WQ0000961_Final Permit_19981028

State of North Carolina
Department of Environment
and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality
.fames B. Hunt, Jr., Governor
Wayne McDevitt, Secretary
A. Preston Howard, Jr., P.E., Director
October 28, 1998
Mr. William C. Howard, Jr., PE
RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company
P.O. Box 1487
Winston-Salem, NC 27102
NCDENR
NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Subject: Permit No. WQ0000961
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
Davie County Stemmery Plant
Spray Irrigation
Davie County
Dear Mr. Howard:
In accordance with your application received March 23, 1998, we are forwarding herewith Permit No.
WQ0000961, dated October 26, 1998, to R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company for the continued operation of the
subject wastewater treatment and spray irrigation facilities.
This permit shall be effective from the date of issuance until September 30, 2003, shall void Permit
No. WQ0000961 issued November 23, 1993, 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.
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, P.O. Drawer 27447, Raleigh, 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 Joe Pearce at [phone]
extension 544. A
A. Preston Howard, Jr., P. _
cc: Davie County Health Department
Winston-Salem Regional Office, Water Quality Section
Winston-Salem Regional Office, Groundwater Section
Bob Cheek, Groundwater Section, Central Office
Technical Assistance and Certification Unit
Non -Discharge Compliance/Enforcement Unit
PO Box 29535, Raleigh, North Carolina 27626-0535 Telephone [phone] Fax[phone]
An Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer 50% recycled/10% post -consumer paper

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
PERMISSION IS HEREBY GRANTED TO
R. J. Reynolds Tobacco - Davie Co. Stemmery
. Davie County
FOR THE
continued operation of a groundwater remediation recovery system consisting of one (1) new recovery well
with a one (1) gpm capacity pump and controls, and an effluent discharge line; and the continued operation of
a 550 gallon holding tank, a 35 GPM oil separator, wastewater collection, treatment, and the continued
operation of a spray irrigation disposal facilities with a hydraulic capacity of 60,000 GPD consisting of
approximately 135 linear feet of 4 inch force main, a 20,000 gallon equalization basin with dual lift pumps, an
aeration basin, a clarifier, a sludge holding tank, chlorination facilities, an effluent holding pond, and spray
irrigation facilities to apply treated wastewater to a three acre spray irrigation field, a 1.05 million gallon
holding lagoon with a synthetic liner, a 227 GPM centrifugal pump with approximately 2,900 linear feet of 4 -
inch force main, a 24 acre irrigation field with 233 sprinklers, 62.5 ft. o.c., and all the associated piping,
valves, and appurtenances to serve R. J. Reynolds Tobacco, with no discharge of wastes to the surface waters,
pursuant to the application received March 23, 1998, and in conformity with the project plan, specifications,
and other supporting data subsequently filed and approved by the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources and considered a part of this permit.
This permit shall be effective from the date of issuance until September 30, 2003, shall void Permit No.
WQ0000961 issued November 23, 1993, and shall be subject to the following specified conditions and
limitations:
I. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
The spray irrigation facilities shall be effectively maintained and operated at all times so that there
is no discharge to the surface waters, nor any contamination of ground waters which will render
them 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 Permittee shall take immediate corrective actions including those
actions that may be required by the Division of Water Quality (Division), such as the construction
of additional or replacement wastewater treatment and disposal facilities.
2. 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.

