WQ0001953_CEI_20210401

SENT VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL ONLY: NO HARD COPY WILL BE MAILED

April 01, 2021

Scott Webber, Town Manager
Email: [e-mail]
Town of Spindale

SUBJECT: Compliance Inspection Report
Town of Spindale RLAP
Non-discharge Permit No. WQ0001953
Rutherford County

Dear Permittee:

The North Carolina Division of Water Resources conducted an inspection of the Town of Spindale RLAP
on 3/12/2021. This inspection was conducted to verify that the facility is operating in compliance with
the conditions and limitations specified in Non-discharge Permit No. WQ0001953. The findings and
comments noted during this inspection are provided in the enclosed copy of the inspection report
entitled "Compliance Inspection Report".

There were no significant issues or findings noted during the inspection and therefore, a response to this
inspection report is not required.

If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at 828-296-4686 or via email at
[e-mail].

Sincerely,

Mikal Willmer, Environmental Specialist II
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Asheville Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ

ATTACHMENTS: Inspection Report

Ec: LF
Guy O’Connor, Spindale ORC
Zach Key, US Biosolids
DocuSign Envelope ID: 07FD8FD4-F135-43FF-9281-81F3097F31D4
Compliance Inspection Report
Permit:WQ0001953 Effective:05/01/20 Expiration:04/30/26 Owner :Town of Spindale
SOC:
Contact Person:
Region:
County:
Directions to Facility:
Rutherford
Asheville
Zach D Key
Effective:Expiration:Facility:Town of Spindale RLAP
101 Ecology St
Spindale NC 28160
Title:Phone:[phone]
From ARO: I-40 E to Hwy. 221 South in Marion. Follow Hwy. 221 to Hwy. 64/74. Turn right on 74 to Spindale to Ledbetter Road
(left). Go approx. 1.5 miles to Ecology St. on right. WWTP is located at end of street.
Secondary ORC(s):
336-957-7871Phone:27660Certification:Zach D KeyPrimary ORC:
LA,System Classifications:
On-Site Representative(s):
Related Permits:
NC0020664 Town of Spindale - Spindale WWTP
Secondary Inspector(s):
Primary Inspector:
Inspection Date:Exit Time:Entry Time:
Phone:
03/12/2021 09:00AM 11:00AM
Mikal Willmer 828-296-4686
Facility Status:
Permit Inspection Type:
Reason for Inspection:Inspection Type:
Not CompliantCompliant
Routine
Land Application of Residual Solids (503)
Compliance Evaluation
Question Areas:
Miscellaneous Questions Record Keeping Treatment
Sampling Land Application Site Pathogen and Vector Attraction
Storage Transport
(See attachment summary)
Page 1 of 5
DocuSign Envelope ID: 07FD8FD4-F135-43FF-9281-81F3097F31D4
Inspection Date:
Permit:
Inspection Type :
Owner - Facility:
Reason for Visit:
WQ0001953
03/12/2021 Compliance Evaluation
Town of Spindale
Routine
Inspection Summary:
Mikal Willmer, with the Asheville Regional Office, conducted a field and facility inspection of the Town of Spindale’s Land
Application Program. This inspection was conducted to determine whether the program is being operated and maintained in
compliance with RLAP permit WQ0001953. Guy O’Connor, Sybil Brotherton and David Key were present and assisted in
the inspection.
Overall, the facility and field application appeared to be in compliance. A summary of the observations noted at the time of
the inspection are below.
Facility: The larger digester was decanted previously in preparation for the application event. Spindale currently contracts
US Biosolids to collect samples and land apply to the Town’s permitted fields. Solids were being loaded onto the tanker
trucks from Digester 2 at the time of the inspection. US Biosolids had separate loaders and drivers available on the day of
the inspection. No issues reported or noted at the loading station. All drivers maintain an inspection checklist for each
tanker. Due to funding, Spindale was unable to land apply solids from Digester 1. The Town plans to budget another land
application event in the new fiscal year for Digester 1. It is recommended the Town budget for additional solids removal
during a fiscal year to provide operations staff with adequate wasting capacity to maintain optimal treatment.
Fields: The Town’s permit and the spill control plan were onsite during the inspection. The seasonal high-water table is not
field verified by a piezometer; however, Mr. Key indicated the fields are always inspected and weather is monitored before
land application occurs. Additionally, Mr. Key indicated their spreader trucks would be unable to maneuver and drive on the
fields if the water table was within one foot of the ground surface. Due to the significant amount of rain recently, it took
approximately 5 days of dry weather before the fields were dry enough to land apply.
Spindale currently has 6 fields permitted for land application under one owner (Mr. McFadden). US Biosolids was applying
to field M 4 and M5 at the time of the inspection. Fields appeared to be appropriately flagged and the closest well is located
behind the owner’s property. Fescue crop appeared healthy. Mr. Key stated the owner does not apply any additional
fertilizers throughout the year to the designated application areas, but he does apply chicken litter to some of the buffer
strips. Please continue to check with the landowner to verify no additional fertilizers are applied to application areas
throughout the year.
US Biosolids is aware of the reduced surface water setbacks; however, they plan to maintain original setbacks for the
foreseeable future. Signs were visible and placed on all application fields at the point of entry. Spreaders appeared to be
maintained and free of leaks. The spreader truck applies at approximately 13,000 gallons per acre. While not required by
permit, it is recommended the application rate of the vehicle be verified annually. Only one field is used for pasture (M6). As
