WQ0003698_Final Permit_19951006

State of North Carolina
Department of Environment,
Health and Natural Resources
Division of Environmental Management
James B. Hunt, Jr., Governor
Jonathan B. Howes, Secretary
A. Preston Howard, Jr., P.E., Director
J. Earl Daniels, City Manager
City of Marion
Post Office Box 700
Marion, North Carolina 28752
Dear Mr. Daniels:
October 6, 1995
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Subject: Permit No. WQ0003698
City of Marion
Surface Disposal of Wastewater Residuals
McDowell County
In accordance with the amendment request received on October 3, 1995, we are forwarding
herewith Permit No. WQ0003698 as amended, dated August 31, 1995, to the City of Marion for the
continued operation of an active sewage sludge unit for the purpose of the disposal of wastewater
residuals. This permit is being amended to correctly identify the county for the Corpening Creek WWTP
(NPDES Permit No. NC0031879). The original permit was incorrect in identifying Buncombe County.
This permit has been corrected to identify McDowell County as the location of the WWTP.
This permit shall be effective from the date of issuance until July 31, 2000, shall void Permit No.
WQ0003698, issued August 31, 1995, 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 thirty (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.
If you need additional information concerning this matter, please contact Mr. Michael D. Allen at
[phone], ext. 547.
Sincerely,
A. Prest Howar
d, Jr., P.E.
cc: McDowell County Health Department
McGill Associates, P.A.
Asheville Regional Office, Water Quality Section
Asheville Regional Office, Groundwater Section
Brian Wootton, Groundwater Section, Central Office
Training and Certification Unit (no revised rating)
Facilities Assessment Unit
P.O. 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, HEALTH AND NATURAL RESOURCES
RALEIGH
SURFACE DISPOSAL 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 THE
City of Marion
McDowell County
X91 Iq "00
continued operation of an active sewage sludge unit for the disposal of approximately 280 dry tons per
year of residuals from the City of Marion Corpening Creep wastewater treatment facility with no discharge
of wastes to the surface waters, pursuant to the amendment request received on October 3, 1995, 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 July 31, 2000, shall void Permit No.
WQ0003698, issued August 31, 1995, and shall be subject to the following specified conditions and
limitations:
I. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
The sewage sludge unit 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.
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 program.
3. In the event that the sewage sludge unit is not operated satisfactorily, including the creation
of nuisance conditions, the Permittee shall cease disposing of the wastewater residuals to
the sewage sludge unit and take any immediate corrective actions as may be required by the
Division.
4. A copy of this permit shall be maintained at the sewage sludge site when residuals are being
disposed during the life of this permit. A spill prevention and control plan shall be
maintained in all residuals transport and application vehicles.

5. The following buffer zones shall be maintained:
a. 400 feet between the active sewage sludge unit and any habitable residence,
b. 100 feet between the active sewage sludge unit and any public or private water supply
source, all streams classified as WS or B, waters classified as SA or SB and any Class
1 or Class H impounded reservoir used as a source of drinking water,
c. 100 feet between the active sewage sludge unit and any stream, lake, river, or natural
drainage way,
d . 50 feet between the active sewage sludge unit and property lines (if the original permit
was issued with the buffer distance to property line as 100 feet, updated maps must be
submitted and new acreage delineated for the buffer to be reduced),
e. 10 feet between the active sewage sludge unit and any interceptor drains or surface
water diversions (upslope),
f. 25 feet between the active sewage sludge unit and any interceptor drains or surface
water diversions (downslope),
g. 25 feet between the active sewage sludge unit and any groundwater lowering and
surface drainage ditches.
Some of the buffers specified above may not have been included in previous permits for
this sewage sludge unit. 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 surface
disposal site. These buffers do apply to any expansion or modification of the sewage
sludge unit 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.
6. Sewage sludge placed in the subject sewage sludge unit shall be covered with soil or other
material at the end of each operating day.
II. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS
1. The facilities and application sites shall be properly maintained and operated at all times.
2. No residuals other than the following are hereby approved for disposal in the sewage
sludge units in accordance with this permit:
Permit Estimated
Source County Number Volume (dry tons/year)
Corpening Creek WWTP McDowell NCO031879 280.0
3. The pollutant concentrations in the residuals which will be disposed in sewage sludge unit
shall not exceed the following Ceiling Concentrations (Dry Weight Basis):
Parameters mg/kg
Arsenic 46
Chromium 300
Nickel 320
4. Upon classification of the facility by the Certification Commission, the Permittee shall
employ a certified operator to be in responsible charge (ORC) of the active sewage sludge
unit. The operator must hold a certificate of the type classification assigned to the sewage
sludge unit by the Certification Commission. The Permittee must also employ a certified
back-up operator of the appropriate type to comply with the conditions of Title 15A NCAC
SA, .0202.

