WQ0000701_Final Permit_19890331

State of North Carolina
Department of Natural Resources and Community Development
Division of Environmental Management
512 North Salisbury Street • Raleigh, North Carolina 27611
James G. Martin, Governor R. Paul Wilms
William W. Cobey, Jr., Secretary March 31, 1989 Director
Mr. Frank Taracido, Chief Engineer
Holly Farms Foods, Inc.
PO Box 88
Wilkesboro, NC 28697-0088
SUBJECT: Permit No. WQ0000701
Holly Farms Foods, Inc.
Harmony Rendering Plant
Land Application of Sludge
Sludge Holding Lagoon
Rowan County
Dear Mr. Taracido:
In accordance with the request received December 30, 1988, we are forwarding
herewith Permit No. WQ0000701, dated March 31., 1989, to Holly Farms Foods, Inc.
:for the operation of the subject sludge land application facilities.
This permit shall be effective from the date of issuance until June 30, 1990,
shall. void Permit No. WQ0000701, which was issued on December 1, 1988, and shall be
subject to the conditions and limitations as specified therein.
As stated in correspondence received from Holly Farms Foods, Inc., the request
to have sludge land application sites (Bryant Church property) permitted in Wilkes
County and to construct a'sludge Bolding lagoon on these properties has been
withdrawn. Additionally, Holly Farms Foods, Inc. has withdrawn its request to
construct a new sludge holding lagoon on the Richard Adams' property in Rowan County.
Holly Farms Foods, Inc. has requested that it be allowed to apply sludge during
the period from May 1 to October 30 to areas of certain fields on the Richard Adams'
property which are located within the 100 -year flood plain. Since the particular
waters which may be affected are classified as "WS -IIT", this .request is denied.
If any parts, requirements, or limitations contained in this permit are
unacceptable to you, you have the right to request an adjudicatory hearing upon
written request within 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 Bearings, Post Office
Drawer 11666, Raleigh, North Carolina 27604. Unless such demands are made this
permit small be final and binding.
P.O. Box 27x7, Raleigh, North Carolina 37611-7687 -Telephone [phone]
An Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer

If you need additional information concerning this matter, please conta.-t Mr.
Randy Jones, telephone No. 919/733-5083, ext. 541.
Sincerely,,,-'
R/ Paul Wilms
cc: Rowan County Health Department
Mooresville Regional Supervisor
Groundwater Section
Mr. Charles D. Case

NORTH CAROLINA
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL. RESOURCES AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
RALEIGH
P E R M I T
For the discharge of Sewage, Industrial Wastes, or. Other Wastes
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 15 HEREBY GRANTED TO
Holly Farms Foods, Inc.
Rowan County
FOR THE
continued operation of a. 42.5,000 gallon capacity sludge holding lagoon (to continue
operation in accordance with the schedule specified in condition no. 41 below) and
the subsurface injection of sludge from the Harmony Rendering Plant to the lands
identified in condition no. 19 of this permit, pursuant to the request received
December 1, 1988, and in conformity with the project plans, specifications, and
other supporting data subsequently filed and approved by the Department of Natural
Resources and Community Development and considered a part of this permit,
This permit shall be effective from the date of issuance until June 30, 1990,
shall void Permit No. WQ0000701, which was issued on December 1, 1988, and shall be
subject to the following specified conditions and limitations:
1. This permit is effective only with respect to the nature and volume of wastes
described in the application and other supporting data.
2. The facilities shall be properly maintained and operated at all times.
3. This permit is not transferable.
4. This permit shall become voidable in the event of failure of the soil to
adequately absorb the wastes and may be rescinded unless the facilities are
installed, maintained, and operated in a manner which will protect the assigned
water quality standards of the surface waters and ground waters.
5. In the event that the facilities fail to perform satisfactorily, including the
creation of nuisence conditions, the Permittee shall take such immediate
corrective action as may be required by this. Division, including the construction
of additional or replacement wastewater treatment or disposal facilities.
-1-

