The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutNCG550658_NOD2021PC0137_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_20210409 April 09, 2021 Amy E Patterson Highlands-Cashiers Animal Clinic PO Box 2289 Highlands, NC 28741 SUBJECT: NOTICE OF DEFICIENCY Tracking Number: NOD-2021-PC-0137 Permit No. NCG550658 Highlands-Cashiers Animal Clinic Macon County Dear Permittee: The North Carolina Division of Water Resources conducted an inspection of the Highlands-Cashiers Animal Clinic on March 26, 2021. This inspection was conducted to verify that the facility is operating in compliance with the conditions and limitations specified in NPDES WW Permit No. NCG550658. A summary of the findings and comments noted during the inspection are provided in the enclosed copy of the inspection report. The Compliance Evaluation inspection was conducted by Division of Water Resources staff from the Asheville Regional Office. The following deficiency(s) was noted during the inspection: Inspection Area Description of Deficiency _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Septic Tank Septic tank records were not available at the time of the inspection. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Effluent Sampling Annual sampling is not being conducted and is required by the permit if the effluent pipe discharges. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ DocuSign Envelope ID: D1B65AA2-A22B-4D37-A01E-55F696394767 Remedial actions should have already been taken to correct this problem and prevent further occurrences in the future. The Division of Water Resources may pursue enforcement action for this and any additional violations of State law. To prevent further action, carefully review these deficiencies and address the causes of non-compliance to prevent the recurrence of similar situations. If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Lauren Armeni with the Water Quality Regional Operations Section in the Asheville Regional Office at 828-296-4500. Sincerely, Daniel Boss, Assistant Regional Supervisor Water Quality Regional Operations Section Asheville Regional Office Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ ATTACHMENTS: Inspection Report Ec: LF DocuSign Envelope ID: D1B65AA2-A22B-4D37-A01E-55F696394767 EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency Washington, D.C. 20460 Water Compliance Inspection Report Form Approved. OMB No. 2040-0057 Approval expires 8-31-98 Section A: National Data System Coding (i.e., PCS) Transaction Code NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection Type Inspector Fac Type 1 N 52 NCG550658 21/03/26 C S31112171819 20 21 66 Inspection Work Days Facility Self-Monitoring Evaluation Rating B1 QA ----------------------Reserved------------------- N67707172 73 74 75 80 Section B: Facility Data Name and Location of Facility Inspected (For Industrial Users discharging to POTW, also include POTW name and NPDES permit Number) Highlands-Cashiers Animal Clinic 2465 Cashiers Rd Highlands NC 28741 Entry Time/Date Permit Effective Date Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date 10:00AM 21/03/26 19/11/07 Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) /// Other Facility Data 11:00AM 21/03/26 20/10/31 Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number Amy E Patterson,PO Box 2289 Highlands NC 28741//828-526-5206/8285264739 Contacted No Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated) Permit Operations & Maintenance Self-Monitoring Program Effluent/Receiving Waters Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) (See attachment summary) Name(s) and Signature(s) of Inspector(s)Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date Lauren E Armeni DWR/ARO WQ/828-296-4500/ Stephanie A Williams DWR/ARO WQ/828-296-4500/ Signature of Management Q A Reviewer Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date EPA Form 3560-3 (Rev 9-94) Previous editions are obsolete. Page#1 DocuSign Envelope ID: D1B65AA2-A22B-4D37-A01E-55F696394767 4/12/2021 DocuSign Envelope ID: DBC16EC9-A1C2-4EEA-A1AD-EC2F9A5269E6 4/12/2021 4/12/2021 NPDES yr/mo/day 21/03/26 Inspection Type C3111218 1 Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) Lauren Armeni and Stephanie Williams with the Asheville Regional Office conducted a compliance evaluation inspection of the single-family wastewater disposal system that services 2465 Cashiers Road. This inspection was conducted to determine whether the system is being operated and maintained in compliance with General NPDES Permit No. NCG550000. We met with Ms. Patterson, owner of the Highlands-Cashiers Animal Clinic, and she gave us a tour of the septic system components, including the effluent pipe. The following deficiencies were noted at the time of the inpsection: 1. Septic tank records were not available at the time of the inspection. Ms. Patterson stated that she had the tank inspected in Fall 2020 that confirmed the tank did not need to be pumped; however, she did not have documentation stating this. She is going to contact Roto Rooter and email the document to us. Ms. Patterson also stated that the alarms have not been check, so it is recommended to get them checked. 2. Annual sampling is not being conducted. Ms. Patterson stated that she used to sample in the past, with all non-detect results. She was then told by previous inspectors that she no longer needed to sample because the pipe was only discharging after a heavy rain event. However, the permit requires that sampling be conducted once a year, regardless of what is causing the effluent discharge. It is recommended to continue annual sampling if discharge is present when inspecting the effluent pipe. NCG550658 17 (Cont.) Page#2 DocuSign Envelope ID: D1B65AA2-A22B-4D37-A01E-55F696394767DocuSign Envelope ID: DBC16EC9-A1C2-4EEA-A1AD-EC2F9A5269E6 Permit:NCG550658 Inspection Date:03/26/2021 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Highlands-Cashiers Animal Clinic Compliance Evaluation Permit Yes No NA NE (If the present permit expires in 6 months or less). Has the permittee submitted a new application? Is the facility as described in the permit? # Are there any special conditions for the permit? Is access to the plant site restricted to the general public? Is the inspector granted access to all areas for inspection? Comment: Operations & Maintenance Yes No NA NE Is the plant generally clean with acceptable housekeeping? Does the facility analyze process control parameters, for ex: MLSS, MCRT, Settleable Solids, pH, DO, Sludge Judge, and other that are applicable? Comment: Septic Tank Yes No NA NE (If pumps are used) Is an audible and visual alarm operational? Is septic tank pumped on a schedule? Are pumps or syphons operating properly? Are high and low water alarms operating properly? Septic tank records were not available at the time of the inspection. See summary for details. Comment: Effluent Pipe Yes No NA NE Is right of way to the outfall properly maintained? Are the receiving water free of foam other than trace amounts and other debris? If effluent (diffuser pipes are required) are they operating properly? We were able to access the effluent pipe, but the area is thick with rhodedendrons; however, the rhodedendrons did not affect the integrity of the pipe. The pipe was discharging at the time of the inspection. The evening prior to inspection, rainfall was between 4"-5" in the area. Ms. Patterson stated that the pipe only discharges following heavy rainfall. Comment: Effluent Sampling Yes No NA NE Is composite sampling flow proportional? Is sample collected below all treatment units? Is proper volume collected? Page#3 DocuSign Envelope ID: D1B65AA2-A22B-4D37-A01E-55F696394767DocuSign Envelope ID: DBC16EC9-A1C2-4EEA-A1AD-EC2F9A5269E6 Permit:NCG550658 Inspection Date:03/26/2021 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Highlands-Cashiers Animal Clinic Compliance Evaluation Effluent Sampling Yes No NA NE Is the tubing clean? # Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0 degrees Celsius)? Is the facility sampling performed as required by the permit (frequency, sampling type representative)? Annual sampling is not being conducted, but is required by the permit if the effluent pipe discharges. See summary for details. Comment: Page#4 DocuSign Envelope ID: D1B65AA2-A22B-4D37-A01E-55F696394767DocuSign Envelope ID: DBC16EC9-A1C2-4EEA-A1AD-EC2F9A5269E6