WQ0004797_Final Permit_20000920

State of North Carolina
Department of Environment
and Natural Resources
Asheville Regional Office
James B. Hunt, Jr., Governor
Bill Holman, Secretary
Kerr T. Sevens, Director WATER QUALITY SECTION
Division of Water Quality
September 20, 2000
Mr. Blake M. Kehoe, Plant Manager
Northland Cranberries, Inc.
Post Office Box 1009
Mountain Home, North Carolina 28758
Subject: Permit No.
Northland
Wastewater
Henderson
Dear Mr. Kehoe:
i r
NCDENR
NORTH CAROLINA ❑ERARTMENT of
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL- RESOURCES
WQ0004797
Cranberries, Inc.
Spray Irrigation--
County
rrigation_County
In, accordance with your application received April 25, 2000, we
are forwarding herewith Permit No. WQ0004797, dated September 20,
2000, to Northland Cranberries, Inc. for the continued operation of
the subject wastewater treatment and spray irrigation facilities.
This permit shall be effective from the date of issuance until
September 20, 2005, shall void Permit No. WQ0004797 issued March 1,
1999 to the Northland Cranberries, Inc., 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.

Blake M Kehoe
Sept,mber 20, 2000
Page Two
If you need additional information concerning this matter, please
contact Mr. Roy Davis at 828/251-5208, extension 242.
Sincerely,
cc: Henderson County Health Department
Roy M. Davis, Asheville Regional Office, Water Quality Section
Asheville Regional Office, Groundwater Section l
Groundwater Section, Central Office
Technical Assistance and Certification Unit
Non -Discharge Compliance/Enforcement Unit

NORTH CAROLINA
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
RALEIGH
SPRAY IRRIGATION SYSTEM PERMIT
In accordance with the provisions of Article 21 of Chapter 143,
General Statutes of North Carolina as amended, and other applicable
Laws, Rules, and Regulations
PERMISSION IS HEREBY GRANTED TO
NORTHLAND CRANBERRIES, INC.
HENDERSON COUTNY
FOR THE
continued operation of a 83,000 -GPD spray irrigation treatment and
disposal facility consisting of a 100 -GPM pump station, approximately
2,200 linear feet of 5 -inch force main, a 2.5 -MG aerated lagoon, a
475 -GPM spray irrigation pump, a 15.3 -acre spray field, and all
associated piping, valves, controls, spray heads and appurtenances to
serve North and Cranberries, Inc. (35022'30" N, 82028153" W), with no
discharge of wastes to the surface waters, pursuant to the application
received April. 25, 2000, 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 20, 2005,shall void Permit No. WQ0004797 issued March 1,
1999 to the Northland Cranberries, Inc., and shall be subject to the
following specified conditions,and limitations:
I_ PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
1. The'spray irrigation facilities shall be effectively maintained
and operated at all times so that there is no discharge to the
surface waters, nor any contamination of ground waters which
will render them unsatisfactory for normal. use. In the event
that the facilities fail to perform satisfactorily, including

the creation of nuisance conditions or failure of the
irrigation area to adequately assimilate the wastewater, the
Permittee shall take immediate corrective actions including
those actions that may be required by the Division of Water
Quality (Division), such as the construction of additional or
replacement wastewater treatment and disposal facilities.
2. The issuance of this permit shall not relieve the Permittee of
the responsibility for damages to surface or groundwaters
resulting from the operation of this facility.
3. The residuals generated from these treatment facilities must be
disposed in accordance with General Statute 143-215.1 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 publi
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 wastewater treatment units and wells, and
g) 50 feet between wastewater treatment units and property
lines.
Some of the buffers specified above may not have been included
in previous permits for this waste treatment and disposal
system. These buffers are not intended to prohibit or prevent
modifications, which are required by the Division, to improve
performance of the existing treatment facility. These buffers
do, however, apply to modifications of the treatment and
disposal facilities which are for the purpose of increasing the
flow that is tributary to the facility. These buffers do apply
to any expansion or modification of the spray irrigation areas
and apply in instances in which the sale of property would
cause any of the buffers now complied with, for the treatment
and disposal facilities, to be violated. The applicant is
advised that any modifications to the existing facilities will
require a permit modification.

11. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS
1. The facilities shall be properly maintained and operated a- all
times.
2. Upon classification of the facility' by the Water Pollution
Control System Operators Certification Commission (WPCSOCC),
the Permittee shall employ a certified wastewater treatment
plant .operator to be in responsible charge (ORC) of the
wastewater treatment .facilities. The operator must hold a
certificate of the type and grade at least equivalent to or
greater than the classification assigned to the wastewater
treatment facilities by the WPCSOCC. The Permittee must also
employ a certified back-up operator of the appropriate type and
grade to comply with the conditions of 15A NCAC 8A .0202. The
ORC of the facility must visit each Class I .facility at least
weekly and each Class II, III, and IV facility at least daily,
excluding weekends and holidays, and must properly manage and
document daily operation and maintenance of the facility and
must comply with all other conditions of 15A NCAC 8A .0202.
3. A suitable year round vegetative cover shall be maintained on
the spray field.
4. Irrigation shall not be performed during inclement weather or
when the ground is in a condition that will cause runoff.
S. Adequate measures shall be taken to prevent wastewater runoff
from the spray field.
6. The facilities .shall be effectively maintained and operated as
a non -discharge system to prevent the discharge of any
wastewater resulting from the operation of this facility.
7. The application rate shall not exceed a cumulative loading of
78 inches over any twelve (12) month period at an instantaneous
application rate not to allow any spray field runoff.
$. No type of wastewater other than that from Northland
Cranberries, Inc. shall be sprayed onto the irrigation area.

9. No traffic or equipment shall be allowed on the disposal area
except while installation occurs or while normal maintenance is
being performed.
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.
10. Freeboard in the lagoon shall not be less than two feet at any
time..
Ill. MONITORING AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
1. Any monitoring (including groundwater, surface water, soil or
plant tissue analyses) deemed .necessary by the Division to
insure surface and ground water protection will be established
and an acceptable sampling reporting schedule shall be
followed.
2. Adequate records shall be maintained by the Permittee tracking
the amount of wastewater disposed. These records shall
include, but are not necessarily limited to, the .following
information:
a. date of irrigation,
b. volume of wastewater irrigated,
c. field irrigated,
d. length of time field is irrigated,
e. continuous weekly, monthly, and year-to-date hydraulic
(inches/acre) loading for each .field,.
f. weather conditions, and
g. maintenance of cover crops.
3. . The effluent from the subject facilities shall. be monitored by
the Permittee at the point prior to irrigation every. March,
July, and November for the following parameters:
BODS TSS
Iron Nitrate as N
TKN Chloride
Total Coliform pH
NH3 as N Sodium
Magnesium Calcium
Sodium Adsorption Ratio by Calculation

i
a. Three (3) copies of all operation a7Ad disposal records (as
specified in Condition III. 2.) on, Form NDAR-1 shall be
submitted on or before the last day of the following month.
Three (3) copies of all effluent monitoring data (as specified
in Condition III. 3.) on Form NDMR-1 shall be submitted cn or
before the last day of April, August, and December. All
information shall be submitted to the following address:
NC Division of Water Quality
Water Quality Section
Non -Discharge Compliance/Enforcement Unit
1617 Main Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27599-1617
5. A representative annual soils analysis (Standard Soil Fertility
Analysis) shall be conducted on each spray 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 Phosphorus
Cation Exchange Capacity Base
Saturation (by calculation)
6. Non -Compliance 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 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.
h. Any process unit failure, due to known or unknown reasons,
that render the facility incapable of adequate wastewater
treatment such as mechanical or electrical failures of
pumps, aerators, compressors, etc.
c. Any failure of a pumping station, sewer line, or treatment
facility resulting in a by-pass directly to receiving waters

