WQ0016167_Final Permit_20041014

4\N APR Michael F. Easley, Governor
William G. Ross Jr., Secretary
_ North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
O.� Alan W. Klimek, P.E., Director
Division of Water Quality
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October 14, 2004
David S. Precythe
Southern Produce Distributors, Inc.
PO Box 130
Faison, NC 28341
Subject: Permit No. WQ0016167
Southern Produce Distributors, Inc.
Wastewater Surface Irrigation
Duplin County
Dear Mr. Precythe:
In accordance with your request for renewal received June 23, 2004, we are forwarding herewith Permit
No. WQ0016167, dated October 14, 2004, to Southern Produce Distributors, Inc. for the continued operation of
the subject wastewater treatment and surface irrigation facilities.
This permit shall be effective from the date of issuance until September 30, 2009, shall void Permit No.
WQ0016167 issued May 5, 2000, 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.
If you need additional information concerning this matter, please contact Michelle McKay at (919) 715-
6187.
cc: Duplin County Health Department
Wilmington Regional Office, Water Quality Section
Wilmington Regional Office, Groundwater Section
Groundwater Section, Central Office
Water Quality Central Files
NDPU Files
Non -Discharge Permitting Unit
1617 Mail service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1617
DENR Customer Service Center
An Equal Opportunity Action Employer
Sinncer
4�� Alan W. Klimek, P.E.
Internet http://h2o.enr.stzte.nc.us/ndpti
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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
Southern Produce Distributors, Inc.
Duplin County
FOR THE
operation of a 42,000 GPD (for 250 days of operation) surface irrigation treatment and disposal facility consisting
of a 3,808 cubic feet concrete settling basin, a 205,752 cubic feet clay -lined earthen storage pond, and 11.7 acre
spray irrigation area, and all necessary pipes, pumps, and appurtenances to serve Southern Produce Distributors,
Inc., with no discharge of wastes to the surface waters, pursuant to the application received June 23, 2004, 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 September 30, 2009, shall void Permit No.
WQOO1f I67 issued May 5, 2000, and shall be subject to the following specified conditions and limitations:
I. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
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 (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 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) 400 feet between wetted area and any residence or places of public assembly under separate
ownership,
b) 150 feet between wetted area and property lines,
c) 100 feet between wetted area and wells,
d) 100 feet between wetted area and drainage ways or surface water bodies,
e) 50 feet between wetted area and public right of ways,
f) 100 feet between treatment/storage units and any wells, and
g) 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.
H. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS
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.
A suitable year round vegetative cover shall be maintained.
4. Irrigation shall not be performed during inclement weather or when the ground is in a condition that
will cause runoff.
Adequate measures shall be taken to prevent wastewater runoff from the irrigation field.
5. 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.
The application rate shall not exceed a cumulative loading of 45.7 inches over any twelve (12) month
period at an instantaneous application rate not to exceed 0.5 inches per hour.
No type of wastewater other than that from Southern Produce Distributors, Inc. shall be irrigated 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 temporary storage pond shall not be less than two feet at any time.

12. If not already installed, a waste -level gauge, to monitor waste levels in the storage pond, shall be
installed within 50 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 liquid 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 Iiner when installing the gauge.
13. 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.
III. MONITORING AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
i. 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. Influent flow shall be continuously monitored and daily flow values shall be reported on Form
NDMR.
The Permittee shall install an appropriate flow measurement device consistent with approved
engineering and scientific practices to ensure the accuracy and reliability of influent flow
measurement. Flow measurement devices selected shall be capable of measuring flows with a
maximum deviation of less than 10 percent from true flow, accurately calibrated at a minimum of
once per year, and maintained to ensure that the accuracy of the measurements is consistent with the
accepted capability of that type of device. Records of flow measurement device calibration shall be
kept on file by the Permittee for a period of at least three years. At a minimum, data to be included in
this documentation shall be:
a. Date of flow measurement device calibration
b. Name of person performing calibration
c. Percent from true flow
The effluent from the subject facilities shall be monitored by the Permittee at the point prior to
irrigation prior to permit renewal or modification for the following parameters:
BOD5 TSS
Fecal Coliform pH
NH3 as N NO2-NO3
TKN Total Phosphorous
4. Adequate records shall be maintained by the Permittee traclong 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. weather conditions, and
g. maintenance of cover crops.
Freeboard in the temporary storage pond shall be recorded weekly.

6. Three (3) copies of all monitoring data (as specified in condition III 2 and III 3) on Form NDMR-1
and three (3) copies of all operation and disposal records (as specified in condition 1114, and 1115) on
Form NDAR-1 shall be submitted monthly on or before the last day of the following month, All
information shall be submitted to the following address:
NC Division of Water Quality
Information Processing Unit
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1617
7. A representative annual soils analysis (Standard Soil Fertility Analysis) shall be conducted on each
irrigation 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)
8. Noncompliance Notification:
The Permittee shall report by telephone to the Wilmington Regional Office, telephone number (910)
395-3900, 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 slag 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 REQUIREMENTS
1. Industrial waste shall not be applied or discharged onto or below the land surface when the vertical
separation between the waste and the seasonal high water table is less than three (3) feet, unless the
permittee has demonstrated to the Director or his delegate, by using predictive calculations or
modeling methods acceptable to the Director or his delegate, that such placement will not result in the
contravention of classified groundwater standards.
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V.
2. 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.
Any additional groundwater quality monitoring, as deemed necessary by the Division, shall be
provided.
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
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 Permittec
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. 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 14th day of October, 2004
NORTH C OLINA ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
,4Alan W. Klimek, P.E., Director
Division of Water Quality
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
Permit Number WQOo16167
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