HomeMy WebLinkAboutWQ0000426_Final Permit_20000119State of North Carolina
Department of Environment
and Natural Resources
�. Division of Water Quality
James B. Hunt, Jr., Governor
Bill Holman, Secretary `
Kerr T. Stevens, Director
Laurence Somerville, Director
AgrEvo USA Company
P.O. Box 538
Pikeville, NC 27863
Dear Dr. Somerville:
January 19, 2000
IT & 0
NCDENR
NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Subject: Permit No. WQ0000426
AgrEvo Research Center
Wastewater Spray Irrigation
Wayne County
In accordance with your renewal application received October 18, 1999, we are forwarding herewith
Permit No. WQ0000426, dated January 19, 2000, to AarEvo USA Company for the continued operation of the
subject wastewater treatment and spray irrigation facilities.
,Am- This permit shall be effective from the date of issuance until December 3I, 2004, shall void Permit
No. WQ0000426 issued September 19, 1997, and shall be subject to the conditions and limitations as specified
therein. Please pay particular attention to the monitoring requirements in this permit. Failure to establish an
adequate system for collecting and maintaining the required operational information will result in future
compliance problems.
If any parts, requirements, or limitations contained in this permit are unacceptable, you have the right
to request an adjudicatory hearing upon written request within thirty (30) days following receipt of this permit.
This request must be in the form of a written petition, conforming to Chapter 150B of the Nnrth Carolina
General Statutes, and filed with the Office of Administrative Hearings, 6714 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC
27699-6714. Unless such demands are made this permit shall be final and binding.
If you need additional information concerning this matter, please contact as at (919) 733-
5083 extension 364. Z�f
,� Kerr T. Stevens
cc: Wayne County Health Department
Washington Regional Office, Water Quality Section
Washington Regional Office, Groundwater Section
Atlft- Groundwater Section, Central Office
Technical Assistance and Certification Unit
Non -Discharge Compliance/Enforcement Unit
1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 276991617 Telephone (919) 733-50133 Fax (919) 7156048
An Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer 50% recycled/10% post -consumer paper
NORTH CAROLINA
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
DEPARTMENT -0F ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES -- -
RALEIGH
SPRAY IRRIGATION SYSTEM PERMIT
In accordance with the provisions of Article 21 of Chapter 143, General Statutes of North Carolina as
amended, and other applicable Laws, Rules, and Regulations
PERMISSION IS HEREBY GRANTED TO
AgrEvo USA Company
Wayne County
FOR THE
continued operation of a 7,500 GPD spray irrigation treatment and disposal facility consisting of two (2)
influent lift stations, one (1) 10,000 gallon influent holding tank, one (1) 16,000 influent holding tank, an
influent flow measuring device, an influent pH monitoring device, a primary clarifier with a carbon and a
polymer feed system, a 19,000 gallon flow equalization basin, a 15,000 gallon capacity extended aeration
package plant with clarification and sludge digestion, tertiary sand filter and tertiary carbon filter, one (1)
100,000 gallon lined lagoon with recycle capability for the treated effluent, one (1) 70,000 gallon lined lagoon
with recycle capability for the treated effluent, spray irrigation onto a 2.3 acre spray field, carbon sludge
drying beds, and 1.95 acres of land application sites to serve the AgrEvo Research Center, with no discharge
of wastes to the surface waters, pursuant to the renewal application received October 18, 1999, and in
conformity with the project plan, specifications, and other supporting data subsequently filed and approved by
the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and considered a part of this permit.
This permit shall be effective from the date of issuance until December 31, 2004, shall void Permit No.
WQ0000426 issued September 19, 1997, and shall be subject to the following specified conditions and
limitations:
I. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
Within 6 months of the issue date of this permit, the permittee shall develop and submit to the
Washington Regional Office a Closure Plan for the facility. This plan shall include, but will not
be limited to, the following items:
❑ Detailed information about the chemical composition of all sludge on site (in lagoons,
drying bed and WWTP),
o The level of chemical contamination of all treatment units,
❑ The method to be used for removal and disposal of all sludge,
❑ The method to be used for equipment decontamination and the disposal of any waste
produced by this,
❑ The method to be used for disposal of the tertiary sand filter,
❑ The method to be used for the disposal of any contaminated carbon, and
❑ The method to be used for the disposal of any contaminated equipment and materials not
elsewhere described.
2. The Permittee shall notify the Division of any ownership transfer or when wastewater activities
cease.
