WQ0004270_Final Permit_20010530

State -of North Carolina
Department of Environment
and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality
Michael F. Easley, Governor
William G. Ross Jr., Secretary
Kerr T. Stevens, Director
May 30, 2001
MR. ERNEST W. SUMNER
A. B. CARTER INC.
P. O. Box 518
GASTONIA, NC 28053
NCDENR
NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Subject: Permit No. WQ0004270
A. B. Carter, Inc.
Wastewater Spray Irrigation
Gaston County
Dear Mr. Ernest W. Sumner:
In accordance with your application received March 8, 2001, we are forwarding herewith Permit No.
WQ0004270, dated May 30, 2001, to A. B. Carter, Inc. for the continued operation of the subject wastewater
treatment and spray irrigation facilities.
This permit shall be effective from the date of issuance until April 30, 2006, shall void Permit No.
WQ0004270 issued March 26, 1996, and shall be subject to the conditions and limitations as specified therein.
Please pay particular attention to the monitoring requirements in this permit. Failure to establish an adequate
system for collecting and maintaining the required operational information will result in future compliance
problems.
This permit approves the continued operation of the subject wastewater treatment and spray irrigation
facilities for another five-year cycle. However, please take the time to review this permit thoroughly as some of
the conditions contained within may have changed since the last issuance of this permit. Of particular interest
are the following permitting conditions:
➢ Condition I1.7. — This condition has been changed from an alternating once a week application rate
of 1 inch/acre to an application rate of 26 inches of any 12-month period.
➢ Condition IH.3.. — This is a new condition dictating that the Permittee is responsible for recording
influent flows and daily average flows on Form NDMR.
➢ Condition 111.5. — Note that the address for submission of operation and disposal records (NDAR-1
and NDMR-1) has been changed.
➢ Condition III.6. It is now Division policy to require a standard soil fertility analysis to be
performed on a representative soil sample taken from the spray irrigation field. Records of these
sampling events and results of the analyses must be kept on file by the Permittee. Note that the
Agronomic Division of North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services offers
free soil testing to all North Carolina (residents. See the agency's web site at
www.neagri.com/agronomi or telephone [phone] for more information.
➢ Condition II1.7. — Note that it is now Division policy that written reports be submitted in letter form
within five (5) days following first knowledge of the occurrence.
1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617 Telephone [phone] Fax [phone]
An Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer 50% recycled/10% post -consumer paper

➢ Condition IV.1. — Note that monitoring wells BG-1, BG-2 and SWMVI-MW2 shall be sampled
every February and August. Also note that two new sampling parameters have been added, which
are Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and Sulfate, while Total Phosphorus has been dropped from
the sampling parameter requirements. In addition, please note that the address for the Groundwater
Section has been changed.
If any parts, requirements, or limitations contained in this permit are unacceptable, you have the right to
request an adjudicatory hearing upon written request within thirty (30) days following receipt of this permit.
This request must be in the form of a written petition, conforming to Chapter 150B of the North Carolina
General Statutes, and filed with the Office of Administrative Hearings, 6714 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC
27699-6714. Unless such demands are made this permit shall be final and binding.
If you need additional information concerning this matter, please contact Nathaniel Thornburg at (919)
733-5083 extension 533.
Sincerely,
Kerr T. Stevens
cc: Gaston County Health Department
Mooresville Regional Office, Water Quality Section
Mooresville Regional Office, Groundwater Section
Groundwater Section, Central Office
Technical Assistance and Certification Unit
Non -Discharge Compliance/Enforcement Unit

NORTH CAROLINA
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
RALEIGH
SPRAY IRRIGATION SYSTEM PERMIT
In accordance with the provisions of Article 21 of Chapter 143, General Statutes of North Carolina as amended, and
other applicable Laws, Rules, and Regulations
PERM9SSION IS HEREBY GRANTED TO RgCENEp 1 pENR I Dwa
AQUIFER PROTECTION SECTION
A. B. Carter, Inc. FEB 1 0 2D06
Gaston County
continued operation of a 5,000 gallon per day (GPD) spray irrigation treatment and disposal facility consisting of 5,00I1
GFD extended aeration plant with a com muni.tor, bar screen, two aeration basims, clarifier, chlorine contact tank and a
0,235 million gallon (MG) storage Iagoon, a 120 gallon per minute (GPM) irrigation pump and approximately 2-5
acres of irrigation field to serve A. B. Carter, Inc., with no discharge of wastes to the surface waters, purstulmt to the
application received Match S, 2001, amd in conformity with the project plan, specificatiom, artd ot2aer Supporting data
subsequently filed and approved by the Department of Environzt7ew and Natural Resources and considered a part of
this perYnit.
