WQ0004563_Final Permit_19960523

State of North Carolina
Department of Environment,
Health and Natural Resources •
Division of Environmental Management
James B. Hunt, Jr., Governor
Jonathan B. Howes, Secretary C) EN
A. Preston Howard, Jr., P.E., Director
May 23, 1996
Graham K. Gilley, P.E., Public Services Director
City of Hickory
Post Office Box 396
Hickory, North Carolina 28603-0398
Subject: Permit No. WQ0004563
City of Hickory
Distribution of Class A Wastewater Residuals
Catawba County
Dear Mr. Gilley:
In accordance with your renewal and amendment request received on January 19, 1996, we are
forwarding herewith Permit No. WQ0004563 as amended, dated May 23, 1996, to the City of Hickory
for the continued operation of a wastewater residuals facility for the distribution of Class A residuals. This
permit is being amended to allow a maximum of 250 dry tons per year of domestic septage from Catawba
County to be processed in the Class A residuals facility. Please be advised, should any problems occur
with the storage and/or processing of the septage, this activity shall be halted immediately and the septage
processed through the wastewater treatment facilities until these problems have been resolved.
The Division would like to encourage the City of Hickory to operate the Class A residual facility as
it was originally designed (i.e. curing the finished product on -site for 14 to 21 days). However, should
any problems occur with this activity at the facility, the curing of the final product on -site shall be
immediately halted and the consortium members shall proceed with determining further alternatives to
allow the facility to operate as it was originally designed.
As discussed in the May 16, 1996 meeting, the Division shall notify the City of Hickory in writing
of any complaints received concerning the operation of the Class A residual facility with a copy of the letter
to the operator of the facility.
This permit shall be effective from the date of issuance until April 30, 2001, shall void Permit No.
WQ0004563 issued March 10, 1992, and shall be subject to the conditions and limitations as specified
therein. Please pay particular attention to the monitoring and reporting requirements contained in this
permit. Failure to establish an adequate system for collecting and maintaining the required operational
information will result in future compliance problems.
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 North
Carolina General Statutes, and filed with the Office of Administrative Hearings, P.O. Drawer 27447,
Raleigh, NC 27611-7447. Unless such demands are made this permit shall be final and binding.
P.O. Box 29535, Raleigh, North Carolina 27626-0535 Telephone [phone] FAX [phone]
An Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer 50% recycled/ 10% post -consumer paper

If you need additional information concerning this matter, please contact Mr. Michael D. Allen at
[phone] extension 547.
Sincerely,
QQqL
A. Presto oward, r
cc: Catawba County Health Department
Mooresville Regional Office, Water Quality Section
Training and Certification Unit (no revised rating)
Facilities Assessment Unit

NORTH CAROLINA
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH AND NATURAL RESOURCES
RALEIGH
PERMIT FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF CLASS A RESIDUALS
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
PERMISSION IS HEREBY GRANTED TO THE
City of Hickory
Catawba County
FOR THE
continued operation of a wastewater residuals facility for the distribution of Class A residuals consisting of
the distribution of 7,708.0 dry tons per year of residuals from the sources listed in Condition II 2, with no
discharge of wastes to the surface waters, pursuant to the renewal and amendment request received on
January 19, 1996, and in conformity with the project plan, specifications, and other supporting data
subsequently filed and approved by the Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources and
considered a part of this permit.
This permit shall be effective from the date of issuance until April 30, 2001, shall void Permit No.
WQ0004563 issued March 10, 1992, and shall be subject to the following specified conditions and
limitations:
I. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
1. The distribution of Class A residuals program shall be effectively maintained and operated
as a non -discharge system to prevent the discharge of any wastes resulting from the
operation of this program.
2. This permit shall become voidable in the event of failure of the residuals program to
adequately protect the assigned water quality standards of the surface waters and
groundwaters.
3. The issuance of this permit shall not relieve the Permittee of the responsibility for damages
to surface or groundwaters resulting from the operation of this program.
4. In the event that the residuals program is not operated satisfactorily, including the creation
of nuisance conditions, the Permittee shall take any immediate corrective actions as may be
required by the Division.
5. Diversion or bypassing of the untreated residuals, septage or leachate from the residual
treatment facilities is prohibited.
6. All leachate must be reused as a wetting agent for the processing of residuals or routed to
the head of the treatment plant.

II.
