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Home My WebLink AboutNC0057193_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_20210910 SENT VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL ONLY: NO HARD COPY WILL BE MAILED. September 10, 2021 Colin McBeath, President Nantahala Outdoor Center Email: colin.mcbeath@noc.com SUBJECT: Compliance Inspection Report Nantahala Outdoor Center NPDES WW Permit No. NC0057193 Swain County Dear Permittee: The North Carolina Division of Water Resources conducted an inspection of the Nantahala Outdoor Center on 8/18/2021. This inspection was conducted to verify that the facility is operating in compliance with the conditions and limitations specified in NPDES WW Permit No. NC0057193. The findings and comments noted during this inspection are provided in the enclosed copy of the inspection report entitled "Compliance Inspection Report". There were no significant issues or findings noted during the inspection and therefore, a response to this inspection report is not required. If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at 828-296-4667 or via email at lauren.armeni@ncdenr.gov. Sincerely, Lauren Armeni, Environmental Specialist Water Quality Regional Operations Section Asheville Regional Office Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ ATTACHMENTS: Inspection Report Ec: LF Dale Wike (ORC), Johnny Armstrong (NOC Facilities Manager) DocuSign Envelope ID: 1F383C6A-B6D7-4373-8938-45C9167AFAA0 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 NC0057193 21/08/18 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) Nantahala Outdoor Center 13077 US Hwy 19 Bryson City NC 287139114 Entry Time/Date Permit Effective Date Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date 10:00AM 21/08/18 17/12/01 Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) /// Dale Howard Wike/ORC/828-293-9396/ Other Facility Data 12:00PM 21/08/18 22/10/31 Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number Colin McBeath,13077 US 19 W Bryson City NC 28713//702-238-5018/Contacted No Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated) Permit Flow Measurement Operations & Maintenance Records/Reports Self-Monitoring Program Sludge Handling Disposal 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: 1F383C6A-B6D7-4373-8938-45C9167AFAA0 9/10/2021 9/10/2021 9/10/2021 NPDES yr/mo/day 21/08/18 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 Nantahala Outdoor Center WWTP on August 18, 2021. This inspection was conducted to determine whether the facility is being operated and maintained in compliance with NPDES Permit No. NC0057193. Dale Wike (ORC) and Andrew were present and assisted in the inspection. Overall, the facility appeared to be well-maintained and operated and no deficiencies were found. The following items were noted during the inspection: Record Keeping: There was no documentation of process controls. Recording process controls would allow operators to track operational changes that are effective at maintaining the WWTP. Please add process controls to the ORC logs. Sequencing Batch Reactors: There was still an excessive amount of foam in SBR #1. A hose is no longer used to remove the foam. Mr. Wike indicated that is not necessary because he is going to waste more from SBR #1 and that should help decrease the amount of foam. Mr. Wike also indicated that he wastes from both SBRs daily, which equates to approximately 4,000-6,000 gallons per week during peak season. Update: On August 24, 2021, Mr. Wike informed Ms. Armeni that there was virtually no foam in SBR #1, which he attributes to wasting all the old sludge out. MLSS results were as follows for August 19, 2021 - SBR#1: 3,320 mg/L and SBR #2: 4,440 mg/L. NC0057193 17 (Cont.) Page#2 DocuSign Envelope ID: 1F383C6A-B6D7-4373-8938-45C9167AFAA0 Permit:NC0057193 Inspection Date:08/18/2021 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Nantahala Outdoor Center 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 permit cover letter shows a Class 1 facility; however this facility is Class 2. Additionally, the permit description does not show a standby generator, and the facility utilizes a Kohler generator. These discrepancies will be addressed during the next permit renewal in 2022. Comment: Record Keeping Yes No NA NE Are records kept and maintained as required by the permit? Is all required information readily available, complete and current? Are all records maintained for 3 years (lab. reg. required 5 years)? Are analytical results consistent with data reported on DMRs? Is the chain-of-custody complete? Dates, times and location of sampling Name of individual performing the sampling Results of analysis and calibration Dates of analysis Name of person performing analyses Transported COCs Are DMRs complete: do they include all permit parameters? Has the facility submitted its annual compliance report to users and DWQ? (If the facility is = or > 5 MGD permitted flow) Do they operate 24/7 with a certified operator on each shift? Is the ORC visitation log available and current? Is the ORC certified at grade equal to or higher than the facility classification? Is the backup operator certified at one grade less or greater than the facility classification? Is a copy of the current NPDES permit available on site? Facility has copy of previous year's Annual Report on file for review? The NPDES permit was not available on site. Please have a hard copy of the permit on site. See summary for details. Comment: Page#3 DocuSign Envelope ID: 1F383C6A-B6D7-4373-8938-45C9167AFAA0 Permit:NC0057193 Inspection Date:08/18/2021 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Nantahala Outdoor Center Compliance Evaluation 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? Process controls include MLSS and a sludge judge.Comment: Bar Screens Yes No NA NE Type of bar screen a.Manual b.Mechanical Are the bars adequately screening debris? Is the screen free of excessive debris? Is disposal of screening in compliance? Is the unit in