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Home My WebLink About780081_NOV-2022-PC-0106_20220720ROY COOPER Governor ELIZABETH S. BISER Secretary RICHARD E. ROGERS, JR. Director Mr. Bruce Huggins PO Box 3477 Lumberton, NC 28359 Subject: Notice of Deficiency Buckhorn Farms AWS780081 Robeson County NOD-2022-PC-0106 Dear Mr. Huggins: NORTH CAROLINA Environmental Quality July 20, 2022 On June 2, 2022, staff of the NC Division of Water Resources (DWR), Water Quality Regional Operations Section (WQROS) inspected the Buckhorn Farm LLC waste disposal system. We wish to think Mr. Ray Fisher, who was present and assisted during the inspection. As a result of this incident, you are hereby notified that, having been permitted to have a non - discharge permit for the subject animal waste disposal system pursuant to North Carolina General Statutes G.S. 143-215 et seq. Section .402, you have been found to have been found to be in violation of your permit as follows: Deficiency 1: Failure to maintain collection, treatment, and storage facilities, and the land application equipment shall be properly operated and maintained at all times. (General Permit AWS 100000 Section II 1) On June 2, 2022, during a routine inspection it was documented that Farrowing A discharge line clean out was broken at ground level, and a undetermined cause of blockage caused waste to flow to in an area along side of the building. An employee deviated wastewater to a storm water drainage system where it collected in that system and had potential to go into the woods, but due to Lack of rain, it did not. There was documented evidence with pictures that barn Farrowing B also had a discharge a few weeks ago according to the GDE NORTH C OLI JA ' omm mr� ep..of o�.i North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources Fayetteville Regional Office 1225 Green St., Suite 714 I Fayetteville, North Carolina 28301-5043 910.433.3300 Page 2 Bruce Huggins July 20, 2022 farm worker. During the inspection, Mr. Ray Fisher called to get a pump to pump the water back from the storm water drainage system into the lagoon from the ditch. Mr. Fisher sent pictures later that day that the waste had been pumped back in the lagoon from the ditch. On June 8th, pictures were sent documenting all the pipes were repaired and on June 23rd a picture was sent that there was a slam gate installed in the ditch so the farm can stop any flow of waste from going into the woods from that ditch. On July 8th' DWR staff conducted a site visit to document that repairs and clean up of old sludge had been completed. Required Corrective Action for Deficiency 1: In the future, educate employees to let the OIC know if there is an issue with any of the waste collection systems. Monitor and keep waste collection systems repaired as needed to prevent possible discharge. Deficiency 2: Failure to have a vegetative cover that shall be maintained as specified in the facility's CAWMP on all land application fields and buffers in accordance with the CAWMP. No waste shall be applied upon areas not included in the CAWMP or upon areas where the crop is insufficient for nutrient utilization. However, if CAWMP allows, then waste may be applied up to thirty (30) days prior to planting or breaking dormancy. — [15A NCAC 02T.1304(b)] Permit No.100000 Section II 2 On June 2, 2022, during a routine inspection, it was documented that the Bermuda crop in the field was a weak stand, had weeds, and the overseed crop needed to be removed. It was recommended for Buckhorn Farm to call a Regional Agronomist for an evaluation of the fields. Ms. Georgia Love visited the farm the week of June 6th and concurred that the Bermuda grass was limited but hard to evaluate due to overseed ground cover. She also stated that due to the late removal of the winter overseed, it may have delayed the Bermuda emergence from winter dormancy. Ms. Love stated she would return after the overseed was removed which was June 15th, and she returned on June 29th to reevaluate. Ms. Love stated that the crabgrass and the Bermuda was beginning to grow but the Bermuda grass still appeared to be limited but the crabgrass was adequate. Ms. Love recommended to pump on crabgrass for this season but with 25% less PAN, and then sprigged next spring with Bermuda grass. Ms. Loves recommendations were sent to Mr. Ray Fisher and DWR staff. DE NORTH CAROLINA gaparMeM of Environment,/quay North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources Fayetteville Regional Office 1225 Green Street, Suite 714 I Fayetteville, North Carolina 28301-5043 910-433-3300 Page 3 Mr. Bruce Huggins July 20, 2022 Required Corrective Action for Deficiency 2: Follow Ms. Georgia Loves recommendations that she has discussed with you. Change the WUP to include crabgrass. You are required to take any necessary action to address the above Violations: The Division of Water Quality requests that, in addition to the specified corrective action above, please submit the following items within (30) of receipt of this letter. 1. Have OIC of the farm explain how this happened. 2. What steps will be taken to prevent this from happening again. Failure to comply with conditions in the permit may result in a recommendation of enforcement action, to the Director of the Division of Water Resources who may issue a civil penalty assessment of not more than twenty-five thousand ($25,000) dollars against any "person" who violates or fails to act in accordance with terms, conditions, or requirements of a permit under authority of G.S. 143-215.6A If you have any questions concerning this Notice, please contact Diane Harrison at (910) 835- 9785 or at diane.harrison@ncdenr.gov or Steve Guyton (910) 303-0151 or at steve.guyton@ncdenr.gov. Sincerely, Do'c�uSiggnnedd by: _ 5189C2D3DD5C42B... Trent Allen Regional Supervisor Water Quality Regional Operations Section Fayetteville Regional Office Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ cc: FRO Compliance Animal Files-Laserfiche D_E NORTH CARCLINA gaparMeM of Environment,/quay North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources Fayetteville Regional Office 1225 Green Street, Suite 714 I Fayetteville, North Carolina 28301-5043 910-433-3300 DE NORTH CAROLINA gaparMeM of Environment,/quay North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources Fayetteville Regional Office 1225 Green Street, Suite 714 I Fayetteville, North Carolina 28301-5043 910-433-3300 DE NORTH CAROLINA gaparMeM of Environment,/quay North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources Fayetteville Regional Office 1225 Green Street, Suite 714 I Fayetteville, North Carolina 28301-5043 910-433-3300