6. Any monitoring deemed necessary by the Division of Environmental Management to
insure surface and ground water protection will be established and an acceptable
sampling reporting schedule shall be followed.
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
lama-tations as it may deem appropriate.
B. Adequate facilities shall be provided to prevent surface runoff from carrying any
disposed or stored material into any surface waters.
9. 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
facility.
1.0. No type of sludge other than that from the Holly Farms Harmony facility or the
Wilkesboro facility shall be placed on the land application disposal site.
11, adequate provisions shall be taken to prevent wind erosion and surface runoff
from conveying pollutants from the sludge application area onto the adjacent
property or into the surface waters. -
12. Sludge shall not be applied in inclement weather or until 24 hours following a
rainfall event of 1/2 -inch or greater in 24 hours. Emergency sludge disposal
measures shall be approved by the Division of Environmental Management.
13. A 100 -foot buffer shall be maintained between the appropriate land owner's
property .line and any applied sludge.
14. The site shall be adequately limed to a soil pH of 6.5 prior to sludge
application,
15. No crops for direct human consumption shall be raised on these sites for a period
of 18 months following sludge application.
16. Maximum slope for sludge application shall be 18% for subsurface applications.
All applications shall be by subsurface injection.
17. Adequate inspection, maintenance, and cleaning shall be provided by the Permittee
to insure proper operation of the subject facilities.
1.8. This permit shall become voidable unless the agreement between holly Farms
Foods, Inc. and Dr. Richard Adams is in full force and effect.
19. This permit allows the land application of sludge, by subsurface injection, to
approximately 988 acres of land (less the land that is part of a buffer zone or
is located in the 100 -year flood plain) in Rowan County owned by Dr. Richard
Adams.
20. In any future transfer of this land, a notice shall be given to the new owner
that gives full details of the materials applied or incorporated at this site.
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21. Animals should not be grazed on sludge applied land within a 30 -day period
following the sludge application. Application sites that are to be used for
grazing shall have fencing that will be used to prevent access during the 30 -day
periods after each application.
22. Public access to the land application sites shall be controlled during active
site use and for the 12 -month period following the land application event.
23. A copy of the approved plans and specifications shall be maintained on file by
the Permittee for a minimum of five years from the date of issuance.
24. Monitoring wells shall be constructed and sampling schedules arranged as required
by the Division of Environmental Management and in accordance with 15 NCAC 2C
0.1.00.
25. Solids, sludges, or other pollutants removed or resulting from the wastewater
storage facilities shall be contained and disposed of in such a manner as to
prevent any contamination of the surface or groundwaters of the State.
26. The following buffers shall be maintained between any subsurface applied sludge:
a) 25 feet to drainageways;
b) 100 feet to property lines; and
c) 200 feet to residences.
27. Holly Farms Foods, Inc. shall submit an annual summary of its sludge land
application activities, regarding this permit, to the Mooresville Regional Office
by January 31 of each year. The summary shall include, but not necessarily be
limited to the following:
a) date sludge applied;
b) field where sludge applied;
c) method of application;
d) amount of sludge applied;
e) crop(s) grown on field; and
f) year-to-date totals in dry tons/acre, nutrient and metal loadings in
pounds per acre.
Note: The report period shall be for the calendar year- (January 1 - December 31)
and shall be submitted no later than January 31 of the following calendar
year.
