NCG551276_NOD2023PC0268 & CEI Report_20231114

SENT VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL ONLY: NO HARD COPY WILL BE MAILED.

November 14, 2023

Micah Larimore
179 Old Lakey Gap Rd
Black Mountain, NC 28711
Email: [e-mail]

SUBJECT: NOTICE OF DEFICIENCY
Tracking Number: NOD-2023-PC-0268
Permit No. NCG551276
179 Old Lakey Gap Road
Buncombe County

Dear Permittee:

The North Carolina Division of Water Resources conducted an inspection of the 179 Old Lakey Gap Road on
October 18, 2023. This inspection was conducted to verify that the facility is operating in compliance with the
conditions and limitations specified in NPDES WW Permit No. NCG551276. A summary of the findings and
comments noted during the inspection are provided in the enclosed copy of the inspection report.

The Compliance Evaluation inspection was conducted by Division of Water Resources staff from the Asheville
Regional Office. The following deficiencies were noted during the inspection:
Inspection Area Description of Deficiency _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Septic Tank At the time of the inspection, no tank pumping records were available, and it could not be
determined if both pumps were working. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
De-chlorination At the time of the inspection, there were no dechlorination tablets in the tube or on the
property. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

DocuSign Envelope ID: DC2A2EFA-6FA8-44D1-9D57-E9C9CBBDE4A6

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. To prevent further action, carefully review these deficiencies and address the causes of
non-compliance to prevent the recurrence of similar situations.
If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Lauren Armeni with the Water Quality
Regional Operations Section in the Asheville Regional Office at 828-296-4667.

Sincerely,

Daniel J. Boss, Acting Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Asheville Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ

