WQ0012727_Final Permit_20000714

State of North Carolina
Department of Environment,
Health and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality
James B. Hunt, Jr., Governor
Bill Holman, Secretary
Kerr t. Stevens Director
July 14, 2000
Mr. John A. Atkinson, Vice President
First St. James, Inc.
Post Office Box 10789
South Port, North Carolina 28461
Dear Mr. Atkinson:
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NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Subject: Permit No. WQ0012727
First St. James, Inc.
St. James Plantation
Wastewater Treatment Facility
Brunswick County
In accordance with your application received June 13, 2000, we are forwarding herewith Permit
Number WQ0012727, dated July 14, 2000, to first St. James, Inc. for the continued operation of the
subject wastewater treatment facilities. This permit is being amended as requested to change the
name/ownership from Homer E. Wright, Jr., Inc. to First St. James, Inc. No other changes in the project
description or conditions are being made.
Please be advised of Condition No. 1 9 which states, "The existing 50,000 GPD subsurface
disposal system approved for operation by the Division of Environmental Health shall be utilized as the
5-day effluent upset pond for the disposal of improperly treated wastewater until wastewater flows to the
existing wastewater treatment facility reach an instantaneous maximum flow of 40, 000 GPD. Upon
wastewater flows reaching 40,000 GPD, St. James Plantation shall be placed under moratorium (no
further building permits) until the 5-day effluent pond approved for construction and operation under
Permit No. WQ0012151 has been constructed and the Engineer's Certification for the 5-day effluent
pond submitted to the Division."
Please be advised of Condition No. I 10 which states, "Once Permit Condition No. 19 has been
satisfied, residences may continue to tie into the existing wastewater collection system until wastewater
flows at the existing 100,000 GPD wastewater treatment facility achieve an instantaneous maximum
flow of 80,000 GPD. At that time, construction must begin on the wastewater treatment facility
approved for construction and operation under Permit No. WQ0012151. Once wastewater flows at the
existing 100,000 GPD wastewater treatment facility achieve an instantaneous maximum flow of 90,000
GPD , St. James Plantation shall be placed on moratorium (no further building permits) until the
wastewater treatment and disposal facilities approved for construction and operation under Permit No.
WQ0012151 has been constructed and the Engineer's Certification submitted to the Division. This
includes all components of the wastewater treatment facility, 5-day effluent pond, irrigation ponds, and
spray fields."
1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617 Telephone [phone] FAX [phone]
An Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer 50% recycled/ 1061c post -consumer paper

This permit shall be effective from the date of issuance until July 31, 2001, shall void Permit No.
WQ0012727 issued August 13, 1996 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 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.
One set of approved plans and specifications is being forwarded to you. If you need additional
information concerning this matter, please contact Mr. Bennie etze, Jr., P. E. at [phone]
extension 362.
Si c ely,
Kerr T. Stevens
cc: Brunswick County Health Department
Houston & Associates, P.A.
Victor D'Amato, On -Site Wastewater Engineering Branch
Wilmington Regional Office, Water Quality Section
Wilmington Regional Office, Groundwater Section
Training and Certification Unit
Facilities Assessment Unit

