WQ0003281_Final Permit_19910322

State of North Carolina
-Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources
Division of Environmental Management
512 North Salisbury Street • Raleigh, North Carolina 2761
James G. Martin, Governor
William W, Cobey, Jr., Secretary
Mr. Ayers Webster, City Manager
City of Belmont
Post Office Box 431
Belmont, North Carolina 28012
Dear Mr. Webster:
George T. Everett, Ph.D.
Director
March 22, 1991
Subject: Permit No. WQ0003281
City of Belmont
Land Application of Sludge
Gaston County
In accordance with your application received March 23, 1990, we are forwarding herewith
Permit No. WQ0003281, dated March 22, 1991, to the City of Belmont for the operation of a
land application of sludge program. Please note, site B is not included in this permit due to the
presence of a high groundwater table.
This permit shall be effective from the date of issuance until February 29, 1996, shall
hereby void Permit Number 10499R, issued July 23, 1984, 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 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 Hearings, P.O. Drawer 27447, Raleigh, NC 27611-7447. Unless such demands
are made this permit shall be final and binding.
One set of approved project documents is bog— ar oyou. If you need additional
information concerning this matter, please contacYICIr. Dana Bolden t 919/ 733-5083.
cc: Gaston County Health Department
Moore Engineering Associates
Mooresville Regional Office
Groundwater Section
Training and Certification
Pollution Prevention Pays
P.O. Box 27687, Raleigh, North Carolina 27611-7687 Telephone [phone]
An Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer

NORTH CAROLINA
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH AND NATURAL RESOURCES
SLUDGE 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
City of Belmont
Gaston County
FOR THE
operation of a sludge land application program consisting of the disposal of wastewater treatment
plant sludge to fields totaling approximately 36 acres at the Emily B. Quinn farm with no
discharge of wastes to the surface waters, pursuant to the application received March 23, 1990
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 from the date of issuance until February 29, 1996, shall hereby
void Permit Number 10499A, issued July 23, 1984, and shall be subject to the following
specified conditions and limitations:
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
1. The Mooresville Regional Office, phone no. [phone], and the appropriate
local governmental official (county manager/city manager) shall be notified at least
twenty-four (24) hours prior to the initial application of the sludge so that an
inspection can be made of the application sites and application method. Such
notification to the regional supervisor shall be made during the normal office hours
from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Monday through Friday, excluding State
Holidays. Also the Gaston County Manager's office must be notified prior to the
initial application so that they will be aware that the operation has commenced.
2. This permit shall become voidable if the soils fail to adequately absorb the wastes
and may be rescinded unless the sites are maintained and operated in a manner
which will protect the assigned water quality standards of the surface waters and
ground waters.
3. 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.
4. 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.

