WQ0000520_Final Permit_19891103

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State of North Carolina
Department. of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources
Division of Environmental Management
512 NoAh Salisbury Street • Raleigh, North Carolina 27611
.lames G. Martin, Governor
William W. Cobey, Jr., Secretary
November 3, 1989
Mr. William R. Baker
City Manager
City of Burlington
P. O. Box 1358
Burlington, North Carolina 27216
Subject: Permit No. WQ0000520
Amendment
City of Burlington
Land Application of Sludge
Alamance County
Dear Mr. Baker:
R. Paul Wilms
Director
In accordance with your request for permit amendment received June 9, 1989, we are
forwarding herewith Permit No. WQ0000520 as amended, dated November 3, 1989, to the City
of Burlington for the operation of the subject land application of sludge program.
Please be advised that condition 13 was revised, conditions 22 and 23 combined, and the
Holt farm eliminated from this permit, since it is no longer an active site, in accordance with your
request. However, please reference condition 48 which requires the existing wells on the Holt
farm to be abandoned. The Division does not concur with the request to delete condition 37
requiring that no application of sludge be conducted where the depth to the seasonal high water
table is less than three (3) feet and therefore, it is included in this amendment. In addition, please
be advised that conditions 3, 8, 16, 20, and 48 have been modified, and conditions 50 through 55
have been added in accordance with new procedures.
This permit shall be effective from the date of issuance until March 31, 1994, and shall be
subject to the conditions and limitations as specified therein. Issuance of this permit hereby
supersedes Permit No. WQ0000520 issued April 5, 1989.
If any parts, requirements, or limitations contained in this permit amendment are
unacceptable to you, you have the right to request an adjudicatory hearing upon written request
within 30 days following receipt of this permit. This request must be in the form of a written
petition, conforming to Chapter 150B of North Carolina General Statutes, and filed with the Office
of Administrative Hearings, P.O. Box 11666, Raleigh, NC 27604. Unless such demands are
made this permit shall be final and binding.
Pollution Prevention Pays
F.O. Box 27687, Raleigh, North Carolina 27611-7697 'Telephone [phone]
An Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer

If you need additional information concerning this matter, please contact Ms. Carolyn
McCaskill at 919/ 733-5083, extension 540.
Sincerely,
R. Paul Wilms
cc: Alamance County Health Department
Winston Salem Regional Office
Bill Reid, Groundwater Section
AMSCO, Inc.