5 . An active sewage sludge unit shall not restrict the flow of a base flood.
6. An active sewage sludge unit shall not be located in an unstable area.
7. Appropriate measures must be taken to control public access to the surface disposal site
during active site use and for the 36 -months following closure of the sewage sludge unit.
Such controls may include the posting of signs indicating the activities being conducted at
each site.
Adequate provisions shall be taken to prevent wind erosion and surface runoff from
conveying pollutants or residuals from the surface disposal site onto the adjacent property
or into any surface waters.
9. Residuals shall not be applied to any land application site that is flooded, frozen or snow-
covered.
10. Food crops, feed crops and fiber crops shall not be grown on an active sewage sludge unit,
unless approval has been requested and received from the Division of Environmental
Management,
11. Animals shall not be grazed on an active sewage sludge unit unless approval has been
requested and received from the Division of Environmental Management.
MONITORING AND REPQRTINC REQUIREMENTS
1. Any monitoring (including groundwater, surface water, residuals, 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.
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. volume of residuals disposed in gallons/year, dry tons/year, or kilograms/year
4. A residuals analysis will be conducted annually from the date of permit issuance 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 annually, a residuals analysis will be
required for each instance of land application. The residuals analysis shall include but is
not necessarily limited to the following parameters:
Arsenic % Total Solids
Chromium pH
Nickel
5. A Toxicity Characteristics Leaching Procedure (TCLP) analysis shall be conducted by the
Permittee annually. The T CLP analysis shall include the following parameters (please note
the regulatory level in mg/L in parentheses):
Arsenic (5.0)
Benzene (0.5)
Carbon tetrachloride (0.5)
Chlorobenzene (100.0)
Chromium (5.0)
m -Cresol (200.0)
Cresol (200.0)
1,4 -Dichlorobenzene (7.5)
Barium (100.0)
Cadmium (1.0)
Chlordane (0.03)
Chloroform (6.0)
o -Cresol (200.0)
p -Cresol (200.0)
2,4-D (10.0)
1,2-Dichloroethane (0.5)

7.
1,1-Dichloroethylene (0.7)
Endrin (0.02)
Hexachlorobenzene (0.13)
Hexachloroethane (3.0)
Lindane (0.4)
Methoxychlor (10.0)
Nitrobenzene (2.0)
Pyridine (5.0)
Silver (5.0)
Toxaphene (0.5)
2,4,5 -Trichlorophenol (400.0)
2,4,5 -TP (Silvex) (1.0)
2,4-Dinitrotoluene (0.13)
Heptachlor (and its hydroxide) (0.008)
Hexachloro-1,3-butadiene (0.5)
Lead (5.0)
Mercury (0.2)
Methyl ethyl ketone (200.0)
Pentachlorophenol (100.0)
Selenium (1.0)
Tetrachloroethylene (0.7)
Trichloroethylene (0.5)
2,4,6 -Trichlorophenol (2.0)
Vinyl chloride (0.2)
Three copies of all required monitoring and reporting requirements as specified in
conditions 1111, 1112,1113, 1114, and III 5 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 29535
Raleigh, NC 27626-0535
The air in all structures within the surface disposal site and the air at the property line shall
be continuously monitored for methane gas. The following criteria shall be met:
• In structures: the concentration of methane gas in the air shall not exceed 25% of
the lower explosive limit (LEL) for methane gas.
• At the property line: the concentration of methane gas in the air shall not exceed the
lower explosive limit (LEL) for methane gas.
8. Noncompliance Notification:
The Permittee shall report by telephone to the 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 surface disposal program which results in the disposal of
significant amounts of wastes which are abnormal in quantity or characteristic.
b. Any failure of the surface disposal 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
disposal 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.
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IV. GROUNDWATER REQUIREMENTS
1. The three (3) monitor wells, MW -1, MW -2, and MW -3, shall continue to be sampled every
March, July, and November, for the following parameters:
NO3
Ammonia Nitrogen
TDS
TOC
pH
Water Level
Chloride
Total Coliforms
Copper
Phenol
Lead
Zinc
SO4
Arsenic
Cadmium
Chromium
Iron
Volatile Organic Compounds - In November only (by Method 1 or 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 -60014-881039
The measurement of water levels must be made prior to sampling for the remaining
parameters. 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 TQC 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/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.
If any volatile organic compounds are detected by Method 6230D, or the equivalent Method
502.2, then the Asheville Regional Office Groundwater Supervisor, telephone number
[phone], must be contacted immediately for further instructions regarding any
additional follow-up analyses required. The results of all initial and follow-up analyses
must be submitted simultaneously.
The results of the sampling and analysis shall be sent to the Groundwater Section, Permits
and Compliance Unit, P.Q. Box 29535 Raleigh, N.C. 27626-0535 on Form GW -59
[Compliance Monitoring Report Form] every April, August, and December.
2. Any groundwater quality monitoring, as deemed necessary by the Division, shall be
provided.
3. 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 15A NCAC 2L, a REVIEW BQUNDARY 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
1. The Permittee or his designee shall inspect the residuals 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 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 of Environmental Management or other permitting authority, upon request.
2. 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 surface 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 kept 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 surface disposal 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 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 automatically transferable. In the event that 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. 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(x) to 143-215.6(c).
5. 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).
6. 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.
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 limitations as it may deem appropriate.
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8. 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 sixth day of October, 1995
NORTH CAROLINA ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
A. Prestoffloward, Jr., WE., Director /
Division 6f Environmental Management
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
Permit Number WQ0003698
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