WQ0005910_Final Permit_19951016

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
F. O_ Sellers, Director, Avoca Division
R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
Post Office Box 129
Merry Hill, North Carolina 27957-0129
Dear Mr. Sellers:
October 16, 1995
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Subject: Permit No. WQ0005910
R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
Avoca Division
Wastewater Spray Irrigation
Bertie County
In accordance with the amendment request received August 14, 1995 from Mr. William C.
Howard, Jr., P.E., we are forwarding herewith Permit No. WQ0005910 as amended, dated October 16,
1995, to the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company for the construction and operation of the subject
wastewater treatment and spray irrigation facilities. This permit is being amended to increase the spray
volume of wastewater and waste plant material from the "Green Note" process from 51,500 GPD to
100,000 GPD. The wastewater and waste plant material shall be applied onto Field Number 9 (20 acres),
Field Number 11 (33 acres), Field Number 30 (56 acres) and Field Number 31 (76 acres) at a rate no
greater than 0.5 inches per week.
This permit shall be effective from the date of issuance until April 30, 1997, shall void Permit No.
WQ0005910 issued July 18, 1994, 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 riled 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].
Sincerely,
C �.
A. Prest Howard, Jr., .E.
cc: Berne County Health Department
Washington Regional Office, Water Quality
Washington Regional Office, Groundwater
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
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
R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
Bertie County
FOR THE
continued operation of a 12,500 GPD industrial wastewater treatment facility consisting of a neutralization
basin using lime, two (2) equalization tanks, three (3) aeration basins in series, a clarifier, an aerobic
sludge digester, an aerated lagoon, pumping facilities, and all necessary appurtenances with the discharge
of treated effluent onto approximately 26 acres, and the operation of the spray irrigation of approximately
100,000 GPD of wastewater and waste plant material from the "Green Note" process by a 400 GPM
traveling gun onto Field Number 9 (20 acres), Field Number 11 (33 acres), Field Number 30 (56 acres)
and Field Number 31 (76 acres) which is land owned by the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, to serve
the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company Avoca Division, with no discharge of wastes to the surface waters,
pursuant to the amendment request received August 14, 1995 from Mr. William C. Howard, Jr., P.E.,
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 April 30, 1997, shall void Permit No.
WQ0005910 issued July 18, 1994, 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 absorb the wastewater, the Permittee shall take immediate
corrective actions including those actions that may be required by the Division of
Environmental Management.
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 North Carolina Division of
Environmental Management.

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 public 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 drainageways 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.
II. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS
1. The facilities shall be properly maintained and operated at all times.
2. Upon classification of the facility by the Certification Commission, 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 Certification Commission. The Permittee must also employ a
certified back-up operator of the appropriate type and grade to comply with the conditions
of Title 15A, Chapter 8A, .0202. The ORC of the facility must visit each Class I facility at
least weekly and each Class 11, 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 Title 15A, Chapter 8A, .0202.
3. A suitable vegetative cover shall be maintained.
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 average annual weekly application rate shall not exceed 0.50 inches per acre.
8. No type of wastewater other than that from R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company Avoca
Division 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.
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10. 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.
11. Freeboard in the lagoon shall not be less than two (2) feet at any time.
111. MONITORING AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
1. Any monitoring (including groundwater, surface water, soil or plant tissue analyses)
deemed necessary by the Division of Environmental Management 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) loadings 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:
BOD5 TSS
pH Sodium
NH3 as N Calcium
Magnesium
Sodium Adsorption Ratio by Calculation
4. Three copies of all operation and disposal records (as specified in condition 1112), and all
effluent monitoring data (as specified in condition III 3) and any other data as may be
required shall be submitted on or before the last day of the following month to the
following address:
NC Division of Environmental Management
Water Quality Section
Facility Assessment Unit
PO Box 29535
Raleigh, NC 27626-0535
5. Noncompliance Notification:
The Permittee shall report by telephone to the Washington 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;
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b. Any process unit failure, due to known or unknown reasons, that renders 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; or
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 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
The six (6) existing monitor wells, 3-1, 3-2, 3-3, 4-1, 4-2, and Reference #1 shall be
sampled every March, July, and November for the following parameters:
NO3 TDS
TOC pH
Ammonia Nitrogen Water Level
Chlorides Bromide
Barium
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-600/4-88/039
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 TOC concentrations greater than 10 mg/1 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 mgll, 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 Washington 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.O. Box 29535 Raleigh, N.C. 27626-0535 on Form GW-59
[Compliance Monitoring Report Form] every April, August, and December.
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2. 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 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
remediation action on the part of the permittee.
3. Any additional groundwater quality monitoring, as deemed necessary by the Division, shall
be provided.
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 of Environmental Management or other permitting authority.
3. 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 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.
V L 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 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(a) to 143-215.6(c).
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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. The subject wastewater treatment and disposal facilities shall be connected to an operational
publicly owned wastewater collection system within 180 days of its availability to the
subject facilities, if the subject wastewater treatment or disposal facilities are in
noncompliance with the terms and conditions of this non -discharge permit or the governing
statutes or regulations. Prior to the initiation of these connection activities, appropriate
approval must be received from this Division.
Permit issued this the sixteenth day of October, 1995
NORTH CAROLINA ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
Or,-, Jf M .� .
Lo m'(� /��
A. Preston "oward, Jr., P. ., Director
Division oVEnvironmental Management
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
Permit Number WQ0005910
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