310740_Add-Info Request_20231201

ROY COOPER
Governor
ELIZABETH S. BISER
Secretary
RICHARD E. ROGERS, JR.
Director
Hilton Agribusiness, LLC
Victory Farm
664 Ben Greene Industrial Park Rd
Elizabethtown, NC 28337-0535
Dear Hilton Agribusiness, LLC:
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
December 1, 2023
Subject: Additional Information Request
Application No. ADS310740
Victory Farm
Duplin County
The Animal Feeding Operations Program of the Division of Water Resources (Division) has completed a
preliminary review of the subject application received on September 11, 2023, for permit coverage under
Swine Farm Digester Waste Management System General Permit AWG400000 to convert existing Lagoon
C to a digester to capture biogas as a part of the proposed farm digester system at the Victory Farm.
Additional information is required before we may continue our review. Please address and submit the
following item(s) within 30 (thirty) days of receipt of this letter.
❑ Nutrient Management Plan (NMP) — The NMP submitted is dated April 15, 2020, includes a lease
agreement in which Bill Burch grands Smithfield Hog Production Division permission to land
apply swine waste on 148.18 acres. The lease is issued to the current owner and expires on May
31, 2025.
o Please provide an updated lease agreement issued to the current owner, or documentation
that the lease agreement extends to the current owner.
o Please indicate in the NMP which land application fields are leased and which are owned.
❑ Biogas Use as a Renewable Energy Resource — Session Law 2023-63 (2023 Farm Act) requires
that the gases collected by a farm digester system begin to be used as a renewable energy resource
as quickly as feasible, but no later than within six months of the collection of gases. Until the gases
are being used as a renewable energy resource the gas shall be flared rather than vented.
o Your application stated that the gas would be exported for use as a renewable energy
resource within 12 months of construction. Please confirm that timeline also complies with
Session Law 2023-63.
o Your application indicated that no emergency flare will be provided. Please verify a flare
would be available and used if necessary for compliance with Session Law 2023-63.
❑ Lagoon embankment —During the site visit conducted November 17, 2023, I noted that some areas
on the east embankment of lagoon B did not have sufficient vegetative cover. Please describe plans
for embankment maintenance/repair.
❑ Waste Level Gauge — Please indicate location/method for measuring waste levels in the digester,
as it does not gravity feed to the secondary containment.
D � ��� North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
512 North Salisbury Street 1 1636 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1636
Moan caaouNn
919.707.9129

Hilton Agribusiness, LLC
ADS310740
Additional Information Letter
December 1, 2023
Page 2 of 2
❑ Tail Gas from Gas Upgrading System (GUS) — Plans indicate that a GUS will be installed onsite
to process the biogas. Plans indicate that remnant gas from GUS will be vented on -site. Please
verify that this complies with Air Quality regulations. Also please identify location of nearest
residences and any odor control BMPs to be implemented.
❑ Air Quality Permitting — Please provide general information regarding any Air Quality permits,
and/or applicability determinations regarding this project. Please provide information about if
applications have been filed, permits (if issued), and/or results of an applicability determination.
Please be aware that you are responsible for meeting all requirements set forth in North Carolina rules and
regulations. Any oversights that occurred in the review of the subject application package are still the
responsibility of the applicant. In addition, any omissions made in responding to the above items shall
result in future requests for additional information.
Please reference the subject application number when providing the requested information. All revised
and/or additional documentation shall be signed, sealed and dated, submitted to my attention at the address
below. Failure to provide this additional information on or before the above requested date may result in
your application being returned as incomplete.
If you have any questions regarding this letter, please feel free to contact me at [phone].
Sincerely,
E
DocuSigned by:�t ViS{iln t, f ?, �,awsm,
715598463EA94B7...
Christine B. Lawson
Engineer
Animal Feeding Operations
cc: Wilmington Regional Office, Water Quality Regional Operations Section — via email
Laserfiche — File No. 310740
REQ5 North Carolina Department ofEnvironmental Quality I Division ofWater Resources
512 North Salisbury Street 1 1636 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1636
NORTH CAROLINA 919.707.9129
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