ATTACHMENTS: Inspection Report, Ownership Change Form

Ec: Laserfiche
Dan Migacz (Co-owner)
DocuSign Envelope ID: DC2A2EFA-6FA8-44D1-9D57-E9C9CBBDE4A6
EPA
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Washington, D.C. 20460
Water Compliance Inspection Report
Form Approved.
OMB No. 2040-0057
Approval expires 8-31-98
Section A: National Data System Coding (i.e., PCS)
Transaction Code NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection Type Inspector Fac Type
1 N 52 NCG551276 23/10/18 C S31112171819 20
21 66
Inspection Work Days Facility Self-Monitoring Evaluation Rating B1 QA ----------------------Reserved-------------------
N67707172 73 74 75 80
Section B: Facility Data
Name and Location of Facility Inspected (For Industrial Users discharging to POTW, also include
POTW name and NPDES permit Number)
179 Old Lakey Gap Road
179 Old Lakey Gap Rd
Black Mountain NC 28711
Entry Time/Date Permit Effective Date
Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date
10:00AM 23/10/18 21/12/28
Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s)
///
Other Facility Data
11:00AM 23/10/18 25/10/31
Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number
Contacted
Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated)
Permit Operations & Maintenance Self-Monitoring Program Effluent/Receiving Waters
Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary)
(See attachment summary)
Name(s) and Signature(s) of Inspector(s)Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date
Lauren E Armeni DWR/ARO WQ/828-296-4500/
Mara G Chamlee DWR/ARO WQ/828-296-4500/
Rachel Rose DWR/ARO WQ/828-296-4500/
Signature of Management Q A Reviewer Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date
EPA Form 3560-3 (Rev 9-94) Previous editions are obsolete.
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11/14/2023
11/14/2023
11/14/2023
11/14/2023
NPDES yr/mo/day
23/10/18
Inspection Type
C3111218
1
Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary)
Lauren Armeni, Mara Chamlee, and Rachel Rose, with the Asheville Regional Office, conducted a
Compliance Evaluation Inspection of the single-family wastewater disposal system that services 179
Old Lakey Gap Road. This inspection was conducted to determine if the system is being operated
and maintained in compliance with General NPDES Permit No. NCG550000. Mr. Micah Larimore
(owner) was present and assisted in the inspection.
The septic system is permitted under 179 Old Lakey Gap Road; however, the system extends onto
171 Old Lakey Gap Road, and both properties are currently owned by Mr. Larimore. Both tanks
share a sand filter and effluent pipe. There is one, 500-gallon tank on 179 Old Lakey Gap Road and
one 750-gallon tank on 171 Old Lakey Gap Road. There is currently no structure on 171 Old Lakey
Gap Road. Mr. Larimore indicated that flow from 179 Old Lakey Gap Road initially enters the
500-gallon septic tank, then enters the 750-gallon septic tank, which is subsequently pumped up to
the distribution lines and then onto the subsurface sand filter. The house on 179 Old Lakey Gap
Road is currently being used as a rental, but Mr. Larimore indicated they may be selling it.
Permit: Mr. Larimore purchased the property at the end of 2022. He has been aware of the
discharging septic system and permit associated with it, but an Ownership Change form has not been
submitted. During the inspection he indicated that they may be selling the property soon. As of
November 14, 2023, Ms. Armeni confirmed that the 171 & 179 Old Lakey Gap Road parcels are both
listed for sale on Zillow. Please make sure the new owners are aware of the discharging septic system
on both properties, and provide them with the Ownership Change form, which will be included with
this report. If the 171 and 179 Old Lakey Gap Road parcels are sold separately, the new owners will
need to be made aware that they will be sharing a septic system and will both be responsible for
maintaining the septic system according to the Certificate of Coverage under NCG551276.
Septic tank: At the time of the inspection, tank pumping records were not available, and it could not
be determined if both pumps and their associated audible/visual alarms were working.
De-chlorination: The lid to the dechlorination tube could not be placed on top because the outside
pipe had warped. Mr. Larimore said that he would fix the pipe so the lid can be secured on top. There
were no dechlorination tablets inside the tube or on the property. Dechlorination tablets must be kept
inside the tube at all times in case the system discharges.
The following deficiencies were noted during the inspection:
1. Septic Tank: At the time of the inspection, no tank pumping records were available, and it could not
be determined if both pumps were working.
2. De-chlorination: At the time of the inspection, there were no dechlorination tablets in the tube or on
the property.
NCG551276 17 (Cont.)
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DocuSign Envelope ID: DC2A2EFA-6FA8-44D1-9D57-E9C9CBBDE4A6
Permit:NCG551276
Inspection Date:10/18/2023
Owner - Facility:
Inspection Type:
179 Old Lakey Gap Road
Compliance Evaluation
Permit Yes No NA NE
(If the present permit expires in 6 months or less). Has the permittee submitted a new
application?
Is the facility as described in the permit?
# Are there any special conditions for the permit?
Is access to the plant site restricted to the general public?
Is the inspector granted access to all areas for inspection?
The current owner has not filled out an Ownership Change form since the property was
purchased at the end of 2022. Mr. Larimore indicated that they may be selling the
property. See summary for details.
Comment:
Operations & Maintenance Yes No NA NE
Is the plant generally clean with acceptable housekeeping?
Does the facility analyze process control parameters, for ex: MLSS, MCRT, Settleable
Solids, pH, DO, Sludge Judge, and other that are applicable?
Comment:
Septic Tank Yes No NA NE
(If pumps are used) Is an audible and visual alarm operational?
Is septic tank pumped on a schedule?
Are pumps or syphons operating properly?
Are high and low water alarms operating properly?
There are two septic tanks that connect to one sand filter and effluent pipe - one
500-gallon tank on 179 Old Lakey Gap Road and one 750-gallon tank on 171 Old
Lakey Gap Road. There are two pumps, one for each septic tank. Both parcels are
currently owned by Mr. Larimore. See summary for details.
Comment:
Sand Filters (Low rate)Yes No NA NE
(If pumps are used) Is an audible and visible alarm Present and operational?
Is the distribution box level and watertight?
Is sand filter free of ponding?
Is the sand filter effluent re-circulated at a valid ratio?
# Is the sand filter surface free of algae or excessive vegetation?
# Is the sand filter effluent re-circulated at a valid ratio? (Approximately 3 to 1)
The system has two pumps. See the "septic tank" section above for details, as well as
the summary.
Comment:
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DocuSign Envelope ID: DC2A2EFA-6FA8-44D1-9D57-E9C9CBBDE4A6
Permit:NCG551276
Inspection Date:10/18/2023
Owner - Facility:
Inspection Type:
179 Old Lakey Gap Road
Compliance Evaluation
Disinfection-Tablet Yes No NA NE
Are tablet chlorinators operational?
Are the tablets the proper size and type?
Number of tubes in use?1
Is the level of chlorine residual acceptable?
Is the contact chamber free of growth, or sludge buildup?
Is there chlorine residual prior to de-chlorination?
The chlorine tablets appeared slightly caked at the time of the inspection; however, no
water was passing through. It is recommended to check the tablets periodically and
change them if they become too old and caked.
Comment:
De-chlorination Yes No NA NE
Type of system ?Tablet
Is the feed ratio proportional to chlorine amount (1 to 1)?
Is storage appropriate for cylinders?
# Is de-chlorination substance stored away from chlorine containers?
Comment:
Are the tablets the proper size and type?
Are tablet de-chlorinators operational?
Number of tubes in use?
At the time of the inspection, the dechlorination tube did not have any tablets inside.
Mr. Larimore indicated that he was going to order some. Water was not passing
through; however, it is required to keep dechlorination tablets in the tube at all times in
case the system discharges. See summary for details.
Comment:
Effluent Pipe Yes No NA NE
Is right of way to the outfall properly maintained?
Are the receiving water free of foam other than trace amounts and other debris?
If effluent (diffuser pipes are required) are they operating properly?
As the 2020 CEI report mentioned, there is no cascade aeration per the original plans.
The system was not dischaging at the time of the inspection.
Comment:
Effluent Sampling Yes No NA NE
Is composite sampling flow proportional?
Is sample collected below all treatment units?
Is proper volume collected?
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DocuSign Envelope ID: DC2A2EFA-6FA8-44D1-9D57-E9C9CBBDE4A6
Permit:NCG551276
Inspection Date:10/18/2023
Owner - Facility:
Inspection Type:
179 Old Lakey Gap Road
Compliance Evaluation
Effluent Sampling Yes No NA NE
Is the tubing clean?
# Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0
degrees Celsius)?
Is the facility sampling performed as required by the permit (frequency, sampling type
representative)?
The system was not discharging at the time of the inspection, and to Mr. Larimore's
knowledge it has not discharged since he purchased the property in December 2022.
The effluent pipe should be periodically checked to determine if the system is
discharging, and if it is at any time, sampling is required per General Permit
NCG550000 (issued November 1, 2020), Section C.(1.).
Comment:
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DocuSign Envelope ID: DC2A2EFA-6FA8-44D1-9D57-E9C9CBBDE4A6