WQ0002052_Staff Report_20211012

State of North Carolina
Department of Environmental Quality
Division of Water Resources

Water Quality Permitting
Regional Staff Report

FORM: APSRSR 04-10 Page 1 of 4
October 12, 2021

To: DWR Water Quality Permitting Section Central Office Application No.: WQ0002052
Attn: Chloe Lloyd Regional Login No.:

From: Mikal Willmer
Asheville Regional Office
I. GENERAL SITE VISIT INFORMATION
a. Was a site visit conducted? Yes or
b. Date of site visit: September 23, 2020.
c. Site visit conducted by: Mikal Willmer.
d. Inspection report attached? Yes or No In LF.
e. Person contacted: Greg Marana and their contact information: 828-247-4300 (ext. 4313)
e. Driving directions:.Take I-40 E to exit 86 towards marion/Shelby. Continue on NC-226 S for 19 miles.
Milliken plant will be on left.
f.
II. PROPOSED FACILITIES FOR NEW AND MODIFICATION APPLICATIONS
1. Facility Classification: (Please attach completed rating sheet to be attached to issued permit)
2. Are the new treatment facilities adequate for the type of waste and disposal system? Yes or No
If no, explain:
3. Are site conditions (soils, depth to water table, etc) consistent with the submitted reports? Yes No N/A
If no, please explain:
4. Do the plans and site map represent the actual site (property lines, wells, etc.)? Yes No N/A
If no, please explain:
5. Is the proposed residuals management plan adequate? Yes No N/A
If no, please explain:
6. Are the proposed application rates (e.g., hydraulic, nutrient) acceptable? Yes No N/A
If no, please explain:
7. Are there any setback conflicts for proposed treatment, storage and disposal sites? Yes or No
If yes, attach a map showing conflict areas.
8. Is the proposed or existing groundwater monitoring program adequate? Yes No N/A
If no, explain and recommend any changes to the groundwater monitoring program:
9. For residuals, will seasonal or other restrictions be required? Yes No N/A
If yes, attach list of sites with restrictions (Certification B)

III. EXISTING FACILITIES FOR MODIFICATION AND RENEWAL APPLICATIONS
1. Are there appropriately certified Operators in Charge (ORCs) for the facility? Yes No N/A
ORC: Mike Fortenberry Certificate #:SI-27004 Backup ORC: Barbara Warlick Certificate #:SI-1003683
DocuSign Envelope ID: 41423DEF-50C9-454D-9ED8-00F98EDEBC21
FORM: APSRSR 04-10 Page 2 of 4
2. Are the design, maintenance and operation of the treatment facilities adequate for the type of waste and disposal
system? Yes or No
If no, please explain:
3. Are the site conditions (e.g., soils, topography, depth to water table, etc) maintained appropriately and adequately
assimilating the waste? Yes or .
If no, please explain:
4. Has the site changed in any way that may affect the permit (e.g., drainage added, new wells inside the compliance
boundary, new development, etc.)? Yes or No
If yes, please explain: Field acreage needs to be verified. Current annual application rate is based on 12.25
acres, now only 5.97 acres are in use.
5. Is the residuals management plan adequate? Yes or No
If no, please explain:
6. Are the existing application rates (e.g., hydraulic, nutrient) still acceptable? Yes or No
If no, please explain: .
7. Is the existing groundwater monitoring program adequate? Yes No N/A
If no, explain and recommend any changes to the groundwater monitoring program:
8. Are there any setback conflicts for existing treatment, storage and disposal sites? Yes or No
If yes, attach a map showing conflict areas. Milliken shut-off four spray heads when several homes were being
constructed near the property line in 1999. This was not a requirement of DWR as the facility was already
permitted. Facility staff reported there have been no additional property changes since then.
9. Is the description of the facilities as written in the existing permit correct? Yes or No
If no, please explain: .
10. Were monitoring wells properly constructed and located? Yes No N/A
If no, please explain:
11. Are the monitoring well coordinates correct in BIMS? Yes No N/A
If no, please complete the following (expand table if necessary): Appears permittee has MW-7’s Lat
incorrectly listed in the application. BIMS coordinates appear to be accurate.

Monitoring Well Latitude Longitude
○ ′ ″ - ○ ′ ″
○ ′ ″ - ○ ′ ″
○ ′ ″ - ○ ′ ″
○ ′ ″ - ○ ′ ″
○ ′ ″ - ○ ′ ″
12. Has a review of all self-monitoring data been conducted (e.g., NDMR, NDAR, GW)? Yes or No
Please summarize any findings resulting from this review: Soil fertility analyses and laboratory reports of
analysis were reviewed during the inspection. Facility analyzes effluent four times a year. Effluent NH3
numbers since 2018 ranged from <0.2 mg/L to 9.25 mg/L. NO3 <0.1 to 3.5 mg/L and Fecal has ranged 1
CFU/100 mL to 960. Facility is hydraulically limited, and soil fertility analysis typically recommends
additional nitrogen and phosphorus annually to maintain optimal crop health.
13. Are there any permit changes needed in order to address ongoing BIMS violations? Yes or No
If yes, please explain:

14. Check all that apply:
No compliance issues Current enforcement action(s) Currently under JOC
Notice(s) of violation Currently under SOC Currently under moratorium
Please explain and attach any documents that may help clarify answer/comments (i.e., NOV, NOD, etc.)
DocuSign Envelope ID: 41423DEF-50C9-454D-9ED8-00F98EDEBC21
FORM: APSRSR 04-10 Page 3 of 4
15. Have all compliance dates/conditions in the existing permit been satisfied? Yes No N/A
If no, please explain:
16. Are there any issues related to compliance/enforcement that should be resolved before issuing this permit?
Yes No N/A
If yes, please explain:
IV. REGIONAL OFFICE RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Do you foresee any problems with issuance/renewal of this permit? Yes or No
If yes, please explain:
2. List any items that you would like Non-Discharge Central Office to obtain through an additional information
request:
Item Reason
Clarify Useable Acreage
Facility was permitted at 57.2 in/yr based on 12.25 acres of useable irrigation
area. Recent facility maps list irrigation or “wetted” acreage as 5.97 acre. See
Section V. for details.

3. List specific permit conditions recommended to be removed from the permit when issued:
Condition Reason

4. List specific special conditions or compliance schedules recommended to be included in the permit when issued:
Condition Reason

5. Recommendation: Hold, pending receipt and review of additional information by regional office
Hold, pending review of draft permit by regional office
Issue upon receipt of needed additional information
Issue
Deny (Please state reasons: )

6. Signature of report preparer:

Signature of WQROS regional supervisor:

Date:

DocuSign Envelope ID: 41423DEF-50C9-454D-9ED8-00F98EDEBC21
10/12/2021
FORM: APSRSR 04-10 Page 4 of 4

V. ADDITIONAL REGIONAL STAFF REVIEW ITEMS
It was believed the discrepancy in acreage was due to Milliken shutting off 4 spray heads after several mobile
homes were constructed near the property line in the 90’s; however, based on calculations, this only accounted for
a total of 1.17 acres of irrigation area. If added back in this would only total 7.2 acres. Permittee needs to clarify
whether 12.25 acres are still available for irrigation. Currently no concerns of the field being hydraulically
overloaded as the permittee never approaches half the annual loading allowed by the permit and actively
maintains the field. Brett Laverty, ARO Hydrogeologist, has no recommended changes to the current ground
water monitoring.

DocuSign Envelope ID: 41423DEF-50C9-454D-9ED8-00F98EDEBC21