NCG520108_NOD2021OC0476_20210924

SENT VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL ONLY: NO HARD COPY WILL BE MAILED

September 24, 2021

David Hoffman, VP
Email: [e-mail]

SUBJECT: NOTICE OF DEFICIENCY
Tracking Number: NOD-2021-PC-0476
Permit No. NCG520108
Caldwell Pit
Caldwell County

Dear Permittee:

The North Carolina Division of Water Resources conducted an inspection of the Caldwell Pit on September 2,
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. NCG520108. 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 deficiency(s) was noted during the inspection:
Inspection Area Description of Deficiency _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Upstream / Downstream Required semi-annual flow and turbidity monitoring records were not provided during
Sampling inspection upon request. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
In addition, the issues below must also be addressed:

Compliance Issue(s):

Required warning signs in their current upland placement cannot be seen by canoeists and other
recreational water users on the river.
DocuSign Envelope ID: DC14B634-3163-4C14-85CE-6F2A6FE7E6E9

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, carefully review these deficiencies and address the causes of
non-compliance to prevent the recurrence of similar situations.
If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mitchell Anderson with the Water Quality
Regional Operations Section in the Asheville Regional Office at 828-296-4500.

Sincerely,

G. Landon Davidson, P.G., Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Asheville Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ

ATTACHMENTS: Asheville Regional Office inspection report

Ec: Laserfiche - WaterResources\DWR - Water Quality Permitting\Asheville\NPDES WW\NCG520108\2021
DocuSign Envelope ID: DC14B634-3163-4C14-85CE-6F2A6FE7E6E9
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 NCG520108 21/09/02 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)
Caldwell Pit
2903 Rocky Rd
Lenoir NC 28645
Entry Time/Date Permit Effective Date
Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date
10:15AM 21/09/02 21/03/01
Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s)
///
Other Facility Data
11:00AM 21/09/02 25/07/31
Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number
David Hoffman,711 Complex Pl Lenoir NC 28645//828-754-5582/8287540188 Contacted
Yes
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
Mitchell L Anderson 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: DC14B634-3163-4C14-85CE-6F2A6FE7E6E9
9/24/2021
9/24/2021
NPDES yr/mo/day
21/09/02
Inspection Type
C3111218
1
Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary)
On September 02, 2021, Mitchell Anderson and Brett Laverty from the Asheville Regional Office of
the Division of Water Resources (DWR) conducted a Compliance Evaluation Inspection of the sand
dredging operation, “Caldwell Pit” site, located off Rocky Rd along Lower Creek in Gamewell, NC
(NCPIN #: 2737193156). An employee (Lloyd) of Hoffman Paving & Grading was present during the
inspection. There was no dredging the day of the inspection.
During the site inspection, staff observed that the area around the long-armed track hoe and
stockpiled sand slopes away from the stream and appears to be redirecting effluent into adjacent
pasture and fields. Vegetated sand berms at the top of bank also prevent effluent from returning to
Lower Creek.
The streambank along Lower Creek appears to be overly steep as a result of dredging, but show no
obvious signs of erosion or bank failure. The operator is having some difficulty keeps cows from
accessing the stream through his dredge operation.
Two warning signs with black text on a white background were located upstream and downstream of
the dredge operation. However, signs in their current placement cannot be seen by canoeists and
other recreational water users on the river.
The permittee shall install warning signs, one on each side of the receiving stream(s), a short
distance upstream of the sand dredging operation to warn canoeists and other recreational water
users of the operation. The signs should include the following wording in 2 to 3-inch high white letters
on a red background:
CAUTION: SAND MINING OPERATION AHEAD
CRANES, FLOATS AND/OR SUBMERGED CABLES ACROSS RIVER.
BEACHING ON OR ACCESS TO SAND DREDGING SITE IS PROHIBITED.
Visibility of the signs should be maintained as necessary.
Required semi-annual flow and turbidity monitoring records were not provided during inspection upon
request. Lloyd indicated the semi-annual turbidity monitoring and the semi-annual flow estimates
were not completed for this site during the previous permit cycle. The ARO will be issuing a notice of
deficiency for failure to conduct the required monitoring.
NCG520108 17 (Cont.)
Page#2
DocuSign Envelope ID: DC14B634-3163-4C14-85CE-6F2A6FE7E6E9
Permit:NCG520108
Inspection Date:09/02/2021
Owner - Facility:
Inspection Type:
Caldwell Pit
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?
Two warning signs with black text on a white background were located upstream and
downstream of the dredge operation. Signs in their current placement cannot be seen
by canoeists and other recreational water users on the river.
Comment:
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?
Comment:
Upstream / Downstream Sampling Yes No NA NE
Is the facility sampling performed as required by the permit (frequency, sampling type,
and sampling location)?
Required semi-annual flow and turbidity monitoring records were not provided during
inspection upon request.
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?
Comment:
Page#3
DocuSign Envelope ID: DC14B634-3163-4C14-85CE-6F2A6FE7E6E9