28. No sludge shall be applied within 100 feet of any well, with the exception of a
monitoring well, or water supply source.
29. No sludge shall be applied to any area which is located within the 100 -year flood
plain.
30. Annual sludge applications shall not exceed the following:
a) PAN
b) Phosphate
G) Potassium
d) Cadmium
e) Dry tons
f) Hydraulic loadings (wet)
200 lbs. per acre
50 .lbs. per acre
100 lbs. per acre
0.45 lbs. per acre
9.4 dry tons per acre
6788 gallons per acre
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31.. The maximum cumulative loadings for metals shall not exceed the following:
a)
Cadmium
4.45
lbs.
per acre
b)
Copper
250
lbs.
per acre
c)
Nickel
250
lbs.
per acre
d)
Lean
1000
lbs,
per acre
32. In the event that the cumulative loadings of metals exceed those limits
established in condition 31, the ].and owner shall place the following statement
in the property deed. "Portions of this property have received wastewater
treatment plant sludge at high heavy metal application rates. Care should be
taken when food chain crops are grown due to a possible health hazard."
33. Sludge shall be applied in a manner that will prevent runoff, ponding, and
erosion.
34. The Permittee shall submit an annual current composite sludge analysis report to
the North Carolina Department of Natural Resources an.d Community Development,
Mooresville Regional Office (919 North Main Street, Mooresville, NC 28115). The
sludge analysis report shall contain at least the following:
35. The owner of the land application site(s) shall be furnished with an annual
analysis of the sludge which has been applied to the sites.
36. No sludge shall be applied to land application sites where the depth to the
seasonal high water table is less than three feet.
-4-
Parameters
Parameters
Units
a.
Solids
%
b.
Lead
lbs/dry
ton
C.
Cadmium
lbs/dry
ton
d.
Nickel
lbs/dry
ton
P.
Copper
lbs/dry
ton
f,
Zinc
lbs/dry
ton
g.
Residual Chlorine
lbs/dry
ton
h.
POand P
lbs/dry
ton
i.
TKA
lbs/dry
ton
j.
N -H3 as N
lbs/dry
ton
k..
NO + NO
Grease
lbs/dry
ton
1.
Oil and
lbs/dry
ton
m.
pli
S. U.
n.
PCB
ppm (dry
weight)
Note: The report
period shall be
for the calendar year
(January 1 - December 31)
and shall
be submitted no
later than January 31
of the following calendar
year.
35. The owner of the land application site(s) shall be furnished with an annual
analysis of the sludge which has been applied to the sites.
36. No sludge shall be applied to land application sites where the depth to the
seasonal high water table is less than three feet.
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37. The five (5) existing monitor wells shall be sampled every March, July and
November for the following parameters:
Nitrate
pH
Total Ammonia
TOC
TDS
Chloride
Total Coliforms
Sulfate
Water levels *
The measurement of water_ level must be made prior to sampling for the remaining
parameters.
The results of the sampling and analysis shall. be sent to the N.G. Division of
Environmental Management on Form GW -59 (Compliance Monitoring Report Form) every
April, August and December.
38. The use of the existing lagoon by Holly Farms Foods, Inc. must cease by
January3l, 1990.
39. Holly Farms Foods, Inc. must submit a written status report to the Mooresville
Regional Office each month which indicates the progress toward eliminating the
existing lagoon.
40. By December 19, 1988, Holly Farms Foods, Inc. will make a decision on the
implementation of option I or option 2 as described in condition no. 41.
,4-1
-. Depending upon. the pre-treatment option which is chosen, Roily Farms Foods, Inc.
will comply with the schedules detailed below for either option 1 or Option 2:
OPTION I: Installation of EPI TechnolM
June 30, 1989 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Completion of Installation
September 1, 1989 . . _ . _ .
December 30, 1989 . .
June 30, 1990 . . . . .
-5-
1) No Sludge Production From
Wilkesboro Complex
2) Submit Plans for On -Site Storage of
DAF Sludge at Harmony Rendering
Plant
Open Lagoon at Richard Adams Farm To
Be Emptied and Use as Storage To Be
Discontinued
Open Lagoon at Richard Adams Farm To
Be Filled In and Landscape To Be
Returned To Original State

