WQ0005131_Final Permit_19920303

State of North Carolina
Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources
Division of Environmental Management
512 North Salisbury Street - Raleigh, North Carolina 27611
James.G.Martin, Governor
William W. Cobey, Jr., Secretary
Ms. Beth Graves
SunShares
1215 South Briggs Avenue
Suite 100
Durham, North Carolina 27703
Dear Ms. Graves:
George T. Everett, Ph.D
Director
March 3, 1992
Subject: Permit No. WQ0005131
SunShares
Sludge Compost Pilot Study
Durham County
In accordance with your amendment request received February 12, 1992, we are forwarding
herewith Permit No. WQ0005131 as amended to allow for additional pilot tests to be completed, dated
March 3, 1992, to Sun Shares for the continued operation of a sludge compost pilot study.
This permit shall be effective from the date of issuance until June 30, 1992, and shall supersede
Permit No. WQ0005131 issued July 23, 1991, 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.
5083. If you need additional information concerning
cc: Durham County Health Department
Raleigh Regional Office, Water Quality
Facilities Assessment Unit
Regional Offices
, please contact Mark Hawes at 919/ 733 -
of
Asheville Fayetteville Mooresville Raleigh Washington Wilmington Winston-Salem
704/251-6208 919/486-1541 704/663-1699 919/733-2314 919/946-6481 919/395-3900 919/896-7007
Pollution Prevention Pays
P.O. Box 29535, Raleigh, North Carolina 27626-0535 Telephone [phone]
An Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer

NORTH CAROLINA
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH AND NATURAL RESOURCES
RALEIGH
COMPOST 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
SUN SHARES
Durham County
continued operation of a sludge composting pilot study consisting of windrowing sludge generated from
the City of Durham's Northside wastewater treatment facility with mixed paper waste and later land
applied at the North Carolina State University's Demonstration Forest Lands located near Rougemont
adjacent to U.S. 15-501 in Durham County to serve Sun Shares with no discharge of wastes to the surface
waters, pursuant to the amendment request received February 12, 1992 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 June 30, 1992, and shall supersede
Permit No. WQ0005131 issued July 23, 1991, and shall be subject to the following specified conditions
and limitations:
I. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
1. This permit shall become voidable in the event of failure of the sludge composting facility
to adequately protect the assigned water quality standards of the surface waters and
grou ndwaters.
2. The sludge composting program shall be effectively maintained and operated as a non -
discharge system to prevent discharge of any wastes resulting from the operation of this
program.
3: m. 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.

lI.
4. In the event that the sludge composting program is not operated satisfactorily, including the
creation of nuisance conditions, the Permittee shall take such immediate corrective action as
may be required by this Department, including the construction of additional or replacement
wastewater treatment or disposal facilities.
5. Diversion or bypassing of the untreated sludge or compost drainage wastewater from the
compost facilities is prohibited.
6. Compost sludge should not be used in areas of intense public use (schools, playgrounds,
etc.).
QPERATION AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS
1. The facilities and disposal sites shall be properly maintained and operated at all times.
2. The sludge composting operation must be conducted under the supervision of the certified
wastewater treatment plant operator required by the Certification Commission for operation
of Sun Shares sludge composting pilot study.
3. Only sludge generated by the City of Durham's Northside wastewater treatment facility
shall be used in this pilot study.
4. The sludge compost pilot study shall be conducted at the City of Durham's Northside
wastewater treatment facility.
5. Any leachate generated during this pilot study will be disposed of at the City of Durham's
Northside wastewater treatment facility.
6. The composting shall be done using the windrow method and shall attain a temperature of
550 C or greater for at least 15 days during the composting period. During the high
temperature period there will be a minimum of five turnings.
7. The final product shall be land applied on slopes of less than 6 percent.
8. The following buffer 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) 100 feet from "SA and SB" classified waters and public surface water supplies for
both methods,
c) 100 feet from "WS" classified waters and other streams, creeks, lakes, rivers and
surface water drainage ways for surface application method,
d) 100 feet from property lines for both methods; however, this requirement may be
reduced upon written concurrence from the adjoining property owner,
_ e) 50 feet from public right of ways for surface application methods,
f) 10 feet from upslope interceptor drains and surface water diversions for both
methods,
g) 25 feet from downslope interceptor drains, surface water diversions, groundwater
drainage systems and surface drainage ditches for both methods
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183 01110 $a 010 121,219
1. 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.
2. Sun Shares shall maintain records including, but not limited to the following:
a. volume and analysis of sludge and compost (composite samples for the compost)
b. date, duration and temperature during composting
c. volume of sludge and mixed paper per batchl
d. receiver site, application rate and volume applied.
1 The Permittee shall submit the composition of each batch (volume of sludge and mixed
paper) to the Raleigh Regional Supervisor after composting of the respective batch.
These records shall be available at the compost facility for inspection and review by the
Division.
3. The Permittee shall monitor the temperature of the windrows during composting. The
temperature shall be measured at sufficient depths of the windrow and along the length of
the windrow such that a representative temperature profile can be created. The temperature
profiles shall consist of a depth and length profile as well as a time temperature profile for
the batch.
4. The Permittee shall supply monitoring records of temperature and compost age or pathogen
testing sufficient to adequately attest that the product meets the requirements of the
Processes to Further Reduce Pathogens.
5. Prior to final disposal of the compost the Permittee shall submit the information necessary
to affirm that the product meets the requirements of the Processes to Further Reduce
Pathogens and the land area required for final disposal and obtain written approval for final
disposal from the Raleigh Regional Water Quality Supervisor.
6. The Permittee shall conduct a nutrient analysis, total metals analysis and a TCLP analysis
of the final product for each batch (samples shall be composite) and submit this information
to the:
Raleigh Regional Water Quality Supervisor
Division of Environmental Management
3800 Barrett Drive
Raleigh, North Carolina 27611
[phone]
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7. Noncompliance Notification:
The Permittee shall report by telephone to the Raleigh Regional Office, telephone no. (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 fust knowledge of the occurrence of any of the following:
a. Any occurrence with the composting program which results in the composting of
significant amounts of wastes which are abnormal in quantity or characteristic.
b. Any failure of the composting program resulting in a discharge of wastes 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 leakage or spillage that occurs during the transfer or transport of the compost
material.
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. 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 composting
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 by the Division of Environmental Management or other permitting authority.
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 composting 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.
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1. 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.
3. 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. 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.
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. A set of approved documents for the subject project must be retained by the applicant for
the life of the project.
8. This permit may be modified or 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.
9. This permit is for a one time pilot study to be conducted in accordance with the terms and
conditions of this permit and is not renewable.
Permit issued this the 3rd day of March, 1992
NORM CAROLINA ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
age Everett,%6ZA1
Division of Enviement
By Authority of tat Management Commission
Permit No. WQ0005131
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