Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutNCG551606_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_20210619ROY COOPER Governor ELIZABETH S. BISER Secretary S. DANIEL SMITH Director NORTH CAROLINA Environmental Quality June 19, 2021 CERTIFIED MAIL RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED 7017 2680 0000 2236 8112 Nurignlleli Serrano -Otero & Israel Diaz Avila 914 Flanders Drive Durham, NC 27703 Subject: NOTICE OF VIOLATION Tracking Number: NOV-2021-PC-0341 Compliance Evaluation Inspection Single Family Wastewater Treatment System NPDES General Permit NCG550000 Certificate of Coverage NCG551606 Facility Name: 914 Flanders Drive Durham County Dear Nurignlleli Serrano -Otero & Israel Diaz Avila: On April 12, 2021, Jane Bernard from the Raleigh Regional Office visited your single-family residence (SFR) wastewater treatment system to evaluate compliance with the subject General NPDES Permit. Your assistance during the inspection was greatly appreciated. Our records indicate the treatment system consists of a septic tank, sub -surface sand filter, tablet chlorinator, discharge pipe. General NPDES Permit NCG550000 and Certificate of Coverage (COC) NCG551606 authorize the discharge of domestic wastewater from your treatment system to receiving waters designated as an unnamed tributary (UT) to Chunky Pipe Creek (classified WS-IV: NSW) in the Neuse River Basin. The authorized discharge is in accordance with the effluent limits and monitoring requirements established within the General Permit. The items below show what conditions were noted at your facility: The following violations were present and on -going on the site: 1. Operation, Maintenance & Records: The wastewater treatment system shall be maintained at all times to prevent seepage of sewage to the surface of the ground. At the time of this compliance inspection the solids/sludge had traveled into the receiving ditch. See photo 1 and 2. 2. Pumping the septic tank: You are required to inspect the septic tank at least yearly to determine if solids must be removed or if other maintenance is necessary. Septic tanks should be pumped out every five years or when the solids level is found to be more than 1/3 of the liquid depth in the septic tank compartment, whichever is greater. A pumping company can check the status periodically and determine when pumping is required. Within 30-days of receiving this letter, QE NOHI H CN\OUNA �/ Department of Fmirarcrcnlal Oaali North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources Raleigh Regional Office 13800 Barrett Drive I Raleigh, North Carolina 27609 919.791.4200 please send a copy of the most recent receipt/invoice to this office showing the date the septic tank was last checked and/or pumped out. The General NPDES Permit requires the permittee to retain records associated with sewage disposal activities for a period of at least 5 years. 3. Analyzing the effluent: Part 1. C., Effluent Limitations and Monitoring Requirements, within General Permit NCG550000 requires a permittee to sample and analyze the effluent leaving his/her treatment system prior to discharge annually. If the effluent has been sampled, please submit the results within 30 days of this letter. If sampling has not occurred, please collect a representative sample of the effluent, have it analyzed by a certified commercial laboratory and submit the results to this office no later than September 30, 2021. In the last inspection letter dated June 1, 2017, you were requested to sample your effluent and to submit the analytical results to this office. The Raleigh Regional Office has not received the requested results. Failure to monitor the effluent discharge as required is a violation of NPDES General Permit NCG550000. 4. Discharge outlet location. The permittee is required to conduct a visual review of the outfall location at least twice each year (one at the time of sampling) to ensure that no visible solids or other obvious evidence of system malfunctioning is observed. Any visible signs of a malfunctioning system shall be documented and steps taken to correct the problem. The discharge pipe was visible and accessible the day of the inspection. The visual review of the outfall location shows visible solids in approximately 10 feet of the receiving ditch. See photos 1 and 2. 5. Part II Section B.14 of General Permit NCG550000 requires the permittee to "pay the annual administering and compliance monitoring fee within thirty days after being billed by the Division." The annual fee ($60 per year) for the period beginning November 1, 2020 through October 31, 2021, was due by October 31, 2020. This fee has not been paid and is overdue. Payment in the amount of $60 must be remitted to the Division as indicated on the attached Annual Permit Fee Invoice 2020PR009432. Requested Response The Division requests that the Permittee secure an engineer to inspect your existing system and determine what repairs are needed and/or components need replacing; discontinuing the discharge of raw waste and to ensure that the system functions as intended and meets the conditions of your permit, including meeting the effluent monitoring limits contained in the permit. Please do this within 30 days and submit a written response to this office detailing how you will ensure in a timely manner that the system is in full compliance of the permit conditions and functions as intended. If the engineer determines that any part of the system needs to be repaired or replaced, the Permittee should inform this office. The components that are required when replacing a system are included in Section A of Part I of