3. The spray irrigation facilities shall be effectively maintained and operated at all times so that there
is no discharge to the surface waters, nor any contamination of ground waters which will render
them unsatisfactory for normal use- In the -event that -the facilities fail to perform satisfactorily,
including the creation of nuisance conditions or failure of the irrigation area to adequately
assimilate the wastewater, the Permittee shall take immediate corrective actions including those
actions that may be required by the Division of Water Quality (Division), such as the construction
of additional or replacement wastewater treatment and disposal facilities.
4. The issuance of this permit shall not relieve the Permittee of the responsibility for damages to
surface or groundwaters resulting from the operation of this facility.
5. The residuals generated from these treatment facilities must be disposed in accordance with
General Statute 143-215.1 and in a manner approved by the Division.
6. Diversion or bypassing of the untreated wastewater from the treatment facilities is prohibited.
7. The following buffers shall be maintained:
a) 400 feet between wetted area and any residence or places of public assembly under separate
ownership,
b) 150 feet between wetted area and property lines,
c) 100 feet between wetted area and wells,
d) 100 feet between wetted area and drainageways or surface water bodies,
e) 50 feet between wetted area and public right of ways,
f) 100 feet between wastewater treatment units and wells, and
g) 50 feet between wastewater treatment units and property lines.
Some of the buffers specified above may not have been included in previous permits for this waste
treatment and disposal system. These buffers are not intended to prohibit or prevent
modifications, which are required by the Division, to improve performance of the existing
treatment facility. These buffers do, however, apply to modifications of the treatment and disposal
facilities which are for the purpose of increasing the flow that is tributary to the facility. These
buffers do apply to any expansion or modification of the spray irrigation areas and apply in
instances in which the sale of property would cause any of the buffers now complied with, for the
treatment and disposal facilities, to be violated. The applicant is advised that any modifications to
the existing facilities will require a permit modification.
II. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS
The facilities shall be properly maintained and operated at all times.
2. Upon classification of the facility by the Water Pollution Control System Operators Certification
Commission (WPCSOCC), the Permittee shall employ a certified wastewater treatment plant
operator to be in responsible charge (ORC) of the wastewater treatment facilities. The operator
must hold a certificate of the type and grade at least equivalent to or greater than the classification
assigned to the wastewater treatment facilities by the WPCSOCC. The Permittee must also
employ a certified back-up operator of the appropriate type and grade to comply with the
conditions of 15A NCAC 8G .0202. The ORC of the facility must visit each Class I facility at
least weekly and each Class II, III, and IV facility at least daily, excluding weekends and holidays,
and must properly manage and document daily operation and maintenance of the facility and must
comply with all other conditions of 15A NCAC 8G .0202.
PA
3. A suitable year round vegetative cover shall be maintained in accordance with the crop
management plan outlined by the local extension office of the Department of Agriculture, the
Natural Resource Conservation Service or other agronomist and approved by the Division.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Irrigation shall not be performed during inclement weather or when the ground is in a condition
that will cause runoff.- - —
Adequate measures shall be taken to prevent wastewater runoff from the spray field.
The facilities shall be effectively maintained and operated as a non -discharge system to prevent
the discharge of any wastewater resulting from the operation of this facility.
The application rate shall not exceed a cumulative loading of 62.4 inches over any twelve (12)
month period at an instantaneous application rate that does not cause runoff.
No type of wastewater other than that from the AgrEvo Research Center shall be sprayed onto the
irrigation area.
No traffic or equipment shall be allowed on the disposal area except while installation occurs or
while normal maintenance is being performed.
10. Freeboard in the lagoons shall not be less than two feet at any time
11. Public access to the land application sites shall be controlled during active site use. Such controls
may include the posting of signs showing the activities being conducted at each site.
12. Specific residual application area boundaries shall be clearly marked on each site prior to and
during application.
13. No residuals shall, at any time, be stored at any application site unless approval has been requested
and obtained by the Division.
14. An acceptable pH must be maintained in the soil, residual and lime mixture, greater than 6.0, on
all land application sites in order to insure optimum crop yields. The agronomist shall provide
information on the pH best suited for each crop grown and each soil type.