3. The residuals generated from these treatment facilities must be disposed in accordance with
General Statute 143-2153 and in a manner approved by the Division.
4. Diversion or bypassing of the untreated wastewater from the treatment facilities is prohibited.
5. The following buffers shall be maintained:
a) 400 feet between wetted area and any residence or places of public assembly under separate
ownership,
b) 150 feet between wetted area and property lines,
c) 100 feet between wetted area and wells,
d) 100 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 units and wells, and
g) 50 feet between wastewater treatment units and property lines.
Some of the buffers specified above may not have been included in previous permits for this waste
treatment and disposal system. These buffers are not intended to prohibit or prevent
modifications, which are required by the Division, to improve performance of the existing
treatment facility. These buffers do, however, apply to modifications of the treatment and disposal
facilities which are for the purpose of increasing 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. The applicant is advised that any modifications to
the existing facilities will require a permit modification.
H. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS
1. The facilities shall be properly maintained and operated at all times,
2. Upon classification of the facility by the Water Pollution Control System Operators Certification
Commission (WPCSOCC), the Permittee shall employ a certified wastewater treatment plant
operator to be in responsible charge (ORC) of the wastewater 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 wastewater treatment facilities by the WPCSOCC. The Permittee must also
employ a certified back-up operator of the appropriate type and grade to comply with the
conditions of 15A NCAC 8A .0202. The ORC of the facility must visit each Class I facility at
least weekly and each Class H, 111, and IV facility at least daily, excluding weekends and holidays,
and must properly manage and document daily operation and maintenance of the facility and must
comply with all other conditions of 15A NCAC 8A .0202.
A suitable year round vegetative cover over the spray fields shall be maintained.
4. Irrigation shall not be performed during inclement weather or when the ground is in a condition
that will cause runoff.
Adequate measures shall be taken to prevent wastewater runoff from the spray field.
6. The facilities shall be effectively maintained and operated as a non -discharge system to prevent
the discharge of any wastewater resulting from the operation of this facility.
7. The application rate shall not exceed a cumulative loading of 52 inches over any twelve (12)
month period at an instantaneous application rate not to exceed 0.2 inches per hour.
0)

8. No type of wastewater other than that from R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company's Davie County
Stemmery Plant shall be sprayed onto the irrigation area.
9. No traffic or equipment shall be allowed on the disposal area except while installation occurs or
while normal maintenance is being performed.
10. Public access to the land application sites shall be controlled during active site use. Such controls
may include the posting of signs showing the activities being conducted at each site.
11, Freeboard in the wastewater storage facilities shall not be less than two feet at any time.
III. MONITORING AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
1. Any monitoring (including groundwater, surface water, soil or plant tissue analyses) deemed
necessary by the Division to insure surface and ground water protection will be established and an
acceptable sampling reporting schedule shall be followed.
2. Adequate records shall be maintained by the Permittee tracking the amount of wastewater
disposed. These records shall include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following
information:
a. date of irrigation,
b. volume of wastewater irrigated,
c. field irrigated,
d. length of time field is irrigated,
e. continuous weekly, monthly, and year-to-date hydraulic (inches/acre) loadings for each field,
f. weather conditions, and
g. maintenance of cover crops.
3. The effluent from the subject facilities shall be monitored by the Permittee at the point prior to
irrigation (if the samples are collected from lagoons, a sample should be collected from each
lagoon that wastewater has been irrigated from sine the most previous sampling occured) every
March, July, and November for the following parameters:
BODS TSS
Fecal Coliform pH
NH3 as N
4. Three (3) copies of all operation and disposal records (as specified in condition III 2) on Form
NDAR-I shall be submitted on or before the last day of the following month. Three (3) copies of
all effluent monitoring data (as specified in condition III 3) on Form NDMR-1 shall be submitted
OD or before the last day of the following month. All information shall be submitted to the
following address:
NC Division of Water Quality
Water Quality Section
Non -Discharge Compliance/Enforcement Unit
Post Office Box 29535
Raleigh, North Carolina 27626-0535
3

5. Noncompliance Notification:
The Permittee shall report by telephone to the Winston-Salem 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 at the wastewater treatment facility which results in the treatment of
significant amounts of wastes which are abnormal in quantity or characteristic, such as the
dumping of the contents of a sludge digester; the known passage of a slug of hazardous
substance through the facility; or any other unusual circumstances.
b. Any process unit failure, due to known or unknown reasons, that render the facility incapable
of adequate wastewater treatment such as mechanical or electrical failures of pumps, aerators,
compressors, etc.
c. Any failure of a pumping station, sewer line, or treatment facility resulting in a by-pass
directly to receiving waters without treatment of all or any portion of the influent to such
station or facility.
d. Any time that self-monitoring information indicates that the facility has gone out of
compliance with its permit limitations.
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
Any groundwater quality monitoring, as deemed necessary by the Division, shall be provided.
2. The COMPLIANCE BOUNDARY for the disposal system is specified by regulations in 15A
NCAC 2L, Groundwater Classifications and Standards. The Compliance Boundary for the
disposal system constructed, prior to December 31, 1983 is established at either (1) 500 feet from
the waste disposal area, or (2) at 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 I SA 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.
3. No Iand application of waste activites shall be undertaken when the seasonal high water table is
less than three feet below land surface.
V. INSPECTIONS
I. Adequate inspection, maintenance, and cleaning shall be provided by the Permittee to insure
proper operation of the subject facilities.
4