7. When wastewater residuals are sold or given away, one of the Class A pathogen
requirements in 40 CFR Part 503.32(a) and one of vector attraction reduction requirements
in 40 CFR Part 503.33 must be met. Additionally, an evaluation must be performed which
demonstrates the residuals ability to comply with this requirement. Upon request, a copy
of this evaluation must be submitted to the Assistant Chief, Technical Support Branch,
Division of Environmental Management, Post Office Box 29535, Raleigh, NC 27626-
0535.
QPERATION AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS
1. The residuals treatment facilities shall be properly maintained and operated at all times.
2. No residuals other than the following are hereby approved for distribution in accordance
with this permit:
Permit Volume
Source Counjy Number Tons(Year
Catawba County Domestic Septage
Catawba
NIA
2.50.0
City of Conover (Southwest)
Catawba
NCO024261
52.0
City of Conover (Northeast)
Catawba
NCO024252
260.0
City of Conover (Southeast)
Catawba
NCO024279
208.0
City of Hickory (Northeast)
Catawba
NCO020401
1800.0
City of Hickory (Henry Fork)
Catawba
NCO040797
1700.0
City of Newton (Clark Creek)
Catawba
NCO036196
3438.0
3. All residuals shall be adequately stored to prevent leachate runoff until treated. The
finished product may be placed on a concrete pad, placed under shelter or covered until
such time as it is distributed to the buyer. If an alternate storage site is to be used, approval
must be obtained from the Division of Environmental Management.
4. No other residuals other than those specified under Condition II 2 above may be
distributed. The Permittee shall request and obtain a permit amendment from the Division
of Environmental Management for each additional residual source prior to acceptance of
that residual.
5. For a Class A residual to be sold or given away in bags or other container for application to
the land, the following must be satisfied:
The Ceiling Concentrations (Dry Weight Basis) and the Pollutant Monthly
Average Concentrations (Dry Weight Basis) must be maintained:
Ceiling Monthly Average
Concentrations Concentrations
Parameters mg/kg maft
Arsenic
75
41
Cadmium
85
39
Copper
4,300
1,500
Lead
840
300
Mercury
57
17
Molybdenum
75
----
Nickel
420
420
Selenium
100
100
Zinc
7,500
2,800
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6. Upon classification of the facility by the Certification Commission, the Permittee shall
employ a certified residuals operator to be in responsible charge (ORC) of the residuals
program. The operator must hold a certificate of the type classification assigned to the
residuals program by the Certification Commission. The Permittee must also employ a
certified back-up operator of the appropriate type to comply with the conditions of Title
15A NCAC 8A, .0202.
7. Adequate provisions shall be taken to prevent wind erosion and surface runoff from
conveying pollutants from the residuals treatment area onto the adjacent property or into
any surface waters.
8. A label shall be affixed to the bag or other container in which residuals that are sold or
given away for application to the land, or an information sheet shall be provided to the
person who receives the residuals sold or given away in an other container for application
to the land. The label or information sheet shall contain the following information:
a. The name and address of the person who prepared the .residuals that is sold or given
away in a bag or other container for application to the land.
b. A statement that application of the residuals to the land is prohibited except in
accordance with the instructions on the label or information sheet.
c. Information on all applicable buffers including a 10 foot buffer between application site
and any public or private water supply source (including wells) and any stream, lake,
or river.
d. Residuals shall not be applied to any site that is flooded, frozen or snow-covered.
e Adequate procedures shall be provided to prevent surface runoff from carrying any
disposed or stored residuals into any surface waters.
9. The Regional Composting Facility shall follow the protocol established in the application
package concerning the septage from Catawba County. The three page log sheet submitted
in the application package shall be completed for each load of septage brought to the
Regional Composting Facility. All septage shall be domestic in nature and shall not be
determined to be hazardous or toxic. An annual composite sample shall be analyzed as
outlined in Permit Condition No. III 3.
III. MONITORING AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
1. Any monitoring (including groundwater, surface water, residuals, soil, or plant tissue
analyses) deemed necessary by the Division of Environmental Management to insure
protection of the environment will be established and an acceptable sampling and reporting
schedule shall be followed.
