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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWQ0002428_Final Permit_20030319�0F 1NATF9Q Michael F. Easley, Governor 9 William G. Ross Jr., Secretary r North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources p t Alan W. Klimek, P.E., Director Division of Water Quality March 19, 2003 William Baker Townsend Farms, Inc. PO Box 709 Siler City, NC 27344 Subject: Permit No. WQ0002428 Townsend Farms, Inc. Wastewater Surface Irrigation Chatham County Dear Baker: In accordance with your request for modification received November 4, 2002, and subsequent additional information received Date(s), we are forwarding herewith Permit No. WQ0002428, dated March 19, 2003, to Townsend Farms, Inc. for the continued operation of the subject wastewater treatment and surface irrigation facilities. This permit shall be effective from the date of issuance until June 30, 2005, shall void Permit No. WQ0002428 issued July 19, 2000, 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, 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 Michelle Barnett at (919) 733- 5083 extension 544. Sincerel , , cc: Chatham County Health Department Raleigh Regional Office, Water Quality Section Raleigh Regional Office, Groundwater Section Groundwater Section, Central Office Water Quality Central Files NDPU Files Non -Discharge Permitting Unit 1617 Mail service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1617 .<Alan W. Klimek, P.E. Internet http:/Wo.enr.state.nc.us/ndpu Telephone (919) 733-5083 Fax (919) 715-6048 Telephone 1 800 623-7748 50% mcycled/10% post -consumer paper AG NCDENR DENR Customer Service Center An Equal opportunity Action Employer NORTH CAROLINA ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES RA LEI GH SURFACE 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 Townsend Farms, Inc. Chatham County FOR THE Continued operation of a 24,840 GPD spray irrigation treatment and disposal facility consisting of a 0.252 MG aerated Iagoon with two (2) 7.5 HP floating aerators, a six -zone 27.66 acre spray irrigation field, a spray irrigation treatment and disposal facility consisting of a 1,000 gallon chlorine contact tank with a Mini -San 100 tablet chlorinator to treat domestic waste prior to being discharged into the 0.252 MG aerated lagoon, a 0.383 MG lagoon aerated with two (2) 7.5 HP floating aerators, a 0.82 MG holding lagoon with a 30 mil nylon reinforced EPDM liner, a 320 GPM effluent pump station with duplex pumps, high water alarms, and approximately 1,200 linear feet of 6 inch force main, and all associated valves, piping, and appurtenances to serve Townsend Farm Inc., with no discharge of wastes to the surface waters, pursuant to the application received November 4, 2002, 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 June 30, 2005, shall void Permit No. WQ0002428 issued July 19, 2000, and shall be subject to the following specified conditions and limitations: I. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS The surface 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 143-215.1 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 drainage ways or surface water bodies, e) 50 feet between wetted area and public right of ways, f) 100 feet between treatment/storage units and any wells, and g) 50 feet between treatment units and property lines. 6. The Division is concerned about the use of the oldest portion of the sprayfield due to its proximity to a wet weather ditch, gullies, and drainageways that are present in this portion of the site, and the general wet condition that is sometimes evident over parts of this field. While the Division is not inclined, at this time, to specifically limit the use of this area, we require that Townsend Farms, Inc., employ management practices that will result in diligent observation of the spray site, especially this portion of the site, so that application limitations can be implemented when conditions require such limitations. Such limitations may require, but will not necessarily be limited to the replacement of the sprinkler nozzles in this area with nozzles that will yield lower instantaneous application rates. II. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS 1. The facilities shall be properly maintained and operated at all times. 2. Upon classification of the wastewater treatment and irrigation facilities by the Water Pollution Control System Operators Certification Commission (WPCSOCC), the Permittee shall designate and employ a certified operator to be in responsible charge (ORC) and one or more certified operator(s) to be back-up ORC(s) of the facilities in accordance with 15A NCAC 8G .0201. The ORC shall visit the facilities in accordance with 15A NCAC 8G .0204 or as specified in this permit and shall comply with all other conditions specified in these rules. 3. A suitable year round vegetative cover shall be maintained. 4. Irrigation shall not be performed during inclement weather or when the ground is in a condition that will cause runoff. 5. Adequate measures shall be taken to prevent wastewater runoff from the irrigation 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 12.20 inches over any twelve (12) month period at an instantaneous application rate not to exceed 0.3 inches per hour. 8. No type of wastewater other than that from Townsend Farms, Inc. shall be irrigated 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. The liquid level in the 252,000 gallon lagoon shall be observed on at least a daily basis (and more often as necessary) and the spillway between this lagoon and the 383,000 gallon lagoon shall be opened as often as is necessary to prevent overflows of the lagoon. 2 12. A waste -level gauge, to monitor waste levels in the storage pond, shall be installed within 60 days of issuance of this permit. This gauge shall have readily visible permanent markings indicating the maximum liquid level at the top of the temporary liquid storage volume, minimum liquid level at the bottom of the temporary liquid storage volume, and top of the dam elevations. Caution must be taken not to damage the integrity of the liner, when installing the gauge. 