WQCS00254_Permit (Issuance)_20130807

North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Division of Water Resources
Water Quality Programs
Pat McCrory Thomas A. Reeder John E. Skvarla, III
Governor Director Secretary
August 7, 2013
The Honorable Spruell Britt, Mayor
Town of Fair Bluff
PO Box 157
Fair Bluff, NC 284390157
Subject: Permit No. WQCS00254
Town of Fair Bluff
Fair Bluff Collection System
Columbus County
Dear Spruell Britt:
In accordance with your application received July 26th, 2013, and we are forwarding herewith
Permit No. WQCS00254, dated August 7, 2013, to the Town of Fair Bluff for the operation and
maintenance of the subject wastewater collection system.
This permit shall be effective from August 7tt', 2013 until May 31St, 2021 and shall be subject to
the conditions and limitations specified herein. It is your responsibility to thoroughly review this
permit. Please pay particular attention to the monitoring and reporting requirements in this
permit and any compliance schedules shown in bold.
For purposes of permitting, the collection system is considered to be any existing or newly
installed system extension up to the wastewater treatment facy property or point of connection
with a separately owned sewer system. The collection system is considered all gravity lines,
pump stations, force mains, low pressure sewer systems, STEP systems, vacuum systems, etc,
and associated piping, valves and appurtenances that help to collect, manage and transport
wastewater to a wastewater treatment plant under the Permittee's ownership or maintained and
operated by the Permittee through a perpetual legal agreement. Satellite systems are systems
tributary to the Permittee's collection system but those collection systems are not owned or
maintained by the Permittee. The system description provided on Page 1 of this permit is meant
to provide a general idea about the size of the system and may not be all inclusive of the
collection system at the time of permit issuance or afterward.
A release of wastewater from the wastewater collection system is referred to herein as a Sanitary
Sewer Overflow (SSO). The evaluation of enforcement options after an SSO will be determined
1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
Location: 512 N. Salisbury St. Raleigh, North Carolina 27604
Phone: [phone] \ FAX: [phone]
Intemet: www.ncwaterouality.orp
An Equal Opportunity 1 Affirmative Action Employer
One
NthCarolina

Town of Fair Bluff
August 7, 2013
Page 2 of 3
considering the criteria listed in condition I(3)(a) and I(3)(b) of the permit and all other relevant
information available or requested of the Permittee. Compliance with all conditions of the
permit as well as all statutes and regulations pertaining to the collection system must be
maintained or appropriate enforcement actions may be taken as noted in Condition VI(2).
A reportable SSO is an SSO greater than 1,000 gallons to the ground or an SSO of any amount
that reaches surface water (including through ditches, storm drains, etc.) Below is the procedure
to use for reporting SSOs to the Division:
1. Report by telephone to a Division of Water Resources (DWR) staff member (not email,
facsimile, or voicemail) at your regional DWR office during regular business hours
(Monday to Friday, 8AM to 5PM) as soon as possible, but in no case more than 24 hours
after the SSO is known or discovered. To report outside of regular business hours, call
[phone].
2. Follow up the verbal report by sending a completed written report on the most current
Division approved form within five days.
To provide a uniform method for all systems covered under this permit and to provide useful and
consistent information pertaining to SSOs, please utilize form CS-SSO consisting of two parts.
Part I serves to provide to the Division the required information that has always been necessary.
Part II serves as an area to provide a justification for the spill, as optional under Condition I(3) of
your permit. Form CS-SSO can be downloaded from the SSO Reporting area at
http://portal nedenr or web/wg/swp/ps/es/ssorep rrto
An NOV, civil penalty, and/or a moratorium on the addition of waste to the system may be
issued if adequate justification for an SSO is NOT submitted to the regional office. In order to
submit a claim for justification of an SSO, you must use Form CS-SSO with additional
documentation as necessary. DWR staff will review the justification claim and determine if
enforcement action is appropriate. Please be advised that the information needed to justify a spill
is very comprehensive. Begin using this form immediately to report SSOs from the collection
system. Continue to use our old form for reporting bypasses at the wastewater treatment plant
until further notice. The time frame for submittal of both Part I and Part II, if pertinent, is five
days.
Failure to abide by the conditions in this permit may subject the Permittee to enforcement action.
If any parts, requirements, or limitations contained in this permit are unacceptable, you have the
right to request an adjudicatory hearing upon written request within thirty days following the
receipt of this permit. This request must be in the form of a written petition, conforming to
Chapter 150B of the North Carolina General Statutes, and filed with the Office of Administrative
Hearings, 6714 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-6714. Unless such demands are made,
this permit shall be final and binding.