2. The Permittee or his designee shall inspect the wastewater treatment and disposal 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 keep 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 three years from the
date of the inspection and shall be made available upon request to the Division or other permitting
authority.
3. Any duly authorized 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 permit; may
inspect or copy any records that must be maintained under the terms and conditions of this permit,
and may obtain samples of groundwater, surface water, or leachate.
VI. GENERAL CONDITIONS
This permit shall become voidable unless the facilities are constructed in accordance with the
conditions of this permit, the approved plans and specifications, and other supporting data.
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 transferable. In the event there is a desire for the facilities to change ownership,
or there is a name change of the Permittee, a formal permit request must be submitted to the
Division 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 in accordance with North Carolina General
Statute 143-215.6A to 143-215.6C.
5. 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.
6. A set of approved plans and specifications for the subject project must be retained by the
Permittee for the life of the project.
7. 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 15A NCAC 2H .0205 (c)(4).

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.
Permit issued this the T#enty-eighth day of October, 1998
NORTH
MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
JLA. Preston Howard, Jr., P.E., Director
Division of Water Quality
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
Permit Number WQ0000961

=q:

�..;jl\ r <'" '�'� '" �� `�,1�' I "'1f'!i �,^;�/'p • ,ate. .. -
> V \ �(�/� • �` `� ��"� \jam , f/ e,i It
NN
O
IF-
T vt t 1. / .'.J,ir�(c •j _ ��� s�'\ r� +��: '{, N.
it .��v( \ I� �� '�•S•a/i' • \L. �� �!`f�'� � 1 ,' i,!/'• �'xr\
�, i ` / � `�, 1.14}\'•. n' -. •5
�4 j"�:}• •�� ��/� �J � .�' ♦ SIV.
tp' � •r• ��r ~� •1 ����11\� 'll�/�S_� .Evj �'+� �1 �1 `� '�"r � !. � ��` ` \\• = � �
�r " R. J. R. Tobacco Companyi�—\
1131 a: - . .�,.
I_.: Davie County Stemmery
`4 NPDES Permit No. WQ0000961
Land Application Site \'moi `, . '/. 161
Spray Irrigation Fields
USGS Quad No. D17NW \' r (i,� t Z'� _ "// ✓1< .`�
USGS Quad Name: Advance % \ '.:= Bai��_� _` 1
v, � • �I 1. � _ vii . ice.' . '\ ` : l-.. -'�. � i 'v
J • ad, li`•�/ moi' j !c` ;'� % /j lr/ Esl'v-v®® —I j�"i�� •�� �f '.- / ^`•x
S i , '4/ � }� /1 ' �. /•�. / , I ( .3t',•.: ETA ®�. � � . ! •� -• .� • »:
le
/ ilii' `�/' -� 1 :�� ��- • 9/�' _ . .r - ® r ia► ' ;\ - " != =:.`�
so
1.,-��t( �•�.��`(�� � � •� �. -'-%'" � -•• +� • moi' _��i : - • �-%
��f•. •��\ `•' Edi :� 1..\ /
'.'�:�\� Jay " //,�, .fFE / —✓�w J�)J /J///'���!`—j� .^��t;
' •:, ?1. "—pv �� l �o, , �� .( )moi % ���� - `� / ��— � !11 : • `'�•�
/1 '\\5 L -7r 11 1111 i /Ir%Y :X'S=ia� V__•.�-�.� 11,'41_\`kA\\ -`NIV 1.
M
. :Cel 'iY-�/ J\ ` •C. Qpj 'Y"'-'"�`�'
.d 11 m << -i: s• ...�/ �,.\ �• 1611