that the Division may take enforcement action against any permittee who fails
to comply with any requirement of their permit. Pursuant to NC General Statute (NCGS) 143-
215.6A, a civil penalty of not more than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) may be
assessed against any person who violates or fails to act in accordance with the terms, conditions,
or requirements of any permit issued pursuant to G.S. 143-215.1. The Division is considering
taking enforcement action against NC DOT for the violations enumerated in this notice and the
accompanying inspection report.
Please reply to this notice in writing within 15 business days of receiving it. Your reply should
enumerate corrective actions, with implementation schedules and estimated completion dates,
NORTH
D E
D.o.rtm.m of ln.im.mo.tol au.i`
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources
Winston-Salem Regional Office 450 West Hanes Mill Road, Suite 300 I Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27105
336.776.9800

for all violations listed in this notice and the accompanying inspection report. Failure to reply
within the specified time frame may result in enforcement action being taken.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Mr. Boone by phone at
336-776-9690, or by email at [e-mail]. Thank you in advance for your time and
attention to this matter.
Attachments:
1. Water Compliance Inspection Report
cc: 1. Laserfiche
LD_E
NORTH CAROLINA
Department of Environmental quaky
Sincerely,
DocuSigned by:by�
ig
"- 145B49E225C94EA...
Lon T. Snider, Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Winston-Salem Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality j Division of Water Resources
Winston-Salem Regional Office 1450 West Hanes Mill Road, Suite 300 I Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27105
336.776.9800

United States Environmental Protection Agency
EPA Washington, D.C. 20460
Water Compliance Inspection Report
Form Approved.
OMB No. 2040-0057
Approval expires 8-31-98
Section A: National Data System Coding (i.e., PCS)
1
21IIIIII
Transaction
IN
Code NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection
I 2 L 3 I NC0058815 111 121 21/11/09 117
Type
1810I
IIIIIIIIIII
Inspector Fac Type
191S I 2011
IIIIIIIIIII IIIIIII I IIIIII
P6
Inspection
671
Work Days Facility Self -Monitoring Evaluation Rating B1 QA Reserved
I 70I I 711 1 72 I N I 731 1 74 71
I I
I I I I I I 180
Section B: Facility Data
Name and Location of Facility Inspected (For Industrial Users discharging to POTW, also include
POTW name and NPDES Dermit Number)
Hope Valley WWTP
105 County Home Rd
Dobson NC 27017
Entry Time/Date
02:OOPM 21/11/09
Permit Effective Date
19/04/01
Exit Time/Date
03:OOPM 21/11/09
Permit Expiration Date
23/12/31
Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s)
///
Martin K Semones/ORC/336-755-7845/
Other Facility Data
Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number
Contacted
Martin K Semones,105 Country Home Rd Dobson NC 27017/ORC/336-789-2787/
No
Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated)
Permit Flow Measurement Operations & Maintenar Records/Reports
Self -Monitoring Progran Sludge Handling DispoFacility Site Review Effluent/Receiving Wate
Laboratory
Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary)
(See attachment summary)
Name(s)
Ron
and Signature(s) of Inspector(s) Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date
Boone DWR/WSRO WQ/336-776-9690/
,-Docusigned by:p12/6/2021
Ori.GCG,G�. YJoo,i,e
82®F86.66F62...
Signature
of Management Q A Reviewer Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date
FDocuSigned by: 12/6/2021
Loti T. Jtildcr
EPA �orrri4Sg02S1RWW9-94) Previous editions are obsolete.
Page# 1

sI
NPDES yr/mo/day
NC0058815 111 121 21 /11 /09
117
Inspection Type
18 [j
(Cont.)
1
Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary)
Ron Boone, of the NC Division of Water Resources (DWR), Winston-Salem Regional Office, met with
Martin Semones, Operator in Responsible Charge of the Hope Valley Inc. Wastewater Treatment
Plant (WWTP), to perform a compliance evaluation inspection, on November 9, 2021. Mr. Semones's
assistance and cooperation are greatly appreciated. The attached Water Compliance Inspection
Report summarizes the findings of the inspection.
The inspection was prompted, in part, by many missing discharge monitoring reports (DMR) dating
back to January 2021. Please note each missing DMR is a separate violation. When asked about the
missing DMRs Mr. Semones indicated he had no excuse whatsoever for not getting the nine DMRs
submitted as required by the permit. He offered no justification for the missing reports.
Mr. Boone noted no other violations or discrepancies. The plant appeared to be operating properly
and was very clean and well organized.
Page# 2

