NC0087076_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_20240705

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July 05, 2024

Randy Marsh
Columbia Forest Plywood Products
Email: [e-mail]

SUBJECT: Compliance Inspection Report
Columbia Forest Plywood Products
NPDES WW Permit No. NC0087076
McDowell County

Dear Permittee:

The North Carolina Division of Water Resources conducted an inspection of the Columbia Forest Plywood
Products on 6/25/2024. This inspection was conducted to verify that the facility is operating in
compliance with the conditions and limitations specified in NPDES WW Permit No. NC0087076. The
findings and comments noted during this inspection are provided in the enclosed copy of the inspection
report entitled "Compliance Inspection Report".

There were no significant issues or findings noted during the inspection and therefore, a response to this
inspection report is not required.

If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mikal Willmer with the Water
Quality Regional Operations Section in the Asheville Regional Office at 828-296-4686 or via email at
[e-mail].

Sincerely,

Daniel Boss, Assistant Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Asheville Regional Office
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ

ATTACHMENTS: Inspection Report
Ec: Sam Phillips, Columbia Forest Products
LF
DocuSign Envelope ID: 560BCD60-D600-4D98-8EC8-8C303B53FE4E
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 NC0087076 24/06/25 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)
Columbia Forest Plywood Products
369 Columbia Carolina
Old Fort NC 28762
Entry Time/Date Permit Effective Date
Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date
09:50AM 24/06/25 20/04/01
Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s)
///
Not Required/ORC/919-707-9190/
Other Facility Data
11:00AM 24/06/25 24/12/31
Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number
Larry Hartman,PO Box 1148 Old Fort NC 287621148//828-724-4191/8287249084 Contacted
Yes
Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated)
Permit Flow Measurement Operations & Maintenance Records/Reports
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
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: 560BCD60-D600-4D98-8EC8-8C303B53FE4E
7/5/2024
7/5/2024
NPDES yr/mo/day
24/06/25
Inspection Type
C3111218
1
Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary)
Mikal Willmer, with the Asheville Regional Office, conducted a Compliance Evaluation Inspection of
Columbia Forest Products Wet-Deck system on June 25, 2024. This inspection was conducted to
determine whether the system was being operated and maintained in compliance with NPDES Permit
#NC0087076. Sam Phillips, Columbia Forest Products, was present and assisted in the inspection.
Overall, the facility appeared to be operated and maintained in compliance.
Columbia Forest Products processes timber onsite to manufacture hardwood plywood. Mr. Phillips
indicated the facility has not had to wet-deck recently due to current demands. At the time of the
inspection, there were minimal logs within the wet-deck area and the log pond was empty.
Wet-decking is only needed to keep timber wet when it's stored onsite for extended periods.
Permit: The permit expires on December 31, 2024. Mr. Phillips stated, at the time of the inspection,
that the renewal application was complete and awaiting signature. The permittee should verify what
process flows, if any, discharge to the overflow/refill ponds during renewal.
Outfall 001: System only discharges when the large refill pond overflows during a severe rain event.
Mr. Phillips indicated that after the last discharge, the owner increased the capacity of the ponds to
reduce the likelihood of a storm-related discharge, since they were unable to consistently meet
effluent limits during these releases. There was an estimated 10’ of freeboard in the pond at the time
of the inspection. In addition to increasing the refill pond capacity, significant stormwater conveyance
work was completed onsite to route the majority of the site’s stormwater flows to the stormwater
outfalls under General Permit NCG210136.
It also appears the facility has hydraulically isolated the log pond/wet-decking pond from the large
refill/overflow pond. According to Mr. Phillips, the now smaller log pond is used for wet-decking and
receives any of the overspray from the wet-decking operation. The refill/overflow pond is filled with
water from the Catawba River and water is only transferred via pump into the log pond as needed.
Mr. Phillips stated the only process wastewater that would enter the refill/overflow ponds is if the
log-soaking vats were to overflow.
NC0087076 17 (Cont.)
Page#2
DocuSign Envelope ID: 560BCD60-D600-4D98-8EC8-8C303B53FE4E
Permit:NC0087076
Inspection Date:06/25/2024
Owner - Facility:
Inspection Type:
Columbia Forest Plywood Products
Compliance Evaluation
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:
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?
Permittee should verify process flows and the flow diagram is correct since last permit
renewal. See summary for additional information.
Comment:
Page#3
DocuSign Envelope ID: 560BCD60-D600-4D98-8EC8-8C303B53FE4E