Town of Fair Bluff
August 7, 2013
Page 3 of 3
If you have questions regarding compliance contact your regional office or the Pretreatment,
Emergency Response and Collection Systems Unit of the North Carolina Division of Water
Resources at [phone]. If you need additional information concerning this permit, please
contact Michael Leggett at [phone].
Sincerely,
for Thomas A. Reeder
Division of Water Resources
by Deborah Gore, Supervisor
Pretreatment, Emergency Response, Collection System Unit
enclosure: Permit No. WQCS00254
cc: Columbus County Health Department
Barry King, PE — Engineer ([e-mail])
Wilmington Regional Office, Surface Water Protection Section
Water Resources Central Files - WQCS00254
Steve Reid, NPDES — Compliance & Expedited Permitting Unit (electronic)
PERCS Files (electronic)

NORTH CAROLINA
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
RALEIGH
SYSTEM -WIDE WASTEWATER COLLECTION SYSTEM PERMIT
In accordance with the provisions of Article 21 of Chapter 143, General Statutes of
North Carolina as amended, and other applicable Laws, Rules, and Regulations
PERMISSION IS HEREBY GRANTED TO THE
Town of Fair Bluff
Columbus County
FOR THE
operation and maintenance of a wastewater collection system consisting of, at the time of permit
issuance, approximately 10.28 miles of gravity sewer, approximately 7.5 miles of force main, 6
duplex pump stations, and all associated piping, valves, and appurtenances required to make a
complete and operational wastewater collection system to serve the Town of Fair Bluff and any
deemed permitted satellite communities, pursuant to the application received July 26th, 2013,
and in conformity with the documents referenced therein and other supporting data
subsequently filed and approved by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and
considered a part of this permit.
This permit shall be effective from August 7th, 2013 until May 31St, 2021 and shall be subject to
the following specified conditions and limitations:
1. The sewage and wastewater collected by this system shall be treated in the Town of
Fairmont Wastewater Treatment Facility (NC0086550) prior to being disposed into the
receiving stream. This collection system permit will be referenced upon renewal or
modification of your NPDES permit(s).
2. The wastewater collection system shall be effectively managed, maintained and
operated at all times so that there is no SSO to land or surface waters, nor any
contamination of groundwater. In the event that the wastewater collection system fails to
perform satisfactorily, including the creation of nuisance conditions, the Permittee shall
take immediate corrective actions, including actions that may be required by the Division
of Water Resources (Division), such as the construction of additional or replacement
sewer lines and/or equipment.

3. The Director may take enforcement action against the Permittee for SSOs that must be
reported to the Division as stipulated in Condition IV(2). This includes SSOs that were
caused by severe natural conditions or exceptional events unless the Permittee
demonstrates through properly signed, contemporaneous operating logs, or other
relevant evidence that:
a. The SSO was caused by severe natural conditions; there were no feasible
alternatives to the SSO, such as the use of auxiliary treatment facilities, retention
of untreated wastewater, reduction of inflow and infiltration, use of adequate
back-up equipment, or an increase in the capacity of the system. This provision
is not satisfied if, in the exercise of reasonable engineering judgment, the
Permittee should have installed auxiliary or additional collection system
components, wastewater retention or treatment facilities, adequate back-up
equipment or should have reduced inflow and infiltration; or
b. The SSO was exceptional, unintentional, temporary and caused by factors
beyond the reasonable control of the Permittee; the SSO could not have been
prevented by the exercise of reasonable control, such as proper management,
operation and maintenance; adequate treatment facilities or collection system
facilities or components (e.g., adequately enlarging treatment or collection
facilities to accommodate growth or adequately controlling and preventing
infiltration and inflow); preventive maintenance; or installation of adequate back-
up equipment;
The Permittee can submit a claim to the Division Regional Office that the SSO meets the
criteria of this condition. The Permittee has the option of submitting this claim along with
the spill report required by Condition IV(2) (i.e., within five days) in order to be
considered for immunity from enforcement action. Form CS-SSO Part II, or most current
Division approved form, shall be used for any claims. The Permittee has the burden of
proof that the above criteria have been met.
4. The Permittee shall establish by ordinance its legal authority to require new sewers be
properly constructed; to ensure proper inspection and testing of sewer mains and
service laterals; to address flows from satellite systems and to take enforcement action
as required by Condition 1(5).
5. The Permittee shall develop and implement an educational fats, oils and grease program
that shall include at least bi-annual distribution of educational material targeted at both
residential and non-residential users. The Permittee shall also develop and implement
an enforceable fats, oils and grease program for non-residential users under which the
Permittee can take enforcement against users who have not properly installed, operated
and maintained grease traps or grease interceptors as directed or otherwise violated the
terms of the local ordinance pertaining to fats, oils and grease.
6. The Permittee shall adopt and implement a Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) to designate
funding for reinvestment into the wastewater collection system infrastructure. The CIP
should address the short-term needs and long-term "master plan" concepts. The CIP
should typically cover a three to five year period and include a goal statement,
description of the project area, description of the existing facilities, known deficiencies
(over a reasonable period) and forecasted future needs. Cost analysis is integral to the
CIP.

