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Home My WebLink AboutNCG550275_NOV2024PC0390 & CEI Report_20240612 SENT VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL ONLY: NO HARD COPY WILL BE MAILED. June 12, 2024 Eric H Mick Email: erichmick@gmail.com SUBJECT: NOTICE OF VIOLATION Tracking Number: NOV-2024-PC-0390 Permit No. NCG550275 326 Smokey Shadows Lane Haywood County Dear Permittee: The North Carolina Division of Water Resources conducted an inspection of the 326 Smokey Shadows Lane on May 30, 2024. This inspection was conducted to verify that the facility is operating in compliance with the conditions and limitations specified in NPDES WW Permit No. NCG550275. 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 violations were noted during the inspection: Inspection Area Description of Violation _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Operations & Maintenance System components could not be located, including the septic tank, sand filter trench, tablet chlorination unit, and effluent pipe. It appears that the system is not being properly maintained. [NCG550000 Part I. D. 4. Permit Conditions (Operation, Maintenance & Records) All system components, including but not necessarily limited to, septic tanks, surface sand filters, other filter components, pump/recirculation tanks, controls and alarms, disinfection units, dechlorination apparatus, and the outfalls shall be maintained at all times and in good operating order.] _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Septic Tank Septic tank pumping records were not provided. [NCG550000 Part I. D. 3. a.- b. Permit Conditions (Operation, Maintenance & Records) Septic tanks shall be inspected at least yearly to determine if solids must be removed or if other maintenance is necessary. Septic tanks shall be pumped out at least once every five years or when the solids level is found to be more than 1/3 of the liquid depth in any compartment, whichever is greater.] _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ DocuSign Envelope ID: C9246A50-DD34-4E9C-9ED3-929F836FA19D 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, please respond in writing to this office within 30 days upon your receipt of this Notice of Violation regarding your plans or measures to be taken to address the indicated violations and other identified issues, if applicable. 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 Boss, Assistant Regional Supervisor Water Quality Regional Operations Section Asheville Regional Office Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ ATTACHMENTS: Inspection Report, NCG55 General Permit Ec: Laserfiche DocuSign Envelope ID: C9246A50-DD34-4E9C-9ED3-929F836FA19D 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 NCG550275 24/05/30 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) 326 Smokey Shadows Lane 326 Smokey Shadows Ln Maggie Valley NC 28751 Entry Time/Date Permit Effective Date Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date 11:00AM 24/05/30 20/12/07 Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) /// Other Facility Data 11:30PM 24/05/30 25/10/31 Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number Eric H Mick,8805 Darcy Hopkins Dr Charlotte NC 28277//704-231-9812/Contacted Yes Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated) Permit Operations & Maintenance Self-Monitoring Program Facility Site Review 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/ Mikal Willmer DWR/ARO WQ/828-296-4686/ Signature of Management Q A Reviewer Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date EPA Form 3560-3 (Rev 9-94) Previous editions are obsolete. Page#1 DocuSign Envelope ID: C9246A50-DD34-4E9C-9ED3-929F836FA19D 6/12/2024 6/12/2024 6/12/2024 NPDES yr/mo/day 24/05/30 Inspection Type C3111218 1 Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) Lauren Armeni and Mikal Willmer, with the Asheville Regional Office, conducted a Compliance Evaluation Inspection of the single-family wastewater disposal system that services 326 Smokey Shadows Lane on May 30, 2024. This inspection was conducted to determine if the system is being operated and maintained in compliance with General NPDES Permit No. NCG550000. Ms. Armeni spoke with Mr. Eric Mick prior to the inspection and he indicated that all system components would be located and the tank would be checked and pumped if needed. Ms. Armeni let Mr. Mick know when the inspection would take place, and she did not hear back from him regarding if the system components had been located/maintained as needed. This property continues to be a part-time residence. The following items were noted during the inspection: 1. Operations & Maintenance: Overall, the system components all need to be located, including the septic tank, sand filter trench, tablet chlorination unit, and effluent pipe. See additional items below for details of each component. 2. Septic Tank: Septic tank pumping records were not provided. The 2019 Inspection Report indicated that Clearwater Environmental had located and checked the septic tank around 2017. They reported that the tank water level was less than half full at that time; however, there was potentially a mid-seam leak within the tank. It does not appear that the tank has been checked since 2017. The tank needs to be checked to verify if the solids need pumped, and also to determine if there is a mid-seam leak, and if so, to repair this leak. The septic tank needs to be pumped by a certified septage firm every five years and/or when the solids level is 1/3 the liquid level in either compartment of the tank. 3. Sand Filter: The sand filter could not be located, and according to the last report was not located then. The sand filter should be located and checked as part of overall system maintenance. 4. Disinfection - Tablet: The tablet chlorination unit could not be located. This unit should be located, and a few chlorination tablets should be kept in one tube at all times (do not pack full - the tablets can cake when wet and be difficult to clean), even if the system is not discharging. 5. Effluent Pipe: The effluent pipe could not be located. This pipe needs to be located in order to check if the system is discharging. 6. Effluent Sampling: Once the effluent pipe is located, if flow is seen discharging from the pipe at any time throughout the year, annual sampling is required per Table C.(3.) in General Permit NCG55, which will be attached to this report. The following violations were noted during the inspection: 1. Operations & Maintenance: System components could not be located, including the septic tank, sand filter trench, tablet chlorination unit, and effluent pipe. It appears that the system is not being properly maintained. 2. Septic Tank: Septic tank pumping records were not provided. NCG550275 17 (Cont.) Page#2 DocuSign Envelope ID: C9246A50-DD34-4E9C-9ED3-929F836FA19D Permit:NCG550275 Inspection Date:05/30/2024 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: 326 Smokey Shadows Lane 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 Certificate of Coverage changed ownership in October 2019.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? All system components could not be located. See summary for details.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? Septic tank pumping records were not provided. 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) According to past records, this type of subsurface sand filter is supposed to be a sand filter trench. See summary for details. Comment: Disinfection-Tablet Yes No NA NE Are tablet chlorinators operational? Are the tablets the proper size and type? Page#3 DocuSign Envelope ID: C9246A50-DD34-4E9C-9ED3-929F836FA19D Permit:NCG550275 Inspection Date:05/30/2024 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: 326 Smokey Shadows Lane Compliance Evaluation Disinfection-Tablet Yes No NA NE Number of tubes in use? 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 tablet chlorination unit could not be located. 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? The effluent pipe could not be located. See summary for details.Comment: Effluent Sampling Yes No NA NE Is composite sampling flow proportional? Is sample collected below all treatment units? Is proper volume collected? 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)? At this time, it cannot be evaluated whether or not annual effluent sampling is required because the effluent pipe has not been located. See summary for details. Comment: Page#4 DocuSign Envelope ID: C9246A50-DD34-4E9C-9ED3-929F836FA19D