WQ0000484_Final Permit_19891020

State of North Carolina
Department of Enviroriment, Health and Natural Resources
Division of Environmental Management
512 North Salisbury Street • Raleigh, North Carolina 27611
James G. Martin, Governor
William W. Cobey, Jr., Secretary
Mr. George Deadwyler October 20, 1989
Lumbee Farms Cooperative
P.O. Box 129
Lumber Bridge, N.C. 28357
Dear Mr. Deadwyler:
R. Paul Wilms
Director
Subject: Permit No. WQ0000484
Lumbee Farms Cooperative
Wastewater Treatment and Spray
Irrigation Disposal
Robeson County
In accordance with your application received May 8, 1989 we are forwarding herewith
Permit No. WQ0000484, dated October 20, 1989 to Lumbee Farms Cooperative for the continued
operation of the subject wastewater treatment and spray irrigation facilities.
This permit shall be effective from the date of issuance until September 30, 1994, shall
supersede Permit No. WQ0000484 dated November 28, 1988 and shall be subject to the
conditions and limitations as specified therein.
If any parts, requirements, or limitations contained in this permit are unacceptable to you,
you have the right to request an adjudicatory hearing upon written request within 30 days
following receipt of this permit. This request must be in the form of a written petition, conforming
to Chapter 150B of North Carolina General Statutes, and filed with the Office of Administrative
Hearings, P.O. Box 11666, Raleigh, NC 27604. Unless such demands are made this permit shall
be final and binding.
If you need additional information concerning this matter, please contact Babette
McKemie at 919/ 733-5083.
incerely,
i
au Wilms
CC' Roberson County Health Departmen
Fayetteville Regional Office
Envir. Hydro. Cons.
Groundwater
Pollution Prevention Pays
P.O. Box 27687, Raleigh, North Carolina 27611-7687 Telephone [phone]
An Equal opportunity Affirmative Action Employer

NORTH CAROLINA
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH AND NATURAL RESOURCES
RALEIGH
SPRAY IRRIGATION SYSTEM PERMIT
In accordance with the provisions of Article 21 of Chapter 143, General Statutes of North
Carolina as amended, and other applicable Laws, Rules, and Regulations
PERMISSION IS HEREBY GRANTED TO
Lumbee Farms Cooperative
Robeson County
FOR THE
continued operation of a 0.57 MGD spray irrigation type wastewater treatment and disposal
system consisting of rotary screens, air flotation unit and grease trap, grit removal, a 10,000 GPD
extended aeration domestic wastewater treatment plant with a 1.6 MG two -stage lagoon system,
the second lagoon of which is lined, disinfection, a 4.0 MG lined emergency storage basin,
instrumented flow measurement, dual irrigation pumps and 120 acres of irrigation fields to serve
Lumbee Farms Cooperative with no discharge of wastes to the surface waters, pursuant to the
application received May 8, 1989 and in conformity with the project plan, specifications, and
other supporting data subsequently filed and approved by the Department of Environment, Health
and Natural Resources and considered a part of this permit.
This permit shall be effective from the date of issuance until September 30, 1994, shall
supersede Permit No. WQ0000484 issued November 28, 1988 and shall be subject to the
following specified conditions and limitations:
PERF RMAN E STANDARD
1. The spray irrigation facilities shall be effectively maintained and operated at all times so
that there is no discharge to the surface waters, nor any contamination of ground waters
which will render them unsatisfactory for normal use. In the event that the facilities fail
to perform satisfactorily, including the creation of nuisance conditions or failure of the
irrigation area to adequately absorb the wastewater, the Permittee shall take such
immediate corrective action to correct the problem, including actions as may be required
by the Division of Environmental Management.
2. The issuance of this permit shall not relieve the Permittee of the responsibility for
damages to surface or groundwaters resulting from the operation of this facility.
3. The sludge generated from these treatment facilities must be disposed of in accordance
with General Statute 143-215.1 and in a manner approved by the North Carolina
Division of Environmental Management.

4. Diversion or bypassing of the untreated wastewater from the treatment facilities is
prohibited.
5. The following buffers shall be maintained:
a) 400 feet between wetted area and any residence under separate ownership,
b) 150 feet between wetted area and property lines,
c) 100 feet between wetted area and wells,
d) 100 feet between wetted area and drair_ageways or surface water bodies,
e 50 feet between wetted area and public right of ways,
100 feet between wastewater treatment units and wells,
g) 50 feet between wastewater treatment units and property lines.
Il. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS
I . The facilities shall be properly maintained and operated at all times.