7. Existing overflow piping from manholes and pump stations, excluding piping to approved
equalization structures, known or discovered after permit issuance shall be immediately
removed or permanently capped. Plugged emergency pumping connections are
allowable for portable pumping or rerouting without intentionally bypassing the
wastewater treatment facility.
8. The Permittee shall maintain a contingency plan for pump failure Clt each pump station.
If one of the pumps in a pump station containing multiple pumps fails, the process of
repairing or replacing the pump shall be initiated immediately and the new parts or pump
shall be installed as soon as possible. If the pump in a simplex pump station fails, it
shall be replaced immediately.
9. Each pump station shall be clearly and conspicuously posted with a pump station
identifier and an emergency contact telephone number at which an individual who can
initiate or perform emergency service for the wastewater collection system 24 hours per
day, seven days per week can be contacted. This emergency contact telephone number
shall be coupled with instructions that the emergency contact should be called if the
visual alarm illuminates, if the audible alarm sounds, or if an emergency is apparent.
10. Pump station sites, equipment and components shall have restricted access, per 15A
NCAC 02T .305(h)(4).
11. Pump stations that do not employ an automatic polling feature (i.e. routine contact with
pump stations from a central location to check operational status of the communication
system) shall have both audible and visual high water alarms. The alarms shall be
weather-proof and placed in a clear and conspicuous location. Permits issued for the
construction of pump stations that included high water alarms in the description must
maintain the alarms even if simple telemetry (i.e. notification of an alarm condition
initiated by the pump station control feature) is installed.
12. For all newly constructed, modified and rehabilitated pump stations, all equipment and
components located within the pump station shall be corrosion -resistant and
components in close proximity of the pump station shall be sealed within a corrosion -
resistant coating or encasement.
13. All construction and rehabilitation of the wastewater collection system (i.e., permitted or
deemed permitted) shall be scheduled to minimize the interruption of service by the
existing utilities. Construction and rehabilitation shall not result in the violation of
Condition (1)(2) of this permit.
II. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS
1. Upon classification of the collection system by the Water Pollution Control System
Operators Certification Commission (WPCSOCC), the Permittee shall designate and
employ a certified operator to be in responsible charge (ORC) and one or more certified
operator(s) to be back-up ORC(s) of the facilities in accordance with 15A NCAC 8G
.0201. The ORC shall visit the system within 24 hours of knowledge of a bypass, spill,
or overflow of wastewater from the system, unless visited by the Back -Up ORC, and
shall comply with all other conditions of 15A NCAC 8G .0204.
2. The Permittee shall develop and adhere to a schedule for reviewing all inspection,
maintenance, operational and complaint logs. If the review process results in the

