310350_Certificate of Coverage - Change Ownership_20240326

DocuSign Envelope In 6B933DC3-ABDC-4499-BAB7-8A4C5132F7EE
ROY COOPER
Governor
ELIZABETH S. BISER
Secretary
RICHARD E. ROGERS, JR.
Director
Michael A. Knowles
Mears Branch
105 Clay Hill Farm Dr
Rose Hill, NC 28458
Dear Michael A. Knowles:
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
March 26, 2024
Subject: Certificate of Coverage No. AWS310350
Mears Branch
Swine Waste Collection, Treatment,
Storage and Application System
Duplin County
In accordance with your change of ownership request, we are hereby forwarding to you this Certificate of
Coverage (COC) issued to Michael A. Knowles, authorizing the operation of the subject animal waste
management system in accordance with General Permit AWG100000. Please read this COC carefully.
This approval shall consist of the operation of this system including, but not limited to, the management
and land application of animal waste as specified in the facility's Certified Animal Waste Management Plan
(CAWMP) for Mears Branch, located in Duplin County, with a swine animal capacity of no greater than
the following annual averages:
Wean to Finish: Feeder to Finish: 2,448 Boar/Stud:
Wean to Feeder: Farrow to Wean: Gilts:
Farrow to Finish: Farrow to Feeder: Other:
If this is a Farrow to Wean or Farrow to Feeder operation, there may be one boar for each 15 sows. Where
boars are unnecessary, they may be replaced by an equivalent number of sows. Any of the sows may be
replaced by gilts at a rate of 4 gilts for every 3 sows.
This COC shall be effective from the date of issue until September 30, 2024 and shall hereby void
Certificate of Coverage Number AWS310350 that was previously issued to this facility. Pursuant to this
COC, you are authorized and required to operate the system in conformity with the conditions and
limitations as specified in the General Permit, the facility's CAWMP, and this COC. An adequate system
for collecting and maintaining the required monitoring data and operational information must be established
for this facility. Any increase in waste production greater than the certified design capacity or increase in
number of animals authorized by this COC (as provided above) will require a modification to the CAWMP
and this COC and must be completed prior to actual increase in either wastewater flow or number of animals.
You will still need to file a Permit Renewal Application by April 3, 2024 if you have not done so
already. Attached please find a copy of the renewal application form sent to you in February.
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

DocuSign Envelope ID: 6B933DC3-ABDC-4499-BAB7-8A4C5132F7EE
Please pay careful attention to the record keeping and monitoring conditions in this permit. Please use the
most current record-keepingforms.
orms.
If your Waste Utilization Plan (WUP) has been developed based on site -specific information, careful
evaluation of future samples is necessary. Should your records show that the current WUP is inaccurate
you will need to have a new WUP developed.
The issuance of this COC does not excuse the Permittee from the obligation to comply with all applicable
laws, rules, standards, and ordinances (local, state, and federal), nor does issuance of a COC to operate
under this permit convey any property rights in either real or personal property.
Per 15A NCAC 02T .1304 and NRCS standards a 100-foot separation shall be maintained between water
supply wells and any lagoon, storage pond, or any land application of waste.
Please be advised that any violation of the terms and conditions specified in this COC, the General Permit
or the CAWMP may result in the revocation of this COC, or penalties in accordance with NCGS 143-
215.6A through 143-215.6C including civil penalties, criminal penalties, and injunctive relief.
If any parts, requirements, or limitations contained in this COC are unacceptable, you have the right to
apply for an individual permit by contacting the Animal Feeding Operations Program for information on
this process. Unless such a request is made within 30 days, this COC shall be final and binding.
In accordance with Condition II.23 of the General Permit, waste application shall cease within twelve (12)
hours of the time that the National Weather Service issues a Hurricane Warning, Tropical Storm Warning,
or a Flood Watch/Flash Flood Watch associated with a tropical system for the county in which the facility
is located. You may find detailed watch/warning information for your county by calling the
Newport/Morehead City, NC National Weather Service office at [phone], or by visiting their
website at: www.weather.gov/mhx/
This facility is located in a county covered by our Wilmington Regional Office. The Regional Office staff
may be reached at 910-796-7215. If you need additional information concerning this COC or the General
Permit, please contact the Animal Feeding Operations Program staff at [phone].
Sincerely,
DocuSigned by:
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Ramesh Ravella
Supervisor, Animal Feeding Operations
Division of Water Resources
Enclosures (General Permit AWG100000, Renewal Application Form)
cc: (Certificate of Coverage only for all ccs)
Duplin County Health Department
Duplin County Soil and Water Conservation District
Smithfield Hog Production — via email
Laserfiche File No: 310350
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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