NORTH CAROLINA
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH AND NATURAL RESOURCES
WASTEWATER TREATMENT 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
First St. James, Inc.
Brunswick County
FOR THE
continued operation of a 100,000 GPD wastewater treatment facility (previously approved for
construction and operation by the Division of Environmental Health) with the spray irrigation of the
wastewater on sites approved under Permit No. WQ0012151. The existing wastewater treatment facility
consists of the following:
a 25,000 gallon flow equalization basin with dual 100 GPM pumps and a 70 CFM blower (also used for
sludge holding), a manually cleaned bar screen, flow splitter box, two (2) 53,000 gallon fine bubble
aeration basins with three (3) 255 CFM blowers, two (2) 8,400 gallon clarifiers, a 17,300 gallon aerated
sludge holding tank, two (2) 34.7 square foot teritary filters (for a total of 69.4 square foot) with a 70
CFM scouring blower, duplex tablet chlorinators with a 2,578 gallon chlorine contact chamber, a 25,600
gallon effluent dosing tank with four (4) 140 GPM pumps and high water alarms, continuous on-line
monitoring and recording for turbidity, continuous on-line monitoring and recording for flow, and a 65
kW stand-by generator with automatic transfer switch, and
the construction and operation of approximately 3,170 linear feet of 4-inch force main to transfer the
treated wastewater from the WWTP to the existing force main (either the storage pond or 5-day effluent
pond once Permit Condition No. I 1 has been met) approved under Permit No. WQ0012151 and the
construction and operation of approximately 2,900 linear feet of 4-inch force main to transfer improperly
treated wastewater from the 5-day effluent pond back to the head of the described above WWTP.
The wastewater treated above shall utilize the 5-day pond and storage pond previously approved for
construction under Permit No. WQ0012151 in accordance with Condition 19 below.
The wastewater shall be spray irrigated in accordance with Permit No. WQ0012151.

This wastewater treatment facility shall serve the St. Jaynes Plantation with no discharge of wastes to the
surface waters, pursuant to the application received June 13, 2000, 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, 2001, and shall be subject
to the following specified conditions and limitations:
I. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
1. Upon completion of construction and prior to operation of the proposed force mains
approved under this permit and the 5-day effluent storage pond approved for construction
under Permit No. WQ0012151, a certification must be received from a professional
engineer certifying that the permitted facility has been installed in accordance with Permit
No. WQ0012151, the approved plans and specifications, and other supporting materials.
Mail the Certification to the Water Quality Permits and Engineering Unit, 1617 Mail
Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1617.
2. The Wilmington Regional Office, telephone number [phone], shall be notified at
least forty-eight (48) hours in advance of operation of the installed facilities so that an in -
place inspection can be made. Such notification to the regional supervisor shall be made
during the normal office hours from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Monday through Friday,
excluding State Holidays.
3. 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 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.
4. 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_
5. 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 Water Quality.
6. Diversion or bypassing of the untreated wastewater from the treatment facilities is
prohibited.
7. The following buffers shall be maintained:
a) 100 feet between wetted area and water supply wells,
b) 100 feet between wetted area and waters classified as SA,
c) 100 feet between wastewater treatment units and wells,
d) 50 feet between wetted area and exterior property lines,
e) 50 feet between wastewater treatment units and property lines, and
f) 25 feet between wetted area and surface waters not classified as SA.

