090073_Responce letter_20190815

DECA J FARMS
PO BOX 25
CLINTON, NC 28329
August 15, 2019
Mr. Steve Guyton
North Carolina Division of Water Resources
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
225 Green St, Suite 714
Fayetteville, NC 28301
Dear Mr. Guyton,
Regarding the incident at my farm (9-73) on August 12, 2019, I submit the following explanation
of the incident, as we discussed on the farm.
On Monday, August 12th at 7:00 pm my farm manager started an irrigation event on pulls 1 & 6.
At 9:00 pm my farm manager turned off the irrigation pump but since it was dark, he did not go
out and visually inspect the field. My farm manager did not notice the ponded water in the ditch
the next morning. Upon notification by Curtis Barwick I sent the farm's OIC, Richard Smith to
meet with you. Smith immediately bermed up the ditch by placing a tractor bucket loader full of
dirt in the ditch close to the creek. Farm staff then pumped out the wastewater from the ditch for
several hours and then went back on August 14th and pumped any remaining waste from the
ditch. We have contacted an irrigation reel specialist to evaluate the reels and make any needed
repairs before any further operation. If this wastewater had been seen by me or my staff we
would have notified your office as my permit requires.
I regret the incident took place and we will monitor irrigation events more closely and will be
much more observant in the future.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Nash Johnson

Deca J. Farms
P.O. Box 25
Clinton, North Carolina 28329
26th September 2019
Mr. Trent Allen
N.C. Department of Environmental Quality
225 Green Street, Suite 714
Fayetteville, North Carolina 28301
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Re: Green Sea/Sir George Farm Incident WETTEVILLE REGIONALOFFICE
Dear Mr. Trent Allen:
In response to your letter dated August 26, 2019 please find the attached:
1. An explanation from the OIC on how this violation occurred.
2. A list from the current OIC on the correction steps to prevent future violations.
3. The IRR 2 forms for the 2019 Bermuda application.
4. A copy of the 2019 rainfall and lagoon level readings.
5. Invoices from Ingold Irrigation to document that the irrigation equipment has been
repaired.
6. A copy of the press release sent to media outlets.
deeply regret that this incident occurred and the farm manager understands that this must
never happen again. Over the last 30 years I have worked hard to insure that we apply the
swine effluent as per the regulations and have not received a Notice of Violation over that
period of time. The corrective actions spelled out in the attached should strengthen our
irrigation application monitoring and prevent a reoccurrence. We will continue to look for ways
to improve the irrigation application process and implement as deemed appropriate.
Thank you for your consideration in this matter.
Since ly,
Nash Johns

Richard V. Smith
11th September 2019
Incident Green Sea/Sir George Farm, Facility 09-73
Dear Mr. Trent Allen:
The pumping unit was started on August 12, 2019 at 7:00 pm on pulls 1 and 6 by
the farm manager. The unit ran until 9:00 pm when it was turned off by the farm
manager. The farm manager failed to visually look at the fields so it was not
noticed that water had ponded in the ditch, since it was dark. When Mr. Curtis
Barwick sent word that the water was ponding, the ditch was immediately
stopped up by putting a tractor bucket load of dirt in the ditch. A small pump was
set up to pump the water out of the ditch onto the spray field. Two and
sometimes three men worked for 4 hours on pumping the ditch water onto the
spray field and then they went back the next day and pumped any water that had
drained down the ditch to the pumping area in the ditch.
As we looked at the reel, we found out that the spray nozzle was stuck in place
and the spray gun cart had not moved down the field. This resulted in some of
the water running off into the ditch.
Repairs have been made to the spray nozzle and reel by IngoId Irrigation in
Garland, NC.
Sincerely,
Richard Smith

List of Steps to Prevent Future Violations:
1. The farm manager will be required, at the first available opening, to attend
Initial Animal Waste Water classes and become a Certified Operator.
2. A new Operator In Charge has been designated for this farm.
3. The farm manager, who will be under the supervision of the OIC, has
received instruction on the importance of ALWAYS checking the irrigation
system, (pumps, reels, gun carts, pipes, fields, ditches) immediately after
starting a pumping event and at least once every hour to make sure that the
waste is applied as set out in the CAWMP to prevent a discharge of waste.
4. Pumping events will be limited to daylight hours unless an emergency or high
freeboard situation occurs.
5. Farm staff will be trained to observe the irrigation system for proper
operation as they move about the farm and immediately notify the farm
manager and the Operator In Charge of any malfunction.
6. Farm staff will be instructed in the proper procedure to shut down the
pumping unit.
7. Farm staff will be encouraged to attend Continuing Education Training for
Animal Waste Management Systems Operators.

Corrective Actions:
Violation 1: The farm manager has received instructions and agrees to more
closely monitor the spray field and application equipment.
Violation 2: The farm manager has been trained in monitoring the waste
application to prevent ponding or runoff.
Violation 3: The farm manager will more closely observe the waste application
equipment, spray fields, ditches for any waste discharge. The farm manager will
attend Animal Waste Training classes and obtain Animal Waste Operator
Certification.
Violation 4: IngoId Irrigation, Garland, N.C. has repaired the irrigation equipment.
Mr. Barry Moore, the owner of the cattle on this farm, has contacted Bladen
County Soil and Water Conservation to discuss fencing cattle from waterways.
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Notification of Wastewater Spill in Bladen County
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House Bill 1160, which the General Assembly enacted in July 1999, requires that
municipalities, animal operations, industries and others who operate waste handling
systems issue news releases when a waste spill of 1,000 gallons or more reaches surface
waters.
In accordance with that regulation, the following news release has been prepared
and issued to media in the affected county (ies):
The Green Sea Farm of Garland had a wastewater spill August 12, 2019 of an
estimated maximum of 14,640 gallons from a field on Green Sea Road. The untreated
wastewater spilled into an unnamed tributary that flows to the South River in the Cape
Fear River Basin.
The Division of Water Resources was notified of the event on August 13, 2019
and is reviewing the matter. For information contact the Green Sea Farm at (910) 592-
1659.
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