250006_NOI_NOV-2024-DV-0226_20240509

DocuSign Envelope In 8DGAE1A1- GAGA -47EE-B205-DDC3A7D2BE21
ROY COOPER
Governor
ELIZABETH S. BISER
Secretary
RICHARD E. ROGERS, JR.
Director
CERTIFIED MAIL
RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
CM#7022 1670 0000 9974 8136
Saint John Farm Inc.
PO Box 488
Maury, NC 28554
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
May 9, 2024
Subject: Notice of Violation - Notice of Intent To Enforce
Saint John Farm Inc. #25-6
AWS250006
Craven County
NOV-2024-DV-0226
Dear Saint John Farm Inc.:
On April 30, 2024, staff of the NC Division of Water Resources (DWR), Water Quality Regional
Operations Section (WQROS) received a call about the presence of wastewater in a ditch near
your facility.
As a result of this incident, you are hereby notified that, having been permitted to have a non -
discharge permit for the subject animal waste disposal system pursuant to 15A NCAC 2T
Section .1300, you had a discharge to surface water, failed to notify, had excessive ponding of
wastewater, and failed to properly manage and operate irrigation equipment in accordance with
your Certified Animal Waste Management Plan and the Swine Waste System General Permit
No. AWG100000 that you are covered to operate under. Specific violations follow.
Violation 1:
The discharge of wastewater to surface water occurred in violation of the facility's Certified
Animal Waste Management Plan in violation with Condition I.1 of Swine Waste System General
Permit No. AWG100000.
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources
Washington Regional Office - 943 Washington Square Mall - Washington, North Carolina, 27889
NORTHCARouNA JPI/ 252-946-6481

DocuSign Envelope ID: 8D9AE1A1-9A9A-47EE-B205-DDC3A7D2BE21
On April 30, 2024, the Division received notification of wastewater in a ditch near your facility.
Upon inspection the Division discovered wastewater ponding and runoff from the facility's
sprayfield. The runoff traveled over a mile before it discharged into Swift Creek. Samples have
been collected and preliminary results show the presence of wastewater in surface water.
Required Corrective Action for Violation 1:
Take all necessary additional steps to ensure that wastewater does not run off from any part of
your facility. Wastewater should be contained in the lagoon and when conditions permit, it
should be pumped onto healthy sprayfields at agronomic rates.
Violation 2:
Failure to notify the Division of a wastewater discharge in accordance with the facility's
Certified Animal Waste Management Plan in accordance with Condition III.17. of Swine Waste
System General Permit No. AWG100000.
On April 30, 2024, the Division did not receive notification of the discharge from the facility.
The Division discovered the discharge after a report of wastewater in a ditch.
Required Corrective Action for Violation 2:
The facility should notify the Division about any violation that occurs per permit conditions.
Violation 3:
Failure to maintain fields and irrigation equipment in accordance with the facility's Certified
Animal Waste Management Plan in accordance with Condition II.1. of Swine Waste System
General Permit No. AWG100000.
The facility's solid set system in field 1 appears to have issues underground and needs
maintenance. In addition, the vegetative cover in the sprayfields needs improvement.
Required Corrective Action for Violation 3:
Ensure that the irrigation system is properly functioning before irrigation occurs. Make sure there
is a suitable crop for nutrient utilization.
Violation 4:
Excessive ponding and runoff in accordance with the facility's Certified Animal Waste
Management Plan in accordance with Condition II.5. of Swine Waste System General Permit
No. AWG100000.
An irrigation event in field 1 caused excessive ponding and runoff. The sprinklers ran for an
extended period saturating the field.
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources
D � Washington Regional Office - 943 Washington Square Mall - Washington, North Carolina, 27889
NORTH CARCLINA 252-946-6481
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DocuSign Envelope ID: 8D9AE1A1-9A9A-47EE-B205-DDC3A7D2BE21
Required Corrective Action for Violation 4:
The facility should irrigate for shorter durations and monitor irrigation events to prevent ponding
and runoff.
You are required to take any necessary action to address the above violation. You are
required to provide a written response to this Notice, including any additional information
that you wish to provide related to this incident that you wish the Division to consider,
within 10 days of receipt of this letter. Please include in your response all corrective actions
already taken and a schedule for completion of any corrective actions not addressed. Please
include 2023 and 2024 freeboard and rainfall records, irrigation records, waste analysis, and the
most current calibration. Please note, further correspondence may be issued citing additional
violations based on review of additional information, as related to the incident or past
management of the facility.
As a result of the violations in this Notice, this office is considering a recommendation for a civil
penalty assessment to the Director of the Division. If you wish to present an explanation for the
violations cited, or if you believe there are other factors, which should be considered, please send
such information to me in writing within ten (10) days following receipt of this letter. Your
response will be reviewed, and, if an enforcement action is still deemed appropriate, it will be
forwarded to the Director and included for consideration.
Failure to comply with conditions in a permit may result in a recommendation of enforcement
action, to the Director of the Division of Water Resources who may issue a civil penalty
assessment of not more than twenty-five thousand ($25,000) dollars against any "person" who
violates or fails to act in accordance with terms, conditions, or requirements of a permit under
authority of G.S. 143-215.6A
If you have any questions concerning this Notice, please contact me at [phone].
Sincerely,
�DocuSig neen1d"Abyy::,
OUM I
avid 'lay, upervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Division of Water Resources
Washington Regional Office
cc: WaRO Laserfiche Files
Smithfield Hog Production
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources
D � Washington Regional Office - 943 Washington Square Mall - Washington, North Carolina, 27889
NORTH CARCLINA 252-946-6481
gaparMeM of EmironmanW quay