without treatment of all or any portion of the influent to
such station or facility.
d.Any time that self-monitoring information indicates that the
facility has gone out of compliance with its permit
limitations.
Persons reporting such occurrences by telephone shall also file
a written report in letter form within five (5) days following
first knowledge of the occurrence. This report must outline
the actions taken or proposed to be taken to ensure that the
problem does not recur.
IV. GRO=WATER REQUIREMENTS
1. -The three (3) existing monitor wells (MW -2, MW -3, and MW --4) shall
be sampled every May and November for the following parameters:
Nitrate Nitrogen Ammonia Nitrogen
TDS TOC
pH Water Level
Fecal Coliforms Chloride
Volatile Organic Compounds (in November only)
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) by one of the following methods:
(A) Standard Method 6230D, PQL at 0.5 ug/L or less
(B) standard Method 6210D, PQL at 0.5 ug/L or less
(C) EPA Method 8021, Low Concentration, PQL at 0.5 ug/L less
(D). EPA Method 8260, Low Concentration, PQL at 0.5 ug/L or less
(E) Another method with prior approval by the Groundwater section
Chief
Any method used must meet the following qualifications:
(1) A laboratory must be DWQ certified to run any method used.
{2} The method used must, at a minimum, include all the
constituents listed in Table VIII of Standard Method 6230D.
(3) The method used must provide a pql of 0.5 ug/L or less must
be supported by laboratory proficiency studies as required by
the DWQ Laboratory Unit. Any constituents detected above the
MDL but below the PQL of 0.5 ug/L be qualified (estimated)
and reported.
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.

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/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 the methods
listed; then the Asheville Regional Office groundwater
supervisor, Landon Davidson, at telephone number 828/251-6208,
ext. 301 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 must be received on Form
GW -59 (Groundwater Quality Monitoring: Compliance Report Form) by
the Groundwater Section, Permits and Compliance Unit, 1636 Mail
Service Center, Raleigh, N.C. 27699-1636 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.
3. The COMPLIANCE BOUNDARY for the disposal system is specified by
regulations in 15A NCAC 2L, Groundwater Classifications and
Standards. The Compliance Boundary for a disposal system
individually permitted 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 7.43-215.6A(a)(1).
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 requuire
remediation action on the part of the permittee.

0
V. INSPECTIONS
1. Adequate inspection, maintenance, and cleaning shall be
provided by the Permittee to insure proper operation of the
subject facilities.
2. The Permittee or his designee shall inspect the wastewater
treatment and disposal facilities to prevent malfunctions and
deterioration, operator errors and discharges which may cause
or lead to the release of wastes to the environment, a threat
to human health, or a nuisance. The Permittee shall keep an
inspection log or summary including at least the date and time
of inspection, observations made, and any maintenance, repairs,
or corrective actions taken by the Permittee. This log of
inspections shall be maintained by the Permittee for a period
of three years from the date of the .inspection and shall be
made available upon request to the Division or other- permitting
authority.
3. Any duly authorized officer, employee, or representative of the
Division may, upon presentation of credentials, enter and
inspect any property, premises or place on or related to the
disposal site or facility at any reasonable time for the
purpose of determining compliance with this permit; may inspect
or copy any records that must be maintained under the terms and
conditions of this permit, and may obtain samples of
groundwater, surface water, or leachate.
VI. GENERAL CONDITIONS
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
pprcved.
4. Failure to abide by the -conditions and limitations contained in
this permit may subject the Permittee to an enforcement action
by the Division in accordance with North Carolina General
Statute 143-215.6A to 143-215.6C.
5. The issuance of this permit does not preclude the Permittee
from complying with any and all statutes, rules, regulations,
or ordinances which may be imposed by other government agencies
(local., state:, and federal) which have jurisdiction.
6. A set of approved plans and specifications for the subject
project must be retained by the Permittee for the life of the
project.
7. The annual administering and compliance fee must be paid by the
Permittee within thirty (30) days after being billed by the
Division. Failure to pay the fee accordingly may cause the
Division to initiate action to revoke this permit as specified
by 15A NCAC 2H .0205 (c) (4) .
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. On or before January 1, 2003, the domestic wastewater currently
being treated and disposed of by Northland Cranberries' spray
irrigation system will be removed from the waste stream and
rerouted to public sewers.

Permit issued this the 20th day of Sentpmber, 2000
NORTH CAROLINA ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
K6rr T. Stevens, Director
Im Division of Water Quality
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
Permit Number WQ0004797