NORTH CAROLINA
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH, AND NATURAL RESOURCES
RALEIGH
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
City of Burlington
Alamance County
FOR THE
operation of a sludge land application program for the disposal of sludge from the City of
Burlington's Wastewater Treatment Plants onto agricultural lands identified in Condition No. 31 of
this permit with no discharge to the surface waters of this State, pursuant to the applications
received July 5, 1988, September 16, 1988, and the request for amendment received June 9, 1989
and in conformity with the project plan, specifications, and other supporting data subsequently filed
and approved by the Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources and considered a
part of this permit.
This permit shall be effective from the date of issuance until March 31, 1994, and shall be
subject to the following specified conditions and limitations:
1. This permit is effective only with respect to the nature and volume of wastes described in
the application and other supporting data.
2. The facilities shall be properly maintained and operated at all tunes.
3. This permit is not transferable. In the event there is a desire for the facilities tc
change ownership or a name change of the Permittee, a formal permit request must
be submitted to the Division of Environmental Management 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. Issuance of this permit hereby supersedes Permit No. WQ0000520 issued April 5,
1989.
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5. This permit shall become voidable in the event of failure of the soil to adequately absorb
the wastes and may be rescinded unless the facilities are operated and maintained in a
manner which will protect the assigned water quality standards of the surface and
ground waters.
6. Any monitoring deemed necessary by the Division of Environmental Management to
ensure surface and ground waters' protection will be established and an acceptable
sampling reporting schedule shall be followed.
7. The land application sites 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 unsatisfactorily for normal use.
8. In the event that the land application program. is not operated satisfactorily, including the
creation of nuisance conditions, the Permittee shall cease applying sludge to the sites and
take any immediate corrective actions, including the construction of additional or
replacement wastewater treatment or disposal facilities.
9. A suitable year round vegetative cover as identified in the approved documents shall be
maintained.
10. 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.
11. Diversion or bypassing of the sludge from the application sites is prohibited.
12. The application rates shall not exceed:
CROP PAN (pounds/acre)
Corn
180
Grain
100
Soybeans
150
Sudan Grass
180
Fescue/Hay/Pasture
150
13. The lifetime heavy metal loadings shall not exceed the following for the corresponding
Cation Exchange Capacities (CEC):
Parameter CEC < 5
Lead (lbs/acre)
500
Zinc (lbs/acre)
250
Copper (lbs/acre)
125
Nickel (lbs/acre)
125
Cadmium (lbs/acre)
4.5
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14. Adequate facilities shall be provided to prevent surface runoff from carrying any
disposed or stored material into any surface waters.
15. The issuance of this permit shall not relieve the Permittee of the responsibility for
damages to surface or ground waters resulting from the operation of this facility.
16. The land application program shall be effectively maintained and operated as a
non -discharge system to prevent the discharge of any waste resulting from the operation of
this program.
17. No type of sludge other than primary and secondary sludge from the City of Burlington's
Wastewater Treatment Plants shall be placed on the land application disposal sites.
18. Adequate provisions shall be taken to prevent wind erosion and surface runoff from
conveying pollutants from the sludge application area onto the adjacent property or into
the surface waters.
19. Sludge shall not be applied in inclement weather or until 24 hours following a rainfall
event of 1/2 -inch or greater in 24 hours. Emergency sludge disposal measures shall be
approved by the Division of Environmental Management.
20. The site shall be adequately limed to a soil pH of 6.5 prior to sludge application . Sludge
may be applied to sites with a pH of less than 6.5 provided a sufficient amount of lime is
also applied to achieve a final pH of the lime, sludge and soil mixture of at least 6.5.
21. No crops for direct human consumption shall be raised on these sites for a period of 18
months following sludge application.
22. Maximum slope for sludge application shall be 10% for surface application and 18% for
subsurface application.
23. No liquid sludge shall be surface applied within a 100 -foot buffer zone of any water
course or surface drainage area.
24. No liquid sludge shall be applied by subsurface injection within a 25 -foot buffer zone of
any water course or surface drainage area.
25. In any future transfer of the land permitted for land application of sludge, a notice shall
be given to the new owner that gives full details of the materials applied or incorporated
at this site, the land owner agreements amended and the permit amended to reflect this
change in ownership.
26. A 50 -foot buffer shall be maintained between drainageways, a 100 -foot buffer shall be
maintained between each landowners property lines, and a 400 -foot buffer shall be
maintained between any residence and any applied sludge.
27. A recorded log of sludge applications including amounts applied, dates, method of
application, and site location shall be maintained by the Permittee as a permanent
record. These records shall be available upon request to representatives of the
Division.

