NC0020389_NOV-2018-PC-0214_20180706

ROY COOPER
Governor
MICHAEL S. REGAN
Secretary
Water Resources LINDA CULPEPPER
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY Interim Director
CERTIFIED MAIL 7016 3560 0000 4428 3382
RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
July 6, 2018
Mr.Matthew Zapp,Town Manager
Town of Benson
P.O. Box 69
Benson,NC 27504
Subject: Notice of Violation—Notice of Intent to Enforce NOV-2018-PC-0214
Sludge Overflow from Sludge Lagoon
Benson WWTP
NPDES Permit No. NC0020389
Johnston County
Dear Mr.Zapp:
On June 15,2018,Mitch Hayes and Jason Robinson of the Raleigh Regional Office of the Division of
Water Resources responded to an anonymous complaint of an overflow of sludge from the 3 million
gallon concrete lined sludge lagoon at the Benson wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). A large amount
of sludge and debris was observed on the ground. The freeboard of the concrete lined sludge lagoon was
approximately 1 inch. Sludge was observed to have coursed down to the fence line, and outside of the
fenced area. Sludge was also observed on the ground and piled up between the sludge lagoon and the
small EQ pond. There was a lot of debris/trash in the sludge. Thick vegetation was observed growing in
the sludge lagoon and the small EQ pond(see attached photos).
On June 21,2018, Jeremiah Dow and Ted Cashion of the Raleigh Regional Office of the Division of
Water Resources conducted a Compliance Evaluation Inspection(CEI)of the Benson WWTP. During
the inspection they also observed a large amount of sludge and debris on the ground from the 3 million
gallon concrete lined sludge lagoon. The freeboard of the concrete lined sludge lagoon was
approximately 6 inches. Sludge was also observed to have coursed down to the fence line, and outside of
the fenced area. Sludge was also observed on the ground and piled up between the sludge lagoon and the
small EQ pond. There was a lot of debris/trash in the sludge. Thick vegetation was observed growing in
the sludge lagoon and the small EQ pond. Town staff were working to clean up the sludge spill during
the June 21 inspection.
The sludge discharge/overflow aside, a full and complete CEI report addressing the wastewater treatment
plant will subsequently be sent to the Town through a separate correspondence.
For the above noted sludge discharge/overflow,the Town of Benson is in violation of the following
conditions of NPDES Permit No.NC0020389 and 15A NCAC 02T .0505(d):
NPDES Permit NC0020389 Part II. Section C.2.Proper Operation and Maintenance
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
Division of Water Resources,Raleigh Regional Office,Water Quality Operations Section http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/wq/aps
1628 Mail Service Center,Raleigh,NC 27699-1628 Phone:[phone]
Location: 3800 Barrett Drive,Raleigh,NC 27609 Fax:[phone]

under which these activities occurred.
h. Please explain why the concrete lined sludge storage lagoon is operated in violation of 15A
NCAC 02T .0505(d)which states all treatment/storage lagoons/ponds shall have at least two
feet of freeboard. Please state when this treatment unit will return to compliance with this
requirement,and how the freeboard was achieved(where was the sludge/wastewater
disposed?)
i. Please explain why the Town did not report this sludge discharge/overflow as required by
Part II. Section E.6 Twenty-four Hour Reporting of the NPDES Permit.
Your efforts to undertake activities to bring the subject site back into compliance is not an admission,
rather it is an action that must be taken in order to begin to resolve ongoing environmental issues.
These violations and any future violations are subject to a civil penalty assessment of up to a
maximum of$25,000.00 per day for each violation. Your response to this correspondence will be
considered in any civil penalty assessment process that may occur.
Please provide this office with a written detailed response to items a through i within 30 days of
receipt of this letter.
If you have questions concerning this report please contact Ted Cashion at 919-791-4254 or
ted.cashion(a ncdenr.gov.
Sincerely /e(
41/2
S.Daniel Smith,Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
cc: Johnston County Health Dept.
RRO, SWP
Central Files

Photos from June 21, 2018 Compliance Evaluation Inspection by DWR.
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Sludge deposited along fence line. Another view of sludge at the edge of"Small Pond."