WQ0002645_Final Permit_20011005

State of North Carolina
Department of Environment
and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality
Michael F. Easley, Governor
William G. Ross Jr., Secretary
Gregory J. Thorpe, Ph.D., Acting Director
DAVID EPLEY, TOWN ADMINISTRATOR
TOWN OF COLUMBUS
PO BOX 146
COLUMBUS, NC 28722
Dear Mr. Epley:
4 •
NCDENR
NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
October 5, 2001
Subject: Permit No. WQ0002645
Town of Columbus
Land Application of Wastewater Residuals
Polk County
In accordance with your renewal/modification request received on June 13, 2001, and subsequent responses to
additional information requests received on August 8, 2001; we are forwarding herewith Permit No. WQ0002645, dated
October 5, 2001, to the Town of Columbus for the operation of a program.
This permit not only approves the continued operation of a program for the application of residuals derived from the
treatment of domestic wastewater on agricultural land, but also increases the volume of residuals permitted for land application
(i.e., from up to 30 dry tons per year to 69.1 dry tons per year) so that current production trends are accurately reflected. In
addition, this permit is being modified to approve new land application sites to the previously approved sites such that there is
an increase in the acreage approved to receive residuals (i.e., from approximately 40.0 acres to approximately 135.3 acres).
This permit shall be effective from the date of issuance until September 30, 2006; shall void Permit No. WQ0002645
issued December 31, 1996; 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 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, 67I4 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-6714. Unless such demands are made, this permit shall be
final and binding.
If you need additional information concerning this matter, please contactV*RmLQjkat [phone] extension 363.
S� rely,
64-1- Gregory J. Thorpe, Ph.D.
cc: Polk County Health Department
Asheville Regional Office, Water Quality Section
Asheville Regional Office, Groundwater Section
Groundwater Section, Central Office
James C. Alexander. Precision Land Application, Inc.
Technical Assistance and Certification Unit
Non -Discharge Compliance/Enforcement Unit
1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617 Telephone [phone] Fax [phone]
An Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer 50% recycled/10%o post -consumer paper

NORTH CAROLINA
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT 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
Town of Columbus
Polk County
FOR THE
continued operation of a wastewater residuals land application program consisting of the application of up to 69.1
dry tons per year of residuals from the sources listed in Condition 11. 5., to approximately 135.3 acres of land in
Polk County with no discharge of wastes to the surface waters, pursuant to the renewal/ modification request
received on June 13, 2001, and subsequent responses to additional information requests received on August 8,
2001; 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, 2006, shall void Permit No.
WQ0002645 issued December 31, 1996, and shall be subject to the following specified conditions and limitations:
I. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
The Division of Water Quality's (Division) Asheville Regional Office, telephone number (828) 251-
6208, and the appropriate local governmental official (i.e., county manager/city manager) shall be
notified at least 24 hours prior to the initial application of the residuals to any land application site so
that an inspection can be made of the site and application method. Such notification to the Water
Quality Supervisor shall be made during normal office hours from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on
Monday through Friday, excluding State Holidays. In addition, the Polk County Manager's office shall
must be notified prior to the initial application of residuals, so that they will be aware that the operation
has commenced.
2. This permit shall become voidable if the soils fail to adequately assimilate the wastes and may be
rescinded unless the land application sites are maintained and operated in a manner which will protect
the assigned water quality standards of the surface waters and groundwater.
3. The residuals 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.
4. The issuance of this permit shall not relieve the Permittee of the responsibility for damages to surface
waters or groundwater resulting from the operation of this residuals land application program.