good condition? Comment: Pump Station - Influent Yes No NA NE Is the pump wet well free of bypass lines or structures? Is the wet well free of excessive grease? Are all pumps present? Are all pumps operable? Are float controls operable? Is SCADA telemetry available and operational? Is audible and visual alarm available and operational? The visual alarm was operational, but the audible alarm was not. Mr. Wike said SCADA telemetry is available, but it is not connected to his phone yet. Mr. Johnny Armstrong (Facilities Manager) said he is going to keep it connected to his phone for now. Comment: Sequencing Batch Reactors Yes No NA NE Type of operation:Duplex Is the reactor effluent free of solids? Does minimum fill time correspond to the peak hour flow rate of the facility? Is aeration and mixing cycled on and off during fill? The operator understands and can explain the process? Page#4 DocuSign Envelope ID: 1F383C6A-B6D7-4373-8938-45C9167AFAA0 Permit:NC0057193 Inspection Date:08/18/2021 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Nantahala Outdoor Center Compliance Evaluation Sequencing Batch Reactors Yes No NA NE The reactors were both mixing at the time of the inspection, so the reactor effluent could not be assessed. Both SBRs are on a 360 minute cycle. See summary for details. Comment: Equalization Basins Yes No NA NE Is the basin aerated? Is the basin free of bypass lines or structures to the natural environment? Is the basin free of excessive grease? Are all pumps present? Are all pumps operable? Are float controls operable? Are audible and visual alarms operable? # Is basin size/volume adequate? The post EQ Basin contains diffusers, but they are not used. Decant from the SBRs enters this EQ basin prior to entering the chlorine contact chamber. Audible and visual alarms do not currently work, but Mr. Wike said they will be fixed. To the right of the post EQ Basin is a surge tank for possible surge into the plant from the influent pump station. Comment: Aerobic Digester Yes No NA NE Is the capacity adequate? Is the mixing adequate? Is the site free of excessive foaming in the tank? # Is the odor acceptable? # Is tankage available for properly waste sludge? Mr. Wike said approximately 4,000-6,000 gallons of sludge is wasted from the SBRs to the digester each week during peak season (mid spring through summer), which is more than what was indicated on the 2019 CEI report. However, Mr. Wike said the capacity of the digester is adequate. Mr. Wike has not been ORC for the off-season yet. Sids Septic hauls 2,000 gallons of sludge from the digester weekly or bi-weekly, depending on need. Comment: Disinfection-Tablet Yes No NA NE Are tablet chlorinators operational? Are the tablets the proper size and type? Number of tubes in use?1 Is the level of chlorine residual acceptable? Is the contact chamber free of growth, or sludge buildup? Page#5 DocuSign Envelope ID: 1F383C6A-B6D7-4373-8938-45C9167AFAA0 Permit:NC0057193 Inspection Date:08/18/2021 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Nantahala Outdoor Center Compliance Evaluation Disinfection-Tablet Yes No NA NE Is there chlorine residual prior to de-chlorination? Two chlorination tubes are available if needed. Solids in the chlorine contact chamber are pumped once a month into the digester. Comment: De-chlorination Yes No NA NE Type of system ?Liquid Is the feed ratio proportional to chlorine amount (1 to 1)? Is storage appropriate for cylinders? # Is de-chlorination substance stored away from chlorine containers? Comment: Are the tablets the proper size and type? Are tablet de-chlorinators operational? Number of tubes in use? Comment: Flow Measurement - Effluent Yes No NA NE # Is flow meter used for reporting? Is flow meter calibrated annually? Is the flow meter operational? (If units are separated) Does the chart recorder match the flow meter? Calibration is being conducted by Laboratory Instrument Service annually. The next calibration is due August 25, 2022. The meter has a strip chart, and Mr. Wike stated the charts are kept in the storage building on site. 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 Nantahala River was up the day of the inspection because of an intense rainfall the day before. Mr. Wike said he did not know where the effluent pipe was, but would locate it when the river went down. On September 9, 2021, Mr. Wike located the effluent pipe and sent a confirmation video to Ms. Armeni of the pipe and the receiving stream. Comment: Effluent Sampling Yes No NA NE Is composite sampling flow proportional? Page#6 DocuSign Envelope ID: 1F383C6A-B6D7-4373-8938-45C9167AFAA0 Permit:NC0057193 Inspection Date:08/18/2021 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Nantahala Outdoor Center Compliance Evaluation Effluent Sampling Yes No NA NE Is sample collected below all treatment units? Is proper volume collected? 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)? There was no thermometer in the sampler at the time of the inspection. Mr. Wike said a thermometer has already been ordered, and a receipt confirmed this. The thermometer was delivered on 08/27/2021. Comment: Standby Power Yes No NA NE Is automatically activated standby power available? Is the generator tested by interrupting primary power source? Is the generator tested under load? Was generator tested & operational during the inspection? Do the generator(s) have adequate capacity to operate the entire wastewater site? Is there an emergency agreement with a fuel vendor for extended run on back-up power? Is the generator fuel level monitored? The fuel level was full at the time of the inspection. Mr. Armstrong indicated that a new generator would be installed in October 2021 and will be larger than the current one. A 3,000-gallon fuel tank is on the Nantahala Outdoor Center property, and can be shuttled to the generator as needed. The generator is serviced twice a year by Allan Dearth Sons Generators Sales & Service Inc. Comment: Page#7 DocuSign Envelope ID: 1F383C6A-B6D7-4373-8938-45C9167AFAA0