2. The Permittee shall employ a certified wastewater treatment plant operator to be in
responsible charge of the wastewater treatment facilities. The operator must hold a
certificate of the grade at least equivalent to the classification assigned to the wastewater
treatment facilities by the Certification Commission.
3. A suitable vegetative cover shall be maintained.
4. Irrigation shall not be performed during inclement weather or when the ground is in a
condition that will cause runoff.
5. Adequate measures shall be taken to prevent wastewater runoff from the spray field.
5. The facilities shall be effectively maintained and operated as a non -discharge system to
prevent the discharge of any wastewater resulting from the operation of this facility.
7. The application rate shall not exceed: 0.8 in/acre/wk .
8. No type of wastewater other than that from Lumbee Farms shall be sprayed onto the
irrigation area.
9. No traffic or equipment shall be allowed on the disposal area except while installation
occurs or while normal maintenance is being performed.
10. Public access to the land application sites shall be controlled during active site use and
for the 12-month period following the land application event. Such controls must
include the posting of signs showing the activities being conducted at each site.
11. Sufficient lime shall be applied to the spray irrigation fields to maintain the pH of the
soils at a value of 6.5 standard units.
12. Freeboard in the lagoons and storage basin shall not be less than one (1) foot at any time.
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1. Any monitoring (including groundwater, surface water, soil or plant tissue
analyses) deemed necessary by the Division of Environmental Management to
insure surface and ground water protection will be established and an acceptable
sampling reporting schedule shall be followed.
2. Adequate records shall be maintained by the Permittee tracking the amount of wastewater
disposed. These records shall include, but are not necessarily limited to the following
information:
a) date of irrigation,
b) volume of wastewater irrigated,
c) field irrigated,
d) length of time field is irrigated,
e) continuous weekly, monthly,
for each field,
f) weather conditions, and
g) maintenance of cover crops.
and year-to-date hydraulic (inches/acre) loadings
3. The effluent from the subject facilities shall be monitored by the Penaiittee at a point
prior to irrigation twice per month for the following parameters.
Parameter
Flow
BOD5
TSS
Fecal Coliform
pH
NH3
4. Three copies of all operation .and disposal records (as specified in condition III 2) and
all effluent monitoring data (as specified in condition 1113) and any other data as may be
required shall be submitted annually on or before January 31 of the following year to the
following address:
NC Division of Environmental Management
Water Quality Section
Facility Assessment Unit
PO Box 27687
Raleigh, NC 27611-7687
5. Noncompliance Notification:
The Permittee shall report by telephone to the Fayetteville Regional Office,
telephone no. [phone], as soon as possible, but in no case more than 24 hours
or on the next working day following the occurrence or first knowledge of the
occurrence of any of the following:
a. Any occurrence at the wastewater treatment facility which results in the treatment of
significant amounts of wastes which are abnormal in quantity or characteristic, such
as the dumping of the contents of a sludge digester; the known passage of a slug of
hazardous substance through the facility; or any other unusual circumstances.
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b _ Any process unit failure, due to known or unknown reasons, that render the facility
incapable of adequate wastewater treatment such as mechanical or electrical failures
of pumps, aerators, compressors, etc.
c. Any failure of a pumping station, sewer line, or treatment facility resulting in a
by-pass directly to receiving waters without treatment of all or any portion of the
influent to such station or facility.
d. Any time that self -monitoring information indicates that the facility has gone out of
compliance with its permit limitations.
Persons reporting such occurrences by telephone shall also file a written report in letter
form within 15 days following first knowledge of the occurrence. This report must
outline the actions taken or proposed to be taken to ensure that the problem does not
reoccur.
IV. GROUNDWATER REQUIREMENTS
1. The eleven (11) existing monitor wells shall be sampled every April, August, and
November for the following parameters:
NO3 (10.0) Sodium
'IDS TOC
pH (6.5-8.5 s.u.) Water Level
Chloride (250.0) Total Coliforms (1/100 ml)
Ammonia Nitrogen
The measurement of water level must be made prior to sampling for the remaining
parameters.
The numbers in parentheses represent the maximum allowable concentrations in
groundwater for the various analytical parameters, as specified in 15 NCAC 2L
[Groundwater Classifications and Standards]. Unless otherwise noted, the
concentrations are given in parts per million.
If TOC concentrations greater than 10 mg/l are detected in any downgradient monitoring
well, additional sampling and analysis must be conducted to identify the individual
constituents comprising this TOC concentration. If the TOC concentration as measured
in the back round monitor well exceeds 10 mg/I, this concentration will be taken to
represent the naturally occurring TOC concentration. Any exceedances of this naturally
occurring TOC concentration in the downgradient wells shall be subject to the additional
sampling and analysis as described above.