Permit: NC0058815
Inspection Date: 11/09/2021
Owner - Facility: Hope Valley WWTP
Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Record Keeping
Are records kept and maintained as required by the permit?
Is all required information readily available, complete and current?
Are all records maintained for 3 years (lab. reg. required 5 years)?
Are analytical results consistent with data reported on DMRs?
Is the chain -of -custody complete?
Dates, times and location of sampling
Name of individual performing the sampling
Results of analysis and calibration
Dates of analysis
Name of person performing analyses
Transported COCs
Are DMRs complete: do they include all permit parameters?
Has the facility submitted its annual compliance report to users and DWQ?
(If the facility is = or > 5 MGD permitted flow) Do they operate 24/7 with a certified
operator on each shift?
Is the ORC visitation log available and current?
Is the ORC certified at grade equal to or higher than the facility classification?
Is the backup operator certified at one grade less or greater than the facility
classification?
Is a copy of the current NPDES permit available on site?
Facility has copy of previous year's Annual Report on file for review?
Yes No NA NE
❑ • ❑ ❑
❑ • ❑ ❑
• ❑ ❑ ❑
•
•
•
•
❑ • ❑ ❑
• ❑ • ❑
• ❑ ❑ ❑
• ❑ ❑ ❑
• ❑ ❑ ❑
Comment: DMRs not done for Jan. —Aug. 2021. When interviewed during the inspection the ORC
stated there is no reason for him not completing them as required. He just didn't do it.
All eDMRs have now been loaded into the eDMR system.
Permit Yes No NA NE
(If the present permit expires in 6 months or less). Has the permittee submitted a new ❑ ❑ • ❑
application?
Is the facility as described in the permit? • ❑ ❑ ❑
# Are there any special conditions for the permit? ❑ • ❑ ❑
Is access to the plant site restricted to the general public? • ❑ ❑ ❑
Is the inspector granted access to all areas for inspection? ■ El El El
Comment: None
Page# 3

Permit: NC0058815
Inspection Date: 11/09/2021
Owner - Facility: Hope Valley WWTP
Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Laboratory
Are field parameters performed by certified personnel or laboratory?
Are all other parameters(excluding field parameters) performed by a certified lab?
# Is the facility using a contract lab?
# Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0
degrees Celsius)?
Incubator (Fecal Coliform) set to 44.5 degrees Celsius+/- 0.2 degrees?
Incubator (BOD) set to 20.0 degrees Celsius +/- 1.0 degrees?
Comment: None
Yes No NA NE
• ❑ ❑ ❑
• ❑ ❑ ❑
• ❑ ❑ ❑
❑ ❑ ❑ •
❑ ❑ ❑ •
Effluent Sampling Yes No NA NE
Is composite sampling flow proportional? ❑ • ❑ ❑
Is sample collected below all treatment units? • ❑ ❑ ❑
Is proper volume collected? • ❑ ❑ ❑
Is the tubing clean? ❑ ❑ • ❑
# Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0 ❑ ❑ ❑ •
degrees Celsius)?
Is the facility sampling performed as required by the permit (frequency, sampling type • ❑ ❑ ❑
representative)?
Comment: None
Flow Measurement - Influent
# Is flow meter used for reporting?
Is flow meter calibrated annually?
Is the flow meter operational?
(If units are separated) Does the chart recorder match the flow meter?
Comment: Flow is estimated using the facilities potable water meter.
Septic Tank
(If pumps are used) Is an audible and visual alarm operational?
Is septic tank pumped on a schedule?
Are pumps or syphons operating properly?
Are high and low water alarms operating properly?
Comment: Septic tank solids removed quarterly.
Yes No NA NE
• ❑ ❑ ❑
❑ • ❑ ❑
• ❑ ❑ ❑
❑ ❑ • ❑
Yes No NA NE
❑ ❑ • ❑
Page# 4

Permit: NC0058815
Inspection Date: 11/09/2021
Owner - Facility: Hope Valley WWTP
Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Sand Filters (Low rate)
(If pumps are used) Is an audible and visible alarm Present and operational?
Is the distribution box level and watertight?
Is sand filter free of ponding?
Is the sand filter effluent re -circulated at a valid ratio?
# Is the sand filter surface free of algae or excessive vegetation?
# Is the sand filter effluent re -circulated at a valid ratio? (Approximately 3 to 1)
Comment: Filter appeared to be in excellent condtion and well maintained.
Yes No NA NE
❑ • ❑ ❑
• ❑ ❑ ❑
Disinfection -Tablet Yes No NA NE
Are tablet chlorinators operational? • ❑ ❑ ❑
Are the tablets the proper size and type? • ❑ ❑ ❑
Number of tubes in use? 4
Is the level of chlorine residual acceptable? ❑ ❑ ❑ •
Is the contact chamber free of growth, or sludge buildup? • ❑ El El
Is there chlorine residual prior to de -chlorination? El El El IN
Comment: None
De -chlorination Yes No NA NE
Type of system ? Tablet
Is the feed ratio proportional to chlorine amount (1 to 1)? El • El El
Is storage appropriate for cylinders? El El • El
# Is de -chlorination substance stored away from chlorine containers? • El ❑ ❑
Are the tablets the proper size and type? ■ El El El
Comment: None
Are tablet de -chlorinators operational? • ❑ ❑ ❑
Number of tubes in use? 4
Comment: None
Effluent Pipe
Is right of way to the outfall properly maintained?
Are the receiving water free of foam other than trace amounts and other debris?
If effluent (diffuser pipes are required) are they operating properly?
Yes No NA NE
Page# 5

Permit: NC0058815
Inspection Date: 11/09/2021
Owner - Facility: Hope Valley WWTP
Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation
Effluent Pipe Yes No NA NE
Comment: None
Operations & Maintenance
Is the plant generally clean with acceptable housekeeping?
Does the facility analyze process control parameters, for ex: MLSS, MCRT, Settleable
Solids, pH, DO, Sludge Judge, and other that are applicable?
Comment: None
Yes No NA NE
• ❑ ❑ ❑
• ❑ ❑ ❑
Page# 6