OPTION 2: DAF Cell at Wilkesboro Plant
1
January 30, 1989. . . . . . . . . . . . Submit Construction Plans For Enclosed
Storage Tank To Be Located on Richard
Adams Farm
April '0, 1989 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Begin Construction Of Storage Tank
After Receiving Approval From NCDNR&CD
October 31, 1.989 . . . . . . . . . . . . . Complete Construction of Enclosed
Storage Tank
December 30, 1989 . . . . . . . . . . . . Open Lagoon at Richard Adams Farm To
Be Emptied and Use As Storage To Be
Discontinued
,lune 30, 1990 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Open Lagoon at Richard Adams Farm To
Be Filled In and Landscape To Be
Returned To Original State
Permit issued this the 31st day of March, 1989.
Permit No. WQ0000701
NORTH CAROLINA ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
R. Paul �rT_lms, Director
Division of Environmental Management
By Authority of the Environmental. Management Commission
�S

State of North Carolina
Department of Natural Resources and Community Development
Division of Environmental Aanagement
512 North Salisbury Street -0 Raleigh, North Carolina 27611
James G. Martin, Governor R. Paul Wilms
William W. Cobey, Jr., Secretary March 31, 1989 Director
Mr. Charles D. Case
Moore & Van Allen
PO Box 26507
Raleigh, NC 27611
Subject: Permit No. WQ0000701
Holly Farms Foods, Inc.
Harmony Rendering Plant
Land Application of Sludge
Rowan County
Dear Mr. Case:
This letter is written regarding your comments received December 30, 1988, on
the subject sludge Land application permit. Your comments and concerns have been
reviewed and we offer the following response.
1
1. Condition No. 4 of the permit is a standard condition that is usually
contained in all permits involving soil absorption. This condition is
intended to ensure that sludge land application does not occur on soils
that are not properly assimilating the sludge. The results of such a
situation could include surface ponding, runoff, persistent odors,
increased disease vectors (flies, rats, etc.), and the contravention of
groundwater quality standards. This condition has not been modified.
2. Condition No. 5 of the permit refers to nuisance conditions. The Division
would consider such occurrences as excessive odors, spillage on roadways,
an unusual incidence of flies, etc., as examples of nuisance conditions.
Other situations could arise which would be construed as a nuisance
condition. This condition has not been modified.
3. Condition Nos. 8 and 11 of the permit require that adequate facilities and
provisions be taken to prevent surface runoff and wind erosion from
carrying stored material or conveying pollutants into surface waters or
onto adjacent property. An example of this situation would be for the
permit holder to make certain that sludge is not applied near the edge of a
slope from which rain could carry the material into a stream or onto
adjacent property. In lieu of such a condition, the Division would need to
anticipate all possible occurrences and require that appropriate
preventative measures (such as the construction of berms, wind breaks,
etc.) be implemented as a specific part of the approved design. This
condition has not been modified.
P.O. Box 27687, Raleigh, North Catalina 27611-7687 Telephone [phone]
An Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Emolover

4. Condition No. 12 refers to inclement weather. Inclement weather includes
rainfall, snowfall, or icefall. Sludge should not be applied when the
ground is covered with snow or ice or is saturated from rain so as to
prevent absorption of the sludge into the soil. The requirement that
sludge application not occur within 24 hours of a rainfall event of 0.5
inches in 24 hours provides a measure that should be a useful tool in
making decisions on the suitability to apply sludge. This condition has
not been modified.
5. Condition Nos. 4 and 18 refer to voiding the permit under certain
conditions. The Division must retain the capability to quickly intervene
in the operation of the permitted process if circumstances warrant. An
example would be the capability to terminate the permit if the permit
holder loses permission to use the application fields. This condition has
not been modified.
6. Condition No. 5 of the permit refers to required corrective actions. This
condition enables the Division to require prompt corrective actions if
necessary. The permit holder may refuse or dispute such requirements
through the existing regulatory process. This condition has not been
modified.
7. Condition Nos. 6 and 24 of the permit refer to monitoring requirements.
The Division may require additional monitoring if it feels that such
additional monitoring is necessary. This condition has not been modified.
8. Condition No. 28 of the permit has been modified.
9. Condition No. 29 of the permit prohibits sludge application within the
100 -year flood plain. The Division will consider modifying this condition
to allow sludge application, by subsurface injection, within the 100 -year
flood plain; however, before the appropriate evaluation. and subsequent
decisions can be made on the appropriateness of such a modification,
information, should be submitted .regarding the soils and the depth to the
seasonal high water table. Refer to 15 NCAC 2H .0219(e) for additional
requirements on this issue. This condition has not been modified.
10 Condition No. 19 of the permit has been modified.
11. Condition No. 30 of the permit refers to the limitation on hydraulic
loadings (wet). Past experiences have demonstrated to the Division that a
hydraulic loading limitation is needed when dealing with sludges of this
nature. This limitation will help prevent nuisance conditions and poor
assimilation of the sludge due to the relatively high grease content. This
condition has not been modified.
Attached is a copy of a modified permit that is being transmitted to Mr, prank
Tar.acido, Chief Engineer with Holly Farms Foods, Inc. As specified above, Condition.
Nos. 19 and 28 have been modified from the version contained in Permit No. WQ0000701,
which was issued on December 1, 1988. The other conditions in this permit remain
unchanged.

If any parts, requirements, or limitations contained in the permit are
unacceptable, the permit holder has the right to request an adjudicatory hearing upon
written request within 30 days following receipt of the 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, Post Office
Drawer 11666, Raleigh; North Carolina 27604. Unless such demands are made the permit
shall be final and binding.
If you have any questions on these matters, :Feel free to contact Mr. Arthur
Mouberry or Mr. Randy Jones at 919/7335083, r,
Sincerely,
R. Paul Wilms
cc, Mr. Frank Taracido
Mooresville Regional Supervisor
Groundwater Section
.Attachment
/7c