HomeMy WebLinkAboutWQ0009896_Final Permit_20050930F wArF
�� QQ Michael F. Easley, Governor
William G. Ross Jr., Secretary
>" North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Q C Alan W. Klimek, P.E., Director
Division of Water Quality
September 30, 2005
Mr. Charles Leffler, Vice Chancellor, Finance and Business
North Carolina State University
Box 7201
Raleigh, NC 27695
Subject: Permit No. WQ0009896
NCSU-Animal Waste Management Facility
Wastewater Spray Irrigation
Wake County
Dear Mr. Leffler:
In accordance with your request for renewal received March 9, 2005, we are forwarding herewith Permit
No. WQ0009896, dated September 30, 2005, to North Carolina State University for the continued operation of the
subject wastewater treatment and spray irrigation facilities.
This permit shall be effective from the elate of issuance until August 31, 2010, shall void Permit No.
WQ0009896 issued November 1, 1999, 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 (3 0) 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.
Please pay particular attention to Permit Condition 1.6. which requires submittal of an application for
modification to this permit.
If you need additional information concerning this matter, please contact Duane Leith at (919) 715-6186
or by email at duane.leith@ncmail.net.
Sincerely,
�� I) Ala . Klimek, P.E.
cc: Wake County Health Department
Raleigh Regional Office, Water Quality Section
Technical Assistance and Certification Unit
Aquifer Protection Section Central Files
LAPCU Files
Aquifer Protection Section —Animal Feeding Operations Unit
1636 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1638 One
NorthCarolina
Phone: 919-733-3221 1 FAX; 919-715-0588 1Internet: h2o.enr.state,nc,us Nahmally
An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer— 50% Recycledl10% Post Consumer Paper
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
North Carolina State University
Wake County
FOR THE
continued operation of a 1000 GPD spray irrigation treatment and disposal facility consisting of a 30,000 gallon
lined anaerobic lagoon and a 29,025 sq. ft. spray irrigation field to serve North Carolina State University's
Animal Waste Management Facility, with no discharge of wastes to the surface waters, pursuant to the application
received March 9, 2005, and subsequent additional information received by the Division, 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 August 31, 2010, shall void Permit No.
WQ0009896 issued November 1, 1999, and shall be subject to the following specified conditions and limitations:
I. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
The spray in-igation 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.
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 public assembly under separate
ownership,
b) 150 feet between wetted area and property Iines,
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.
G. Since the equipment required to be used for spray irrigation is no longer available, either an
application for Modification for this permit shall be submitted within 180 days from the date of
this permit to address the equipment needed for spray irrigation of the wastewater or an
application for Modification to an associated permit shall be submitted within 180 days from
the date of this permit to address the disposal of the wastewater from this source through
alternate means.
H. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS
1. The facilities shall be properly maintained and operated at all times.
2. Upon classification of the wastewater treatment and spray irrigation facilities by the Water Pollution
Control System Operators Certification Commission (WPCSOCC), the Permittee shall designate and
employ a certified operator to be in responsible charge (ORC) and one or more certified operator(s) to
be back-up ORC(s) of the facilities in accordance with 15A NCAC 8G .0201. The ORC shall visit
the facilities in accordance with 15A NCAC 8G .0204 or as specified in this permit and shall comply
with all other conditions specified in these rules.
I hrigation shall not be performed during inclement weather or when the ground is in a condition that
will cause runoff.
4. Adequate measures shall be taken to prevent wastewater runoff from the spray field.
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.
6. Soil pH on all land application fields must be maintained in the optimum range for crop production.
7. A suitable year round vegetative cover shall be maintained.
8. The application rate shall not exceed a cumulative loading of 23.84 inches over any twelve (12)
month period at an instantaneous application rate not to exceed 0.25 inches per hour.
9. No type of wastewater other than that from North Carolina State University's Animal Waste
Management Facility shall be sprayed onto the irrigation area.
10. No traffic or equipment shall be allowed on the disposal area except while installation occurs or while
normal maintenance is being performed.