S. 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. A sign shall be posted in plain sight in the club house showing these activities.
9. The existing 50,000 GPD subsurface disposal system approved for operation by the
Division of Environmental Health shall be utilized as the 5-day effluent upset pond for
the disposal of improperly treated wastewater until wastewater flows to the existing
wastewater treatment facility reach an instantaneous maximum flow of 40,000 GPD.
Upon wastewater flows reaching 40,000 GPD, St. James Plantation shall be placed under
moratorium (no further building permits) until the 5-day effluent pond approved for
construction and operation under Permit No. WQ0012151 has been constructed and the
Engineer's Certification for the 5-day effluent pond submitted to the Division.
10. Once Permit Condition No_ 19 has been satisfied, residences may continue to tie into the
existing wastewater collection system until wastewater flows at the existing 100,000
GPD wastewater treatment facility achieve an instantaneous maximum flow of 80,000
GPD. At that time, construction must begin on the wastewater treatment facility
approved for construction and operation under Permit No. WQ0012151, Once
wastewater flows at the existing 100,000 GPD wastewater treatment facility achieve an
instantaneous maximum flow of 90,000 GPD , St. James Plantation shall be placed on
moratorium (no further building permits) until the wastewater treatment and disposal
facilities approved for construction and operation under Permit No. WQ0012151 has been
constructed and the Engineer's Certification submitted to the Division. This includes all
components of the wastewater treatment facility, 5-day effluent pond, irrigation ponds,
and spray fields.
II. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE RE UIREMENTS
1. The facilities shall be properly maintained and operated at all times.
2. A suitable vegetative cover shall be maintained on the spray irrigation areas.
3. 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 II, 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. Once the facility is classified, the Permittee must submit a
letter to the Certification Commission which designates the operator in responsible
charge within thirty days after the wastewater treatment facilities are 50% complete.
4. Irrigation shall not be performed during inclement weather or when the ground is in a
condition that will cause runoff.
5. 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 application rate shall not exceed the following:
On Kureb Soils. A cumulative loading of 156.0 inches over any twelve (12) month
period at an instantaneous application rate not to exceed 0.3 inches per
dose.
On Leon Soils: A cumulative loading of 36.4 inches over any twelve (12) month
period at an instantaneous application rate not to exceed 0.2 inches per
dose.
8. No type of wastewater other than that from St. James Plantation shall be sprayed onto the
irrigation area.
9. All wastewater shall be routed to the five-day holding pond should the limit for fecal
coliform (daily maximum concentration of 25 per 100 ml) or turbidity (instantaneous
maximum of 10 NTU) be exceeded, until such time that the problems associated with the
treatment capability of the wastewater treatment plant have been corrected. The
wastewater in the five-day holding pond shall be pumped back to the treatment plant for
retreatment prior to discharge to the storage pond.
.10. In order to evaluate the long term suitability of the spray irrigation system under actual
conditions, a portion of the spray irrigation area shall be loaded at the design application
rate during the operation of the first phase of the treatment system.. Data shall be
gathered during a full twelve months of operation verifying the design loading rate and
storage specifications. This procedure shall be coordinated with the Wilmington
Regional Office (telephone number [9101 395-3900)_
MONITORING AND REPORTING RE UIREMENTS
1. Any monitoring (including groundwater, surface water, soil or plant tissue analyses)
deemed necessary by the Division of Water Quality to insure surface and ground water
protection will be established and an acceptable sampling reporting schedule shall be
followed.
2. As an indicator of proper operation and maintenance, the facility shall produce an effluent
in compliance with the following limitations:
Parameter MonthlyAveragea Dail Instantaneous Maximumo
Flow
BOD5 (5-day, 20°C)
NH3 as N
TSS
Fecal Coliform
Turbidity
10 mg/l
4 mg/l
5 mg/l
14 per 100 mlb
100,000 GPD
15 mg/l
6 mall
10 Mg/l
25 per 100 ml
10 NTU
a Monthly averages for all but fecal coliform shall be the arithmetic mean of all samples
collected during the reporting period.
4

b Monthly average for fecal coliform shall be the geometric mean of all samples
collected during the reporting period.
c Daily maximum shall be the maximum value of all samples collected during the
reporting period.
The effluent from the subject facilities shall be monitored, by the Permittee, at the point
prior to discharge to the long term holding pond for the following parameters:
Parameter
Sampling Point
Samplingg Frequency
Type of Sample
Flow
Influent or Effluent
Continuous
Recording
Turbidity
Effluent
Continuous
Recording
BOD5 (5-day, 20°C)
Effluent
*2/Month
Composite
NH3 as N
Effluent
*2/Month
Composite
TSS
Effluent
*2/Month
Composite
Fecal Coliform
Effluent of first pond
*2/Month
Grab
Settleable Matter
Effluent
Daily
Grab
NO3
Effluent
**Triannually
Grab
TDS
Effluent
'�*Triannually
Grab
TOC
Effluent
**Triannually
Grab
Chloride
Effluent
**Triannually
Grab
The effluent pH shall not be less than 6.0 standard units nor greater than 9.0 standard
units.
* 2/Month sampling frequency only during the months of April through October.
During the remainder of the year, these parameters shall be monitored monthly.
** TriannuaIly sampling shall be conducted during March, July, and November.
If Groundwater sampling indicates or predicts problems with the compliance with
Groundwater Standards, this permit will be modified to include additional and/or more
restrictive limitations.
3-. 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 and time of irrigation,
b. volume of wastewater irrigated,
c. zone irrigated,
d. length of time zone is irrigated,
e. continuous weekly, monthly, and year-to-date hydraulic (inches/acre) loadings for
each zone,
f. weather conditions, and
g. maintenance of cover crops.
5