a reminder, all livestock are to be kept off the field for 30 days immediately following a land application event.
Page 2 of 5
DocuSign Envelope ID: 07FD8FD4-F135-43FF-9281-81F3097F31D4
Inspection Date:
Permit:
Inspection Type :
Owner - Facility:
Reason for Visit:
WQ0001953
03/12/2021 Compliance Evaluation
Town of Spindale
Routine
Type Yes No NA NE
Distribution and Marketing
Land Application
Record Keeping Yes No NA NE
Is GW monitoring being conducted, if required?
Are GW samples from all MWs sampled for all required parameters?
Are there any GW quality violations?
Is GW-59A certification form completed for facility?
Is a copy of current permit on-site?
Are current metals and nutrient analysis available?
Are nutrient and metal loading calculating most limiting parameters?
a. TCLP analysis?
b. SSFA (Standard Soil Fertility Analysis)?
Are PAN balances being maintained?
Are PAN balances within permit limits?
Has land application equipment been calibrated?
Are there pH records for alkaline stabilization?
Are there pH records for the land application site?
Are nutrient/crop removal practices in place?
Do lab sheets support data reported on Residual Analysis Summary?
Are hauling records available?
Are hauling records maintained and up-to-date?
# Has permittee been free of public complaints in last 12 months?
Has application occurred during Seasonal Restriction window?
PAN rates were not evaulated as application just began. This will be evaluated in the 2021 Annual
Report. Historically have not exceeded PAN rate for Fescue. Not required to calibrate equipment
or verify application rate by permit. See summary for details.
Comment:
Pathogen and Vector Attraction Yes No NA NE
a. Fecal coliform SM 9221 E (Class A or B)
Class A, all test must be <1000 MPN/dry gram
Geometric mean of 7 samples per monitoring period for class B<2.0*10E6 CFU/dry gram
Fecal coliform SM 9222 D (Class B only)
Geometric mean of 7 samples per monitoring period for class B<2.0*10E6 CFU/dry gram
b. pH records for alkaline stabilization (Class A)
c. pH records for alkaline stabilization (Class B)
Page 3 of 5
DocuSign Envelope ID: 07FD8FD4-F135-43FF-9281-81F3097F31D4
Inspection Date:
Permit:
Inspection Type :
Owner - Facility:
Reason for Visit:
WQ0001953
03/12/2021 Compliance Evaluation
Town of Spindale
Routine
Temperature corrected
d. Salmonella (Class A, all test must be < 3MPN/4 gram day)
e. Time/Temp on:
Digester (MCRT)
Compost
Class A lime stabilization
f. Volatile Solids Calculations
g. Bench-top Aerobic/Anaerobic digestion results
Comment:
Treatment Yes No NA NE
Check all that apply
Aerobic Digestion
Anaerobic Digestion
Alkaline Pasteurization (Class A)
Alkaline Stabilization (Class B)
Compost
Drying Beds
Other
Facility has two aerobic digesters.Comment:
Sampling Yes No NA NE
Describe sampling:
US Biosolids collects samples for Spindale. Grab samples from the digester are combined and sent to the
either Pace or Statesville Analytical. Vector Attraction Reduction is met either by volatile solids reduction or by
the 30-day bench scale method. Soil samples are sent to the NCDA laboratory for a standard soil fertility
analysis.
Is sampling adequate?
Is sampling representative?
Comment:
Transport Yes No NA NE
Is a copy of the permit in the transport vehicle?
Is a copy of the spill control plan in the vehicle?
Is the spill control plan satisfactory?
Does transport vehicle appear to be maintained?
All paperwork appeared to up to date and available to transport crew and a copy was maintained
on site by Mr. key.
Comment:
Land Application Site Yes No NA NE
Is a copy of the permit on-site during application events?
Page 4 of 5
DocuSign Envelope ID: 07FD8FD4-F135-43FF-9281-81F3097F31D4
Inspection Date:
Permit:
Inspection Type :
Owner - Facility:
Reason for Visit:
WQ0001953
03/12/2021 Compliance Evaluation
Town of Spindale
Routine
Is the application site in overall good condition?
Is the site free of runoff/ponding?
If present, is the application equipment in good operating condition?
Are buffers being maintained?
Are limiting slopes buffered?
10% for surface application
18% for subsurface application
Are there access restrictions and/or signs?
Is the application site free of odors or vectors?
Have performance requirements for application method been met?
For injection?
For incorporation?
Does permit require monitoring wells?
Have required MWs been installed?
Are MWs properly located w/ respect to RB and CB?
Are MWs properly constructed (including screened interval)?
Is the surrounding area served by public water?
If Annual Report indicates overapplication of PAN, are wells nearby that may be impacted?
Are soil types consistent w/ Soil Scientist report/evaluation?
Is the water table greater than 1'/3' bls.
Is application occurring at the time of the inspection?
Only well noted nearby is Mr. McFadden's and sits outside of mapped area behind his residence.Comment:
Page 5 of 5
DocuSign Envelope ID: 07FD8FD4-F135-43FF-9281-81F3097F31D4
Certificate Of Completion
Envelope Id: 07FD8FD4F13543FF928181F3097F31D4 Status: Completed
Subject: Please DocuSign: WQ0001953_ltr 20210401.docx, WQ0001953_Rpt.pdf
Source Envelope:
Document Pages: 6 Signatures: 1 Envelope Originator:
Certificate Pages: 1 Initials: 1 Mikal Willmer
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EnvelopeId Stamping: Enabled
Time Zone: (UTC-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)
217 W. Jones Street
Raleigh, NC 27699
[e-mail]
IP Address: 149.168.204.10
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Apr 1, 2021 | 11:09
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[e-mail]
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Mikal Willmer
[e-mail]
Environmental Specialist
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
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