In the event that the residuals land application program is not operated satisfactorily, including the
creation of nuisance conditions, the Permittee shall cease applying residuals, contact the Water Quality
Section of the appropriate Regional Office, to the sites and take any immediate corrective actions as
may be required by the Division.
6. 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 when applying residuals to any land application site:
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 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 regional office;
c. 100 feet from any public or private water supply source, waters classified as SA or SB, and any
Class I or Class II impounded reservoir used as a source of drinking water for both methods;
d. 100 feet from any streams classified as WS or B, any other stream, canal, marsh or coastal waters
and any other lake or impoundment for surface application;
e. 50 feet from any streams classified as WS or B, any other stream, canal, marsh or coastal waters
and any other lake or impoundment for subsurface application;
f. 50 feet from property lines for both surface and subsurface application methods;
g. 50 feet from public right of ways for both application methods;
h. 10 feet from upslope interceptor drains and surface water diversions for both application methods;
and
i. 25 feet from downslope interceptor drains, surface water diversions, groundwater drainage systems
and surface drainage ditches for both application methods.
7. 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.
Specific residual application area boundaries shall be clearly marked on each land application site prior
to and during application.
9. No residuals at any time shall be stored at any land application site, unless approval has been requested
and obtained from the Division.
10. Maximum slope for land application of residuals shall be 10 percent for surface application methods,
and 18 percent for subsurface application methods.
11. 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), and one of vector attraction reduction requirements in 40 CFR Part 503.33 shall 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 shall be submitted, including all test results
and calculations.
2

II. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS
1. The facilities and land application sites shall be properly maintained and operated at all times.
2. Prior to applying residuals to any land application site that has previously received or is intended to
receive animal waste (e.g., poultry litter, hog lagoon effluent, etc.) in the future, the Permittee shall
obtain information pertaining to the volume and analysis of the applied waste form the landowner and
/or lessee/operator of the site. The Permittee shall be responsible for verifying the volume of residuals
that may be land applied to the site such that the plant available nitrogen (PAN) loading rate for the
specified crop (i.e., see Condition II. 5.) is not exceeded by all sources of PAN applied. Should the
maximum PAN loading rate be met, then no additional residuals shall be applied to the site for the
remainder of the cropping season.
3. A suitable vegetative cover, as listed in Condition R. 5., shall be maintained in accordance with the
crop management plan outlined by the local Extension Office, the Department of Agriculture, the
Natural Resource Conservation Service, or other agronomist, and approved by this Division.
4. An acceptable pH must be maintained in the soil, residual and lime mixture, greater than 6.0, on all
land application sites to ensure optimum yield for the crop(s) specified in Condition II. 5. The
agronomist shall provide information on the pH best suited for the specified crop and the soil type.
5. The application rates of residuals shall be such that the following plant available nitrogen (PAN)
loadings shall not be exceeded for the specified crops:
Crop PAN_(pounds N/acre/year) Crop __ _PAN (pounds N/acre/yr'
Alfalfa
200
Forest (Hardwood & Softwood)
75
Bermuda Grass (Hay, Pasture)
220
Milo
100
Blue Grass
120
Small Grain (Wheat, Barley, Oats)
100
Corn (Grain)
160
Sorghum, Sudex (Pasture)
180
Corn (Silage)
200
Sorghum, Sudex (Silage)
220
Cotton
70
Soybeans
200
Fescue
250
Timothy, Orchard, & Rye Grass
200
If the approved land application sites are to be double cropped (i.e., a crop in the spring and a second
crop in the fall, with BOTH crops to receive wastewater residuals), then the second crop shall receive
an application of nutrients at a rate of no greater than 50 pounds of N/acre/year. This practice will be
allowed as long as the second crop is to be harvested. If the second crop is to be planted for erosion
control only, and is to be tilled into the soil., then no wastewater residuals shall be applied to these
fields because the nitrogen will essentially be returned to the soil.
6. No residuals other than the following are hereby approved for land application in accordance with this
permit:
Permit Volume
Source County— _ _ Number _ (dry rr� tons/year)
Town of Columbus Wastewater Treatment Plant Polk NCO021369 69.1