4. Three (3) copies of all operation and disposal records (as specified in condition 11I 3) on
Form NDAR-1 shall be submitted on or before the last day of the following month.
Three (3) copies of all effluent monitoring data (as specified in condition III 2) on Form
NDMR-1 shall be submitted on or before the last day of April, August, and December.
All information shall be submitted to the following address_
NC Division of Water Quality
Water Quality Section
Facility Assessment Unit
1617 Mail service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1617
5. A record shall be maintained of all residuals removed from this facility. This record shall
include the name of the hauler, permit authorizing the disposal or a Ietter from a
municipality agreeing to accept the residuals, date the residuals were hauled, and volume
of residuals removed.
6. A maintenance log shall be maintained at this facility including but not limited to the
following items:
a. Daily sampling results including residual chlorine, settleable matter, and dissolved
oxygen in the aeration basin and at the clarifier weir.
b. Visual observations of the plant and plant site.
c. Record of preventative maintenance (changing of filters, adjusting belt tensions,
alarm testing, diffuser inspections and cleanings, etc.).
d. Date of calibration of flow measurement device.
e. Date and results of power interruption testing on alternate power supply.
M

7. Noncompliance Notification.:
The Permittee shall report by telephone to the Wilmington 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.
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.
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 interior surfaces of the two (2) 5-day upset ponds shall be completely lined with a
80-mil thick liner as indicated in the permit application. Following installation and
inspection of the lagoon liner, and prior to waste disposal operations, certification of the
Iiner's compliance with approved construction specifications and the liner's integrity must
be provided to the Division of Water Quality, Groundwater Section, by the project
engineer.
2. The COMPLIANCE BOUNDARY and REVIEW BOUNDARY for the spray irrigation
areas and secondary ponds shall be established at the property boundary [15A NCAC 2H
.0219 (k)(1)(C)(I)(HI)]. 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).
The COMPLIANCE BOUNDARY for the primary waste disposal system (the two [2] 5-
day upset ponds and the three [3] 200,000 GPD wastewater plants) 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.
3. No land application of waste activities shall be undertaken when the seasonal high water
table is less than three feet below land surface.
4. 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 Iog 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 Water Quality or other permitting authority.
3. 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 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
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.
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 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 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 Operational Agreement between the Permittee and the Environmental Management
Commission is incorporated herein by reference and is a condition of this Permit.
Noncompliance with the terms of the Operational Agreement shall subject the Permittee
to all sanctions provided by North Carolina General Statute 143-215.6(a) to 143-215.6(c)
for violation of or failure to act in accordance with the terms and conditions of this
Permit.
The annual administering and compliance fee must be paid by the Pernttee within thirty
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).
9. 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 t 14th day of July, 2000
NORT AROLINA R MENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
Kerr T. Stevens Director
Division of Water Quality
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
Permit Number WQ0012727
10

Permit No. WQ0012727
July 14, 2000
ENGINEER'S CERTIFICATION
I, , as a duly registered Professional Engineer in the State of North
Carolina, having been authorized to observe (periodically, weekly, full time) the construction of the
project,
Project Name
Location
for the
Perznittee hereby state that, to the best of my abilities, due care and diligence was used in the observation
of the construction such that the construction was observed to be built within substantial compliance and
intent of this permit, the approved plans and specifications, and other supporting materials.
Signature
Date
Registration No.
13