The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About770012_NOV-2024-PC-0486_20240917ROY COOPER Governor ELIZABETH S. BISER Secretary RICHARD E. ROGERS, JR. Director NORTH CAROLINA Environmental Quality August 19, 2024 CERTIFIED MAIL RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED 70201810000211094026 NG Purvis Farms Inc 2504 Spies Road Robbins NC 27325 Subject: NOTICE OF VIOLATION Administrative Code 15A NCAC 2T .1304 NOV-2024-PC-0486 Tar Heel Swine Facility Number 77-12 Permit AWS770012 Richmond County NG Purvis Farms Inc, On July 25, 2024, staff of the NC Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Division of Water Resources (DWR), Water Quality Regional Operations Section (WQROS) was notified by a complaint that the Tar Heel Swine Farm was actively irrigating wastewater onto their spray field while it was raining, we wish to thank Mr. Tony Moore for his assistance during this site visit. As a result of this inspection, you are hereby notified that, having been permitted to have a non - discharge permit for the subject animal waste disposal system pursuant to 15A NCAC 2T .1304, you have been found to be in violation of your permit as follows: DffNorth Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources oan caaouNn Fayetteville Regional Office 1225 Green St., Suite 714 1 Fayetteville, North Carolina 28301-5043 M910.433.3300 oep.m.m or em�nmen� Qualm Page 2 NG Purvis Farms Inc July 20, 2024 Violation 1 Land application of waste is prohibited during precipitation events. The permitee shall consider pending weather conditions in making the decision to land apply waste and shall document the weather condition at the time of the land application on forms supplied by or approved by the Division. - [I 5ANCAC 02T 91304(b)(8)] (Permit No. II 23).] DWR Staff has photo and video documentation of the waste application happening during a rain event. The irrigation pump was turned off by the time DWR staff was on site, but it was still leaking from the hose indicating the reel has been operated recently. DWR staff walked the entire spray field and could see no ponding or runoff of waste. Required Corrective Action for Violation 1: In the future pay attention to the weather and do not irrigation during a rain event, may consider installing a rain breaker that will shut off when precipitation is detected. Violation 2• The permitee shall: a. install, operate and maintain devices on all irrigation pumps/equipment designed to automatically stop irrigation activities during precipitation ; or b. commit to provide for the presence of the OIC, a designated backup OIC, or a person under the supervision of an OIC at all times during the land application of waste so that in case of a precipitation event, the irrigation activities will be stopped immediately. This commitment must be submitted in writing on a form supplied by or approved by the division. - [G.S. 90A-47)] (Permit No. II 24).] DWR staff noted that no rain breaker was on the pump and DWR staff asked Mr. Moore if the rain breaker form provided by the division was selected to always have the OIC with the irrigation event or to have a rain breaker and Mr. Moore indicated that they selected that the OIC would be on site during all irrigation events. Required Corrective Action for Violation 2: If you selected that someone would be on site during irrigation events the pump should have been shut down when the precipitation started. May consider re-training staff if the permit condition cannot be followed consider adding a rain breaker to your pump to prevent this from happening again. D North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources Fayetteville Regional Office 1 225 Green Street, Suite 714 1 Fayetteville, North Carolina 28301-5043 NoarHcnaou n 910-433-3300 oeo+ro�.m m emro��w n�sim Page 4 NG Purvis Farm Inc July 20, 2024 1. An explanation from the OIC for this farm regarding how these violations occurred. 2. A list from the OIC concerninz the steps that will be taken to prevent these violations from occurring in the future. You are required to take any necessary action to correct the above violations if applicable and to provide a written response to this notice 30 day after receipt of letter. Please include in your response all corrective actions already taken and a schedule for completion of any corrective actions not addressed. Failure to comply with conditions in a permit may result in a recommendation of enforcement action, to the Director of the Division of Water Resources who may issue a civil penalty assessment of not more that twenty-five thousand ($25,000) dollars against any "person" who violates or fails to act in accordance with the terms, conditions, or requirements of a permit under authority of G.S. 143-215.6A. If you have any questions concerning this Notice, please contact Katie Fontenot (919) 896- 9715or me at (910) 433-3336. Sincerely, DocuSigned by: D I V AIM' Mark Brant ey 1A9691DB248E... 9/17/2024 Regional Supervisor Water Quality Regional Operations Section Division of Water Resources cc: FRO Compliance Animal Files-Laserfiche 77-12 REQ� North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources Fayetteville Regional Office 1 225 Green Street, Suite 714 1 Fayetteville, North Carolina 28301-5043 n_o cnaoun,n 910-433-3300 o.o+ro�.m m emro.�.�w n�.im