13. A protective vegetative cover shall be established and maintained on all earthen basin embankments (outside toe of embankment to maximum pumping elevation), berms, pipe runs, erosion control areas, and surface water diversions. Trees, shrubs, and other woody vegetation shall not be allowed to grow on the earthen basin dikes or embankments. Earthen basin embankment areas shall be kept mowed or otherwise controlled and accessible. III. MONITORING AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS 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. Influent flow shall be continuously monitored and daily flow values shall be reported on Form NDMR. The Permittee shall install an appropriate flow measurement device consistent with approved engineering and scientific practices to ensure the accuracy and reliability of influent flow measurement. Flow measurement devices selected shall be capable of measuring flows with a maximum deviation of less than 10 percent from true flow, accurately calibrated at a minimum of once per year, and maintained to ensure that the accuracy of the measurements is consistent with the accepted capability of that type of device. Records of flow measurement device calibration shall be kept on file by the Permittee for a period of at least three years. At a minimum, data to be included in this documentation shall be: a. Date of flow measurement device calibration b_ Name of person performing calibration c. Percent from true flow 3_ The effluent from the subject facilities shall be monitored by the Pernvttee at the point prior to irrigation every April, August and November for the following parameters: BOD.5 TSS Fecal Coliform pH NO3 as N NO2-NO3 TKN Total Phosphorous Sodium Magnesium Calcium Sodium Adsorption Ratio by Calculation 4. 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. 5. Freeboard in the lagoons shall be recorded weekly. -6. Three (3) copies of all monitoring data (as specified in condition III 2 and III 3) on Form NDMR-1 and three (3) copies of all operation and disposal records (as specified in condition 1114, and III 5) on Form NDAR-1 shall be submitted monthly on 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 CompIiance/Enforcement Unit 1617 Mail Service Center Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617 7. A representative annual soils analysis (Standard Soil Fertility Analysis) shall be conducted on each irrigation field 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 Manganese Potassium Calcium Percent Humic Matter Sodium Copper pH Zinc Magnesium Exchangeable Sodium Percentage Phosphorus Cation Exchange Capacity Base Saturation (by calculation) 8. Noncompliance Notification: The Pennittee shall report by telephone to the Raleigh Regional Office, telephone number (919) 571- 4700, 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. Occurrences outside normal business hours may also be reported to the Division's Emergency Response personnel at telephone number (800) 662-7956, (800) 858-0368, or (919) 733-3300. 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. Existing monitor wells MW-2, MW-3, MW4 and MW-5 (MW-1A), depicted on Attachment A, shall be sampled every April, August, and November for the following parameters: Water Level pH Chloride Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) Fecal Coliforms Total Organic Carbon (TOC) Nitrate (NO3) Total Ammonia The measurement of water levels trust be made prior to sampling for the remaining parameter;. The depth to water in each well shall be measured from the surveyed point on the top of the casing. The measuring 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 TOC concentrations greater than 10 mg/I are detected in any downgradient monitoring well, additional sampling and analysis must be conducted to identify the individual constituents comprising this TOC concentration. If the TOC concentration as measured in the background monitor well exceeds 10 mg/l, this concentration will be taken to represent the naturally occurring TOC concentration. Any exceedances of this naturally occurring TOC concentration in the downgradient wells shall be subject to the additional sampling and analysis as described above. The results of the sampling and analysis must be received on Form GW-59 (Groundwater Quality Monitoring: Compliance Report Form) by the Groundwater Section, Permits and Compliance Unit, P.O. Box 29578 Raleigh, N.C. 27626-0578 on or before the last working day of the month following the sampling month. 2. Any additional groundwater quality monitoring, as deemed necessary by the Division, shall be provided. 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). 4. 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. V. INSPECTIONS Adequate inspection, maintenance, and cleaning shall be provided by the Permittee to insure proper operation of the subject facilities. 2. The Pem-dnee 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. 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. V1. --GENERAL CONDITIONS 1. 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 exempt 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, including but not limited to applicable river buffer rules in 15A NCAC 2B .0200, erosion and sedimentation control requirements in 15A NCAC Chapter 4 and under the Division's General Permit NCG010000, and any requirements pertaining to wetlands under 15A NCAC 2B .0200 and 2H .0500. 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). 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 facility may receive wastewater from the Townsend Farms, Inc. composting facilty (Permit No. WQ0004652) as required to ensure the leachate/stormwater collection pond at the composting facility does not overflow. The treated wastewater shall be pumped from the composting facility. Permit issued this the 19th day of March, 2003 NORT OLINA ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION eAlan W. Klimek, P.E., Director Division of Water Quality By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission Permit Number WQ0002428