310045_NOV-2020-LV-0066_20200122

DocuSign Envelope ID: 6E26DF4A-2C97-43D2-882A-6lD40193EDE7
ROY COOPER
Governor
MICHAEL S. REGAN
Secretary
S. DANIEL SMITH
Director
NORTH CAROUNA
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January 22, 2020
Michael Aldridge
454 NC 11 HWY
Pink Hill, NC 28572
Subject:
Notice of Violation
Family Farms Inc #31-45
AWS310045
Duplin County
NOV-2020-LV-0066
Dear Mr. Aldridge:
On January 22, 2020 staff of the NC Division of Water Resources (DWR), Water Quality
Regional Operations Section (WQROS), noted during a compliance inspection, a failure to
remove sludge when needed and a non -compliant sludge volume in the Left lagoon.
As a result of this incident, 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, a violation has been noted for a non -compliant sludge level 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 a compliant level of sludge in the Left lagoon in accordance with the
facility's Certified Animal Waste Management Plan in accordance with Condition III.22 of
Swine Waste System General Permit No. AWG100000.
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality IDivision of Water Resources - Wilmington Regional Office
127 Cardinal Drive, Wilmington, North Carolina 28405
[phone]

DocuSign Envelope ID: 6E26DF4A-2C97-43D2-882A-6lD40193EDE7
In 2017 a sludge ratio of 0.66 was recorded in the Left lagoon and a two-year plan of action was
submitted. On September 19, 2019 lagoon/storage sludge accumulation was documented at a
ratio of 0.57 in the Left lagoon. A ratio of less than 0.50 is allowed by your permit and Certified
Animal Waste Management Plan. This facility has been non -compliant for more than two years.
Required Corrective Action for Violation 1:
The facility should maintain a sludge level less than fifty percent. Take all necessary additional
steps to ensure sludge levels are within permitted levels.
You are required to take any necessary action to address the above violation. You are
required to provide a written response to this Notice, including any additional information
that you wish to provide related to this incident that you wish for the Division to consider,
within 30 days of receipt of this letter. Please include in your response all corrective actions
already taken and a schedule for completion of any corrective actions not addressed.
Failure to comply with conditions in a permit may result in a recommendation of enforcement
action, to the Director of the Division of Water Quality who may issue a civil penalty assessment
of not more than twenty-five thousand ($25,000) dollars against any "person" who violates or
fails to act in accordance with terms, conditions, or requirements of a permit under authority of
G.S. 143-215.6A
If you have any questions concerning this Notice, please contact John Perry at 910-796-7341 or
via email at John.Perry(kncdenr.gov or myself at [phone].
Slnc uSigned by:
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Tom Tharrington, Assistant Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Wilmington Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
cc: Laserfiche: AWS310045
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality IDivision of Water Resources - Wilmington Regional Office
127 Cardinal Drive, Wilmington, North Carolina 28405
910-796-7215