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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWQ0003824_Final Permit_19901026State of North Carolina Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources Division of Environmental Management 512 North Salisbury Street • Raleigh, North Carolina 2761 James G. Martin, Governor William W. Cobey, Jr., Secretary Mr. Ray Fogleman, City Manager City of Graham Post Office Drawer 357 Graham, North Carolina 27253 Dear Mr. Fogleman: George T. Everett, Ph.D. Director October 26, 1990 Subject: Permit No. WQ0003824 City of Graham Land Application of Sludge Alamance County In accordance with your application received July 9, 1990, we are forwarding herewith Permit No. WQ0003824, dated October 26, 1990, to City of Graham for the operation of a land application of sludge program. This permit shall be effective from the date of issuance until September 30, 1995, 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. Issuance of this permit hereby voids Permit No. 6112R issued December 30, 1985. If any parts, requirements, or limitations contained in this permit 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 fled 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. If you need additional information concerning this matter, please contact Mr. John Seymour. at 919/ 733-5083. Sincerely, J George T. cc: Alamance County Health Department W.M. Piatt Winston-Salem Regional Office Groundwater Section Training and Certification Pollution Prevention Pays P.O. Box 27687, Raleigh, North Carolina 27611-7687 Telephone 919-733-7015 An Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer NORTH CAROLINA ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH AND NATURAL RESOURCES RALEIGH SLUDGE LAND APPLICATION 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 Graham Alamance County FOR THE operation of a sludge land application program consisting of the land application of sludge from the City of Graham's Wastewater treatment Plant to Iands identified in condition VI.6 of this permit with no discharge of wastes to the surface waters, pursuant to the application received July 9, 1990 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 September 30, 1995, and shall be subject to the following specified conditions and limitations - PERFORMANCE STANDARDS This permit shall become voidable if the soils fail to adequately absorb the wastes and may be rescinded unless the sites are maintained and operated in a manner which will protect the assigned water quality standards of the surface waters and ground waters. 2. The land application program shall be effectively maintained and operated as a non -discharge system to prevent the discharge of any wastes resulting from the operation of this program. 3. 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. 4. 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. 5. No crops for direct human consumption shall be raised on these sites for a period of 18 months following sludge application. 6. Maximum slope for sludge application shall be 10% for surface application and 18% for subsurface applications. 7 _ The following buffers zones shall be maintained: a) 400 feet from residences under separate ownership for surface application method, however the buffer zone requirement may be reduced to a minimum of 100 feet upon written consent of the owner. b) 200 feet from residences under separate ownership for injection method, however the buffer zone requirement may be reduced to a minimum of 100 feet upon written consent of the owner. c) 100 feet from "SA and SB" classified waters and public surface water supplies for both methods, d) 50 feet from "WS" classified waters and other streams, creeks, lakes, rivers, and surface water drainage ways for injection method. e) 100 feet from "WS" classified waters and other streams, creeks, lakes, rivers and surface water drainage ways for surface application method, f) 100 feet from property lines for both methods, g) 50 feet from public right of ways for surface application methods, h) 25 feet from public right of ways for subsurface disposal methods, i) 10 feet from upslope interceptor drains and surface water diversions for both methods, j) 25 feet from downslope interceptor drains, surface water diversions, groundwater drainage systems and surface drainage ditches for both methods. 8. A copy of this permit shall be kept at the land application site when sludge is being applied during the life of this permit. A spill prevention and control plan shall be kept in all sludge transport and application vehicles. 9. 