WQ0041136_NOVNOI2021LV0947_0948_20220110

Certified Mail # 7020 1290 0001 1766 8910
Return Receipt Requested

January 10, 2022

Chris Cervini, President
Cervini Farms North Carolina Inc
PO Box 32660
Detroit, MI 48232

SUBJECT: NOTICE OF VIOLATION
Tracking Number: NOV-2021-LV-0947 & NOV-2021-LV-0948
Permit No. WQ0041136
Cervini Farms WWTP
Henderson County

Dear Permittee:

A review of the September & October 2021 Non-Discharge Monitoring Reports (NDMRs) for the subject facility
revealed the violations indicated below:
September Limit Exceedance Violations (NOV-2021-LV-0947):
Sample Limit Reported
Location Parameter Date Value Value Type of Violation _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
001 BOD, 5-Day (20 Deg. C) 9/14/2021 10 12.6 Daily Maximum Exceeded
(00310) _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
001 Nitrogen, Ammonia Total (as 9/14/2021 2 5.7 Daily Maximum Exceeded
N) (00610) _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
001 BOD, 5-Day (20 Deg. C) 9/30/2021 5 12.6 Monthly Average Exceeded
(00310) _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
001 Nitrogen, Ammonia Total (as 9/30/2021 1 5.7 Monthly Average Exceeded
N) (00610) _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

DocuSign Envelope ID: 3A58B7EA-0B77-4027-AFA3-20E3075D3C77

October Limit Exceedance Violations (NOV-2021-LV-0948):
Sample Limit Reported
Location Parameter Date Value Value Type of Violation _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
001 BOD, 5-Day (20 Deg. C) 10/12/2021 10 17.8 Daily Maximum Exceeded
(00310) _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
001 Nitrogen, Ammonia Total (as 10/12/2021 2 5.4 Daily Maximum Exceeded
N) (00610) _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
001 BOD, 5-Day (20 Deg. C) 10/31/2021 5 17.8 Monthly Average Exceeded
(00310) _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
001 Nitrogen, Ammonia Total (as 10/31/2021 1 5.4 Monthly Average Exceeded
N) (00610) _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

DocuSign Envelope ID: 3A58B7EA-0B77-4027-AFA3-20E3075D3C77

A Notice of Violation/Intent to Issue Civil Penalty is being issued for the noted violation of North Carolina General
Statute (G.S.) 143-215.1 and the facility’s Non-discharge Permit. Pursuant to G.S. 143-215.6A, a civil penalty of
not more than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) may be assessed against any person who violates or
fails to act in accordance with the terms, conditions, or requirements of any permit issued pursuant to G.S.
143-215.1.

Corrective Actions:
Responses to Notices of Violation over the past year and during the site visit in October 2021 indicated the
operations firm has consulted the manufacturer and the design engineer regarding adjustments to the system and
have implemented all proposed operational adjustments to improve effluent numbers. Currently, the ARO is
requesting further investigation into the cause of the exceedances and the implementation of permanent corrective
action. This shall include but is not limited to assessment of any non-domestic wastewater that may be entering
the system from the hydroponics facility and assessment of whether additional treatment units, upstream or at the
treatment plant, are necessary to meet the required permit limits. An initial response with a proposed timeline for
the assessment is required to be submitted within 10 business days upon receipt. You will then be notified of any
civil penalties that may be assessed regarding the violations. If no response is received in this Office within
the 10-day period, a civil penalty assessment may be prepared.

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. If the violations are of a continuing nature, not related to operation and/or maintenance problems,
and you anticipate remedial construction activities, then you may wish to consider applying for a Special Order by
Consent.

Reminder: Pursuant to Permit Condition 6 in Section E, the Permittee is required to verbally notify the Regional
Office as soon as possible, not to exceed 24 hours, from first knowledge of any non-compliance at
the facility including limit violations, bypasses of, or failure of a treatment unit. A written report may
be required within 5 days if directed by Division staff. Prior notice should be given for anticipated or
potential problems due to planned maintenance activities, taking units off-line, etc.

If you have any questions concerning this matter or to apply for an SOC, please contact Mikal Willmer of the
Asheville Regional Office at 828-296-4686 or via email at [e-mail].

Sincerely,

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

Ec: LF
Chris Cervini, Lakeside Produce
Vamsi Krishna, Lakeside Produce
Sajeesh Nambiar, Lakeside Produce
Robert Barr, RPB Systems

DocuSign Envelope ID: 3A58B7EA-0B77-4027-AFA3-20E3075D3C77