WQ0007174_Final Permit_19970815

State of North Carolina
Department of Environment,
Health and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality
James B. Hunt, Jr., Governor
Wayne McDevitt, Secretary
A. Preston Howard, Jr., P.E., Director
August 15, 1997
Mr. W.H. Mull, General Manager
Metropolitan Sewerage District of Buncombe County
Post Office Box 8969
Asheville, NC 28814
Dear Mr. Mull:
Subject: Permit No. WQ0007174
MSD of Buncombe County
Residual Alkaline Stabilization Facility
Distribution of Class A Wastewater Residuals
Buncombe County
In accordance with your application received on May 30, 1997, we are forwarding herewith Permit
No. WQ0007174, dated August 15, 1997, to Metropolitan Sewerage District of Buncombe County for the
operation of a wastewater residuals facility for the distribution of Class A residuals.
This permit shall be effective from the date of issuance until July 31, 2002, shall void Permit No.
WQ0007174 issued December 22, 1994, 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. Randy Kepler at
[phone] extension 544.
Sincere
_-r�A. Preston Howard, Jr., P.E.
cc: Buncombe County Health Department
Asheville Regional Office, Water Quality Section
Asheville Regional Office, Groundwater Section
Bob Cheek, Groundwater Section, Central Office
Training and Certification Unit, No change in 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

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH AND NATURAL RESOURCES
RALEIGH
PERMIT FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF CLASS A RESIDUALS
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
Metropolitan Sewerage District of Buncombe County
Buncombe County
FOR THE
operation of a wastewater residuals facility for the distribution of Class A residuals. The facilities consists
of a wastewater treatment plant residual composting/PFRP stabilization facility for the stabilization of
digested and dewatered residuals using alkaline stabilization and the N-Viro Process, consisting of dual
live bottom hoppers arranged to receive dump truck loads of dewatered residuals, dial mixing blenders
which are fed by screw conveyors from the live bottom hoppers and two, 12 foot diameter limekiln dust
silos, dual incline conveyors serving tow curing bins measuring approximately 29 feet by 50 feet by 10
feet deep (each with a shuttle conveyor), a 275 foot by 150 foot concrete pad wind row area, a series of
leachate trench and collection drains that flow back to the wastewater treatment plant, a truck loading
conveyor, a 327 foot by 150 foot building enclosing these facilities, a ventilation system using large wall
fans and large roll up doors, and all associated piping, controls, equipment and appurtenances.
This permit is issued for the distribution of 37,000 dry tons per year of residuals (maximum) from the
sources listed in Condition 112, to serve the Metropolitan Sewerage District of Buncombe County's
Residual Alkaline Stabilization Facility, with no discharge of wastes to the surface waters, pursuant to the
application received on May 30, 1997 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, 2002, shall void Permit No.
WQ0007174 issued December 22, 1994, and shall be, subject to the following specified conditions and
limitations:
I. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
1. The distribution of Class A residuals 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.
2. This permit shall become voidable in the event of failure of the residuals program to
adequately protect the assigned water quality standards of the surface waters and
groundwaters.
3. 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.

II.
4. In the event that the residuals program is not operated satisfactorily, including the creation
of nuisance conditions, the Permittee shall take any immediate corrective actions as may be
required by the Division.
5. Diversion or bypassing of the untreated residuals or leachate from the residual treatment
facilities is prohibited.
6_ All leachate must be reused as a wetting agent for the processing of residuals or routed to
the head of the treatment plant.
7. When wastewater residuals are sold or given away, one of the Class A pathogen
requirements in 40 CFR Part 503.32(x) and one of vector attraction reduction requirements
in 40 CFR Part 503.33 must be met. Additionally, an evaluation must be performed which
demonstrates the residuals ability to comply with this requirement. Upon request, a copy
of this evaluation must be submitted to the Assistant Chief, Technical Support Branch,
Division of Water Quality, Post Office Box 29535, Raleigh, NC 27626-0535.
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS
l . The residuals treatment facilities shall be properly maintained and operated at all times.
2. No residuals other than the following are hereby approved for distribution in accordance
with this permit:
Permit Volume
Source County Number (Dry Tons/Year)
MSD of Buncombe County Buncombe NCO024911 37,000 (maximum)
3. All residuals shall be adequately stored to prevent leachate runoff until treated. The
finished product may be placed on a concrete pad, placed under shelter or covered until
such time as it is distributed to the buyer. If an alternate storage site is to be used, approval
must be obtained from the Division of Water Quality.
4. No other residuals other than those specified under Condition II 2 above may be
distributed. The Permittee shall request and obtain a permit amendment from the Division
of Water Quality for each additional residual source prior to acceptance of that residual -
5. For a Class A residual to be sold or given away in bags or other container for application to
the land, the following must be satisfied:
The Ceiling Concentrations (Dry Weight Basis) and the Pollutant Monthly
Average Concentrations (Dry Weight Basis) must be maintained:
Ceiling Monthly Average
Concentrations Concentrations
Parameters mg/kg-- . _ -- mg/kg
Arsenic
75
41
Cadmium
85
39
Copper
4,300
1,500
Lead
840
300
Mercury
57
17
Molybdenum
75
----
Nickel
420
420
Selenium
100
100
Zinc
7,500
2,800
2