identification of any recurring problem in the wastewater collection system that cannot be
resolved in a short time period, the Permittee shall establish a plan for addressing the
problem(s).
3. The Permittee shall develop and adhere to a schedule for testing emergency and
standby equipment.
4. The Permittee shall develop and implement a routine pump station inspection and
maintenance program, which shall include, but not be limited to, the following
maintenance activities:
a. Cleaning and removing debris from the pump station structure, outside perimeter,
and wet well;
b. Inspecting and exercising all valves;
c. Inspecting and lubricating pumps and other mechanical equipment according to
the manufacturer's recommendations; and
d. Verifying the proper operation of the alarms, telemetry system and auxiliary
equipment.
5. For each pump station without pump reliability (i.e. simplex pump stations serving more
than a single building or pump stations not capable of pumping at a rate of 2.5 times the
average daily flow rate with the largest pump out of service), at least one fully
operational spare pump capable of pumping peak flow shall be maintained on hand.
6. The Permittee shall maintain on hand at least two percent of the number of pumps
installed, but no less than two pumps, that discharge to a pressure sewer and serve a
single building, unless the Permittee has the ability to purchase and install a
replacement pump within 24 hours of first knowledge of the simplex pump failure or
within the storage capacity provided in any sewer line extension permit.
7. Rights -of -way and/or easements shall be properly maintained to allow accessibility to the
wastewater collection system unless the Permittee can demonstrate the ability to gain
temporary access in an emergency situation where existing land -use conditions do not
allow the establishment and maintenance of permanent access. In this case, the
Permittee shall continue to observe the lines visually, utilize remote inspection methods
(e.g. CCTV) and use the opportunity of drier conditions to perform further inspections
and necessary maintenance.
8. The Permittee shall assess cleaning needs, and develop and implement a program for
appropriately cleaning, whether by hydraulic or mechanical methods, all sewer lines. At
least 10 percent of the wastewater collection system, selected at the discretion of the
ORC, shall be cleaned each year. Preventative cleaning is not required for sewer lines
less than five years old unless inspection otherwise reveals the need for cleaning or
cleaning is required by a sewer line extension permit.
9. Adequate measures shall be taken to contain and properly dispose of materials
associated with SSOs. The Permittee shall maintain a Response Action Plan that
addresses the following minimum items:
a. Contact phone numbers for 24-hour response, including weekends and holidays;
b. Response time;
c. Equipment list and spare parts inventory;

d. Access to cleaning equipment;
e. Access to construction crews, contractors and/or engineers;
f. Source(s) of emergency funds;
g. Site sanitation and clean up materials; and
h. Post-SSO assessment.
10. The Permittee, or their authorized representative, shall conduct an on -site evaluation for
all SSOs as soon as possible, but no more than two hours after first knowledge of the
SSO.
11. In the event of an SSO or blockage within
Permittee shall restore the system operation,
any ground area and restore the surroundings.
III. RECORDS
the wastewater collection system, the
remove visible solids and paper, sanitize
1. Records shall be maintained to document compliance with Conditions I(5), II(2) - II(4),
II(7) - II(8), IV(3) and V(1) -V(4). Records shall be kept on file for a minimum of three
years.
2. The Permittee shall maintain adequate records pertaining to SSOs, and complaints for a
minimum of three years. These records shall include, but are not limited to, the following
information:
a. Date of SSO or complaint;
b. Volume of wastewater released as a result of the SSO and/or nature of
complaint;
c. Location of the SSO and/or complaint;
d. Estimated duration of the SSO;
e. Individual from the Division who was informed about the SSO and/or complaint,
when applicable;
f. Final destination of the SSO;
g. Corrective actions;
h. Known environmental/human health impacts resulting from the SSO; and
i. How the SSO was discovered.
3. The Permittee shall maintain an up-to-date, accurate, comprehensive map of its
wastewater collection system that also notes the locations where other wastewater
collection systems become tributary. If a comprehensive map of the collection system
has not been established, a rough sketch shall be drawn. The Permittee shall map
approximately 10 percent of its existing collection system each year for the next ten
years beginning at the original permit issuance date, or until complete, whichever is
sooner. The comprehensive map shall include, but is not limited to: pipe size, pipe
material, pipe location, flow direction, approximate pipe age, number of active service
taps, and each pump station identification, location and capacity.
4. The Permittee shall maintain records of all of the modifications and extensions to the
collection system permitted herein. The Permittee shall maintain a copy of ,the
construction record drawings and specifications for modifications/extensions to the
wastewater collection system for the life of the modification/extension. Information
concerning the extension shall be incorporated into the map of the wastewater collection
system within one year of the completion of construction. The system description