This perrnd shall be effective from the date of issuance until April 30, 2006, shall v6id PeTmit No. WQ0004270
issued March 26, 1996, znd shall be subject to the following specified conditions aad limitations:
The spray irrigation. facilities shall be effectively maintained slid operated at all tunes so that there is no
discharge to the surface waters, uor any contamination of ground waters which will r=&X tread
unsatisfactory for normal use. In the event that the facilities fail to perform satisfactorily, including the
creation of nuisance conditions or failure of the irrigation area to adequately assimilate the wastewater, the
Perrnittee sha11 take immediate cotrcctive actions including those actions that may be required by the
Division of Water Quality (Division), such as .the c:ottstructiazt of additional of replacement wastewater
treatment and disposal facilities.
1. The issuance of dais peruAt shall not relieve the Permittee of the respowibflity for damages to surface or
groundwaters resulfing fmw the operation of this facility.
The residuals generated from these treatment facilities must be disposed in accordance with General
Statute 143-215.1 and is a mariner approved by the Division.
4. Diversion or bypassing of the untreated wastewater from the treatment facilities is prohibited.

Tht following buffers shall be maintained:
a) 4.00 feet between wetted area and any residence or places of public assembly under sepatata
vwrtarship,
b) 150 feet between wetted area and property lines,
c; 100 feet between wetted area and wells,
d) 1.00 feet between wetted area and drainageways or surface water bodies,
e) 50 feet between wetted area and public right of ways,
f) 100 Feet between wastewater treatment urkits and wells, and
g) 50 feet between wastewater tmatmeut units and property lines.
Some of the buffers specified above may not have been included in previous permits for this waste
treatmcnt and disposal system. These buffers are not intended to prohibit or prevent modifications, which
are required by the Division, to improve pexf'otxxmce of the existing treatment facility. These buffers do,
however, apply to modifications of the treatment and disposal facilities which are for the purpose of
incxeasiAg the flow that is tributary to the facility. These buffers do apply to any expansion or
modification of the spray irrigation areas and apply in instances in which the sale of property would cause
any of the buffers now complied with, for the treatment and disposal facilities, to be violated, Tha
applicant is advised that any twdifications to the existing facilities will require a permit modification.
II. OPERA nQN AND MAMENANCE REQUIREMENTS
1. The facilities shall be properly maintained =d operated at all tunes.
2. Upon classi-ficaticm of the facility by the Water Pcillution Control System Operators Certification
Commission (WPCSOCC), the Pennittee shall employ a certified wastewater treativemt plant operator to
be in responsible charge (ORC) of the waswwater treatment facilities. The operator must hold a certificate
of the type and grade at least equivalent to or greater than the classification assigned to the wanewater
treatment facilities by the WPCSOCC. The Permittee roust also employ a Certified back-up operator of the
appropriate type and grade to comply with the conditions of 15A NCAC 80 .0202. The ORC of the
facility roust visit, each Criass I facility at least weekly xid each Class II, III, and IV facility at ]east daily,
excluding weekends and holidays, and must properly manage and docurnent daily ngcratioa and
maintenance of tine facility and must corgly with all other conditions of 15A NCAC 8G .0202.
I A suitable year round °ve;etative cover of Rescue and Bermuda grass shall be maibtalned in the spray
irrigation field and at no time be allowed to reach a height greater than 9 inches.
4. irrigation shall not be perfamied during inclement weather or when the ground is in a condition that will
cause runoff.