15. The lifetime heavy metal loadings shall not exceed the following for the corresponding Cation
Exchange Capacities (CEC):
3
Lifetime Loadings
albs/acre)
Parameter
CEC<5
CEC 5-15
CEC>15
Lead
500
1000
2000
Zinc
250
500
1000
Copper
125
250
500
Nickel
125
250
5000
Cadmium
4.5
9
18
3
16. Adequate procedures shall be provided to prevent surface runoff from carrying any disposed or
stored residuals into any surface waters.
17. Surface applied residuals will be plowed or disced within twenty-four (24) hours after application
on lands with no cover crop established.
18. For areas prone to flooding or within the 100 -year floodplain elevation, residuals may be applied
only during periods of dry weather. The residuals must be incorporated into the -soil within
twenty-four (24) hours after application.
19. Appropriate measures must be taken to control public access to the land application sites during
active use and for the 12 -month period following the last residual application event. Such controls
may include the posting of signs indicating the activities being conducted at each site.
20. Adequate provisions shall be taken to prevent wind erosion and surface runoff from conveying
pollutants from the residuals application area onto the adjacent property or into any surface waters.
21. Residuals shall not be applied in inclement weathef or until 24 hours following a rainfall event of
'/z inch or greater in 24 hours. Any emergency residuals disposal measures must first be approved
by the Division.
22. Residuals shall not be applied to any land application site that is frozen, flooded or snow-covered.
23. Residuals shall not be applied at rates greater than agronomic rates, unless authorized by the
Division.
24. Animals shall not be grazed on an application site for 30 days after residuals application.
Application sites that are to be used for grazing shall have fencing that will be used to prevent
access after each application.
25. Food crops, feed crops and fiber crops that do not, come in contact with the residuals shall not be
harvested for 30 days after residuals application.
26. Food crops with harvested parts that touch the residual/soil mixture and are totally above the land
surface (ex. Tobacco, melons, cucumbers, squash, etc.) shall not be harvested for 14 months after
residuals application.
27. Food crops with harvested parts below the land surface (root crops such as potatoes, carrots,
radishes, etc.) shall not be harvested for 20 months after residuals application when the residuals
remain on the land surface for four (4) months or 1pnger prior to incorporation in the soil.
28. Food crops with harvested parts below the land surface shall not be harvested for 38 months after
residuals application when the residuals remain on the land surface for less than four (4) months
prior to incorporation in the soil.
29. Turf shall not be harvested for 1 year after residuals application if the turf is to be placed on land
with a high potential for public exposure.
M. MONITORING AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
1. Any monitoring (including groundwater, surface' water, soil or plant tissue analyses) deemed
Apt"necessary by the Division to insure surface and ground water protection will be established and an
acceptable sampling reporting schedule shall be followed.
4
F?
3
Adequate records shall be maintained by the Permittee tracking the amount of wastewater
disposed. These records shall include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following
information:
a. date of wastewater irrigation and/or residuals application,
b. volume of wastewater irrigated -or residuals applied,—
c. field irrigated or residuals applied to,
d. length of time field is irrigated, -
e. continuous weekly, monthly, and year-to-date hydraulic (inches/acre) loadings for each field,
f. weather conditions,
g. maintenance of cover crops,
h. type of crops to be grown on field and any type of maintenance to the crops, and
i. annual and cumulative totals of dry tons/acre of residuals, annual and cumulative pounds/acre
of each heavy metal (which shall include, but not be limited to, cadmium, copper, lead, nickel
and zinc), annual pounds/acre of plant available nitrogen (PAN), and annual pounds/acre of
phosphorus applied to each field.
The effluent from the subject facilities shall be monitored by the Permittee at the point prior to
irrigation every February, June and September for the following parameters:
BODS
TSS
Fecal Coliform
pH
NH3 as N -
Sodium
Magnesium
Calcium
Sodium Adsorption Ratio by Calculation
4. A representative annual soils analysis (Standard Soil Fertility Analysis) shall be conducted on
each site receiving residuals in the respective calendar year and the results maintained on file by
the Permittee for a minimum of five years. The Standard Soil Fertility Analysis shall include, but
is not necessarily limited to, the following parameters:
Acidity Manganese Potassium
Calcium Percent Humic Matter Sodium
Copper pH Zinc
Magnesium Phosphorus
Base Saturation (by calculation)
Cation Exchange Capacity
The Standard Soil fertility Analysis (see above) and an analysis for each of the following
pollutants shall be conducted once prior to permit renewal on soils from each site which has
received residuals during the permit cycle.