the general permit. Before construction begins, an Authorization to Construct (ATC) must be secured from the DWR. To apply for an ATC, you are required to submit the following: a. A letter of request for an ATC to Charles Weaver, NPDES Permitting Unit, Division of Water Quality, 1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1617. b. Plans and specifications of the proposed sandfilter system in triplicate. Plans and specifications must be drawn and submitted by a licensed North Carolina professional engineer. If you believe that the system is functioning properly, please provide recent effluent monitoring results that demonstrate that the system is in compliance. This may be accomplished by contacting a NORTH CARQUNA Departrneal of Hnwommrntal OuaYry) North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality 1 Division of Water Resources Raleigh Regional Office : 3800 Barrett Drive I Raleigh, North Carolina 27609 919.791.4200 v certified lab (attached) to perform this analysis and submit the results to this office within 45 days of receipt of this letter. The parameter monitoring limits can be found in Section A of Part I of the general permit and in Attachment B of this letter. This inspection report is being issued as a Notice of Violation because the system appears to be failing. The amount of sludge/solid accumulation in the chlorinator, at the discharge pipe and in the ditch indicates a failure. Within 30-days receipt of this letter, please submit a written response to this office indicating the actions you will take or have taken to comply with or resolve the issues noted in items 1 through 5 above. If you have questions or comments about this inspection or the requirements to take corrective action (if applicable), then please contact Jane Bernard at (919) 791-4233. Sincerely, .x.,44.a- 7 Vanessa E. Manuel, Assistant Regional Supervisor Water Quality Regional Operations Section Raleigh Regional Office Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ Attachment(s): EPA Water Compliance Inspection Report Annual Permit Fee Invoice — Due October 31, 2020 Photos 1 and 2 Installers and Engineers Cc: RRO/SWP Files Laserfiche North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources Raleigh Regional Office 13800 Barrett Drive I Raleigh, North Carolina 27609 919.791.4200 NCG551606, 914 Flanders Drive Photo 1 and 2: Discharge pipe, sludge settling in the ditch. canurw wwm.maDEW tnwmmmwmwr\ North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources Raleigh Regional Office 13800 Barrett Drive I Raleigh, North Carolina 27609 919.791.4200 United States Environmental Protection Agency E PA 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 1 El 2 LI 3 I NCG551606 111 121 21/04/21 117 Type 1819 l l I I I Inspector 191 Fac Type Li 2011 21IIII I I I I I III I I 1 I I I I I I I I I l l l l l III I I I I I r6 Inspection Work Days Facility Self -Monitoring Evaluation Rating B1 QA 71I I 72 N 671 I 701 LJ I u I —I Reserved 73I I 174 751 I I t 1 I 1 1 1 1 I 180 Section B: Facility Data Name and Location of Facility Inspected (For Industrial Users discharging to POTW, also include POTW name and NPDES permit Number) 914 Flanders Drive 914 Flanders Dr Durham NC 27703 Entry Time/Date 11:20AM 21/04/21 Permit Effective Date 13/11/12 Exit Time/Date VP) /01 12:20PM , Permit Expiration Date 18/07/31 Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)Ttles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) /// Other Facility Data Name, Address of Responsible OfficialTtle/Phone and Fax Number Contacted Israel Diaz Avila,914 Flanders Dr Durham NC 27703/// No Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated) Permit Operations & Maintenar Facility Site Review Effluent/Receiving Wate Other 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 Jane Bernard DWR/Non Discharge Compliance Unit/919-791-4200/ qcify..x. .(,__,.\., q&IL, /7, a_/ Signature of Management Q A Review r Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date • 7 Si- «23' Z 14 0 Z. EPA Form 3560-3 (Rev 9-94) Previous editions are obsolete. Page# NPDES yr/mo/day 31 NCG551606 111 11 21/04/21 I17 Inspection Type 18Lit. (Cont.) 1 Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) The following violations were present and on -going on the site: 1. Operation, Maintenance & Records: The wastewater treatment system shall be maintained at all times to prevent seepage of sewage to the surface of the ground. At the time of this compliance inspection the solids/sludge had traveled into the receiving ditch. See photo 1 and 2. 2. Pumping the septic tank: You are required to inspect the septic tank at least yearly to determine if solids must be removed or if other maintenance is necessary. Septic tanks should be pumped out every five years or when the solids level is found to be more than 1/3 of the liquid depth in the septic tank compartment, whichever is greater. A pumping company can check the status periodically and determine when pumping is required. Within 30-days of receiving this letter, please send a copy of the most recent receipt/invoice to this office showing the date the septic tank was last checked and/or pumped out. The General NPDES Permit requires the permittee to retain records associated with sewage disposal activities for a period of at least 5 years. 