11. 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.
12. Freeboard in the wastewater lagoon shall not be less than two feet at any time.
13. A waste -level gauge, to monitor waste levels in the storage pond, shall be installed within 60 days of
issuance of this permit. - This gauge shall have readily visible permanent markings indicating the
maximum liquid level at the top of the temporary Iiquid storage volume, minimum liquid level at the
bottom of the temporary liquid storage volume, and top of the dam elevations. Caution must be taken
not to damage the integrity of the liner when installing the gauge.
14. A protective vegetative cover shall be established and maintained on all earthen basin embankments
(outside toe of embankment to maximum pumping elevation), berms, pipe runs, erosion control areas,
and surface water diversions. Trees, shrubs, and other woody vegetation shall not be allowed to grow
on the earthen basin dikes or embankments. Earthen basin embankment areas shall be kept mowed or
otherwise controlled and accessible.
15. Only those cleaning agents, soaps and disinfectants that are EPA approved, will not harm the cover
crop, and will not contravene the groundwater standards listed in 15A NCAC 2L may be utilized in
the subject facility. Instruction labels are to be followed when using cleaning agents, soaps and
disinfectants.
III. 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) loadings for each field,
f. continuous weekly, monthly, and year-to-date PAN (pounds/acre) loadings for each field,
g. nitrogen balance for each field after an application event,
h. weather conditions,
i. cover crop, and
j. maintenance of cover crops.
3.. Freeboard in the lagoon(s) shall be recorded weekly.
4. The effluent from the subject facilities shall be monitored by the Permittee at the point prior to
irrigation within 60 days of irrigation for the parameters listed by the North Carolina Department of
Agriculture, Agronomic Division's Waste Analysis Report Form. This analysis shall be used in the
monitoring and the proper management of the cover corps of the permitted application sites. The
analysis shall also be used as an indicator to prevent any damage to the soil's ability to absorb the
subject wastewater or nutrients.
5. Three (3) copies of all operation and disposal records (as specified in condition 1112 and III 3) on
Form NDAR-1 (hydraulic information) and Form IRR -2 (nutrient information) shall be submitted on
or before the last day of the following month, and three (3) copies of all monitoring data (as specified
in condition III 4) on Form NDMR-1 shall be submitted on or before the last day of May and
December. All information shall be submitted to the following address:
Division of Water Quality
Information Processing Unit
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1617
6. 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 Exchangeable Sodium Percentage Phosphorus
Cation Exchange Capacity Base Saturation (by calculation)
7. Records, including land application event(s) and removal of solids to an off-site location(s) records,
shall be maintained by the Permittee in chronological and legible form for a minimum of three years.
These records shall be maintained on forms provided or approved by the DWQ and shall be readily
available for inspection.
S. Noncompliance Notification:
The Permittee shall report by telephone to the Raleigh Regional Office, telephone (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 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.
b. 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.
Occurrences outside normal business hours may also be reported to the Division's Emergency
Response personnel at telephone number (800) 662-7956, (800) 858-0368, or (919) 733-3300.
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
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 individually permitted on or after December 30, 1983 is established at either 250 feet from
the waste disposal area, or 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 remediation action according to 15A NCAC 2L .0106(d)(2).
4
2. The 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 action in accordance with 15A NCAC 2L ,0106(d)(1).
3. Any 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 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 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 in accordance with North Carolina General Statute 143-
215.6A to 143-215.6C.
The issuance of this permit does not exempt 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, including but not limited to applicable river buffer rules in 15A
NCAC 213 .0200, erosion and sedimentation control requirements in 15A NCAC Ch. 4 and under the
Division's General Permit NCGO10000, and any requirements pertaining to wetlands under 15A
NCAC 2B.0200 and 2H.0500.
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.
Permit issued this the 30th of September, 2005
NORTH CAROLINA ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
an W limek, P.E., Director
Divisioh of Water Quality
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
Permit Number WQ0009896