contained within this permit shall be updated to include this modification/extension
information upon permit renewal.
IV. MONITORING AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
1. Any monitoring (including, but not necessarily limited to, wastewater flow, groundwater,
surface water, soil or plant tissue analyses) deemed necessary by the Division to ensure
surface water and groundwater protection will be established, and an acceptable
sampling and reporting schedule shall be followed.
2. The Permittee shall verbally report to a Division of Water Resources staff member at the
Wilmington Regional Office, at telephone number 910-796=7215 as soon as possible,
but in no case more than 24 hours following the occurrence or first knowledge of the
occurrence of either of the following:
a. Any SSO and/or spill over 1,000 gallons; or
b. Any SSO and/or spill, regardless of volume, that reaches surface water.
Voice mail messages or faxed information shall not be considered as the initial verbal
report. SSOs (and other types of spills) occurring outside normal business hours may
also be reported to the Division of Emergency Management at telephone number (800)
858-0368 or [phone]. Persons reporting any of the above occurrences shall file
a spill report by completing Part I of Form CS-SSO (or the most current Division
approved form), within five days following first knowledge of the occurrence. This report
shall outline the actions taken or proposed to ensure that the problem does not recur.
Per Condition 1(3), Part II of Form CS-SSO (or the most current Division approved form)
can also be completed to show that the SSO was beyond control.
3. The Permittee shall meet the annual reporting and notification requirements provided in
North Carolina General Statute §143-215.1C.
V. INSPECTIONS
1. The Permittee or the Permittee's designee shall inspect the wastewater collection
system regularly to reduce the risk of malfunctions and deterioration, operator errors,
and other issues that may cause
or lead to the release of wastes to the environment,
2. Pump stations without Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems or
telemetry shall be inspected everyday (i.e. 365 days per year). Pump stations equipped
with SCADA systems or telemetry shall be inspected at least once per week.
3. A general observation of the entire collection system shall be performed throughout the
course of every year.
4. Inspections of all high priority lines (i.e. aerial line, sub -waterway crossing, line
contacting surface waters, siphon, line positioned parallel to stream banks that are
subject to eroding in such a manner that may threaten the sewer line, or line designated
as high -priority in a permit) shall be performed at least once per every six-month period

of time. A list of high -priority lines is presented as Attachment A and is hereby
incorporated into this permit condition. New high priority lines installed or identified after
permit issuance are incorporated by reference and subject to this permit condition until
permit renewal where they shall be referenced in writing in Attachment A.
No High Priority Lines at Time of Permit Issuance
VI. GENERAL CONDITIONS
1. This permit is not transferable. In the event that the Permittee desires to transfer
ownership of the wastewater collection system or there is a name change of the
Permittee, a formal permit modification request shall be submitted to the Division. The
request shall be accompanied by documentation from the parties involved, and other
supporting materials as may be appropriate. Such request will be considered on its
merits and may or may not be approved.
2. Failure to abide by the conditions and limitations contained in this permit may subject the
Permittee to an enforcement action by the Division in accordance with North Carolina
General Statute §143-215.6A through §143-215.6C, and a sewer moratorium°may be
established.
3. The issuance of this permit does not exempt the Permittee from complying with any and
all statutes, rules, regulations, or ordinances that may be imposed by other government
agencies (i.e., local, state, and federal) having jurisdiction, including but not limited to
applicable river buffer rules in 15A NCAC 2B .0200, soil erosion and sedimentation
control requirements in 15A NCAC Chapter 4 and under the Division's General Permit
NCG010000, and any requirements pertaining to wetlands under 15A NCAC 2B .0200
and 15A NCAC 02T .0100 and all applicable North Carolina Occupational Safety and
Health Act health and safety standards.
4. The issuance of this permit does not prohibit the Division from reopening and modifying
the permit, revoking and reissuing the permit or terminating the permit as allowed by the
laws, rules, and regulations contained in 15A NCAC 02T .0100 and North Carolina
General Statute §143-215.1 et. al., or as needed to address changes in federal regulations
with respect to the wastewater collection system.
5. The Permittee shall pay the annual fee within thirty (30) days after being billed by the
Division. Failure to pay the fee accordingly may cause the Division to initiate action to
revoke this permit as specified by 15A NCAC 02T .0110(4).
6. The Permittee shall request renewal of this permit at least six months prior to the
expiration of this permit. Upon receipt of the request, the Commission will review the
adequacy of the wastewater collection system described therein, and if warranted, will
extend the permit for a period of time and under such conditions and limitations, as the
Commission may deem appropriate.
7. The Permittee shall notify the Division's Pretreatment, Emergency Response and
Collection Systems Unit in writing at 1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina
27699-1617 of any changes to the name and/or address of the responsible party (i.e,
mayor, city/town manager) of the wastewater collection system.

8. Any duly authorized officer, employee, or representative of the Division may, upon
presentation of credentials, enter and inspect any property, premises or place on or
related to the collection system at any reasonable time for the purpose of determining
compliance with this permit, may inspect or copy any records that must be maintained
under the terms and conditions of this permit, and may obtain samples of wastewater,
groundwater, surface water, soil, or plant tissue.
9. This permit shall become voidable unless the agreement between Town of Fair Bluff and
The Town of Fairmont for the collection and final treatment of wastewater is in full force
and effect.
Permit issued this the 7t" of August, 2013
NORTH CAROLINA ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
for Thomas A. Reeder
Division of Water Resources
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
by Deborah Gore, Supervisor
Pretreatment, Emergency Response, Collection System Unit
Permit Number WQCS00254 (Renewal)