5. Adequate =asures shall be taken Co pmvmt wastewater runoff from, the spray field.
6. The facilities shall be effectively maintained and operated as a ilea -discharge ,systein to prevent the
discharge of any wastewater resulting from the operation of this facility-
7. The rate of application onto they spray irrigation arras shall not exceed a cumulative loading of 26 inches
over, any 12-month period. The instantaneous application rate shall be such that ponding or runoff of
applied wastewater does not occur.
No type of wastewater other than that f ow Wastewater Spray irrigation, shall be sprayed onto the
irrigation, area,
No traffic or equipment shall be allowed on the disposal area except ,\,Me installation occurs or while
normal maintenance is being performed.
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10, Public access to the land application sites shall be controlled duriug active site use. Such controls may
include the posting of signs showing the, activities being conducted at each site.
11. Freeboard in the'storage lagoon shall not be les5 than two feet at any time,
12_ Spare parts shall be provided for the pump in the holding basin so that continuous operation of the
facilities can be. maintained_
IIZ. IyiQNlE C-WNG_AND REPORTING &EQUIRENUNTS
Any monitoring (i.ztcluding grorcridwater, Surface water, soil or plant tissue analyses) deemed necessary by
the Division to insure surface and ground water protection will be established and an Acceptabk sampling
reporting schedule skull be followed.
2_ AdNua.e.records shall be maintained by the Pe;rnittee tracking the amount of wastewater disposed. These
records shall include, but are not n.ecessari.ly lirnited to, the following information.,
a. date of irrigation,
b_ volume of wastewater irrigated,
c, field irrigated,
d. length of time field is irrigated,
e. Conti waous weekly, tza whly, and year-to-date hydraulic (incbeslacre) loadings for each Feld,
f, weather conditions, and
& rnainterrance of cover crops.
3. Influent flow shall be colatimubusly monitoxed and daily Average flow values shall be reported on Foam
NDtMR. Flow may be estimated from water use reds provided water use is metared. Daily average
values shall be calculated by dividitag,moAtbly flow volunw by the number of days in the month
4. The effluent from the subject facilities shall be monitored by the Feruzittee at the point prior to irrigation
every Fobr nary, August and November for the following paraweters:
BQD5
TSS
Total Colrform
PH
N113 as N
Sodium
Magnesium
Calcium.
Sodium Adsorption Ratio by
Calculation
$- Three (3) copies of all OperAtion and disposal records (as specified in condition M z) on Farm NDAR-1
anal three (3) copies of all effluent monitozizig data (as specified in condition III 3 and III 4) on Form
NDMR-1 shall be submitted ors or before the last day of March, September and December. All
inforxzaation shall be- submitted to the following address,
NC Divi,siion of Water Quabry
Water Quality Section
Nort-.Discharge Compliance/Enforceazmt Unit
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699- I617
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6. A representative annual soils a4alysis (Standard Soil Fertility Analysis) shall be conducted on each spray
field and the results maintained on file by the Permittee fOr a minimum of five years, The Standard Sail
Fertility Analysis s# all include, but is not necessarily limited to, the following parameters:
Acidity
Calcium
Copper
Magnesium
Cation Exchange Capacity
7. Noncomplia= Notification:
Manganese Potassium
Percent Humic Matter Sodium
PH zinc
Exchangeable Sodium Percentage Phosphorus
Base Saturation (by calculation)
The Perrxtittec shall report by telephone to the Mooresville Regional Office, telephone number (704) 663-
1699, as soon as possible .but i1i ua case raoie than 24 hours or on the next working day following the
occurrence or first knowledge of the occurrence of any of the following:
a. Any occurrence at the wastewater treatrrient facility which results in the treatment of significant
axmuuts of wastes which arc abnormal in quantity or chw-actezistic, such as the dtmping of the
contents of a sludgo digester; the lcuown passage of a slug of hazardous substance through the facility,
or any other unusual cirowwts.hces,
b. Azprocess unit failure, clue to known or unknown xeasons, that render the facility incapable of
adequate wastewater txeata=t such as mechanical or electrical failures of pumps, aerators,
C4II1pressors, etc.
c. Aay failure of a pumping station, sewer line, or treatment facility resulting in a by-pass directly to
receiving waters without treatmwt of all or any portion of the influent to such station or facility.
d. Any time that self-Dponitoring information indicates that the facility has gone out of goznpliance with
its permit limitations.