Cadmium
Lead
5
Nickel
A residuals analysis will be conducted annually from the date of permit issuance by the Permittee
and the results maintained on file by the Permittee for a minimum of five years. If land
application occurs at a frequency less than annually, a residuals analysis will be required for each
instance of land application. The residuals analysis shall include but is not necessarily limited to
the following parameters:
Arsenic
Cadmium
Copper
Lead
Mercury
Molybdenum
Nickel
Selenium
Zinc
Aluminum
Ammonia -Nitrogen
Nitrate -Nitrite Nitrogen
% Total Solids
pH
Phosphorus
Potassium
TKN
Calcium
Magnesium
Sodium
Selenium (1.0)
Plant Available Nitrogen (by calculation)
Toxaphene (0.5)
6. A Toxicity Characteristics Leaching Procedure (TCLP) analysis shall be conducted by the
Permittee annually. The TCLP analysis shall include the following parameters (please note the
regulatory level in mg/L in parentheses):
Arsenic (5.0)
Cadmium (1.0)
Chlorobenzene (100.0)
o -Cresol (200.0)
Cresol (200.0)
1,2-Dichloroethane (0.5)
Endrin (0.02)
Hexachlorobenzene (0.13)
Lead (5.0)
Methoxychlor (10.0)
Pentachlorophenol (100.0)
Silver (5.0)
Trichloroethylene (0.5)
2,4,5 -TP (Silvex) (1.0)
Barium (100.0)
Benzene (0.5)
Carbon tetrachloride (0.5)
Chlordane (0.03)
Chloroform (6.0)
Chromium (5.0)
m -Cresol (200.0)
p -Cresol (200.0)
2,4-D (10.0)
1,4 -Dichlorobenzene (7.5)
1,1-Dichloroethylene (0.7)
2,4-Dinitrotoluene (0.13)
Heptachlor (and its hydroxide) (0.008)
Hexachloro-1,3-butadiene (0.5)
Hexachloroethane (3.0)
Lindane (0.4)
Mercury (0.2)
Methyl ethyl ketone (200.0)
Nitrobenzene (2.0)
Pyridine (5.0)
Selenium (1.0)
Tetrachloroethylene (0.7)
Toxaphene (0.5)
2,4,5 -Trichlorophenol (400.0)
2,4,6 -Trichlorophenol (2.0)
Vinyl chloride (0.2)
Three (3) copies of all operation and disposal records (as specified in condition III 2) on Form
NDAR-1 shall be submitted on or before the last day of the following month. Three (3) copies of
all effluent monitoring data (as specified in condition III 3) on Form NDMR-1 shall be submitted
annually on or before March 1 of the following year. All information shall be submitted to the
following address:
NC Division of Water Quality
Water Quality Section
Non -Discharge Compliance/Enforcement Unit
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
Noncompliance Notification:
The Permittee shall report by telephone to the Washington Regional Office, telephone number
252-946-6481, as soon as possible, but in no case more than 24 hours or on the next working day
following the occurrence or first knowledge of the occurrence of any of the following:
--
a. Any occurrence at the wastewater treatment facility which results in the treatment of
significant amounts of wastes which are abnormal in quantity or characteristic, such as the
dumping of the contents of a sludge digester; the known passage of a slug of hazardous
substance through the facility; or any other unusual circumstances.
b. Any process unit failure, due to known or unknown reasons, that render the facility incapable
of adequate wastewater treatment such as mechanical or electrical failures of pumps, aerators,
compressors, etc.
c. Any failure of a pumping station, sewer line, or treatment facility resulting in a by-pass
directly to receiving waters without treatment of all or any portion of the influent to such
station or facility.
d. Any time that self-monitoring information indicates that the facility has gone out of
compliance with its permit limitations.
Persons reporting such occurrences by telephone shall also file a written report in letter form
within five (5) days following first knowledge of the occurrence. This report must outline the
actions taken or proposed to be taken to ensure that the problem does not recur.
IV. GROUNDWATER REQUIREMENTS
The two (2) existing monitor wells, MW -4 and MW -5, at the sprayfield and the two (2) existing
monitor wells, MW -1 and MW -2, at the land application of residuals site, shall be sampled every
February, June and September for the following parameters:
Water Level pH
Chloride Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)
Total Organic Carbon (TOC) Nitrate (NO3)
Total Ammonia Pesticides
Chloroform
The measurement of water levels must be made prior to sampling for the remaining parameters.
The depth to water in each well shall be measured from the surveyed point on the top of the
casing.