2. Proper records shall be maintained by the Permittee tracking all residual activities. These
records shall include, but are not necessarily limited to the following information:
a. source, volume and analysis of each residuals
b. name of residuals' recipient, volume received, and intended use
3. A residual analysis shall be conducted annually from the date of permit issuance by the
Permittee on the following facilities:
City of Conover (Southwest) NCO024261
City of Conover (Northeast) NCO024252
City of Conover (Southeast) NCO024279
Catawba County Domestic Septage
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A residual analysis shall be conducted every 60 days from the date of permit issuance by
the Permittee on the following facilities:
City of Hickory (Northeast) NCO020401
City of Hickory (Henry Fork) NCO040797
City of Newton (Clark Creek) NCO036196
The results of all analysis shall be maintained on file by the Permittee for a minimum of five
years. The residuals analysis shall include the following parameters:
Arsenic
Molybdenum
Cadmium
Nickel
Copper
Selenium
Lead
Zinc
Mercury
AIuminum
pH
Ammonia -Nitrogen
Phosphorus
Calcium
Plant Available Nitrogen (by calculation)
Magnesium
Potassium
Nitrate -Nitrite Nitrogen
Sodium
% Total Solids
TKN
After the residuals have been monitored for two years at the above frequency, the Permittee
may submit a request to the Division for a permit modification for the reduction of the
frequency of monitoring for pollutant concentrations and for the pathogen density
requirements, but in no case shall the frequency of monitoring be less than once per year
when residuals are sold or given away.
A Toxicity Characteristics Leaching Procedure (TCLP) analysis shall be conducted by the
Permittee annually on the following facilities:
City of Conover (Southwest)
NCO024261
City of Conover (Northeast)
NCO024252
City of Conover (Southeast)
NCO024279
City of Hickory (Northeast)
NCO020401
City of Hickory (Henry Fork)
NCO040797
City of Newton (Clark Creek)
NCO036196
The TCLP analysis shall include the following parameters (please note the regulatory level
in mg/L in parentheses):
Arsenic (5,0)
Benzene (0.5)
Carbon tetrachloride (0.5)
Chlorobenzene (100.0)
Chromium (5.0)
m-Cresol (200.0)
Cresol (200.0)
1,4-Dichlorobenzene (7.5)
1,1-Dichloroethylene (0.7)
Endrin (0.02)
Hexachlorobenzene (0.13)
Hexachloroethane (3.0)
Lindane (0.4)
Methoxychlor (10.0)
Nitrobenzene (2.0)
Barium (100.0)
Cadmium (1.0)
Chlordane (0.03)
Chloroform (6.0)
o-Cresol (200.0)
p-Cresol (200.0)
2,4-D (10.0)
1,2-Dichloroethane (0.5)
2,4-Dinitrotoluene (0.13)
Heptachlor (and its hydroxide) (0.008)
Hexachloro-1,3-butadiene (0.5)
Lead (5.0)
Mercury (0.2)
Methyl ethyl ketone (200.0)
Pentachlorophenol (100.0)
(Continued on next page)
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Pyridine (5.0) Selenium (1.0)
Silver (5.0) Tetrachloroethylene (0.7)
Toxaphene (0.5) Trichloroethylene (0.5)
2,4,5-Trichlorophenol (400.0) 2,4,6-Trichlorophenoi (2.0)
2,4,5-TP (Silvex) (1.0) Vinyl chloride (0.2)
5. The following facilities must be monitored annually, from the date of permit issuance, for
compliance with condition 17 of this permit:
City of Conover (Southwest) NC0024261
City of Conover (Northeast) NC0024252
City of Conover (Southeast) NC0024279
Catawba County Domestic Septage
The following facilities must be monitored every 60 days, from the date of permit issuance,
for compliance with condition 17 of this permit:
City of Hickory (Northeast) NCO020401
City of Hickory (Henry Fork) NC0040797
City of Newton (Clark Creek) NC0036196
Data to verify stabilization of the residuals must be maintained by the Permittee. The
required data is specific to the stabilization process utilized, but should be sufficient to
clearly demonstrate compliance with the Class A pathogen requirements in 40 CFR Part
503.32(a) and the vector attraction reduction requirements in 40 CFR Part 503.33. In
addition, the EPA certification statements concerning compliance with pathogen
requirements, vector attraction reduction requirements and management practices must be
completed either annually or every 60 days by the proper authority or authorities if more
than one is involved, either the person who generates the residuals or the person who
prepares the residuals to be sold or given away.
After the residuals have been monitored for two years at the above frequency, the Permittee
may request a permit modification for the reduction of the frequency of monitoring for
pollutant concentrations and for the pathogen density requirements, but in no case shall the
frequency of monitoring be less than once per year when residuals are sold or given away.
6. Three copies of all required monitoring and reporting requirements as specified in
conditions III 1,11I 2, III 3,11I 4, and III 5 shall be submitted annually on or before March
1 of the following year to the following address:
NC Division of Environmental Management
Water Quality Section
Facility Assessment Unit
PO Box 29535
Raleigh, NC 27626-0535
7. Noncompliance Notification:
The Permittee shall report by telephone to the Mooresville Regional Office, telephone
number [phone], as soon as possible, but in no case more 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 with the distribution program which results in the land application of
significant amounts of wastes which are abnormal in quantity or characteristic.
b. Any failure of the distribution program resulting in a release of material to receiving
waters.