5. In the event that the land application program is not operated satisfactorily,
including the creation of nuisance conditions, the Permittee shall cease applying
sludge to the sites and take any immediate corrective actions, including the
construction of additional or replacement wastewater treatment or disposal facilities.
1 6. No crops for direct human consumption shall be raised on these sites for a period of
18 months following sludge application.
7. Maximum slope for sludge application shall be 10% for surface application and
18% for subsurface applications.
8. The following buffers zones shall be maintained:
a) 400 feet from residences 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.
b) 200 feet from residences under separate ownership for injection method,
however the buffer zone requirement may be reduced to a minimum of 100 feet
upon written consent of the owner.
c) 100 feet from "SA and SB" classified waters and public surface water supplies
for both methods,
d) 50 feet from "WS" classified waters and other streams, creeks, lakes, rivers,
and surface water drainage ways for injection method.
e) 100 feet from "WS" classified waters and other streams, creeks, lakes, rivers
and surface water drainage ways for surface application method,
f) 100 feet from property lines for both methods,
g) 50 feet from public right of ways for surface application methods,
h) 25 feet from public right of ways for subsurface disposal methods,
i) 10 feet from upslope interceptor drains and surface water diversions for both
methods,
j) 25 feet from downslope interceptor drains, surface water diversions,
groundwater drainage systems and surface drainage ditches for both methods.
9. A copy of this permit shall be kept at the land application site when sludge is being
applied during the life of this permit. A spill prevention and control plan shall be
kept in all sludge transport and application vehicles.
10. All sludges included in this permit must be stabilized by a process to significantly
reduce pathogens (as described in 40 CFR Part 257, Appendix II) prior to
application or incorporation. An evaluation of all sludges as specified in condition
II 4 must be conducted as to their ability to demonstrate compliance with this
requirement. A copy of this report must be submitted to the Assistant Chief for
Operations, Division of Environmental Management, Water Quality Section,
Operations Branch, PO Box 27687, Raleigh, NC 27611-7687, within six (6)
months of the permit issue date.
11. Specific sludge application area boundaries shall be clearly marked on each site
prior to and during sludge application.
12. No sludge at any time shall be stored at any application site.
II. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS
1. The facilities and disposal sites shall be properly maintained and operated at all
times.
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2. A suitable vegetative cover as listed in condition 11 3, shall be maintained in
accordance with the crop management plan approved by this Division.
\ 3. The application rates shall not exceed the following for the specified crops:
1 o s PAN (lbs/acre/year)
Pasture and Hay Grasses 200
4. No sludges other than the following are hereby approved for land application in
accordance with this permit:
Permit Estimated
Source Coun1y Number Volume ( div tons/year)
Belmont WWTP Gaston NCO021181 730
5. The lifetime heavy metal loadings shall not exceed the following for the
corresponding Cation Exchange Capacities (CEC):
Parameter CEC < 5
Lead (lbs/acre) 500
Zinc (lbs/acre) 250
Copper (lbs/acre) 125
Nickel (lbs/acre) 125
Cadmium Obs/acre) 4.5
6. Upon classification of the facility by the Certification Commission, the Permittee
shall employ a certified waster treatment plant operator to be in responsible charge
of the wastewater treatment facilities. The operator must hold a certificate of the
type and grade at least equivalent to the classification assigned to the wastewater
treatment facilities by the Certification Commission.
7. Adequate procedures shall be provided to prevent surface runoff from carrying any
disposed or stored sludge material into any surface waters.
8. Animals shall 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 after each application.
9. Surface applied sludge will be plowed or disced within twenty-four (24) hours after
application on lands with no cover crop established.
10. For areas that are prone to flooding or within the 100 -year flood elevation, sludge
may be applied only during periods of dry weather. The sludge must be
incorporated into the soil within twenty-four (24) hours of application.
11. 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 sludge
application event. Such controls may include the posting of signs indicating the
activities being conducted at each site.
12. 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.
13. 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. Any emergency sludge disposal
measures must first be approved by the Division of Environmental Management.
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1
14. The site shall be adequately limed to a soil pH of at least 6.5 prior to sludge
application. Sludge may be applied to sites with a pH of less than 6.5 provided a
sufficient amount of lime is also applied to achieve a final pH of the lime, sludge
and soil mixture of at least 6.5.
Any monitoring (including groundwater, surface water, sludge, 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. If monitoring data indicates minimal or
no concern to the Division, reduction of monitoring requirements may be pursued
after two annual reporting periods.
Proper records shall be maintained by the Permittee tracking all disposal activities.
These records shall include, but are not necessarily limited to the following
information:
a) source of sludge
b) date of sludge application
c) location of sludge application (site, field, or zone #)
d) method of application
e) weather conditions
f) soil conditions
g) type of crop or crop to be grown on field
h) volume of sludge applied in gallons/acre and dry tons/acre
i) annual and cumulative totals of dry tons/acre of sludge, annual and cumulative
pounds/acre of each heavy metal (which shall include, but not be limited to
lead,nickel, cadmium, copper and zinc), annual pounds/acre of plant available
nitrogen (PAN), and annual pounds/acre of phosphorus applied to each field.
A representative annual soils analysis (Standard Soil Fertility Analysis) shall be
conducted of each site receiving sludge 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:
% Base Saturation
Magnesium
Phosphorus
Potassium
Lead
Zinc
pH
Manganese
Cation Exchange Capacity
Sodium
Nickel
Cadmium
Copper
Calcium
4. A quarterly sludge analysis and annual Toxicity Characteristics Leaching Procedure
(TCLP) analysis shall be conducted 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 quarterly, sludge analysis will be required for each instance of
land application.
0

The sludge analysis shall include but is not necessarily limited to the following
parameters:
% total solids
Magnesium
\ Chlorides
Sulfate
1 Phosphorus
Potassium
Lead
Zinc
Copper
Nickel
Cadmium
Chromium
Sodium
Calcium
Total Nitrogen
Ammonia Nitrogen
Nitrate/Nittite Nitrogen
pH
Plant Available Nitrogen (by calculation)
The TCLP analysis shall include the following parameters:
Arsenic
Barium
Benzene
Cadmium
Carbon tetrachloride
Chlordane
Chlorobenzene
Chloroform
Chromium
o -Cresol
m -Cresol
p -Cresol
Cresol
2,4-D
1,4 -Dichlorobenzene
1,2-Dichloroethane
1,1-Dichloroethylene
2,4-Dinitrotoluene
Endrin
Heptachlor (and its hydroxide)
Hexachlorobenzene
Hexachloro-1,3-butadiene
Hexachloroethane
Lead
Lindane
Mercury
Methoxychlor
Methyl ethyl ketone
Nitrobenzene
Pentachlorophenol
Pyridine
Selenium
Silver
Tetrachloroethylene
Toxaphene
Trichloroethylene
2,4,5 -Trichlorophenol
2,4,6 -Trichlorophenol
2,4,5 -TP (Silvex)
Vinyl chloride
5. Three copies of all monitoring and reporting requirements as specified in conditions
III 1, 111 2, III 3 and 1II 4 shall be submitted annually on or before March 1 of
the following year to the following address:
NC Division of Environmental Management
Water Quality Section
Facility Assessment Unit
PO Box 27687
Raleigh, NC 27611-7687
6. Noncompliance Notification:
The Permittee shall report by telephone to the Mooresville, Regional Office
telephone no. [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.
i✓

