240012_NOV-2020-PC-0271_20200602

DocuSign Envelope ID: A4253667-3EB5-4FOD-9828-79D381CB9773
ROY COOPER
Governor
MICHAEL S. REGAN
Secretary
S. DANIEL SMITH
Director
Phillip Creech
1180 Baldwin Road
Whiteville, NC 28472
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
June 2, 2020
Subject: Notice of Deficiency
Phil Creech Livestock #24-12
AWS240012
Columbus County
NOV-2020-PC-0271
Dear Mr. Creech,
On January 16, 2020, February 17, 2020, and May 26, 2020, staff of the NC Division of Water
Resources (DWR), Water Quality Regional Operations Section (WQROS), were notified of high
freeboard levels at your facility.
As a result of these incidents, 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 have been found to have insufficient freeboard three times in 2020 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.
Violation 1:
Failure to maintain waste level in your lagoon/storage pond in accordance with the facility's
Certified Animal Waste Management Plan in accordance with Condition V. 2. of Swine Waste
System General Permit No. AWG100000.
On January 16, 2020, February 17, 2020, and May 26, 2020 this facility reported non -compliant
levels in their lagoons.
Required Corrective Action for Violation 1:
The Division has received a 30-Day Plan of Action for the May 26, 2020 high freeboard level of
17 inches. A level of 19 inches is the maximum level allowed by your permit and Certified
Animal Waste Management Plan. Take all necessary additional steps to ensure lagoon levels
remain in compliance with Section 2 of your permit. Please provide to our office within 30
days of the receipt of this Notice, a description of the corrective action(s) you will take or
have taken to resolve this issue and to prevent it from occurring again. Please include in
D E Qbi�� North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
Wilmington Regional Office 1 127 Cardinal Drive Extension I Wilmington, North Carolina 28405
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DocuSign Envelope ID: A4253667-3EB5-4FOD-9828-79D381CB9773
your response a schedule for completion of any corrective actions not yet addressed. You
may wish to contact your County Soil & Water Conservation District Office, County
Extension office, a qualified technical specialist, and/or a professional engineer for any
assistance they may be able to provide you in order to prevent violations from occurring.
Be advised that this office is considering recommending assessment of civil penalties to the
Director of the Division of Water Resources for the above noted violations. These violations
may result in civil penalties of up to $25,000 per violation in accordance with North Carolina
General Statute 143-215.6A(a)(2). You may also be assessed for reasonable costs of the
investigation in accordance with North Carolina General Statute 143-215.3(a)(9). Your
response will be forwarded to the Director along with the enforcement package for his
consideration. Be advised that the Division of Water Resources may take further action in
this matter including injunctive relief and permit revocation.
If you wish to provide additional information regarding the noted violations or discuss overall
compliance, please respond in writing within thirty (30) business days after receipt of this
Notice. DWR will review your response and you will then be notified of any civil penalties that
may be assessed regarding the violations. If no response is received in this Office within the
30-day period, a civil penalty assessment may be prepared.
If you have any questions concerning this Notice, please contact me at [phone] or Chad
Coburn at [phone].
Sincerely,
DocuSigned by:
OA,
7F141 E73B6F3456...
Tom Tharrington, Assistant Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Wilmington Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
cc: Columbus County Soil & Water
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