820303_Add-Info Request_20231102

ROY COOPER
Governor
ELIZABETH S. BISER
Secretary
RICHARD E. ROGERS, JR.
Director
Warren Williams
WTW Farms
383 Wilmington Rd
Turkey, NC 28393
Dear Warren Williams:
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
November 2, 2023
Subject: Additional Information Request
Application No. ADS820303
WTW Farms
Sampson County
The Animal Feeding Operations Program of the Division of Water Resources (Division) has completed a
preliminary review of the subject application received on June 29, 2023, for permit coverage under Swine
Farm Digester Waste Management System General Permit AWG400000 to convert an existing lagoon into
digester to capture biogas as a part of the proposed farm digester system at the WTW Farms. Additional
information is required before we may continue our review. Please address and submit the following
item(s) within 30 (thirty) days of receipt of this letter.
❑ Setbacks — Sheet C.2.1.3 shows that the location of the proposed digester does not meet the Siting
Act requirements for:
o distance from setback from the nearest residence not owned by the producer, which is 1,500
feet, G.S. §106-803(a)(1). As shown, the digester top of embankment is 1287 feet from the
nearest residence and 1,500 feet or slightly less from the next nearest neighbor.
O distance from property boundary, which is 500 feet, G.S. §106-803(a)(3). As shown, the
digester top of embankment is 115 feet from one property boundary and 334 feet from
another.
O distance from perennial stream is required to be 100 feet, per 15A NCAC 02T .1304(b)(11).
As shown, the digester top of embankment design is exactly 100 feet from the perennial
stream. Please take caution and field verify during construction to maintain this setback.
❑ Freeboard — NC NRCS Standard 366 — Anaerobic Digester requires a minimum of 2 feet of
freeboard in the covered digester. Please verify that the digester will meet minimum freeboard
requirements.
❑ Biogas Use as a Renewable Energy Resource — Session Law 2023-63 (2023 Farm Act) requires
that the gases collected by a farm digester system begin to be used as a renewable energy resource
as quickly as feasible, but no later than within six months of the collection of gases. Until the gases
are being used as a renewable energy resource the gas shall be flared rather than vented.
o Your application stated that the gas would be exported for use as a renewable energy
resource within 12 months of construction. Please confirm that timeline also complies with
Session Law 2023-63.
o Your application indicated that no emergency flare will be provided. Please verify a flare
would be available and used if necessary for compliance with Session Law 2023-63.
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
512 North Salisbury Street 1 1636 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1636
NORTH CARCLINA
919.707.9129

Warren Williams
ADS820303
Additional Information Letter
November 2, 2023
Page 2 of 2
❑ Waste Level Gauge — Please indicate location/method for measuring waste levels in the digester,
as it does not gravity feed to the secondary containment.
❑ Nutrient Management Plan (NMP) — The NMP submitted is dated 4-26-2016 and the irrigation map
was not included. Sheet C.2.1.1 indicates the "Center Pivot End Gun Shall be Adjusted as
Necessary (Refer to Updated Waste Utilization Plan, By Others)".
o Please provide and updated NMP.
o Please provide irrigation map — updated as needed.
❑ Air Quality Permitting — Please provide general information regarding any Air Quality permits,
and/or applicability determinations regarding this project. Please provide information about if
applications have been filed, permits (if issued), and/or results of an applicability determination.
Please be aware that you are responsible for meeting all requirements set forth in North Carolina rules and
regulations. Any oversights that occurred in the review of the subject application package are still the
responsibility of the applicant. In addition, any omissions made in responding to the above items shall
result in future requests for additional information.
Please reference the subject application number when providing the requested information. All revised
and/or additional documentation shall be signed, sealed and dated, submitted to my attention at the address
below. Failure to provide this additional information on or before the above requested date may result in
your application being returned as incomplete.
If you have any questions regarding this letter, please feel free to contact me at [phone] or
[e-mail].
Sincerely,
IC
IDocuSigned by:U,V'lS{ VX 6, (aWS6VG
715598463EA94B7...
Christine B. Lawson
Engineer
Animal Feeding Operations
cc: Wilmington Regional Office, Water Quality Regional Operations Section — via email
Cavanaugh & Associates — Jeff Cappadona
Laserfiche — File No. 820303
REQ5 North Carolina Department ofEnvironmental Quality I Division ofWater Resources
512 North Salisbury Street 1 1636 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1636
NORTH CAROLINA 919.707.9129
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