WQCS00370 Sharpsburg Collections.docx

Doc 1" Envelope ID: 3DFOF005 A564-4906 BD95 98CB65C3E9DC
ROY COOPER
Governor
ELIZABETH S. BISER
Secretary
RICHARD E. ROGERS, JR.
Director
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
June 28, 2023
CERTIFIED MAIL #: 7020 3160 0000 2219 4676
RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
Mayor Robert Williams
Town of Sharpsburg
P.O. Box 1759
Sharpsburg, NC 27878
Subject: NOTICE OF VIOLATION & INTENT TO ASSESS CIVIL PENALTY
Tracking Number: NOV-2023-PC-0023
Compliance Evaluation Inspection
Wastewater Collection System
Permit #: WQCS00370
Facility: Town of Sharpsburg Wastewater Collection System
Nash County
Mr. Williams,
On June 14, 2023, Jim Westcott from the Raleigh Regional Office visited your wastewater
collections system to evaluate compliance with the subject permit. The assistance of Jeffery
Patterson and Dawson Fykes during the comprehensive tour and evaluation of the system was
greatly appreciated.
The permit was issued June 9, 2017, and will expire February 28, 2025. Division records
indicate the required annual fee for the period ending February 28, 2024, due March 5,
2023, has been paid.
Findings during the inspection of the collections system were as follows:
1. The wastewater collection system is a grade CS-2 permitted for a flow of .35 MGD
which entails 22 miles of collection line; Fourteen miles of gravity line, eight miles of
force main, one simplex pump station, and eight duplex pump stations. All flow
collected is transferred to the Tar River Regional Wastewater Facility. During the
current inspection of 2023, a total of fourteen miles of sewer line had been cleaned
NORTH CARCLINAD � �
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North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
Raleigh Regional Office 1 3800 Barrett Drive I Raleigh, North Carolina 27609
919.791.4200

DocuSign Envelope ID: 3DFOF005-A564-4906-BD95-98CBB5C3E9DC
and inspected and an additional seven miles have been scheduled to be cleaned by
the end of July. A maintenance log is kept at each station evaluating both mechanical
and visual checks of lead/lag float operation, audio and visual alarms and general
buildup of materials. Operations staff serve on call rotation after hours and during
weekend rounds to assure the system is operating efficiently. All the stations visited
had a substantial amount of material buildup which can result in impacted pumps
and potential wet well overflow. The utility has been dosing the lift stations with a
soluble degreasing solution (Lift-zyme) to avert excessive grease buildup beginning
in late 2022.
2. Division records show the current certified operator in responsible charge (ORC) is
Brian R. Sullivan and the back-up ORC as Jason M. Landvater. Certified operators'
records were not available. Section .0200 of 15A NCAC 08G .0201, duties and
responsibilities states Owners of classified water pollution control systems shall
designate operators certified by the Commission of the same type and grade as the
classification for the system and for each classification shall: designate one ORC who
possesses a valid certificate of the type and grade at least equivalent to the type and
grade of the system; (2) designate one or more Back-up ORC(s) who possesses a
valid certificate of the type of the system and no more than one grade less than the
grade of the system, with the exception of no Back-up ORC is required for systems
whose minimum visitation requirements are twice per year; and (3) submit a signed
completed Operator Designation Form to the Commission (or to the local health
department for owners of subsurface systems) countersigned by the designated
certified operators, designating the ORC and the Back-up ORC within 120 days
following (i) notification of a change in the classification of the system requiring the
designation of a new ORC and Back-up ORC of the proper type and grade; or (ii) a
vacancy in the position of ORC or Back-up ORC; or (c) within seven days of vacancies
in both ORC and Back-up ORC positions replacing or designating one of the
responsibilities. Within 30 days of receiving this letter, please forward a copy of the
current operator in responsible charge and the required backup ORC to this office. [15A
NCAC 8G] & [15A NCAC 2T].
3. A collection system map was available during the time of inspection although
reduced in scale and not updated with pertinent information regarding line size,
direction of flow and age of the system including replacement and repairs. Within 30
days of receiving this letter, please forward a copy of the most recent, updated map
detailing the above items, [ 15A NCAC 02T .0108(B)]
4. A Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG) program is available on the town's public utility
webpage and flyers are issued to the public utility customers, both residential and
industrial users bi-annually December 2022 and July 2023, respectively.
5. An Emergency Response Action Plan was not available at the time of inspection.
Within 30 days of receiving this letter, please provide written documentation of the
Towns updated plan regarding this permit requirement. [15A NCAC 02T .0108(b)]
��� North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
512 North Salisbury Street 1 1611 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1611
NORTH CAROLINA 919.707.9000
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DocuSign Envelope ID: 3DFOF005-A564-4906-BD95-98CBB5C3E9DC
6. No Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSO) were reported to the division between January
1, 2021 to June 23,2023. All records pertaining to an SSO are required to be retained
for a period of three years as required in section 15A NCAC 02T.0108(b) of the permit
and detail relevant discharge volume, duration, public notice, and press release
statement(s) detailed in section III.2/IV.2 of the permit. You are reminded to report
and document all SSO's as required.
7. A copy of the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) dated 2018 was available for review at the
time of inspection although was not the most recent copy. Within 3030 days of receiving
this letter, please provide an updated CIP document to this office to address this permit
requirement. [15A NCAC 02T .0108(b)]
8. At the time of inspection, six selected lift stations were evaluated: Brickyard, Pine needle,
Bachelor Road, Barnhill, Taylor woods and airport. Each station had proper signage,
secure fencing with locked gates, emergency contact information and designated audio
and visual high-level alarms. The integrated SCADA interface was not in use at the time
of inspection. Each station is checked daily for pump run times hours and lift stations
which have on -site generators are checked weekly for proper operation. The collections
department recently purchased a new Godwin 25 kW portable generator for emergency
use.
• Brickyard station: The station is currently being directly bypassed into the main line
feeding the Tar River Regional WWTF with two on -site portable bypass pump(s). The
station is scheduled to be replaced by the end of July with a pre -designed installed system
with new integrated pumps, check valves and controls. The generation unit staged on site
for emergency use is currently not functional.
• Pine Needle Station: The station discharge pumps are interlocked with visual and audio
alarms and the pumps will operate continuously if in the auto position. The generation
unit staged on site for emergency use is currently not functional.
• Bachelor road Station: The SCADA interface was active at this station. The control floats
operated as designed. The audio was not responsive when activated.
• Barnhill Station: The station discharge pumps are interlocked with the audio and visual
alarm system which keeps the visual alarm activated. The control floats are not
responsive when activated. The generation unit staged on site for emergency use is
currently not functional.
• Taylor Woods Station: The stations discharge pumps do not operate in auto mode and are
cycled twice a day manually. The visual and audio alarm(s) are not functional. The
generation unit staged on site for emergency use is currently not functional.
• Airport Station: The station is currently being directly bypassed into the main line
feeding the Tar River Regional WWTF. The station is currently being rebuilt with new
valves (check and air relief) drive motor(s), belts, and gears. The flow is being transferred
REQ5 North Carolina Department ofEnvironmental Quality I Division ofWater Resources
512 North Salisbury Street 1 1611 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1611
NORTH CAROLINA 919.707.9000
onparhnem of EmironmanW 9uallly