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 II 4 must be conducted as to their ability to demonstrate compliance with this requirement. A copy of this report must be submitted to the Assistant Chief for Operations, Division of Environmental Management, Water Quality Section, Operations Branch, PO Box 27687, Raleigh, NC 27611-7687, within six (6) months of the permit issue date. 10. Specific sludge application area boundaries shall be clearly marked on each site prior to and during sludge application. 11. No sludge at any time shall be stored at any application site. IT. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE RE UIREMENT 1. The facilities and disposal sites shall be properly maintained and operated at all times. 2. A suitable vegetative cover as listed in condition II 3, shall be maintained in accordance with the crop management plan approved by this Division. 2 The application rates shall not exceed the following for the specified crops: El 5 ro s PAN (lbs/acre/year} Wheat (small grain) 100 Barley (small grain) 100 Milo (small grain) 100 Oats (small grain) 100 Soybeans 150 Corn (silage and grain) 200 Alfalfa 250 Sorghum 120 Sudex (silage) 200 Sudex (hay) 160 Fescue grass 250 Timothy grass 200 Orchard grass 200 Rye grass 200 Blue grass 220 Coastal Bermuda grass 350 Cotton 100 Forest areas (hard and soft woods) 75 No sludges other than the following are hereby approved for land application in accordance with this permit: Source City of Graham WWTP Permit Estimate County Number Volume dU tons/year) Alamance NC0021211 48.7 The lifetime heavy metal loadings shall not exceed the following for the corresponding Cation Exchange Capacities (CEC): PArameter CEC 5-15 Lead (lbs/acre) 1000 Zinc (lbs/acre) 500 Copper (lbs/acre) 250 Nickel (Ibs/acre) 250 Cadmium (lbs/acre) 9 b. The Permittee shall employ a certified wastewater treatment plant operator to be in responsible charge of the land application operation. The operator must hold a certificate of the grade at least equivalent to the classification assigned to the land application program by the Certification Commission. 7. Adequate procedures shall be provided to prevent surface runoff from carrying any disposed or stored sludge material into any surface waters. 8. Animals shall 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 after each application. 9. Surface applied sludge will be plowed or disced within twenty-four (24) hours after application on lands with no cover crop established. 3 10. For areas that are prone to flooding or within the 100-year flood elevation, sludge may be applied only during periods of dry weather. The sludge must be incorporated into the soil within twenty-four (24) hours of application_ 1 1. Appropriate measures must be taken to control public access to the land application sites during active site use and for the 12-month period following the last sludge application event. Such controls may include the posting of signs indicating the activities being conducted at each site. 12. 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. 13. 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. Any emergency sludge disposal measures must first be approved by the Division of Environmental Management. 14. The site shall be adequately limed to a soil pH of at least 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. 111. MONITORING AND REPORTING REOUIREMENTS Any monitoring (including groundwater, surface water, sludge, soil, or plant tissue analyses) deemed necessary by the Division of Environmental Management to insure protection of the environment will be established and an acceptable sampling and reporting schedule shall be followed. If monitoring data indicates minimal or no concern to the Division, reduction of monitoring requirements may be pursued after two annual reporting periods. 2. Proper records shall be maintained by the Permittee tracking all disposal activities. These records shall include, but are not necessarily limited to the following information: a) source of sludge b) date of sludge application c) location of sludge application (site, field, or zone #) d) method of application e) weather conditions f) soil conditions g) type of crop or crop to be grown on field h) volume of sludge applied in gaIlons/acre and dry tons/acre i) annual and cumulative totals of dry tons/acre of sludge, annual and cumulative pounds/acre of each heavy metal (which shall include, but not be limited to lead,nickel, cadmium, copper and zinc), annual pounds/acre of plant available nitrogen (PAN), and annual pounds/acre of phosphorus applied to each field. 