WQ0012690_Final Permit_20061009

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October 9, 2006
Jack Bradley
2388 State Highway 128
Burnsville, NC 28714
Dear Mr. Bradley:
Michael F Easley, Governor
William G. Ross Jr., Secretary
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Alan W. Klimek, P.E. Director
Division of Water Quality
Subject: Permit No. WQ0012690
NCDENR Division of Parks and
Recreation — Mt. Mitchell State
Park
Wastewater Surface Irrigation
Yancey County
In accordance with your permit renewal request received July 26, 2006, we are forwarding
herewith Permit No. WQ0012690, dated October 9, 2006, to NCDENR Division of Parks and Recreation
for the continued operation of the subject wastewater treatment and drip irrigation facilities used for the
Mount Mitchell State Park's Maintenance area and Campground. The subject wastewater treatment and
drip irrigation facility shall only be operational for the annual period beginning from May I' to the end of
October 31'.
This permit shall be effective from the date of issuance until September 30, 2011, shall void
Permit No. WQ0012690 issued October 1, 2001, and shall be subject to the conditions and Iimitations 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.
This permit approves the continued operation of the subject wastewater treatment and spray
irrigation facilities for another five-year cycle. However, please take the time to review this permit
thoroughly as some of the conditions contained therein may have been added or changed since the last
issuance of this permit. Of special interest are the following:
Condition IIA. — Due to instances when the drip irrigation system was discharging during
inclement weather, a cover on the sand filter is required. This cover is intended to limit
the amount of rainwater that is collected in the treatment system.
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.
Ncoi'thCarolina
�aturally
Aquifer Protection Section 1636 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1636 Phone [phone] Customer Service
Internet: h2o.enr.state.nc.us 2728 Capital Boulevard Raleigh, NC 27604 FAX [phone]
An Equal apportunilylAfTirmative Action Employer -50% Recycledl10% Post Consumer Paper

If you need additional information concerning this matter, please contact Matthew Fleahman at
[phone].
Sinc ,
Alan W. Klimek,
cc: Yancey County Health Department
Asheville Regional Office, Aquifer Protection Section
Technical Assistance and Certification Unit
APS Central Files
LAU Files
2

NORTH CAROLINA
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
RALEIGH
SURFACE 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
NCDENR Division of Parks and Recreation
Yancey County
FOR THE
continued operation of a 1,800 gallon per day (GPD) drip irrigation wastewater treatment and disposal
system consisting of: one -5,000 gallon pump tank; one -3,000 gallon septic tank; one -450 square foot,
five GPD re -circulating, lined sand filter (covered with small stones); one -tablet chlorinator, one-Perc-
Rite Model W3 OC filter assembly, with dual 23 gallon per minute (GPM) pumps; and one 0.44 acre (two -
zone) drip irrigation area; and all associated valves, piping, and appurtenances to serve NCDENR — Mt.
Mitchell State Park (Maintenance area and Campground) only during the annual period beginning from
May 1" to the end of October 3151, with no discharge of wastes to the surface waters, pursuant to the
application received July 26, 2006, 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 30, 2011, shall void Permit
No. WQ0012690 issued October 1, 2001, and shall be subject to the following specified conditions and
limitations:
I. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
1. The surface 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, 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.

The following buffers shall be maintained:
a) 100 feet between wetted area and any residence or places of public assembly under separate
ownership,
b) 50 feet between wetted area and property lines,
b) 100 feet between wetted area and wells,
c) 50 feet between wetted area and drainageways or surface water bodies,
c) 50 feet between wetted area and public right of ways,
d) 100 feet between treatment/storage units and any wells, and
e) 50 feet between 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 that 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 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 at all times.
2. Upon classification of the wastewater treatment and 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.
3. A suitable year round vegetative cover shall be maintained.
4. The 450 -square foot lined sand filter shall be covered to ensure that rainwater is not collected and
discharged through the drip irrigation lines. The cover shall not restrict air circulation above the Iined
sand filter.
5. irrigation shall not be performed during inclement weather or when the ground is in a condition that
will cause runoff.
6. Adequate measures shall be taken to prevent wastewater runoff from the irrigation field.
7. 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.
8. The application rate shall not exceed 0.32 inches per day.
9. No type of wastewater other than that from NCDENR — Mt. Mitchell State Park shall be irrigated
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.
IL , 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.
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12. The drip irrigation system shall be utilized from May 1St to October 31", only. The existing
subsurface disposal system permitted by the Division of Environmental Health shall be utilized from
November I" to April 30th, when the state park is closed to ,visitors and the wastewater flow is at a
minimum volume.
12 The Permittee is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the entire treatment and disposal system
including, but not limited to, the following items:
a. The septic tank shall be checked annually and pumped out as needed.
a. The tablet chlorinator unit shall be checked every week. Tablets shall be added so as to provide proper
chlorination.
b. The storage, pump, and alarm (if alarms are installed) systems shall be inspected weekly. The scum layer
shall be removed at the same interval as the septic tank is cleaned out.
d. The drip irrigation system shall be inspected monthly to make certain of the emitters proper operation,
that the soil is assimilating the disposed treated wastewater with no surface runoff, and that no
objectionable odors are being generated.
III. MONITORING AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
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. The effluent from the subject facilities shall be monitored by the Permittee at the point prior to drip
irrigation EVERY JULY and SEPTEMBER for the following parameters:
BODS TSS Fecal Coliform
NH3 as N pH
3. The Permittee shall maintain records of all maintenance performed on the system and irrigation area,
as required in Condition II. 12. for a minimum of five years. This information shall be provided to
the Division upon request.
4. The Permittee tracking the amount of wastewater disposed shall maintain adequate records. 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.
5. Three (3) copies of all monitoring data [as specified in Condition III(2)] on Form NDMR-1 and three
(3) copies of all operation and disposal records [as specified in Conditions I11(3) and III(4)] on Form
NDAR-1 shall be submitted on or before the last day of the following month. All information shall
be submitted to the following address:
Division of Water Quality
Information Processing Unit
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617

6. Noncompliance Notification:
The Permittee shall report by telephone to the Asheville Regional Office, telephone number (828)
296-4500, 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 [phone], [phone], or [phone].
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 RE UIRENIENTS
Any additional groundwater quality monitoring, as deemed necessary by the Division, shall be
provided.
2. Waste application activities shall not occur when the vertical separation between depth of application
and the water table is at less than one foot. Verification of the water table can be confirmed by auger
borings, which must be done within 24 hours, prior to the application of wastewater. Any open borings
must be properly filled with native soil, prior to application, to decrease the chance of any waste
contaminating the groundwater.
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 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, according to 15A NCAC 2L .0106(d)(2). In addition, the
penalty provisions described under North Carolina General Statute 143-215.6A(a)(1), are also
applicable.
4. 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, in accordance with 15A NCAC 2L .0106(d)(1)

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.
5. 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 2B .0200, erosion and sedimentation control requirements in 15A NCAC Chapter 4 and under
the Division's General Permit NCG010000, and any requirements pertaining to wetlands under 15A
NCAC 2B .0200 and 2H .0500.
6. The Permittee shall retain a set of approved plans and specifications for the life of the project.
7. The Permittee must pay the annual administering and compliance fee 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 Permittec, 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 9u' day of October, 2006
NORTH C INA ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
iAlan W. Klimek, P.E., Director
Division of Water Quality
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
Permit Number WQ0012690