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HomeMy WebLinkAbout820681_NOV-2022-PC-0363_20220802 (2)ROY COOPER Governor ELIZABETH S. BISER Secretary RICHARD E. ROGERS, JR. Director Environmental Quality NORTH CAROLINA August 2, 2022 CERTIFIED MAIL RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED 7020 1810 0002 1109 1148 Weeks Farm Inc. PO Box 787 Dunn, North Carolina 28335 Subject: NOTICE OF VIOLATION Administrative Code 15A NCAC 2T .1304 Weeks Finishing Farm Permit No. AWS820681 NOV-2022-PC-0363 Sampson County Dear Weeks Farm Inc, On June 22, 2022, staff of NC Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Division of Water Resources (DWR), Water Quality Regional Operations Section (WQROS) inspected the Weeks Farms waste disposal system. We wish to thank Casey Johnson, who was present during the inspection, As a result of this notification, you are hereby notified that, having been permitted to have a non - discharge permit for the subject animal waste disposal system pursuant to 15A NCAC 2T .1304, you have been found to be in violation of your permit as follows: North Carolina Department of E:.nvirunmental t)ualit} Division of Water Rcsourccs Fayetteville Regional 011ice 1 "; (ireen tit . Suite'14 Fa,ettevtllc, North Carolina 28301-5043 010 -1 3 ',.? 3U(1 Page 2 Weeks Farm Inc August 2, 2022 Violation 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 AWS100000 Section II 1) On June 10, 2022 during a routine inspection, it was documented that there was dried sludge around clean out pipes between barns 1&2 and 5&6. Casey Johnson told us that there was a turtle stuck in the pipe and it had backed waste up. It was also documented that some of the waste flowed out to the edge of the field on side of Barn 1 but did not go any further. During a follow up inspection, it was documented that waste had backed up in the house because of a blockage and it came out the clean out pipe. It appeared like it has happened several times because of the amount of dried sludge around the pipe. When the waste flowed out of house 5 & 6 it went into the rainwater drainage system into field next to the hog house. Hog waste was documented in this field, but because it had not rained recently waste was contained to the field. Required Corrective Action for Violation 1: Clean up the dried sludge around the pipes as soon as possible between houses 1& 2 and 5& 6 and put back into the lagoon or application fields. Clean out rainwater drainage system and recover waste in the field. Casey Johnson told DWR that they had someone come recently to clean salt out of the lines. Violation 2: Crops for which animal waste is land applied must be harvested, removed from the land application site, and properly managed and utilized unless other management practices are approved in the CAWMP. Hay harvested from land application fields shall be removed within twenty-four (24) months of cutting unless other management practices are approved in the CAWMP. - [15A NCAC 02T .0108(b) and .1304(b)] General Permit AWS1000000 Section II 28. On June 22,2022 during routine inspection, it was documented that the overseed had not been removed from the field on the side of barn 1. On June 27, 2022, a picture of the field was sent to DWR staff that the overseed had been cut and removed from the field. Required Corrective Action for Violation 2: Need to maintain application fields at all times and remove overseed so the Bermuda grass does not get shaded. North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources Fayetteville Regional Office 1225 Green Street. Suite ' 14 Fayetteville, North Carolina 28 3O1-5.01 910-4 3_3300 Page 3 Weeks Farm Inc August 2, 2022 The Division of Water Resources requests that, in addition to the specified corrective action above, please submit the following items on or before 30 days from receipt of this letter: 1. Have OIC explain how this happened and steps to prevent it from happening again. 2. Need to clean out rainwater drainage system and make sure it is only rainwater that goes into the field, 3. Send a picture to DWR Staff when you have the drain discharge pipe repaired. 4. Send a picture when waste is cleaned up around pipes between houses 1 &2, and 5&6. Failure to comply with conditions in a permit may result in a recommendation of enforcement action, to the Director of the Division of Water Quality who may issue a civil penalty assessment of not more that twenty-five thousand ($25,000) dollars against any "person" who violates or fails to act in accordance with the 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 (910) 835-9785, Steve Guyton (910) 303-0151 or me at (910) 433-3336. Sincerely, , ---DocuSigned by: 5189C2D3DD5C42B.. J. Trent Allen Regional Supervisor Water Quality Regional Operations Section Division of Water Resources cc: FRO Compliance Animal Files-Laserfiche North Carolina Department of l:n,ironntental Ouality Division of Water Resources I=avctteville Office 1 22_; Green Street_ Suite -14 I avattecille_ North Carolina'83i)1-504; 010-4 :,-; 300 North Carolina Department or Environmental l Division of Water Resources Fayetteville Regional Office I 25 Green Street. Suite ' 14 ! Fayetteville, North Carolina 'S $01-5041 910- 1; -3 00