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Home My WebLink AboutNC0022934_NOV-2018-PC-0184_20180525Water Resources ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ROY COOPER Governor MICHAEL S. REGAN Secretary LINDA CULPEPPER Interim Director Certified Mail # 7016 1370 0000 2596 0245 Return Receipt Requested May 25, 2018 Mr. Lawrence Schwartz UCS, Inc. P.O. Box 657 Lincolnton, NC 28092 Subject: Notice of Violation NOV-2018-PC-0184 Compliance Inspection UCS Main Plant NPDES Permit No. NCO022934 Gaston County Dear Mr. Schwartz: Enclosed is a copy of the Compliance Inspection report for the inspection conducted at the subject facility on May 22, 2018, by Ori Tuvia. Jason Schwartz's cooperation during the site visit was much appreciated. Please advise the staff involved with this NPDES Permit by forwarding a copy of the enclosed report. Overall, the wastewater treatment system needs attention and maintenance. One of the main areas of concern observed during the inspection was that the lagoon has not been maintained and this issue has been identified during previous inspections. There is woody vegetation, animal burrows, and erosion, on the side slopes/dikes. The outfall structure is deteriorating and needs maintenance; the access to the outfall structure appears unstable. The outfall structure, which contains the chlorine disinfection box, is part of permitted wastewater system and must be maintained. Additionally, the Permittee should conduct an engineering evaluation of the system to verify its integrity. This includes confirming the path/piping for influent wastewater to the lagoon, assessing the sludge level in the lagoon, assessing the structural stability of the lagoon slopes/dikes after vegetation removal, and an evaluation of the outfall structure (an older report in DWR files suggests that the reason for no discharge from the system may be a leak in the structure below the water line). In addition, facility staff must locate the effluent pipe location. Please note that Part II, Section C, Condition 2 of your permit requires that, "the Permittee shall at all times properly operate and maintain all facilities and systems of treatment and control (and related appurtenances) which are installed or used by the Permittee to achieve compliance with the conditions of this permit." Mooresville Regional Office Location: 610 East Center Ave., Suite 301 Mooresville, NC 28115 Phone: (704) 663-16991 Fax: (704) 663-60401 Customer Service: 1-877-623-6748 Please be advised that this letter is a Notice of Violation. You are requested to respond to this Notice in writing within fifteen (15) days of receipt indicating your Plan of Action to ensure future compliance. This Plan of Action should include a timeline within which the items will be adequately addressed. Failure to respond and/or failure to resolve the violations could subject you for further action by the Division of Water Resources. The report should be self-explanatory; however, should you have any questions concerning this report, please do not hesitate to contact Ori Tuvia at (704) 235-2190, or at ori.tuvia&ncdenr. gov. Sincerely, DocuSigned by: A41 . H Nuft F161FB69A2D84A3... for W. Corey Basinger Regional Supervisor Mooresville Regional Office Water Quality Regional Operations Section Division of Water Resources Cc: NPDES Unit, MRO Files (Laserfiche) United States Environmental Protection Agency Form Approved. EPA Washington, D.C. 20460 OMB No. 2040-0057 Water Compliance Inspection Report 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 IN 1 2 15 I 3 I NCO022934 111 12 I 18/05/22 I17 18 I S J 19 LG] 201 I 211111 1 1 1 1 1 111 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 111 1 1 1 1 1 166 Inspection Work Days Facility Self-Monitoring Evaluation Rating B1 QA ----------------------Reserved------------------- 67 1.0 70 IJ 71 I„ I 72 n 73 �74 751 I I I 1 1 1 I80 u Section B: Facility Data Name and Location of Facility Inspected (For Industrial Users discharging to POTW, also include Entry Time/Date Permit Effective Date POTW name and NPDES oermit Numbed 09:30AM 18/05/22 15/11/01 UCS Main Plant 511 Hoffman Rd Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date Lincolnton NC 28092 11:10AM 18/05/22 20/07/31 Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) Other Facility Data Jonathan David