WQ0012892_Final Permit_20000215

State of North Carolina
Department of Environment
and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality
James B. Hunt, Jr., Governor
Bill Holman, Secretary
Kerr T. Stevens, Director
February 15, 2000
Jimmy Fleming, Environmental Manager - Pork Group
Tyson Foods, Inc.
347 Shore Drive
Creswell, North Carolina 27928
Dear Mr. Fleming:
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AdMbMddMONE
NCDENR
NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Subject: Permit No. WQ0012892
Tyson Foods, Inc.
Truck Washout Facility
Wastewater Spray Irrigation
Washington County
In accordance with a request received December 3, 1999 we are forwarding herewith Permit No.
WQ0012892 dated February 15, 2000 to Tyson Foods Inc. for the continued operation of the subject
wastewater treatment and spray irrigation facilities. This permit is being amended to include the storage and
disposal of wood chips used as bedding in the trailers during swine transport.
This permit shall be effective from the date of issuance until January 31, 2002, shall void Permit No.
WQ0012892 issued March 19, 1997,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 contactix> at (919i33-50$3 extension 502.
sincerirly,
Z�l
/-Kerr T. Stevens
cc: Washington County Health Department
Washington Regional Office, Water Quality Section
Washington Regional Office, Groundwater Section
Groundwater Section, Central Office
Non -Discharge Comphance/Enforcement Unit
1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617 Telephone [phone] Fax [phone]B
An Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer 50% recycled/10% post -consumer paper

NORTH CAROLINA
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND -NATURAL RESOURCES R
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
Tyson Foods, Inc.
Washington County
FOR THE
continued operation of a 4,000 GPD spray irrigation treatment and disposal facility consisting of a enclosed wash area,
collection basin, three (3) 1,000 gallon storage tanks, a 60 GPM lift pump, a 361,366 gallon storage lagoon, a 600
GPM portable diesel pump, and a 138.7 acre irrigation area, and a used wood chip storage area to serve Tyson Foods_
Inc., with no discharge of wastes to the surface waters, pursuant to the request received December 3, 1999.
This permit shall be effective from the date of issuance until January 31, 2002, shall void Permit No.
WQ0012892 issued March 19, 1997 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 there
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.
3. The residuals generated from these treatment facilities must be disposed in. accordance with General
Statute 143-215.1 and in a mariner 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, R
c) 100 feet between wetted area and wells,
d) 100 feet between wetted area and drainageways or surface water hodies.
e) 25 feet between wetted area and "V-ditches"*,
f) 50 feet between wetted area and public right of ways,
g) 100 feet between wastewater treatment units and wells, and
h) 50 feet between wastewater treatment units and property lines.
The 25 foot buffer to the "V-ditches" shall only be allowed as long as Tyson continues to utilize the
hose -drag system for the disposal of wastewater from the lagoon. If Tyson decides to install a fixed
head sprinkler system, then a 100 foot buffer will be required to all ditches, drainageways and/or
surface water bodies. Please be advised, the permit shall be amended prior to the installation of a
fixed head sprinkler system.
II. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE REOUIREMENTS
1. The facilities shall be properly maintained and operated at all times_
2. Upon classification of the facility by the Water Pollution Control System Operators Certification
Commission (WPCSOCC), 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 WPCSOCC. The Permittee must also employ a certified back-up operator of the
appropriate type and grade to comply with the conditions of 15A NCAC 8G .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 15A NCAC 8G .0202.
3. A suitable, year-round vegetative cover shall be maintained. The nitrogen loadings from the
wastewater shall not exceed the following for the specified crops:
CEO PAN b./acre/ r.
Alfalfa
200
Bermuda Grass (Hay, Pasture)
220
Bermuda Grass (Coastal)
350
Blue Grass
120
Corn (Grain)
160
Corn (Silage)
200
Cotton
70
Fescue
250
Forest (Hardwood & Softwood)
75
Milo
100
Small Grain (Wheat, barley, oats)
100
Sorghum, Sudex (Pasture)
180
Sorghum, Sudex (Silage)
220
Soybeans
200
Timothy, Orchard, & Rye Grass
200
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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 a cumulative loading of 12 inches over any twelve (12) month period
ZD
at an instantaneous application rate not to exceed 0.3 inches per hour.
S. No type of wastewater other than that from Tyson Foods, Inc. 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.
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 feet at any time_
12. Results from the soils analysis required in Permit Condition I11 4 shall be utilized to determine the
appropriate amount of lime and/or gypsum to be incorporated into the spray irrigation field to neutralize
potential salts buildup from the trailer cleaning agents and disinfectants. Salts accumulation shall not be
allowed to build to a point that inhibits the soils ability to absorb the spray irrigated wastewater.
13. Only those cleaning agents and soaps which are bio-degradable, will not harm the cover crop, and will not
contravene the groundwater standards listed in 15A NCAC 2L may be utilized in the subject trucki-
wash-out facility.
14. Engines and engine parts shall not be washed or rinsed in this wastewater system.
15. Approximately 1,200 pounds of used wood chips may be swept or washed from transport trailers each
week and stored adjacent to the wastewater treatment system. The chips shall be stored on plastic and
covered by plastic. If any water comes in contact with the used wood chips, this water must be diverted to
the wastewater treatment system.
16. Prior to washing a trailer with wood chips, a screened cart must be put in place to catch the wood chips
that are washed out of the trailer.
17. Wood chips shall be land applied to approved Iand application sites in Permit Number AW1940001 or
Permit Number AW1890001
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.
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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, R
c. field irrigated,
d. length of time field is irrigated.
e. continuous weekly, monthly, and year-to-date hydraulic (inches/acre) loadings and nitrogen 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 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 crops of the spray
irrigation field. The analysis shall also be used as an indicator to prevent any damage to the soils
ability to absorb the subject wastewater at the needed disposal rates_
4. A representative annual soils analysis (Standard Sail Fertility Analysis) shall be conducted on each site
receiving residuals in the respective calendar year 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 Phosphorus
Base Saturation (by calculation)
Cation Exchange Capacity
Three (3) copies of all operation and disposal records (as specified in condition III 2) 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 3) 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
Non -Discharge CompIiance/Enforcernent Unit
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
6. Noncompliance Notification:
The Permittee shall report by telephone to the Washington Regional Office, telephone number 252-946-
6481, 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 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 ,
receiving waters iA4thout 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 RE UIREMENTS
Any groundwater quality monitoring, as deemed necessary by the Division of Water Quality, shall be
provided.
2. The COMPLIANCE BOUNDARY for the disposal system is specified by regulations in 15A NCAC 2L,
Groundwater CIassifications 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 syste
midway between the Compliance Boundary and the perimeter of the waste disposal area. Any exceedancc
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. Certification of the lagoon liner's compliance with approved construction specifications and the liner's
integrity shall be provided to the Groundwater Section, Permits and Compliance Unit, P.O. Box 29578
Raleigh, N.C. 27626-0578, by the project engineer within sixty (60) days of permit issuance.
V. INSPECTIONS
1. Adequate inspection, maintenance, and cleaning shall be provided by the Perrruttee 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.
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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.
4_ The lagoon shall be inspected to ensure the bubbling of the liner does not affect the storage capability and
the over-all performance of the lagoon. If additional actions are required to alleviate the bubbling of the
liner, the Washington Regional Office shall be informed of these activities.
VI. GENERAL CONDITIONS
l . 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 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 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.
Permit issued thVAe 15`h day pf February 2000
AL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
Kerr T. Stevens, Director
Division of Water Quality
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
Permit Number WQ0012892
ri