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c. Any time that self -monitoring information indicates that the facility has gone out of
compliance with the conditions and limitations of this permit or the parameters on
which the system was designed.
d. Any process unit failure, due to known or unknown reasons, that render the facility
incapable of adequate residual treatment.
e. Any spillage or discharge from a vehicle or piping system during transportation of
residuals.
Persons reporting such occurrences by telephone shall also file a written report in letter
form within five (5) days following first knowledge of the occurrence. This report must
outline the actions taken or proposed to be taken to ensure that the problem does not recur.
IV. GROUNDWATER REQUIREMENTS
1. The COMPLIANCE BOUNDARY for the disposal system is specified by regulations in
15A NCAC 2L, Groundwater Classifications and Standards. The Compliance Boundary is
for the disposal system constructed after December 31, 1983 is established at either (1) 250
feet from the waste disposal area, or (2) 50 feet within the property boundary, whichever is
closest to the waste disposal area. An exceedance of Groundwater Quality Standards at or
beyond the Compliance Boundary is subject to immediate remediation action in addition to
the penalty provisions applicable under General Statute 143-215.6A(a)(1).
In accordance with 15A NCAC 2L, a REVIEW BOUNDARY is established around the
disposal systems midway between the Compliance Boundary and the perimeter of the
waste disposal area. Any exceedance of standards at the Review Boundary shall require
remediation action on the part of the permittee.
2. Any groundwater quality monitoring, as deemed necessary by the Division, shall be
provided.
V . INSPECTIONS
1. The Permittee or his designee shall inspect the residuals storage, transport, and treatment
facilities to prevent malfunctions and deterioration, operator errors and discharges which
may cause or lead to the release of wastes to the environment, a threat to human health, or a
nuisance. The Permittee shall maintain an inspection log or summary including at least the
date and time of inspection, observations made, and any maintenance, repairs, or corrective
actions taken by the Permittee. This log of inspections shall be maintained by the Permittee
for a period of five years from the date of the inspection and shall be made available to the
Division of Environmental Management or other permitting authority, upon request.
2. Any duly authorized officer, employee, or representative of the Division of Environmental
Management may, upon presentation of credentials, enter and inspect any property,
premises or place on or related to the treatment site or facility at any reasonable time for the
purpose of determining compliance with this permit; may inspect or copy any records that
must be kept under the terms and conditions of this permit; and may obtain samples of
groundwater, surface water, or leachate.
VT. GENERAL CONDITIONS
1. This permit shall become voidable unless the distribution activities are carried out in
accordance with the conditions of this permit, the supporting materials, and in the manner
approved by this Division.
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2. This permit is effective only with respect to the nature and volume of residuals described in
the application and other supporting data.
3. This permit is not automatically transferable. In the event that there is a desire for the
facilities to change ownership or a name change of the Permittee, a formal permit request
must be submitted to the Division of Environmental Management accompanied by an
application fee, documentation from the parties involved, and other supporting materials as
may be appropriate. The approval of this request will be considered on its merits and may
or may not be approved.
4. Failure to abide by the conditions and limitations contained in this permit may subject the
Permittee to an enforcement action by the Division of Environmental Management in
accordance with North Carolina General Statute 143-215.6(a) to 143-215.6(c).
5. The annual administering and compliance fee must be paid by the Permittee within thirty
(30) days after being billed by the Division. Failure to pay the fee accordingly may cause
the Division to initiate action to revoke this permit as specified by 15 NCAC 2H .0205
(c)(4).
6. The issuance of this permit does not preclude the Permittee from complying with any and
all statutes, rules, regulations, or ordinances which may be imposed by other government
agencies (local, state, and federal) which have jurisdiction.
7. The Permittee, at least six (6) months prior to the expiration of this permit, shall request its
extension. Upon receipt of the request, the Commission will review the adequacy of the
facilities described therein, and if warranted, will extend the permit for such period of time
and under such conditions and limitations as it may deem appropriate.
8. This permit may be modified, or revoked and reissued to incorporate any conditions,
limitations and monitoring requirements the Division of Environmental Management deems
necessary in order to adequately protect the environment and public health.
Permit issued this the twenty-third day of May, 1996
NORTH CAROLINA ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
0 C�4n= 'O'Wr, on, � � AL
A. Presto award, Jr., E., Director
Division of Environmental Management
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
Permit Number WQ0004563
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