Fersons..xeporting such occurrences by telephone shall also file a wri,ttesa report in letter form within fire
(5) days Following first knowledge of the occurrence. This report must outline the actions takers or
proposed to be taken to ensure that the problem does toot recur.
IV, GRQUNDWATER REQUE&N_ Elv TS
1. Monitor was 130-2 (MW-19), SRWMU1-MW-2 (MW-20) and BC-1 (MW-21) shall be sampled every
February and August for the following parameters:
Watax Level
pH
Chloride
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)
Fecal Coliform
Total Organic Carbon (TOC)
Nitrate (NO;)
'Total Arnrnoniia (NH3--N)
sulfate
Chemical Oxygen Deman (COD)
Volatile Organic Compounds -- to August only using one of the following:
(A) Standard Method 623011), PQL at 0.5 ug1L or less
(B) Standard Method 6210D, PQL at 0.5 uglL or less
(C) EPA Method 8021, Low Concentration, PQL at 0.5 ug/ or less
(D) EPA Method 8260, Low Concentration, PQL at 0.5 ug/L or less
(F-) Another rnethod with praox approval by the Groundwater Section. Chief

Any method used must meet the following qualifications:
(1) A laboratory must be DWQ certified to ruzi any method used.
(2) The method used must, at a zrtirtanrrum, include all the constituents listed in Table VIU of
Standard Method 6230D.
(3) The rtiethod used trust provided a PQL at 0.5 ugtL or less which must be supported by
laboratory proficiency studies as required by the DWQ Laboratory Certification Unit_ .Any,
constituents detected above the MDL but below the PQL at 03 ug1L must be qualified
(estimated) and reported.
U any volatile arganlc compounds are detected by the 'methods listed, then. the Mooresville Regional
Office Groundwater Supervisor,, telephone number [phone], must be contacted jn=ediately for
further instructions regarding any additional follow-up analyses required. The results of all initial and
follow-up analyses must be submitted simultaneously.
The measureuient of water levels must be made prior to saropli.ng for the retaining parameters. Tbo depth
to water in each wel.I shall be measured from the surveyed point on the top of'the casing.
The raeasuriag points (top of well casing) of all monitoring wells shall be surveyed to provide the relative
elevation of the measuring point for each monitoring well.
If TUC concentratiot7s greeter than.10 zto ate detected in any downgra,dient monitoring well, additional
sampling' and analysis must be conducted to identify the individual constituents comprising this TOC
Wacant:ration. If the TOC concentration as masured in the background monitor wail exceeds 10 mg/l,
this concentration will be taken to represent the naturally oceuning TOC concentration. An,y exceedances
of [ids natually oceuning TUC concentration in the downgWieat wells shall be subject to the additional
sampling and analysis as described above.
All reports and documentation (OW-1, OW-30 and GW-59) shall be mailed to the; following address:
Groundwater Section
Permits and Compliance Unit
1636 Mail 5er"ce Center
Raleigh, NC 27699.1636
The results of the sampling and analysis must be received on Form GWti59 (Groundwater Quality
Monitoring: Compliance Report Form;) on or before the last working day of the month following the
sammphU month. The data of all groundwater sampling analyses required by cite permit conditions must be
reported using the most recent GW-59 form along with attached copies of the laboratory analyses. The
updated forms can be downloaded at the folkwiag website: hM:ff. w�.ebnr.state.nc,us/
My additional groundwater quality monitoring, as deemed necessary by the Division, shall be provided.
2_ The CQh 1'LIANCE BOUNDARY for the disposal system is specified by regulations W 15A NCAC 2L,
Grreundwater Classifications and Stmdaxds. The Compliance Boundary for the disposal system
constructed prior to December 31, 1993 is established at either (1) 500 feet from the waste disposal area,
or (z) at the property boundary, whichever is closest to the waste disposal area. An exceedauce of
Groundwater Quality Standards at or beyond the Compliance Boundary is subject to immediate
rerttediation actin in addition to the penally provisions applicable under General Statute 143-
215AA(a)(1).
