HomeMy WebLinkAboutWQ0000454_Final Permit_19940622State of North Carolina
Department of Environment,
Health and Natural Resources
..Division of Environmental Management
James B. Hunt, Jr., Governor
Jonathan B. Howes, Secretary
A. Preston Howard, Jr., P.E., Director
June 22, 1994
CERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
Mr. Bill F. Burnett, President
Carolina Blythe Utility Company
2109 Timber Land Drive
Florence, South Carolina 29501
Dear Mr. Burnett:
Subject: Permit No. WQ0000454
Carolina Blythe Utility Company
Land Application of Wastewater Residuals
Brunswick County
Upon reviewing the subject permit issued to Carolina Blythe Utility Company on December 16,
1993, the Division has determined that the permit should be amended to clarify when residuals can be
applied to field BR4-3 which was previously restricted to seasonal application due to shallow water table
depth. Therefore, Condition No. VI 4 (footnote b) has been amended by restricting application on the
large low lying area of field BR4-3 only and not the entire field. The Division is forwarding herewith
Permit Nov WQ0000454 as amended, dated June 22, 1994, to Carolina Blythe Utility Company for the
conti.nued,operation of a land application of sludge program.
This permit shall be effective sixty (60) days from the date of your receipt, until November 30,
1998, shall void Permit No. WQ0000454 issued December 16, 1993, 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 xequest 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,
�Paleigh, NC 27611-7447. Unless such demands are made this permit shall be final and binding.
If you need additional information concerning this matter, please contact V -Michael D. Allen at
:(919) X733-5083.
Sincerely,
CICUZ
A. Pre rnH oward, r., P.E.
cc: Brunswick County Health Department
:Bio Gro Systems, Inc.
`Wilmkigton Regional Office, Water Quality Section
Wilmington Regional Office, Groundwater Section
xa .lack Floyd, Groundwater Section Central Office
S "raining and Certification Unit (no revised rating)
1~acilities Assessment Unit
P.O. Box 29535, Raleigh, North Carolina 27626-0535 Telephone 919-733-7015 FAX 919-733-2496
An Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer 50% recycled) 10% past -consumer paper
NORTH CAROLINA
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH AND NATURAL RESOURCES
RALEIGH
RESIDUALS LAND APPLICATION 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
PERMISSION IS HEREBY GRANTED TO
Carolina Blythe Utility Company
Brunswick County
FOR THE
operation of a wastewater residuals land application program consisting of the application of approximately
22.1 dry tons per year of residuals from the Carolina Shores wastewater treatment facility to approximately
93.8 acres of land in Brunswick County with no discharge of wastes to the surface waters, pursuant to the
renewal application received on June 30, 1993, 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 sixty (60) days from the date of your receipt, until November 30,
1998, shall void Permit No. WQ0000454 issued December 16, 1993, and shall be subject to the following
specified conditions and limitations:
I. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
1. This permit shall become voidable if the soils fail to adequately assimilate the wastes and
may be rescinded unless the sites are maintained and operated in a manner which will
protect the assigned water duality standards of the surface waters and ground waters.
2. The land application 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.
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 land application program is not operated satisfactorily, including the
creation of nuisance conditions, the Permittee shall cease applying residuals to the sites and
take any immediate corrective actions as may be required by the Division.
5. Some of the buffers specified below may not have been included in previous permits for
this land application operation. However, any sites or fields that are included in this
permit, but were approved with different applicable buffers shall be reflagged to comply
with the below buffers. The following buffer zones shall be maintained:
a) 400 feet from residences or places of public assembly under separate ownership for
surface application method; however, the buffer zone requirement may be reduced to a
minimum of 100 feet upon written consent of the owner and approval from the
appropriate DEM regional office,
b) 200 feet from residences or places of public assembly under separate ownership for
subsurface residual injection method; however, the buffer zone requirement may be
reduced to a minimum of 100 feet upon written consent of the owner and the
appropriate DEM regional office,
c) 100 feet from any private or public water supply source, including any WS -1 waters or
Class I or Class II impounded reservoirs and public or private wells, used as a source
of drinking water,
d) 50 feet from waters classified as WS -II, WS -III, B, SA, ORW, HQW, or SB [from
normal high water (or tide elevation)],
e) 50 feet from property lines for both surface and subsurface application methods;
f) 50 feet from public right of ways for both application methods,
g) 10 feet from upslope interceptor drains and surface water diversions for both
application methods,
h) 25 feet from downslope interceptor drains, surface water diversions, groundwater
drainage systems and surface drainage ditches for both application methods.
6. A copy of this permit shall be maintained at the land application site when residuals are
being applied during the life of this permit. A spill prevention and control plan shall be
maintained in all residuals transport and application vehicles.
7. Specific residual application area boundaries shall be clearly marked on each site prior to
and during application_
8. No residuals at any time shall be stored at any application site, unless approval has been
requested and obtained from the Division of Environmental Management.
9. Maximum slope for residual application shall be 10% for surface application and 18% for
subsurface applications.
