WQ0020239_NOV-2020-PC-0158 Response_20200327

EARNELL BROWN
MAYOR
PAMELA W.HURDLE
TOWN MANAGER
SHONIQUA POWELL
CLERK
BENJAMIN M. GALLOP
TOWN ATTORNEY
March 27, 2020
David May, Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Washington Regional Office
Division of Water Resources NCCDEQ
943 Washington Square Mall
Washington NC
Subject: NOV-2020-PC-0158 Permit number WQ0020239
Dear Mr. May,
COMMISSIONERS:
ASHLEY HODGES
MAYOR PRO TEM
QUENTIN JACKSON
FRANK NORMAN
JERRY MIMLITSCH
RECEIVED/NCDENR/DWR
MAR 31 2020
Water Quality
Regional Operations Section
Washington Regional Office
In response to the NOV dated March 17, 2020, thank you for the extended time for me to look
into the issues more in debt. After talking to Public Works Director Dwan Bell and Dwan
having conversations with Mr. Brian Smith with Granville Farms, I would like to submit
explanation of the cause of the NOV on behalf of the Town.
The soil fertility analyses samples are done by Granville Farms and the contact person for this
is Mr. Brian Smith. The Town has always relied on the contractor, Soils Plus/Granville Farms
to collect and have analyzed all samples for the Land Application Permit. This includes soil
samples.
They were asked by Town staff on several occasions if soil samples were to be collected and
the contractor assured the Town that they were. It did not come to the attention of Town staff
that samples had not been collected until the annual report was being prepared. Brian Smith
with Granville Farms contacted the Wastewater staff and inquired about the soil samples. He
was told that the Town did not collect them and was under the impression that he and his staff
would, as had been done in the past. As it was so close to the deadline for the annual report to
be submitted, there was no choice but to do so without soil samples. Staff even reached out to
the landowner to inquire if they had collected samples, and he had not. Mr. Smith has told the
Town staff if there is a penalty, he will take care of it.
The Town checked the property and nothing has been done on the field since the crop that
was planted after the application event, so if it would help, samples could be collected now
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and the annual report can possibly be amended. Also, in the future, Town staff will oversee
the collection and analyzing samples that are collected by Granville Farms.
I sincerely apologize for this omission and will take whatever steps necessary to ensure that
this does not reoccur.
Sincerely,
4LVU& J-L W-4-
Pamela Hurdle
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