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Home My WebLink AboutNCG550389_NOV2021PC0338_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_20210702 July 02, 2021 Lonnie E Barnes 4117 Buck Creek Rd Highlands, NC 28741 SUBJECT: NOTICE OF VIOLATION Tracking Number: NOV-2021-PC-0338 Permit No. NCG550389 4117 Buck Creek Road Macon County Dear Permittee: The North Carolina Division of Water Resources conducted an inspection of the 4117 Buck Creek Road on June 29, 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. NCG550389. 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 violation(s) were noted during the inspection: Inspection Area Description of Violation _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Septic Tank The septic tank solids level has not been checked and the tank has not b een pumped. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Effluent Pipe The effluent pipe could not be located during the inspection _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Effluent Sampling Annual sampling has not been conducted. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ In addition, the issues below must also be addressed: Compliance Issue(s): The annual permit fee has not been paid since 2012; therefore, the Certificate of Coverage is currently expired. Please pay the outstanding invoices in order for your CoC to be renewed. DocuSign Envelope ID: 9D96897A-441F-459E-9F8A-D003B126A664 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, please respond in writing to this office within 30 days upon your receipt of this Notice of Violation regarding your plans or measures to be taken to address the indicated violations and other identified issues, if applicable. 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 828-296-4667. 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: 9D96897A-441F-459E-9F8A-D003B126A664 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 NCG550389 21/06/29 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) 4117 Buck Creek Road 4117 Buck Creek Rd Highlands NC 28741 Entry Time/Date Permit Effective Date Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date 11:00AM 21/06/29 13/08/01 Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) /// Other Facility Data 11:30AM 21/06/29 18/07/31 Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number Lonnie E Barnes,4117 Buck Creek Rd Highlands NC 28741///Contacted No Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated) Permit Operations & Maintenance Self-Monitoring Program Facility Site Review 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: 9D96897A-441F-459E-9F8A-D003B126A664 7/2/2021 7/2/2021 7/2/2021 NPDES yr/mo/day 21/06/29 Inspection Type C3111218 1 Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) Lauren Armeni with the Asheville Regional Office conducted a compliance evaluation inspection of the single-family wastewater disposal system that services 4117 Buck Creek Road. This inspection was conducted to determine whether the system is being operated and maintained in compliance with General NPDES Permit No. NCG550000. Mr. Barnes was not on site during the inspection, but was contacted prior to the inspection. The Certificate of Coverage under the General Permit is currently expired. The annual permit fee has not been paid since 2012. The inspection reflects non-compliance with the permit. The following violations were noted: 1. Septic Tank: The septic tank solids level has not been checked and the tank has not been pumped. Per the General Permit, NCG550000 Part I. A. 3. Permit Conditions (Operations & Maintenance), septic tanks shall be inspected at least yearly to determine if solids must be removed or if other maintenance is necessary. Septic tanks shall be pumped out every five years or when the solids level is found to be more than 1/3 the liquid depth in any compartment. 2. Effluent Pipe: The effluent pipe could not be located during the inspection. 3. Effluent Sampling: Annual sampling has not been conducted. NCG550389 17 (Cont.) Page#2 DocuSign Envelope ID: 9D96897A-441F-459E-9F8A-D003B126A664 Permit:NCG550389 Inspection Date:06/29/2021 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: 4117 Buck Creek Road 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? The components listed in the historical permit file include a septic tank and and subsurface sand filter. Both components could not be located during the 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? The owner, Mr. Lonnie Barnes, stated that the septic tank solids level had not been checked. No septic tank pumping records were available at the time of the inspection and the septic tank could not be located. 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? The effluent pipe could not be located. Mr. Barnes stated he did not know the location of the effluent pipe. Comment: Effluent Sampling Yes No NA NE Is composite sampling flow proportional? Is sample collected below all treatment units? Is proper volume collected? Is the tubing clean? Page#3 DocuSign Envelope ID: 9D96897A-441F-459E-9F8A-D003B126A664 Permit:NCG550389 Inspection Date:06/29/2021 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: 4117 Buck Creek Road Compliance Evaluation Effluent Sampling Yes No NA NE # 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)? Since it is unknown where the effluent pipe is, the pipe has not been checked and annual sampling has not been conducted. Comment: Page#4 DocuSign Envelope ID: 9D96897A-441F-459E-9F8A-D003B126A664