10. When wastewater residuals are applied, the Class A pathogen requirements and site
restrictions in 40 CFR Part 503.32(a) or the Class B pathogen requirements and site
restrictions in 40 CFR Part 503.32(b) 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 including all test results and
calculations.
II. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS
1. The facilities and application sites shall be properly maintained and operated at all times.
2. A suitable vegetative cover, as listed in condition 114, shall be maintained in accordance
with the crop management plan outlined by the local Extension Office of the Department of
Agriculture, or the Soil Conservation Service, or other agronomist, and approved by this
Division.
2
3. An acceptable pH must be maintained in the soil, residual and lime mixture, greater than
6.0, on all land application sites to insure optimum yield for the crop(s) specified below.
The agronomist shall provide information on the pH best suited for the specified crop and
the soil type.
4. The application rates shall not exceed the following for the specified crops:
Crop PAN (lb./acre/yr. )
Alfalfa
200
Bermuda Grass (Hay, Pasture)
220
Blue Grass
120
Corn (Grain)
160
Corn (Silage)
200
Cotton
70
Fescue
250
Forest (Hardwood & Softwood)
75
Milo
100
Small Grain (Wheat, barley, oats)
100
Sorghum, Sudex (Pasture)
180
Sorghum, Sudex (Silage)
220
Soybeans
200
Timothy, Orchard, & Rye Grass
200
5. No residuals other than the following are hereby approved for land application in
accordance with this permit:
Permit Estimated
Source _ County _ Number Volume (dry tons/year)
11
7.
Carolina Shores WWTP Brunswick NCO044873 22.1
The metal loading rates shall not exceed the following Cumulative Pollutant loading rates:
a
The pollutant concentrations in the residuals which will be applied to the land shall not
exceed the following Ceiling Concentrations (Dry Weight Basis):
Parameters mg/kg
Arsenic
Kilograms
Pounds
Parameters
per Hectare
per Acre
Copper
4,300
Lead
Arsenic
41
36
Cadmium
39
34
Chromium
3,000
2,677
Copper
1,500
1,338
Lead
300
267
Mercury
17
15
Molybdenum
18
16
Nickel
420
374
Selenium
100
89
Zinc
2,800
2,498
a
The pollutant concentrations in the residuals which will be applied to the land shall not
exceed the following Ceiling Concentrations (Dry Weight Basis):
Parameters mg/kg
Arsenic
75
Cadmium
85
Chromium
3,000
Copper
4,300
Lead
840
3
Mercury 57
Molybdenum 75
Nickel 420
Selenium 100
Zinc 7,500
8. Upon classification of the facility by the Certification Commission, the Permittee shall
employ a certified land applicationlresiduals operator to be in responsible charge (ORC) of
the land application program. The operator must hold a certificate of the type classification
assigned to the land application 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.
9. Adequate procedures shall be provided to prevent surface runoff from carrying any
disposed or stored residuals into any surface waters.
10. Surface applied residuals will be plowed or disced within twenty-four (24) hours after
application on lands with no cover crop established.
11. For areas that are prone to flooding or within the 100 -year flood elevation, residuals may
be applied only during periods of dry weather. The residuals must be incorporated into the
soil within twenty-four (24) hours after application.
12. Appropriate measures must be taken to control public access to the land application sites
during active site use and for the 12 -month period following the last residual application
event. Such controls may include the posting of signs indicating the activities being
conducted at each site.
13. Adequate provisions shall be taken to prevent wind erosion and surface runoff from
conveying pollutants from the residuals application area onto the adjacent property or into
any surface waters.
14. Residuals shall not be applied in inclement weather or until 24 hours following a rainfall
event of 1/2 -inch or greater in 24 hours. Any emergency residuals disposal measures must
fust be approved by the Division of Environmental Management.
15. Residuals shall not be applied to any land application site that is flooded, frozen or snow-
covered.
16. Residuals shall not be applied at rates greater than agronomic rates, unless authorized by
the Division.
17. Animals shall not be grazed on an application site for 30 days after residuals application.
Application sites that are to be used for grazing shall have fencing that will be used to
prevent access after each application.
18. Food crops, feed crops and fiber crops that do not c2rnein_contact with the residuals shall
not be harvested for 30 days after residuals application.
19. Food crops with harvested parts that touch the residual/soil mixture and are totally above
the land surface (ex. tobacco, melons, cucumbers, squash, etc.) shall not be harvested for
14 months after residuals application.
20. Food crops with harvested parts below the surface of the land (root crops such as potatoes,
carrots, radishes, etc.) shall not be harvested for 20 months after application of residuals
when the residuals remain on the land surface for four (4) months or longer prior to
incorporation into the soil.
El
21. Food crops with harvested parts below the surface of the land shall not be harvested for 38
months after application of residuals when the residuals remain on the land surface for less
than four (4) months prior to incorporation into the soil.
22. Turf shall not be harvested for 1 year after residuals application if the turf is to be placed on
land with a high potential for public exposure.
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 application activities.