7. The metal loading rates shall not exceed the following Cumulative Pollutant loading rates:
Kilograms Pounds
Parameters per Hectare per Acre
Arsenic
41
36
Cadmium
39
34
Copper
1,500
1,338
Lead
300
267
Mercury
17
15
Molybdenum
----
----
Nickel
420
374
Selenium
100
89
Zinc
2,800
2,498
8. The pollutant concentrations in the residuals which will be applied to the land shall not exceed the
following Ceiling Concentrations (Dry Weight Basis):
Parameters_ _- - _ - -mirJkIZ
Arsenic
75
Cadmium
85
Copper
4,300
Lead
840
Mercury
57
Molybdenum
75
Nickel
420
Selenium
100
Zinc
7,500
9. Upon classification of the residuals land application program by the Water Pollution Control System
Operators Certification Commission (WPCSOCC), the Permittee shall employ a certified land
application/residuals operator to be in responsible charge (ORC) of the land application program. The
operator shall hold a certificate of the type classification assigned to the land application program by
the WPCSOCC. The Permittee shall also employ a certified back-up operator of the appropriate type
to comply with the conditions of 15A NCAC 8G.0202.
10. Adequate procedures shall be provided to prevent surface runoff from carrying any disposed or stored
residuals into any surface waters.
11. Surface applied residuals will be plowed or disced within 24 hours after application on lands with no
cover crop established. An acceptable cover crop shall be established within 30 days of the land
application event.
12. 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 shall be incorporated into the soil within 24 hours
after application.
13. 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.
14. 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.

15. 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 first be approved by the
Division.
16. Residuals shall not be applied to any land application site that is flooded, frozen or snow-covered.
17. Residuals shall not be applied at rates greater than agronomic rates, unless authorized by the Division.
18. 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.
19. Food crops, feed crops and fiber crops that do not come in contact with the residuals shall not be
harvested for 30 days after residuals application.
20. Food crops with harvested parts that touch the residual/soil mixture and are totally above the land
surface (i.e., tobacco, melons, cucumbers, squash, etc.) shall not be harvested for 14 months after
residuals application.
21. 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 months or longer prior to incorporation into the soil.
22. 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 months
prior to incorporation into the soil.
23. Turf shall not be harvested for one year after residuals application.
III. MONITORING AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
1. Any monitoring (including groundwater, surface water, residuals, soil, or plant tissue analyses) deemed
necessary by the Division 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 number)
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, copper, lead,
mercury, nickel, selenium and zinc), annual pounds/acre of plant available nitrogen (PAN), and
annual poundslacre of phosphorus applied to each field.
W

A representative annual soils analysis (Standard Soil Fertility Analysis) shall be conducted on 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 Magnesium Phosphorus
Calcium Manganese Potassium
Cation Exchange Capacity Percent Humic Matter Sodium
Copper pH Zinc
Base Saturation (by calculation)
4. A residuals analysis shall be conducted annually from the date of permit issuance by the Permittee and
the results shall be 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 shall be required for each instance of land
application. The residuals analysis shall include, but shall not be necessarily limited to the following
parameters:
Arsenic
Cadmium
Copper
Lead
Mercury
Molybdenum
Nickel
Selenium
Zinc
Aluminum
Ammonia -Nitrogen
Nitrate -Nitrite Nitrogen
Total Solids Percentage (%)
pH
Phosphorus
Calcium
Magnesium
Sodium
Potassium
TKN
Plant Available Nitrogen (by calculation)
5. A Toxicity Characteristics Leaching Procedure (TCLP) analysis shall be conducted by the Permittee
once per permit cycle to be submitted at the time of permit renewal. The TCLP analysis shall include
the following parameters (note the regulatory level in mg/L, in parentheses):
Arsenic (5A)
Cadmium (1.0)
Chlorobenzene (100.0)
o -Cresol (200.0)
Cresol (200.0)
1,2-Dichloroethane (0.5)
Endrin (0.02)
Hexachlorobenzene(0.13)
Lead (5.0)
Methoxychlor (10.0)
Pentachlorophenol (100.0)
Silver (5.0)
Trichloroethylene (0.5)
2,4,5 -TP (Silvex) (1.0)
Barium (100.0)
Benzene (0.5)
Carbon tetrachloride (0.5)
Chlordane (0.03)
Chloroform (6.0)
Chromium (5.0)
m -Cresol (200.0)
p -Cresol (200.0)
2,4-D (10.0)
1,4 -Dichlorobenzene (7.5)
1,1-Dichloroethylene (0.7)
2,4-Dinitrotoluene (0.13)
Heptachlor (and its hydroxide) (0.00$)
Hexachloro-1,3-butadiene (0.5)
Hexachloroethane (3A)
Lindane (0.4)
Methyl ethyl ketone (200.0)
Pyridine (5.0)
Tetrachloroethylene (0.7)
2,4,5 -Trichlorophenol (400.0)
Vinyl chloride (0.2)
6
Mercury (0.2)
Nitrobenzene (2.0)
Selenium (1.0)
Toxaphene (0.5)
2,4,6 -Trichlorophenol (2.0)

