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Home My WebLink AboutNC0061123_NOD2022PC0108 & CEI Report_20220707 SENT VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL ONLY: NO HARD COPY WILL BE MAILED. July 07, 2022 Stephanie Anderson, Executive Director The Mountain Retreat & Learning Center Email: steph.anderson@themountainrlc.org . SUBJECT: NOTICE OF DEFICIENCY Tracking Number: NOD-2022-PC-0108 Permit No. NC0061123 The Mountain Retreat & Learning Center WWTP Macon County Dear Permittee: The North Carolina Division of Water Resources conducted an inspection of the The Mountain Retreat & Learning Center WWTP on June 28, 2022. This inspection was conducted to verify that the facility is operating in compliance with the conditions and limitations specified in NPDES WW Permit No. NC0061123. 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 was noted during the inspection: Inspection Area Description of Deficiency _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Sand Filters (Low rate) At the time of the inspection, parts of the upper sand filter were ponding, and algae was visible. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ DocuSign Envelope ID: 8D513264-A9EC-4D24-8E4B-02DEB5DB99E1 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 Lauren Armeni with the Water Quality Regional Operations Section in the Asheville Regional Office at 828-296-4500. Sincerely, Daniel Boss, Assistant Regional Supervisor Water Quality Regional Operations Section Asheville Regional Office Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ ATTACHMENTS: Inspection Report Ec: Laserfiche Travis Farmer (ORC – Environmental Inc.) DocuSign Envelope ID: 8D513264-A9EC-4D24-8E4B-02DEB5DB99E1 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 NC0061123 22/06/28 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) The Mountain Retreat & Learning Center WWTP 3872 Dillard Rd Highlands NC 28741 Entry Time/Date Permit Effective Date Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date 10:00AM 22/06/28 17/11/01 Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) /// Other Facility Data 11:30AM 22/06/28 22/08/31 Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number Stephanie Anderson,PO Box 1299 Highlands NC 287411299/Execuitve Director/828-526-5838/ Contacted No Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated) Permit Flow Measurement Operations & Maintenance Records/Reports 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 Lauren E Armeni 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: 8D513264-A9EC-4D24-8E4B-02DEB5DB99E1 7/7/2022 7/7/2022 NPDES yr/mo/day 22/06/28 Inspection Type C3111218 1 Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) Lauren Armeni, with the Asheville Regional Office, conducted a Compliance Evaluation Inspection of The Mountain Retreat & Learning Center WWTP on June 28, 2022. This inspection was conducted to determine whether the facility is being operated and maintained in compliance with NPDES Permit No. NC0061123. Travis Farmer (ORC - Environmental Inc.) and Steph Anderson (Executive Director) were present during the inspection. The facility consists of septic tanks and two surface sand filters (upper and lower). The system discharges approximately twice per year during the busiest months in July and August. Previous inspection reports indicated that a subsurface system may be a better option because the system discharges so infrequently. Converting the current system to a subsurface system that does not discharge is still a viable option. Sand Filters: Mr. Farmer indicated that the sand filters are raked once a month and flow to the filters are alternated each year. At the time of the inspection, parts of the upper sand filter were ponding, and algae was visible. The following deficiency was noted during the inspection: 1. Sand Filters: At the time of the inspection, parts of the upper sand filter were ponding and algae was visible. NC0061123 17 (Cont.) Page#2 DocuSign Envelope ID: 8D513264-A9EC-4D24-8E4B-02DEB5DB99E1 Permit:NC0061123 Inspection Date:06/28/2022 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: The Mountain Retreat & Learning Center WWTP 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? Comment: 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? The facility consists of multiple septic tanks and two surface sand filters.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? Page#3 DocuSign Envelope ID: 8D513264-A9EC-4D24-8E4B-02DEB5DB99E1 Permit:NC0061123 Inspection Date:06/28/2022 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: The Mountain Retreat & Learning Center WWTP Compliance Evaluation Record Keeping Yes No NA NE Is a copy of the current NPDES permit available on site? Facility has copy of previous year's Annual Report on file for review? Comment: Septic Tank Yes No NA NE (If pumps are used) Is an audible and visual alarm operational? Is septic tank pumped on a schedule? Are pumps or syphons operating properly? Are high and low water alarms operating properly? Mr. Farmer stated that some of the tanks were last pumped in 2018. The two dosing tanks were pumped in April 2022. Comment: Sand Filters (Low rate)Yes No NA NE (If pumps are used) Is an audible and visible alarm Present and operational? Is the distribution box level and watertight? Is sand filter free of ponding? Is the sand filter effluent re-circulated at a valid ratio? # Is the sand filter surface free of algae or excessive vegetation? # Is the sand filter effluent re-circulated at a valid ratio? (Approximately 3 to 1) There are two surface sand filters at this facility. The lower sand filter was not being used at the time of the inspection. Flow was directed to the upper sand filter, and some ponding and algae were visible. See summary for details. Comment: Disinfection-Tablet Yes No NA NE Are tablet chlorinators operational? Are the tablets the proper size and type? Number of tubes in use?2 Is the level of chlorine residual acceptable? Is the contact chamber free of growth, or sludge buildup? Is there chlorine residual prior to de-chlorination? Comment: De-chlorination Yes No NA NE Type of system ?Tablet Is the feed ratio proportional to chlorine amount (1 to 1)? Page#4 DocuSign Envelope ID: 8D513264-A9EC-4D24-8E4B-02DEB5DB99E1 Permit:NC0061123 Inspection Date:06/28/2022 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: The Mountain Retreat & Learning Center WWTP Compliance Evaluation De-chlorination Yes No NA NE 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?2 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? At the time of the inspection, the system was not discharging.Comment: Effluent Sampling Yes No NA NE Is composite sampling flow proportional? 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)? The system typically only discharges twice a year between July and August.Comment: Page#5 DocuSign Envelope ID: 8D513264-A9EC-4D24-8E4B-02DEB5DB99E1