28. Animals should not be grazed on sludge applied land within a 30 day period following the
sludge application. Application sites that are to be used for grazing shall have fencing
that will be used to prevent access during the 30 day period after each application.
29. Surface applied sludge will be plowed or incorporated in immediately after applicat'.o-1
on lands with no cover crop established.
30. Public access to the land application sites shall be controlled during active site use and
for the 12 month period following the land application event.
31. No sludges other than the following are hereby approved for land application in accordance
with this pen -nit:
FARM FIELDS
Ellington Farm
1
Covington Route 119 Farm
2,3
Covington Sykes Road Farm
1, 2, 3
Carson -Ingle Farre
2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 13
James Lamm. Farm
1, 2, 6, 9
Judge Sharpe Farm
1
Coble Farms
3
Wilson Property
1
Covington Property
1
Bradshaw Property
1, 3*, 4*, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10*
Williamson Property
2, 3, 4, (excluding central lowland), 5, 6
Massey Farm
1, 2, 3
Ophelia Needham Farm
3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Kermit Ingle Farm.
Kathleen Tinnan Farm
1, 2*, 3*, 4, 7, 9*, 11
1, 2, 3,
David Isley
2,3
Howard Cates Farm
1, 2, 3, 5, 5B**, 6, 7, 8, 9
Leonard Hall Farm
2
Gwyn/Atkins
1, 2, 3*, 4*, 6*, 10, 11
Rufus Dale Farm
1, 2, 3
Foust Property
1, 2, 3, 4
J. A. Hill Farm
2, 3, 4, 5**, 7**, 8**
C. M. Ivey Farm
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13***
Lena Means Farm
1, 2, 3
Richard Bowling
3
Raymond Montgomery
1
Murray Lynch Farm
3,4
* Due to the presence of massive clays, sludge application on these fields is limited to
one-half the application rate listed in condition number 12.
** No sludge shall be applied to these sites from November through April due to massive
clays at shallow depths.
*** No sludge shall be applied in the 100 -year flood plain.
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32. This permit allows the application of sludge up to the property lines of certain fields
identified below.
a) A portion of field no. I of the James Lama; Farm which is bordered by the T. Vaughn
Willoughby property;
b) A portion of field no. 2 of the James Lamm Farm which is bordered by the Joe
Lindley property;
c) A portion of field no. 9 of the James Lamm Farm which is bordered by the Kathleen
Tinnan property.
33. The Ivey farm, field numbers 1,7, and 8; the Dale farm, field numbers 4 and 5; and the
Lynch farm, field numbers 1 and 2 have been withdrawn from consideration due to
buffer restrictions, and are therefore, not included in this permit.
34. Due to the presence of a seasonal high water table at a depth of 1.5 feet or less, below
land surface, the Bowling farm, field numbers 1 and 2, are eliminated and cannot be
utilized for land application and are therefore, not included in this permit.
35. Due to unsuitable soils on the Hill farm, field number 1, it cannot be utilized for land
application and therefore, is not included in this permit.
36. The results of the Phosphorus absorption study submitted August 7, 1989 will be
reviewed. If the results of this study indicate the loading rates should be changed, the
Division shall have the right to request this permit be amended to reflect these changes.
37. No application of sludge shall be conducted where the depth to the seasonal high water
table is less than three (3) feet.
38. The owner of the disposal site shall be furnished an analysis of the sludge delivered to the
site, annually.
39. Sludge shall be uniformly applied to avoid runoff, ponding, or erosion.
40. The Permittee shall contact the Winston-Salem Regional Office to obtain the proper
forms and assistance in maintaining proper records and submitting reports.
41. If any nuisance condition arise concerning this land application system including the
transportation, storage, application or creation of an odor problem, the Permittee shall
terminate sludge disposal immediately after notification by the Division of
Environmental Management.
42. Analysis of sludge for zinc, copper, chromium, and aluminum shall be conducted
quarterly. The information shall be submitted to the Division's Winston-Salem Regional
Office and appropriate changes made in the sludge application rates as needed.

43. A complete sludge analysis shall be conducted annually, results submitted to the
Winston-Salem Regional Office, and appropriate changes made to the sludge land
application operation and management as needed.
44. A complete soil analysis shall be conducted annually on those areas receiving sludge, the
results submitted to the Winston-Salem Regional Office, and appropriate changes made to
the sludge land application operation and management as needed.
45. No sludge shall be land applied within 100 feet of rock outcrops.
46. The hydraulic rate of application shall be limited to 1-inch/ac/wk to minimize runoff.
47. The three (3) existing monitor wells located on Field #8 of the Ophelia property, shall be
sampled every March, July, and November for the following parameters:
NO3 (10.0) pH (6.5-8.5 standard units)
Ammonia Nitrogen Chloride (250.0)
TDS (500.0) TOX (in November only)
Total Coliforms (1/100m1) Water Level
TOC
The measurement of water level must be made prior to sampling for the remaining
parameters.
The numbers in parentheses represent the maximum allowable concentrations in
groundwater for the various analytical parameters, as specified in 15 NCAC ZL
[Groundwater Classifications and Standards]. Unless otherwise noted, the concentrations
are given in parts per million.
The analytical methods used for TOX must be capable of detecting the total of all
halogenated organic compounds present at a concentration of 5.0 parts per billion (ppb) or
greater. In the event that a TOX concentration of 5.0 ppb or greater is detected, any
individual halogenated organic compound(s) present at a concentration at or above the
method detection 'limit (MDL) must be identified and quantified utilizing EPA methods
601, 602, 604, and 611.
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 shall be sent to the N.C. Division of
Environmental Management on Form GW -59 (Compliance Monitoring Report Form) every
April, August, and December.