6. All residuals included in this permit shall be monitored annually, from the date of permit issuance, for
compliance with Condition I. 11. of this permit. Data to verify stabilization and vector attraction
reduction 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), and one of vector attraction reduction requirements in 40 CFR
Part 503.33. In addition, the EPA certification statements conceming 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.
7_ Three copies of all required monitoring and reporting requirements as specified in Conditions III. 1.,
111.2., 111. 3., HL 4., III. 5., and III. 6., shall be submitted annually, on or before March 151, of the year
following the land application event, to the address below:
NC Division of Water Quality
Water Quality Section
Non -Discharge Compliance/Enforcement Unit
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
8. Noncompliance Notification:
The Permittee shall report by telephone to the Water Quality Section of the Division's Asheville
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 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
five 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.
7

IV. GROUNDWATER REOUIREMENTS
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
individually permitted after December 31, 1983, and 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 according to 15A NCAC 2L.0106 (d)(1). In addition, penalty
provisions applicable under North Carolina General Statute 143-215.6A(a)(1) are also applicable.
The 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 action, in accordance with 15A NCAC 2L.0106 (c)(1).
2. Any groundwater quality monitoring, as deemed necessary by the Division, shall be provided.
No land application of waste activities shall be undertaken when the seasonal high water table is less
than three feet below land surface.
V. INSPECTIONS
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 five years from the date of the
inspection and shall be made available to the Division or other permitting authority, upon request.
2. 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 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 shall be effective only with respect to the nature and volume of wastes described in the
application and other supporting data.
3. This permit shall not be automatically transferable. In the event that there is a desire for the residuals
land application program to change ownership or a name change of the Permittee, a formal permit
request must be submitted to the Division accompanied by 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 land application sites shall be approved for residuals application. Buffer maps] for land
application sites approved in accordance with this permit issuance, are attached to the back of this
permit. In addition, it is the Permittee's responsibility to attach the appropriate buffer maps] for any
previously approved Iand application sites that are listed in the table below:
Application Area [acres]
Site No. Owner/Lessee (excluding buffers)
Polk County
C1 -I
Frank Smith
5.8
C1-2
Frank Smith
7.7
C1-3
Frank Smith
15.8
C1-4
Frank Smith
9.8
C1-5
Frank Smith
22.1
61.2
C2-1
Jack Walker
12.8
C2-2
Jack Walker
18.1
C2-3
Jack Walker
25.4
C2-4
Jack Walker
17.8
74.1
TOTAL AVAILABLE ACRES
135.3
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.
The annual administering and compliance fee must be paid by the Permittee within 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 months prior to the expiration of this permit, shall request its extension.
Upon receipt of the request, the Division will review the adequacy of the residuals land application
program described therein, and if warranted, shall 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 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
landowner(s)/lessee(s), and/or operator(s), are in full force, and in effect. The landowner agreements
shall be considered expired concurrent with the expiration date of the permit and must be renewed at
the same time the permit is renewed.

Permit issued this the fifth day of October, 2001
NORTH CAROLINA ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
regoryJ. Thorpe, Ph.D., Acting Director
Division of Water Quality
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
Permit Number WQ0002645
10

Town of Columbus, NC
Land Application Program
Area Reference Map
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Precision Land Applica[iun, Inc.
March 2001
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