3. Analyzing the effluent: Part 1. C., Effluent Limitations and Monitoring Requirements, within General Permit NCG550000 requires a permittee to sample and analyze the effluent leaving his/her treatment system prior to discharge annually. If the effluent has been sampled, please submit the results within 30 days of this letter. If sampling has not occurred, please collect a representative sample of the effluent, have it analyzed by a certified commercial laboratory and submit the results to this office no later than September 30, 2021. In the last inspection letter dated June 1, 2017, you were requested to sample your effluent and to submit the analytical results to this office. The Raleigh Regional Office has not received the requested results. Failure to monitor the effluent discharge as required is a violation of NPDES General Permit NCG550000. 4. Discharge outlet location. The permittee is required to conduct a visual review of the outfall location at least twice each year (one at the time of sampling) to ensure that no visible solids or other obvious evidence of system malfunctioning is observed. Any visible signs of a malfunctioning system shall be documented and steps taken to correct the problem. The discharge pipe was visible and accessible the day of the inspection. The visual review of the outfall location shows visible solids in approximately 10 feet of the receiving ditch. See photos 1 and 2. 5. Part II Section B.14 of General Permit NCG550000 requires the permittee to "pay the annual administering and compliance monitoring fee within thirty days after being billed by the Division." The annual fee ($60 per year) for the period beginning November 1, 2020 through October 31, 2021, was due by October 31, 2020. This fee has not been paid and is overdue. Payment in the amount of $60 must be remitted to the Division as indicated on the attached Annual Permit Fee Invoice 2020PR009432. Requested Response The Division requests that the Permittee secure an engineer to inspect your existing system and determine what repairs are needed and/or components need replacing; discontinuing the discharge of raw waste and to ensure that the system functions as intended and meets the conditions of your permit, including meeting the effluent monitoring limits contained in the permit. Please do this within 30 days and submit a written response to this office detailing how you will ensure in a timely manner that the system is in full compliance of the permit conditions and functions as intended. Page# 2 Permit: NCG551606 Owner - Facility: 914 Flanders Drive Inspection Date: 04/21/2021 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Other Yes No NA NE Comment: (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 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: ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑❑■ ❑ ❑ 011 ❑ ❑ ❑ • Yes No NA NE ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ Page# 3 ■• ■ _ 1' • _ F _ ' ■ 1■ ftr■v.:U. G. E: I■ • .1 • L el :III 9 ■ 7 ■ I 1 • • 1 • IL '••I ■ ■ 1 ■ r.■ ■ ■ •• 1 ■ • ■ .. • . • i ■ 1! • • ■ 1▪ • i■IN ''%Ira • • 1 L • MM •. ■'-i ■ ■1 - -■ ■ -- - ■ ■ 1 • _ r. Nti ' -.MI ■• 1 r• I•.` ■ • __'7• • • 412 • • • ■r•• ••• _ • • ■ r • • ■. :, 1 - 1 - • .r ■1• ' �ti e ti ■ • ■■ ■ ■ 'a. L.7 fill • 1.1 . r ■. ■ • ■ _■• 1• 1 m•r.1 ti ''r'• 1- II:i!ml. I.: K ▪ •' • '1. ! .• .1 "- ••• ▪ rer:4%..• lir a • �• .• ■ ■ ■ .r • ■■ • �� ■• • ■L 1 ■ •` 1 •. .. ■ • • ■•■ ■■1 r 7•• '1 1}�a� •• • • .11: • I ' 1� � 1 •'. • • M.:IIIIIIIk ■. • • r • r • 1. _ .. •■ �.i ■ ' • • • T Z • . • • _ .1 I... ----_- - • • .ti :. ■ • 1 ••• • • - 'j-• ': IF"' • • . - - 1:- • MEM i • _ • • ■• 7 ■••• .• .� 1 • r _ • ■11■ -. Zi '_'• •.• r1 • r•. ' • • II : II NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INVOICE Annual Permit Fee Overdue This annual fee is required by the North Carolina Administrative Code. It covers the administrative costs associated with your permit. It is required of any person holding a permit for any time during the annual fee period, regardless of the facili operating status. Failure to pay the fee by the due date will subject the permit to revocation. Operating without a valid permit is a violation and is subject to a $10,000 per day fine. If the permit is revoked and you later decide a permit is needed, you must reapply, with the understanding the permit request may be denied due to changes in environmental, regulatory, or modeling conditions. Invoice Number: 2020PR009432 Permit Number: NCG551606 Durham County 914 Flanders Drive Israel Diaz Avila 914 Flanders Dr Durham, NC 27703 Annual Fee Period: 2020-11-01 to 2021-10-31 Invoice Date: 10/01/2020 Due Date: 10/31/2020 Annual Fee: $60.00 Notes: 1. You may pay either by mail with check/money order OR by electronic payment (eCheck or Credit Card). 2. If payment is by check/money order, please remit payment to: NCDEQ - Division of Water Resources Attn: Animal/Discharge/Non-Discharge Billing 1617 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1617 3. If payment is electronic, please see https://deq.nc.gov/epayments/wq to pay electronically. Payments by eCheck will debit your checking account. Credit card transactions will incur a convenience fee. 4. Please include your Permit Number and Invoice Number on all correspondence. 5. A $25.00 processing fee will be charged for returned checks in accordance with North Carolina General Statute 25-3-512. 6. Non -Payment of this fee by the payment due date will initiate the permit revocation process. 7. Should you have any questions regarding this invoice, please contact the Annual Administering and Compliance Fee Coordinator at 919-707-3698. (Return This Portion With Check) ANNUAL PERMIT INVOICE Overdue Invoice Number: 2020PR009432 Permit Number: NCG551606 Durham County 914 Flanders Drive Israel Diaz Avila 914 Flanders Dr Durham, NC 27703 Annual Fee Period: 2020-11-01 to 2021-10-31 Invoice Date: 10/1/2020 Due Date: 10/31/2020 Annual Fee: $60.00 Check Number.