3. In accordance with 15A NCAC M, a FZV—MW 1301M is established aaound the disposal systems
midway betwe w the Compliance Boundary and the perimeter of the waste disposal area. Any exceadance
of standaards at the Review Bouodary shall require remediatiota action on the part of the pernvttee.
S

4. No land application of waste activities shall be und'erialren when the seasonal high water table is less than
three feet below land surface. Verification of the water table elevation can be confirmed by water level
readings obtained from the monitor well(s) near the site or auger boring(s), which must be done within 24
hours prior to application of wastewater. Any open borings must be properly filled with native sail prior
to applications in order to decrease the chance of waste contatWuai ting the grotradwatez_
V. I.NSPEC'I`It7NS
1, AdequaEe inspection, maintenance, and cleaning shall be provided by the Perraittee to insure proper
operation of the subject facilities.
The Pormittee or his designee shall inspect the wastewater treatment and disposal facilities to prevent
rrialfunctions and deterioration, operator errors and dischat'ges which may cause or lead to the release of
wastes to the environment, a threat to buumn health, or a nuisance. The Penninee steal) keep an inspection
log or summary including at least the date aDd tune of inspection, observations made, and any
maintenance, repairs, or correctives actions taken by the Permittee. This log of izaspections shall be
maintained by the Permittee for a period of three years from the date of the inspection and shall be made
available upon request to the .Division or other permitting authority.
Any duly authorizcd officer, employee, or representative of the Division may, upon presentation of
credentials, enter and inspect any property, premises or place on or related to the disposal site or facility at
any reasonable time for the purpose of determining compliance with this peraat, may inspect or copy amy
records that must be maintained under the terms attd conditions of this permit, and may obtain samples of
groundwater, surface wasex, or leacbate.
VI, GENERAL CONDITIONS
This permit shall becouxe voidable unless the .facilities are =structed in accordance with the conditions of
this permit, the approved plans and specificatims, &tad other supporting data.
2, This pan-oit is effective oxuly with respect tO the natuze and volume of wastes described in the application
and other supporting data.
3, Tt�s peauuit is ztot transferable. In the event there is a desire for the facilities to change owraersb p, or there
is a na= change of the Perutittcc, a formal permit request must be submitted to the Dividon accompanied
by an application fete, documentation from the parties involved, and other supporting materials as nray be
appropriate. The approval of this request will be considered on its werks and may or may not be
approved.
4. Failure to abide by the conditions and limitations contained in this permit may subject the Penaittee to an
enforcement actiQu by the Division in accordance vaith North Carolina Gt eral Statute 143-215.6A to 143-
215.6G.
The issuance of this permit does not exemlat the pernnittee from complying with any and all statutes, rules,
regulations, or ordinances which may be imposed by other gove�rent agencies (local, state, and federal)
which have jurisdiction, iacludi ug but not limited to applicable river buffer rules in 15A NCAC 2B .0200,
erosion and sedirnwtation control requiremeuts its 15A NCAC Ch. 4 and under the Division's General
Permit NCO01000M, and any requirements pertaining to wetlands under 15A NCAC 2B MOO and 2H
_0500,
6. A set of approved plans and specifications for the subject project must be :retated by the Pen-nittee for the
life of the project.

The annual administering and compliance fee roust be paid by the Perrnittee within thirty (34) days after
being billed by the Division. Failure to pay the fee accordingly may cause. the D)vi9ion to initiate action to
revolve this permit as specified by 15 A NCAC 2H .D2Q5 (c)(4). '
S. The Perinittec, at least six (6) months prior to the uxpiratian of this permit, shall %equest its extension.
Upon receipt of the request, the Cori mj, sion will review the adequacy of the facilities described therein,
and if wa*ra.nted, will extend the permit for Such period of tithe and under such conditions and limitations
as it may deein appropriate.
Permit issued this e 30tb day of May, 2001
NORT AR.OLINA E IR NNE AL MANAGEma4 T COMMISSION
------------
r�
,4 Kerr T. Stevens, Director^ .
Divisioa of Water QuaUty
By Authority of the Eavironnnental Managemam Cownission
Permit Number''Q0G04Z70