b. Any failure of the land application program resulting in a release of sludge
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 sludge treatment.
e. Any spillage or discharge from a vehicle or piping system transporting sludge 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 four (4) existing monitoring wells shall continue to be sampled every March,
June, September, and November for the following parameters:
NO3 (10.0)
Ammonia Nitrogen
TDS (500.0)
TOC
PH (6.5 - 8.5 Standard Units)
Water Level
Chloride (250.0)
Total Coliforms (1/100ml)
Copper (1.0)
Phenol
Lead (0.05)
Zinc
Chromium (0.05)
Orthophosphate
Silver and Volatile Organic Compounds - In November only (by Method 1
or Method 2 below).
Method 1: Method 6230D (Capillary - Column), "Standard Methods For The
Examination of Water and Wastewater", 17th ed., 1989.
Method 2: Method 502.2 "Methods For The Determination of Organic Compounds
in Drinking Water", U.S. EPA - 600/4-88/039.
The measurement of water level must be made prior to sampling for the remaining
parameters.
The measuring points (top of well casing) of all monitoring wells shall be surveyed
relative to mean sea level (M.S.L.). The depth of water in each well shall be
measured from the surveyed point on the top of the casing. The water level
elevations shall then be determined relative to M.S.L.
The numbers in parentheses represent the maximum allowable concentrations in
groundwater for the various analytical parameters, as specified in 15 NCAC 2E
[Groundwater Classifications and Standards]. Unless otherwise specified, the units
for these concentrations are expressed as milligrams per liter.
If TOC concentrations greater than 10 mg/l 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/1, this concentration will
be taken to represent the naturally occurring TOC concentration. Any exceedances
L-1

of this naturally occurring TOC concentration in the downgradient wells shall be
subject to the additional sampling and analysis as described above.
If any volatile organic compounds are detected by method 6230D, or the equivalent
method 502.2, then EPA methods 604 and 611 must also be run to detect other
organic compounds which may be present. The results of all analyses specified in
the monitoring requirements, including 604 and 611 if required, must be submitted
simultaneously.
The results of the sampling and analysis shall be sent to the N.C. Division of
Environmental Management on Form GW -59 (Compliance Monitoring Report
Form) every April, July, October, and December.
2. The Compliance Boundary for the disposal system is specified by regulations in 15
NCAC 2L, Groundwater Classifications and Standards. An exceedance of
Groundwater Quality Standards beyond the Compliance Boundary is subject to
penalty provisions applicable under General Statute 143-215.6(1)a. The sale of
property, by the Permittee, which is within or contiguous to the disposal system site
may alter the location of the Compliance Boundary.
For facilities permitted on or after December 30, 1983, the Compliance Boundary is
established at the lesser of 250 feet from the sludge application area boundary, or
50 feet within the property boundary.
If the title to any property which may affect the location of the Compliance Boundary
is changed, the Permittee shall notify the DEM Director within 14 days. The
Director shall then establish a modified Compliance Boundary which will be done as
a modification to the Permit.
The REVIEW BOUNDARY for the disposal system is specified by regulations in 15
NCAC 2L, Groundwater Classifications and Standards. A REVIEW BOUNDARY
is established around disposal systems midway between the Compliance Boundary
and the perimeter of the waste disposal area. When the concentration of any
substance equals or exceeds the maximum allowable concentration of that substance
at the REVIEW BOUNDARY, as determined by monitoring, the permittee shall
either (i) demonstrate, through predictive calculations or modeling, that natural site
conditions, facility design and operational controls will prevent a violation of
standards at the Compliance Boundary; or, (ii) submit a plan for the alteration of
existing site conditions, facility design or operational controls that will prevent a
violation of standards at the Compliance Boundary, and implement that plan upon its
approval by the Director.
Any groundwater quality monitoring as deemed necessary by the Division of
Environmental Management shall be provided.
V. INSPECTIONS
1. The Permittee or his designee shall inspect the sludge storage, transport, 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
J 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 by the Division of
Environmental Management or other permitting authority.
7

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 disposal site and 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; or may obtain samples of groundwater, surface water, or leachate.
VI. GENERAL CONDITIONS
This permit shall become voidable unless the land application activities are carried
out in accordance with the conditions of this permit 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.
This permit is not transferable. In the event 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. Prior to any 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.
5. This permit shall become voidable unless the agreements between the Pemuttee and
the landowners/lessees are in full force and effect.
6. The following are approved sites for sludge application (see attached map):
Site No. Owner/Lessee Application Area (excluding buffers)
acres
A Emily B. Quinn/
Paul Messer 25.7
C Emily B. Quinn/
Paul Messer 3.1
D Emily B. Quinn/
Paul Messer 6.1
E Emily B. Quinn/
Paul Messer 1.1
Total 36
No sludge shall be applied on the field designated as Site B due to the presence of a
high groundwater table.
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.
0

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).
9. 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.
10. A set of approved documents for the subject project must be retained by the
applicant for the life of the permit.
11. 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.
12. 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.
Permit issued this the 22nd day of March, 1991
CAROLINA
George T. Ev
Division of E
By Authority
Permit No. WQ0003281
9
MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
Management Commission

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