6. Upon classification of the facility by the Certification Commission, the Permittee shall
employ a certified residuals operator to be in responsible charge (ORC) of the residuals
program. The operator must hold a certificate of the type classification assigned to the
residuals program 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 8A,.0202.
7. Adequate provisions shall be taken to prevent wind erosion and surface runoff from
conveying pollutants from the residuals treatment area onto the adjacent property or into
any surface waters.
CThe Metropolitan Sewerage District of Buncombe County shall present to each recipient of
compost written information that clearly states that compost/PFRP stabilized residuals
cannot be used on areas where root or leaf crops for direct human consumption are to be
grown within one year of the last application of compost/PFRP stabilized residuals to the
site. The Metropolitan Sewerage District of Buncombe County shall also include written
recommendations to the residuals recipients for satisfactory uses of compost residuals
material such as horticulture, silvicultural, other agricultural uses not specifically
prohibited, etc.
9. A label shall be affixed to the bag or other container in which residuals that are sold or
given away for application to the land, or an information sheet shall be provided to the
person who receives the residuals sold or given away in an other container for application
to the land. The label or information sheet shall contain the following information:
a. The name and address of the person who prepared the residuals that is sold or given
away in a bag or other container for application to the land.
b. A statement that application of the residuals to the land is prohibited except in
accordance with the instructions on the label or information sheet.
c. Information on all applicable buffers including a 10 foot buffer between application site
and any public or private water supply source (including wells) and any stream, lake,
or river.
d. Residuals shall not be applied to any site that is flooded, frozen or snow-covered.
e Adequate procedures shall be provided to prevent surface runoff from carrying any
disposed or stored residuals into any surface waters.
10. No compost shall be marketed that does not meet criteria for the Process to Further Reduce
Pathogens, which for:
Lime Stabilization: Sufficient lime is added' to produce and maintain a pH of 12 for two
hours.
N-Viro Process: Advanced alkaline stabilization with subsequent accelerated drying.
Alternative 1 Fine alkaline materials (cement kiln dust, lime kiln dust, quicklime
fines, pulverized lime, or hydrated lime) are uniformly mixed by
mechanical or aeration mixing into liquid or dewatered residuals to
raise the pH greater than 12 for seven days. If the resulting residuals
is liquid, it is dewatered. The stabilized residual cake is then air dried
(while the pH remains above 12 for at least seven days) for at least 30
days and until the cake is at least 65% solids. A solids concentration
of at least 60% is achieved before the pH drops below 12. The mean
temperature of the air surrounding the pile is above 5°C (41 °F) for the
first seven days.
3