3 _ A complete soils analysis shall be conducted in March and the results submitted to the Winston-Salem Regional Office, and appropriate changes made to the sludge land application operation and management as needed. Fil 4. A representative annual soils analysis shall be conducted of each site receiving sludge in the respective calendar year and the results maintained on file by the Permittee for a minimum of five years. The soils analysis shall include but is not necessarily limited to the following parameters: Standard Soil Fertility Test % Base Saturation Phosphorus Potassium Lead Zinc Magnesium pH Manganese Cation Exchange Capacity Sodium Nickel Cadmium Copper Calcium 4. A quarterly sludge analysis and annual Toxicity Characteristics Leaching Procedure (TCLP) analysis shall be conducted 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 quarterly, sludge analysis will be required for each instance of land application. The sludge analysis shall include but is not necessarily limited to the following parameters: % total solids Magnesium Chlorides Sulfate Phosphorus Potassium Lead Zinc Copper Nickel Cadmium Chromium Sodium Calcium Total Nitrogen Ammonia Nitrogen Nitrate/Nitrite Nitrogen pH Plant Available Nitrogen (by calculation) The TCLP analysis shall include the following parameters: Arsenic Barium Benzene Cadmium Carbon tetrachloride Chlordane Chlorobenzene Chloroform Chromium o-Cresol m-Cresol p-Cresol Cresol 2,4-D 1,4-Dichlorobenzene 1,2-Dichloroethane 1,1-Dichloroethylene 2,4-Dinitrotoluene Endrin Heptachlor (and its hydroxide) HexachIorobenzene Hexachloro- 1,3-butadiene Hexachloroethane Lead Lindane Mercury Methoxychlor Methyl ethyl ketone Nitrobenzene Pentachlorophenol Pyridine Selenium Silver Tetrachloroethylene Toxaphene Trichloroethylene 2,4,5-Trichlorophenol 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol 2,4,5-TP (Silvex) Vinyl chloride 5. Analysis of sludge for zinc and copper shall be conducted every March, June, September and December. The information shall be submitted to the Division"s Winston-Salem Regional Office every April, July, October and January, and appropriate changes made in the sludge application rates as needed. 5 6. A complete sludge analysis shall be conducted in March and the results submitted to the Winston-Salem Regional Office every April and appropriate changes made to the sludge land application operation and management as needed. 7. Three copies of all monitoring and reporting requirements as specified in conditions 111 1, 1112,1113 and 1114 shall be submitted annually on or before March 1 of the following year to the following address: • NC Division of EnvironmentaLManagement Water Quality Section Facility Assessment Unit PO Box 27687 Raleigh, NC 27611-7687 Noncompliance Notification: 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 release of sludge material 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 permit 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. e. Any spillage or discharge from a vehicle or piping system transporting sludge to the application site. 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 recur. IV. GRQUNDWATER RF_QUREMENTS 1, As quickly as possible two (2) new monitor wells, one (1) upgradient and one (1) downgradient, shall be shall be installed to monitor groundwater quality, the wells shall be constructed such that the water level in the well is never above or below the screened (open) portion of the well at any time during the year. However, the exact location and construction details for these wells shall be approved by the Winston-Salem Regional Office, from which a well construction permit must be obtained. R 2. The monitor wells must be sampled every March, July, and November for the following parameters: NO3 (10.0) Ammonia Nitrogen TDS (500.0) TOC pH (6.5-8.5 standard units) Chloride (250.0) Total Coliforms (1/100m1) SO4 (250.0) Water Level Volatile Organic Compounds - In November Only (By method 1 or 2 below) Method 1: Method 6230D (Capillary - Column), "Standard Methods For The Examination of Water and Wastewater", 17th ed., 1989 Method 2: Method 502.2 "Method For The Determination Of Organic Compounds In Drinking Water", U.S. EPA - 600/4-88/039 The measurement of water level must be made prior to sampling for the remaining parameters. The measuring points (top of well casing) of all new monitoring wells shall be surveyed relative to mean sea level (M.S.L.). The depth of water in each well shall be measured from the surveyed point on the top of the casing. The water level elevations shall then be determined relative to M.S.L.. The numbers in parentheses represent the maximum allowable concentrations in groundwater for the various analytical parameters, as specified in 15 NCAC 2L [Groundwater Classifications and Standards]. Unless otherwise noted, the concentrations are given in parts per million. 