The results of the sampling and analysis shall be sent to the N.C. Division of
Environmental Management on Form GW-59 (Compliance Monitoring Report Form)
every May, September, and December.
The Compliance Boundary,
oun a for the disposal system is specified by regulations in 15
NCAC 2L, Classifications and Water Quality Standards applicable to the groundwater of
North Carolina. An exceedance of Groundwater Quality Standards beyond the
Compliance Boundary is subject to penalty provisions applicable under General Statute
143-215.6(1)a. The sale of property, by the Permittee, which is within or contiguous to
the disposal system site may alter location of the Compliance Boundary.
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For facilities permitted prior to December 30, 1983, the Compliance Boundary is
established at a distance 500 feet from the spray fields, or the property boundary,
whichever is less.
If the title to any property which may affect the location of the Compliance Boundary is
changed, the Permittee shall notify the Division Director within 14 days. The Director
shall then establish a modified Compliance Boundary which will be done as a
modification to the Permit.
The REVIEW BOUNDARY for the disposal system is specified by regulations in 15
NCAC 2L, Groundwater Classifications and Standards. A REVIEW BOUNDARY is
established around disposal systems midway between the Compliance Boundary and the
perimeter of the waste disposal area. When the concentration of any substance equals or
exceeds the maximum allowable concentration of that substance at the REVIEW
BOUNDARY, as determined by monitoring, the Permittee shall either (i) demonstrate,
through predictive calculations or modeling, that natural site conditions, facility design
and operational controls will prevent a violation of standards at the Compliance
Boundary; or, (ii) submit a plan for the alteration of existing site conditions, facility
design or operational controls that will prevent a violation of standards at the
Compliance Boundary, and implement that plan upon its approval by the Director.
2. Any additional groundwater quality monitoring as deemed necessary by the Division of
Environmental Management shall be provided.
V . INSPECTIONS
1. Adequate inspection, maintenance, and cleaning shall be provided by the Permittee to
insure proper operation of the subject facilities.
2. The Permittee or his designee shall inspect the wastewater treatment and disposal
facilities to prevent malfunctions and deterioration, operator errors and discharges which
may cause or lead to the release of wastes to the environment, a threat to human health,
or a nuisance. The Permittee shall keep an inspection log or summary including at least
the date and time of inspection, observations made, and any maintenance, repairs, or
corrective actions taken by the Permittee. This log of inspections shall be maintained by
the Permittee for a period of three years from the date of the inspection and shall be made
available upon request to the Division of Environmental Management or other permitting
authority.
3. Any duly authorized officer, employee, or representative of the Division of
Environmental Management may, upon presentation of credentials, enter and inspect
any property, premises or place on or related to the disposal site and facility at any
reasonable time for the purpose of determining compliance with this permit; may inspect
or copy any records that must be kept under the terms and conditions of this permit; or
may obtain samples of groundwater, surface water, or leachate.
VI. GENERAL CONDITIONS
This permit shall become voidable unless the facilities are constructed in accordance with
the conditions of this permit, the approved plans, specifications, and other supporting
data.
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2. This permit is effective only with respect to the nature and volume of wastes described in
the application and other supporting data.
3. This permit is not transferable. In the event there is a desire for the facilities to change
ownership, or there is a name change of the Permittee, a formal permit request must be
submitted to the Division of Environmental Management accompanied by an application
fee, documentation from the parties involved, and other supporting materials as may be
appropriate. The approval of this request will be considered on its merits and may or
may not be approved.
4. Failure to abide by the conditions and limitations contained in this permit may subject the
Permittee to an enforcement action by the Division of Environmental Management in
accordance with North Carolina General Statute 143-215.6.
5. The issuance of this permit does not preclude the Permittee from complying with any
and all statutes, rules, regulations, or ordinances which may be imposed by other
government agencies (local, state, and federal) which have jurisdiction.
6. Prior to any transfer of this land, a notice shall be given to the new owner that gives full
details of the materials applied at this site.
7. A set of approved plans and specifications for the subject project must be retained by the
Permittee for the life of the project.
8. The annual administering and compliance fee must be paid by the Permittee within thirty
days after being billed by the Division. Failure to pay the fee accordingly may cause the
Division to initiate action to revoke this permit as specified by 15 NCAC 2H .0205
(c) (4).
9. The Permittee, at least six (6) months prior to the expiration of this permit, shall request
its extension. Upon receipt of the request, the Commission will review the adequacy of
the facilities described therein, and if warranted, will extend the permit for such period
of time and under such conditions and limitations as it may deem appropriate.
Permit issued this the 20th day of October, 1989
ORTH CAROLINA E ONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
R. Paul Wilms, Direc
Division of Environmental anagement
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
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