Alternative 2 Fine alkaline materials (cement kiln dust, lime kiln dust, quicklime
fines, pulverized lime, or hydrated lime) are uniformly mixed by
mechanical or aeration mixing into liquid or dewatered residuals to
raise the pH to greater than 12 for at least 72 hours. If the resulting
residuals is liquid, it is dewatered. the residual cake is then heated,
while the pH exceeds 12, using exothermic reactions or other thermal
processes to achieve temperatures of at least 52°C (126°F) throughout
the residuals for at least 12 hours. The stabilized residual is then air
dried (while the pH remains above 12 for at least three days) to at least
50% solids.
The use of any other composting method shall require a permit amendment prior to the
distribution of any such composting/PFRP stabilized residuals.
MONITORING AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
I . Any monitoring (including groundwater, surface water, residuals, soil, or plant tissue
analyses) deemed necessary by the Division of Water Quality 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 residual activities. These
records shall include, but are not necessarily limited to the following information:
a. source, volume and analysis of each residuals
b. name of residuals' recipient, volume received, and intended use
c. the annual whole residual application rate for the residual that does not cause the annual
pollutant loading rates to be exceeded
3. A residual analysis shall be conducted monthly from the date of permit issuance by the
Permittee. The results of all analysis shall be maintained on file by the Permittee for a
minimum of five years. The residuals analysis shall include the following parameters:
Arsenic Molybdenum
Cadmium Nickel
Copper Selenium
Lead Zinc
Mercury
Aluminum
pH
Ammonia -Nitrogen
Phosphorus
Calcium
Plant Available Nitrogen (by calculation)
Magnesium
Potassium
Nitrate -Nitrite Nitrogen
Sodium
% Total Solids
TKN
After the residuals have been monitored for two years at the above frequency, the Pe -m ittee
may submit a request to the Division for a permit modification for the reduction of the
frequency of monitoring for pollutant concentrations and for the pathogen density
requirements, but in no case shall the frequency of monitoring be less than once per year
when residuals are sold or given away.
0

4. A Toxicity Characteristics Leaching Procedure (TCLP) analysis shall be conducted by the
Permittee annually. The TCLP 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)
Chiorobenzene (100.0)
Chromium (5.0)
m -Cresol (200.0)
Cresol (200.0)
1,4 -Dichlorobenzene (7.5)
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)
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)
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)
5. All residuals included in this permit must be monitored monthly, from the date of permit
issuance, for compliance with condition 19 of this permit. Data to verify stabilization of
the residuals must be maintained by the Permittee. The required data is specific to the
stabilization process utilized, but should be sufficient to clearly demonstrate compliance
with the Class A pathogen requirements in 40 CFR Part 503.32(a) and the vector attraction
reduction requirements in 40 CFR Part 503.33. In addition, the EPA certification
statements concerning compliance with pathogen requirements, vector attraction reduction
requirements and management practices must be completed monthly by the proper authority
or authorities if more than one is involved, either the person who generates the residuals or
the person who prepares the residuals to be sold or given away.
After the residuals have been monitored for two years at the above frequency, the Permittee
may request a permit modification for the reduction of the frequency of monitoring for
pollutant concentrations and for the pathogen density requirements, but in no case shall the
frequency of monitoring be less than once per year when residuals are sold or given away.
6. Three copies of all required monitoring and reporting requirements as specified in
conditions 111 1, II12,11I 3, 1114, and III 5 shall be submitted annually on or before March
I of the following year to the following address:
NC Division of Water Quality
Water Quality Section
Facility Assessment Unit
PO Box 29535
Raleigh, NC 27626-0535
k

7. Noncompliance Notification:
The Permittee shall report by telephone to the Asheville Regional Office, telephone number
704-251-6208, 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 distribution program which results in the land application of
significant amounts of wastes which are abnormal in quantity or characteristic.
b . Any failure of the distribution 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 during transportation of
residuals.
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. GROUNDWATER REQUIREMENTS
1. The COMPLIANCE BOUNDARY for the disposal system is specified by regulations in
15A NCAC 2L, Groundwater Classifications and Standards. The Compliance Boundary is
for the disposal system constructed after December 31, 1983 is established at either (1) 250
feet from the waste disposal area, or (2) 50 feet within 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.
2. Any groundwater quality monitoring, as deemed necessary by the Division, shall be
provided.
V. INSPECTIONS
1. The Permittee or his designee shall inspect the residuals storage, transport, and treatment
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 Water Quality or other permitting authority, upon request.
6

2. Any duly authorized officer, employee, or representative of the Division of Water Quality
may, upon presentation of credentials, enter and inspect any property, premises or place on
or related to the treatment 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
1. This permit shall become voidable unless the distribution 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 residuals 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 Water Quality 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 Water Quality in accordance with
North Carolina General Statute 143-215.6(a) 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.
8. This permit may be modified, or revoked and reissued to incorporate any conditions,
limitations and monitoring requirements the Division of Water Quality deems necessary in
order to adequately protect the environment and public health.
Permit issued this the Fifteenth day of August, 1997
NORTH CAR LINA ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
A. Preston Howard, Jr., P.E., Director
Division of Water Quality
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
Permit Number WQ0007174
iA