DocuSign Envelope ID: 3DFOF005-A564-4906-BD95-98CBB5C3E9DC
to the main line with an on -site portable bypass pump. The generation unit staged on site
for emergency use is currently not functional.
This inspection report is being issued as a Notice of Violation/Intent to Issue Civil Penalty for
the noted violation of North Carolina General Statute (G.S.) 143-215.1). 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 is required but fails to apply for or to secure a permit required
by G.S. 143-215.1.
If you wish to provide additional information regarding the noted violation, request technical
assistance, or discuss overall compliance, please respond in writing within ten (10) business days
after receipt of this Notice. A review of your response will be considered. You will then be
notified of any civil penalties that may be assessed regarding the violation. 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.
Division records show during the previous inspection dated October 18, 2022, request for an
updated CIP, collection systems map, and emergency response action plan was addressed and
continues to be outstanding in the requirements of the subject permit.
Within 3030 ays of receipt of this letter, please submit a written response to this office, indicate
the actions you will take or have taken to comply with or resolve the issues noted items 2, 3, 5,
7 and 8 above.
If you have questions or comments about this inspection or the requirements to take
corrective action (if applicable), then please contact Jim Westcott at
[e-mail] or 919-791-4247.
Sincerely,
Docuftned by:
62916HAB32144F...
Vanessa E. Manuel, Assistant Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Raleigh Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
Cc: Non -Discharge Laserfiche
REQ5 North Carolina Department ofEnvironmental Quality I Division ofWater Resources
512 North Salisbury Street 1 1611 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1611
NORTH CAROLINA 919.707.9000
onparhnem of EmironmanW 9uallly

DocuSign Envelope ID: 3DFOF005-A564-4906-BD95-98CBB5C3E9DC
REQ5 North Carolina Department ofEnvironmental Quality I Division ofWater Resources
512 North Salisbury Street 1 1611 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1611
NORTH CAROLINA 919.707.9000
onparhnem of EmironmanW 9uallly