NC0079090_NOD2024PC0113 & CEI Report_20240624

June 24, 2024

Steve Hargis
Snowbird Mountain Trout LLC
1199 Crantock Rd
Smithfield, NC 27577

SUBJECT: NOTICE OF DEFICIENCY
Tracking Number: NOD-2024-PC-0113
Permit No. NC0079090
Coldwater Farm
Graham County

Dear Permittee:

The North Carolina Division of Water Resources conducted an inspection of the Coldwater Farm on June 4,
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. NC0079090. 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 deficiency was noted during the inspection:
Inspection Area Description of Deficiency _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Effluent Sampling Effluent sampling was not conducted when the trout farm was in operation from around
2019-2021. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

DocuSign Envelope ID: E207CB07-721C-4A8C-97C3-4377FD3BEB56

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

ATTACHMENTS: Inspection Report

Ec: Laserfiche

DocuSign Envelope ID: E207CB07-721C-4A8C-97C3-4377FD3BEB56
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 NC0079090 24/06/04 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)
Coldwater Farm
4765 Snowbird Rd
Robbinsville NC 28771
Entry Time/Date Permit Effective Date
Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date
12:30PM 24/06/04 18/03/01
Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s)
///
Other Facility Data
01:00PM 24/06/04 22/11/30
Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number
Steve Hargis,1199 Crantock Rd Smithfield NC 27577//919-631-3030/Contacted
Yes
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/
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.
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DocuSign Envelope ID: E207CB07-721C-4A8C-97C3-4377FD3BEB56
6/24/2024
6/24/2024
6/24/2024
NPDES yr/mo/day
24/06/04
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 Coldwater Farm on June 4, 2024. This inspection was conducted to
determine whether the facility is being operated and maintained in compliance with NPDES Permit No.
NC0079090. Ms. Armeni spoke to the owner, Mr. Steve Hargis, prior to the inspection.
The facility has not been an operating trout farm since 2021. Since the last inspection, Mr. Hargis
indicated that it was being used as a trout farm around the end of 2019 to 2021. There are currently
no plans to reopen the trout farm; however, Mr. Hargis would like to keep the permit active if plans
change. At the time of the inspection, there was some accumulation of sediment in the raceways,
which will need to be addressed if the facility ever becomes an active trout farm again.
The following item was noted during the inspection:
1. Effluent Sampling: The facility was being used as a trout farm around the end of 2019 to 2021, but
sampling was not conducted. There was a sampling waiver in our system for this facility granted on
March 1, 2018 since it had not been in operation; however, the DEQ should have been notified prior
to the facility becoming active again in order for the sampling waiver to be removed.
The following deficiency was noted during the inspection:
1. Effluent Sampling: Effluent sampling was not conducted when the trout farm was in operation from
around the end of 2019 to 2021.
NC0079090 17 (Cont.)
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DocuSign Envelope ID: E207CB07-721C-4A8C-97C3-4377FD3BEB56
Permit:NC0079090
Inspection Date:06/04/2024
Owner - Facility:
Inspection Type:
Coldwater Farm
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 permit expired on November 30, 2022. A permit renewal application was submitted
on February 12, 2024.
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?
The facility is no longer being used as a trout farm, and was last used as one from
around the end of 2019 to 2021.
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?
At the time of the inspection, the effluent pipe could not be accessed due to tall grass;
however, Ms. Armeni and Ms. Willmer did observe the effluent at the end of the
raceways and it was clear.
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)?
Since the last inspection, the facility was in operation from around the end of 2019 to
2021 and effluent sampling was not conducted during ths time. See summary for
details.
Comment:
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DocuSign Envelope ID: E207CB07-721C-4A8C-97C3-4377FD3BEB56