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. If any volatile organic compounds are detected by method 6230D, or the equivalent method 502.2, then EPA methods 604 and 611 must also be run to detect other organic compounds which may be present. The results of all analyses specified in the monitoring requirements, including 604 and 611 if required, must be submitted simultaneously. 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. 3. The Compliance Boundary 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. 7 For facilities permitted on or after December 30, 1983, the Compliance Boundary is established at the lesser of 250 feet from the perimeter of the waste 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. 4. Any additional groundwater quality monitoring, as deemed necessary by the Division, shall be provided. V. INSPE TION 1. The Permittee or his designee shall inspect the sludge storage, transport, 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 by the Division of Environmental Management or other permitting authority. 2. Any duly authorized officer, employee, or representative of the Division of Environmental Management may, upon presentation of credentials, enter and inspect any property, premises or place on or related to the disposal site and facility at any reasonable time for the purpose of determining compliance with this permit; may inspect or copy any records that must be kept under the terms and conditions of this permit; or may obtain samples of groundwater, surface water, or leachate. VI. GENFERAL CONDMONS This permit shall become voidable unless the land application activities are carried out in accordance with the conditions of this permit and in the manner approved by this Division. 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 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. Prior to any transfer of this land, a notice shall be given to the new owner that gives full details of the materials applied or incorporated at this site. 5. This permit shall become voidable unless the agreements between the Permittee and the landowners/lessees are in full force and effect. _ 6. The following are approved sites for sludge application (see attached map): Site No. 4wner/Lessee Application Area (excluding buffers) acres I City of Graham 15.2 2 City of Graham 12 A -'• 3 City of Graham 6.8 4 City of Graham 8.8 5 City of Graham 10.4 6 City of Graham 12.0 7 City of Graham U Total 74.4 Fields 1, 4, 5, 6, and 7 were reported as being overtaken by weeds. A consistent and acceptable cover crop shall be maintained in order to properly control and monitor nutrients, metals and PAN levels. 7. Failure to abide by the conditions and limitations contained in this permit may subject the Permittee to an enforcement action by the Division of Environmental Management in accordance with North Carolina General Statute 143-215.6. 8. 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 revolve this permit as specified by 15 NCAC 21-1.0205 (c)(4). 9. 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. 10. A set of approved documents for the subject project must be retained by the applicant for the life of the permit. 11. 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. 9 12. 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. 13. Issuance of this permit hereby voids Permit No. 6112R issued December 30, 1985. Permit issued this the 26th day of October, 1990 NORTH CAROLINA ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION I George T. Event, Dire or Division of Environmey vial Management By Authority of the EnkoXnental Management Commission Permit No, WQ0003824 10 Z N lyi % N 1011 A7cq FfG -A r 11 X w ) If y M� 711 m 00, 7-- 1 649 j p I VI; if. i I I vi € " o. n I I ? I0,000 -foot o t ,r �d b�! Fc d n Ncu I �_j o 11 t�i c ocr d i nZ n 10 C m p I p r U n; v FN �, il a rv,vf, Mv;c.,i{m j;rid Itcki,, '()TI , . rh,,wn in 1_,ltjc Rd hnt indic.ates arra in whiCh Qflir jAndmal If ukjfjdfinP, are Z. 1 160 iy WN t',H10 AND 1961) MAGNUiC, m0l',In I AL t '. I , NACION AT CENTER Of ",H[CT X sJ cy SCALE I -1000 CONTOUR INTERVAL 10 FEET DATUM IS MEAN SEA LEVEL THIS MAP COMPLIES WITH NATIONAL MAP ACCURACY FOR SALE BY U.S. GEOLCIGfCAL SURVEY, WASHING' A 1701-DER DESCRIBING TOPOGRAPHiC MAPS AND SYMBOLS IS A SCALE I -1000 CONTOUR INTERVAL 10 FEET DATUM IS MEAN SEA LEVEL THIS MAP COMPLIES WITH NATIONAL MAP ACCURACY FOR SALE BY U.S. GEOLCIGfCAL SURVEY, WASHING' A 1701-DER DESCRIBING TOPOGRAPHiC MAPS AND SYMBOLS IS A