The Compliance Boundary delineated on the attached site plan for the disposal system is
specified by regulations in 15 NCAC 2L, Classifications and Water Quality Standards
applicable to the groundwater of North Carolina. An exceedance of Groundwater Quality
Standards beyond the Compliance Boundary is subject to penalty provisions applicable
under General Statute 143-215.6(1)a. The sale of property, by the Permittee, which is
within or contiguous to the disposal system site may alter location of the Compliance
Boundary. '
For facilities permitted on or after December 30, 1983., the Compliance Boundary is
established at the lesser of 250 feet from the sludge disposal area, or 50 feet within the
property boundary..
If the title to any property which may affect the location of the Compliance Boundary is
changed, the permittee shall notify the Division Director within 14 days. The Director shall
then establish a modified Compliance Boundary which will be done as a modification to the
Permit.
The REVIEW BOUNDARY for the disposal system is specified by regulations in 15
NCAC 2L, Groundwater Classifications and Standards. A REVIEW BOUNDARY is
established around disposal systems midway between the Compliance Boundary and the
perimeter of the waste disposal area. When the concentration of any substance equals or
exceeds the maximum allowable concentration of that substance at the REVIEW
BOUNDARY, as determined by monitoring, the permittee shall either (i) demonstrate,
through predictive calculations or modeling, that natural site conditions, facility design and
operational controls will prevent a violation of standards at the Compliance Boundary; or,
(ii) submit a plan for the alteration of existing site conditions, facility design or operational
controls that will prevent a violation of standards at the Compliance Boundary, and
implement that plan upon its approval by the Director.
48. The six (6) monitor wells located on field numbers 2 and 3 of the Holt farm shall be
properly abandoned according to regulations in 15 NCAC 2C (Well Construction
Standards).
49. Dairy cattle shall not be grazed on the land application sites within 30 days of
application.
50. A copy of this permit shall be kept in all sludge transport and disposal vehicles
during the life of this project.
51. All sludges included in this permit must be stabilized by a process to significantly
reduce pathogens (as described in 40 CFR Part 257, Appendix II) prior to
application or incorporation. An evaluation of all sludges as specified in condition
11 13 must be conducted as to their ability to demonstrate compliance with this
requirement. A copy of this report must be submitted to Mr. Dennis Ramsey,
Division of Environmental Management, Water Quality Section, Operations Branch,
PO Box 27687, Raleigh, NC 27611-7687, on or before January 1, 1990.
52. Specific sludge application area boundaries shall be clearly marked on each site prior
to and during sludge application.

53. No sludge at any time shall be stored at any application site.
54. The Permittee shall report by telephone to the Winston Salem Regional Office
telephone no. 919/761-2351, 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 with the land application program' which results in the
land application of significant amounts of wastes which are abnormal in
quantity or characteristic.
b. Any failure of the land application program resulting in a discharge of
wastes to receiving waters.
c. Any time that self-monitoring information indicates that the facility has
gone out of compliance with the conditions and limitations of this pc=it
or the parameters on which the system was designed.
d. Any process unit failure, due to known or unknown reasons, that render
the facility incapable of adequate sludge treatment.
Persons reporting such occurrences by telephone shall also file a written report in
letter form within 15 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 reoccur.
55. This permit may be modified, or revoked and reissued to incorporate any conditions,
limitations and monitoring requirements the Division of Environmental Management deems
necessary in order to adequately protect the environment and public health.
Permit issued this the 3rd day of November, 1989
NORTH CAROLINA ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
R. Paul Wilms, Direr<t
Division of EnvironmerALManagement
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
Permit No. WQ0000520
Amendment