These records shall include, but are not necessarily limited to the following information:
a) source of residuals
b) date of residual application
c) location of residual application (site, field, or zone #)
d) method of application
e) weather conditions (sunny, cloudy, raining, etc.)
f) soil conditions
g) type of crop or crops to be grown on field
h) volume of residuals applied in gallons/acre, dry tons/acre or kilograms/hectare
i) annual and cumulative totals of dry tons/acre of residuals, annual and cumulative
pounds/acre of each heavy metal (which shall include, but not be limited to arsenic,
cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, selenium and zinc),
annual pounds/acre of plant available nitrogen (PAN), and annual pounds/acre of
phosphorus applied to each field.
3, A representative annual soils analysis (Standard Soil Fertility Analysis) shall be conducted
of each site receiving residuals in the respective calendar year and the results maintained on
file by the Permittee for a minimum of five years.
The Standard Soil Fertility Analysis shall include, but is not necessarily limited to, the
following parameters:
Acidity
Calcium
Copper
Magnesium
Base Saturation (by calculation)
Cation Exchange Capacity
Manganese Potassium
Percent Humic Matter Sodium
pH Zinc
Phosphorus
The Standard Soil Fertility Analysis (see above) and an analysis for the following metals
shall be conducted once prior to permit renewal on soils from each site which has received
sludge during the permit cycle.
Arsenic
Cadmium
Chromium
Lead
Mercury
Molybdenum
5
Nickel
Selenium
4. A residuals analysis will be conducted annually from the date of permit issuance by the
Permittee and the results maintained on file by the Permittee for a minimum of five years.
If land application occurs at a frequency less than annually, a residuals analysis will be
required for each instance of land application.
The residuals analysis shall include but is not necessarily limited to the following
parameters:
Arsenic
Aluminum
Cadmium
Ammonia -Nitrogen
Chromium
Calcium
Copper
Magnesium
Lead
Nitrate -Nitrite Nitrogen
Mercury
% Total Solids
Molybdenum
pH
Nickel
Phosphorus
Selenium
Plant Available Nitrogen (by calculation)
Zinc
Potassium
Magnesium
Sodium
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 applied to the land.
5. All residuals included in this permit must be monitored annually, from the date of permit
issuance, for compliance with condition 110 of this permit. 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 the
Class A pathogen requirements in 40 CFR Part 503.32(a) or with the Class B pathogen
requirements and site restrictions in 40 CFR Part 503.32(b). In addition, the EPA
certification statements concerning compliance with pathogen requirements, vector
attraction reduction requirements and management practices must be completed annually by
the proper authority or authorities if more than one is involved, either the person who
prepares the residuals, the person who derives the material, or the person who applies the
residuals.
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 applied to the land.
6. Three copies of all required monitoring and reporting requirements as specified in
conditions 111 1, 111 2, 111 3, 1114, and III 5 shall be submitted annually on or before March
I 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
on
7. Noncompliance Notification:
The Permittee shall report by telephone to the Wilmington Regional Office, telephone
number (910) 395-3900, 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 land application program which results in the land application
of significant amounts of wastes which are abnormal in quantity or characteristic.
b. Any failure of the land application program resulting in a release of material to receiving
waters.
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 transporting residuals to the
application site.
Persons reporting such occurrences by telephone shall also file a written report in letter
form within 15 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
established at either (1) 250 feet from the waste disposal area, or (2) 50 feet within the
property boundary, whichever is closet 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).
Also 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 additional groundwater quality monitoring, as deemed necessary by the Division of
Environmental Management, shall be provided.
V . INSPECTIONS
I . The Permittee or his designee shall inspect the residuals storage, transport, and application
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 live years from the date of the inspection and shall be made available to the
Division of Environmental Management or other permitting authority, upon request.
7
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 application 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.
VI. GENERAL CONDITIONS
1. This permit shall become voidable unless the land application activities are carried out in
accordance with the conditions of this permit, the supporting materials, and in the manner
approved by this Division.
2. This permit is effective only with respect to the nature and volume of wastes 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. The following are approved sites for residuals application (see attached map(s)):
Application Area (acres]
Site No. Owner/Lessee (excluding. buffers)
BR 4 -la
Judson Ward
32.4
BR 4-2a
Judson Ward
27.0
BR 4-3b
Judson Ward
34.4
TOTAL LAND AVAILABLE 93.8
No residuals shall be applied to well defined low areas in these fields during the period
from January 1 through March 31, inclusive.
b This land application site has a large low lying area that has a seasonal high water table
at depths ranging from 20 to 36 inches below land surface. Therefore, no residuals
shall be applied to the low area of this field during the period from January 1 through
March 31, inclusive.
5. 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).
6. 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).
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. This permit shall become voidable unless the agreements between. the Permittee and the
landowners/lessees are in full force and effect. The land owner agreements are considered
expired concurrent with the expiration date of the permit and must be renewed at the sante
time the permit is renewed_
Permit issued this the 22nd day of June, 1994
NORTH CAROLINA ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
62j'u'- L02��LCL /L'
A. Preston , ward, Jr., P. ., Director
Division of avironnitntal Management
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
Permit No. WQ0000454
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