If TOC concentrations greater than 10 mg/1 are detected in any downgradient monitoring well,
additional sampling and analysis must be conducted to identify the individual constituents
comprising this TOC concentration. If the TOC concentration as measured in the background
monitor well exceeds 10 mg/l, this concentration will be taken to represent the naturally occurring
TOC concentration. Any exceedances of this naturally occurring TOC concentration in the
downgradient wells shall be subject to the additional sampling and analysis as described above.
The results of the sampling and analysis must be received on Form GW -59 (Groundwater Quality
Monitoring: Compliance Report Form) by the Groundwater Section, Permits and Compliance
Unit, 1636 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, N.C. 27699-1636 on or before the last working day of
the month following the sampling month.
2. Any additional groundwater quality monitoring, as deemed necessary by the Division, shall be
provided.
7
3. The COMPLIANCE BOUNDARY for the disposal system is specified by regulations in 15A
NCAC 2L, Groundwater Classifications and Standards. The Compliance Boundary for the
disposal system constructed prior to December 31, 1983 is established at either (1) 500 feet from
the waste dispo.:al area, or (2) at the property boundary, whichever is closest to the waste disposal
area. An exceedance of Groundwater Quality Standards at or beyond the Compliance Boundary is
subject to immediate remediatiorr- action --in addition to -the penalty provisions applicable under
General Statute 143-215.6A(a)(1).
In accordance with 15A NCAC 2L, a REVIEW BOUNDARY is established around the disposal
systems midway between the Compliance Boundary and the perimeter of the waste disposal area.
Any exceedance of standards at the Review Boundary shall require remediation action on the part
of the permittee.
V. INSPECTIONS
1. Adequate inspection, maintenance, and cleaning shall be provided by the Permittee to insure
proper operation of the subject facilities.
2. The Permittee or his designee shall inspect the wastewater treatment and disposal facilities to
prevent malfunctions and deterioration, operator errors and discharges which may cause or lead to
the release of wastes to the environment, a threat to human health, or a nuisance. The Permittee
shall keep an inspection log or summary including at least the date and time of inspection,
observations made, and any maintenance, repairs, or corrective actions taken by the Permittee.
This log of inspections shall be maintained by the Permittee for a period of three years from the
date of the inspection and shall be made available upon request to the Division or other permitting
authority.
3. Any duly authorized officer, employee, or representative of the Division may, upon presentation
of credentials, enter and inspect any property, premises or place on or related to the disposal site or
facility at any reasonable time for the purpose of determining compliance with this permit; may
inspect or copy any records that must be maintained under the terms and conditions of this permit,
and may obtain samples of groundwater, surface water, or leachate.
VI. GENERAL CONDITIONS
1. This permit shall become voidable unless the facilities are constructed in accordance with the
conditions of this permit, the approved plans and specifications, and other supporting data.
2. This permit is effective only with respect to the nature and volume of wastes described in the
application and other supporting data.
3. This permit is not transferable. In the event there is a desire for the facilities to change ownership,
or there is a name change of the Permittee, a formal permit request must be submitted to the
Division accompanied by an application fee, documentation from the parties involved, and other
supporting materials as may be appropriate. The approval of this request will be considered on its
merits and may or may not be approved.
4. Failure to abide by the conditions and limitations contained in this permit may subject the
Permittee to an enforcement action by the Division in accordance with North Carolina General
Statute 143-215.6A to 143-215.6C.
5. The issuance of this permit does not preclude the Permittee from complying with any and all
statutes, rules, regulations, or ordinances which may be imposed by other government agencies
(local, state, and federal) which have jurisdiction.
6. A set of approved plans and specifications for the subject project must be retained by the Permittee
for the life of the project.
7. The annual administering and compliance fee must be paid by the Permittee within thirty (30)
days after being billed by the Division. Failure to pay the fee accordingly may cause the Division
- to initiate action to revoke this pertrtit as specified by 15-A NCAC 2H .0205 (c)(4).
8. The Permittee, at least six (6) months prior to the expiration of this permit, shall -request its
extension. Upon receipt of the request, the Commission will review the adequacy of the facilities
described therein, and if warranted, will extend the permit for such period of time and under such
conditions and limitations, as it may deem appropriate.
Permit issued this tho9th day of January 2000
NORTH
AL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
Kerr T. Stevens, Director
Division of Water Quality
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
Permit Number WQ0000426
9