Gragg/ORC/828-396-4444/ Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number Contacted Cindy Lints,511 Hoffman Rd Lincolnton NC 28092//704-732-9922/ No Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated) Permit 0 Operations & Maintenance 0 Self-Monitoring Program 0 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 DocuSigned by: Ori ATuvia MROWQ//704-663-1699/ 5/25/2018 IBB057A2DE017498... Signature of Management Q A Reviewer Agency/Office/Phone and Fax NuDocusigned by: Date TA4-.' H Nuft Andrew Pitner MRO WQ//704-663-1699 Ext.21 5/25/18 1`161 F869AMUAI.. EPA Form 3560-3 (Rev 9-94) Previous editions are obsolete. Page# NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection Type NCO022934 111 121 18/05/22 1 17 18 JCJ Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) The main area of concern observed during the inspection was that the lagoon has not been maintained and this issue has been identified during previous inspections. The outfall structure, which contains the chlorine disinfection box, is deteriorating and needs maintenance; the access to the outfall structure appears unstable. Page# Permit: NCO022934 Owner - Facility: UCS Main Plant Inspection Date: 05/22/2018 Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Yes No NA NE Type of lagoons? Permit Yes No NA NE (If the present permit expires in 6 months or less). Has the permittee submitted a new ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ application? Is the facility as described in the permit? ❑ 0 ❑ ❑ # Are there any special conditions for the permit? ❑ 0 ❑ ❑ Is access to the plant site restricted to the general public? M ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the inspector granted access to all areas for inspection? 0 ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: The current Dermit exDires on July 31. 2020. The subiect Dermit is for a stabilization laaoon followed by chlorine disinfection. Operations & Maintenance Yes No NA NE Is the plant generally clean with acceptable housekeeping? ❑ 0 ❑ ❑ Does the facility analyze process control parameters, for ex: MLSS, MCRT, Settleable ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ Solids, pH, DO, Sludge Judge, and other that are applicable? Comment: The CIRC conducts weekly visits to the site: all indicate no flow and the facilitv has not recorded discharge in many years. The outfall structure, which contains the chlorine disinfection box is deteriorating and needs maintenance; the access to the outfall structure seems unstable. Given that the facility has not discharged in more than 14 years, the permitee should conduct an engineering evaluation of the wastewater system, including confirmation of the path of influent wastewater to the lagoon. In addition, the facility staff must locate the effluent pipe location and maintain access to it. Lagoons Yes No NA NE Type of lagoons? # Number of lagoons in operation at time of visit? 1 Are lagoons operated in? # Is a re -circulation line present? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ Is lagoon free of excessive floating materials? ❑ 0 ❑ ❑ # Are baffles between ponds or effluent baffles adjustable? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ Are dike slopes clear of woody vegetation? ❑ ❑ ❑ Are weeds controlled around the edge of the lagoon? ❑ ❑ ❑ Are dikes free of seepage? ❑ ❑ ❑ 0 Are dikes free of erosion? ❑ 0 ❑ ❑ Are dikes free of burrowing animals? ❑ 0 ❑ ❑ # Has the sludge blanket in the lagoon (s) been measured periodically in multiple ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ locations? # If excessive algae is present, has barley straw been used to help control the growth? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ Page# 3 Permit: NC0022934 Inspection Date: 05/22/2018 Lagoons Is the lagoon surface free of weeds? Is the lagoon free of short circuiting? Owner - Facility: UCS Main Plant Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Yes No NA NE ❑ ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ■ Comment: The laaoon has not been maintained. There is woodv veaetation. animal burrows. and erosion on the side slopes/dikes. Additionally, the facility should evaluate sludge level in the lagoon, stability of the lagoon banks and the condition of the outfall structure (an older DWR report suggests that the reason for no discharge is a leak in the structure below the water line). Page#