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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWQ0024023_Final Permit_20120713�► 0 CCDEENR North Carolina Department of Environment and Division of Water Quality Beverly Eaves Perdue Charles Wakild, P.E. Governor Director July 13, 2012 Michael W. Laws — Managing Partner Harkers Island Sewer Company, LLC. P.O. Box 370 Harkers Island, North Carolina 28531-0370 Natural Resources Dee Freeman Secretary Subject: Permit No. WQ0024023 West Bay W WTF Wastewater Treatment and High Rate Infiltration Facilities Carteret County Dear Mr.Laws: In accordance with your permit change of ownership request received July 10, 2012, we are forwarding herewith Permit No. WQ0024023, dated July 13, 2012, to Harker's Island Sewer Company, LLC. (formerly BLE Development, LLC.) for the continued operation of the subject wastewater treatment and high rate infiltration facilities. The major modification request received under a different application package is to be completed. This permit shall be effective from the date of issuance until August 31, 2013, shall void permit number WQ0024023 dated August 24, 2005, 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. AQUIFER PROTECTION SECTION 1636 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1636 Location: 512 N. Salisbury St., Raleigh, North Carolina 27604 Phone: 919-807-64641 FAX: g19-807-6496 Internet, www.ncwaterouality.ora An Equal OpportunitylAffirmadw Action Employer None Carolina �turally T Mr. Laws July 13, 2012 2of2 If you need additional information concerning this matter, please contact Alice M. Wessner at (919) 807- 6425. cc: Carteret County Health Department Washington Regional Office, Aquifer Protection Section J.W. (Bill) Forman, Jr., P.E. Bearing Point Consulting, Inc. Technical Assistance and Certification Unit Permit File' WQ0024023 Notebook File WQ0024023 Sincerely, Chu;W �IdP.E. 910 Arendell Street, Morehead City, NC 28557 NORTH CAROLINA ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES RALEIGH HIGH RATE INFILTRATION 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 Harkers Island Sewer Company, LLC. Carteret County FOR THE continued operation of a 10,080 GPD surface irrigation treatment and disposal facilities consisting of a 12,600 gallon flow equalization basin, 2 aeration basins, a 5,200 gpd Zenon Ultrafiltration System, tablet chlorination with a minimum of 30 minutes contact in the chlorine contact chambers, a 5,650 gallon irrigation pump tank, a generator to power all treatment facilities, a 7.4 acre drip irrigation disposal area, to serve 28 lots at West Bay Subdivision, with no discharge of wastes to the surface waters, pursuant to the application received June 21, 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, 2013, shall void permit number WQ0024023 dated August 24, 2005 and shall be subject to the following specified conditions and limitations: I. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS 1. Upon completion of construction and prior to operation of this permitted facility, a certification must be received from a professional engineer certifying that the permitted facility has been installed in accordance with this permit, the approved plans and specifications, and other supporting materials. If this project is to be completed in phases and partially certified you shall retain the res op nsibiljty to track further construction approved under the same permit, and shall provide a final certificate of completion once the entire project has been completed. Mail the Certification to the Division of Water Quality, Aquifer Protection Section, 1636 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1636, 2. The Wilmington Regional Office, telephone number (910) 796-7215, 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 l 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Monday through Friday, excluding State Holidays. W00024023 Version 1.1 Page 1 of 10 In the event that the facilities fail to perform satisfactorily, including the creation of nuisance conditions, 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 or disposal facilities. 4. This permit shall become voidable if the soils fail to adequately assimilate the wastes and may be rescinded unless the facilities are installed, maintained, and operated in a manner which will protect the assigned water quality standards of the surface waters and ground waters. The ponding of wastewater on the surface of the distribution field when the dosing cycle commences shall be considered as evidence of failure of the soils to adequately assimilate the wastewater. Additionally, such failure shall be interpreted as a violation of this permit condition. 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 Division. 6. Adequate measures shall be taken to divert stormwater from the high rate infiltration area and to prevent wastewater.runoff. Diversion or bypassing of the untreated wastewater from the treatment facilities is prohibited. 8. 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. 9. The following setbacks shall be maintained: a. 10 feet between high rate infiltration unit and any on -property residential units that are to be sold (e.g., condominiums, subdivisions), b. 500 feet between high rate infiltration unit and any impounded public surface water supply or public shallow (less than 50 feet deep) ground water supply, c. 100 feet between high rate infiltration unit and any private or public water supply source, d. 200 feet between high rate infiltration unit and any streams classified as WS or B, e. 200 feet from mean high water between high rate infiltration unit and any "SA" or "SB" classified surface waters, f. 200 feet from normal high water between high rate infiltration unit and any other stream, canal, marsh, or coastal waters, g. 200 feet from normal high water between high rate infiltration unit and any Class I or Class II impounded reservoir used as a source of drinking water, h. 200 feet between high rate infiltration unit and any other lake or impoundment, i. 200 feet between high rate infiltration unit and any Drainage systems (ditches, drains, surface water diversions, etc.) and from any groundwater lowering and surface drainage ditches, j. 50 feet between treatment units and property lines, and 1 50 feet between high rate infiltration unit and public right of ways. Because this facility will be treating wastewater to reuse quality standards, the 50 feet setback from high rate infiltration units to property lines has been removed from the above list of maintained setbacks. 10. A usable green area shall be maintained for wastewater disposal. The green area shall have the capability of accommodating the average daily flow of the facility being served without exceeding the loading rates of the green area. A "green area", as defined in 15A NCAC 2H .0404 (g)(7), is an area suitable for waste disposal, either in its natural state or which has been modified by planting a l vegetative cover of grasses or low growing shrubbery. W00024023 Version 1.1 Page 2 of 10 II. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS 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. 3. The application rates for the high rate infiltration system shall not exceed 1.5 gpd/ft2. 4. The facilities shall be effectively maintained and operated as a non -discharge system to prevent the discharge of any wastewater outside of the high rate infiltration disposal area, which result from the operation of this facility. 5. No traffic or equipment shall be allowed on the disposal area except while installation occurs or while normal maintenance is being performed. 6. The screenings removed from the wastewater treatment plant shall be properly disposed in a sanitary landfill or by other means that have been approved by this Division. . 7. The application of chemicals to the distribution field(s) is expressly prohibited. 8. An automatically activated standby power source shall be on site and operational at all times. If a generator is employed as an alternate power supply, it shall be tested weekly by interrupting the primary power source. 9. Diffusers shall be cleaned as needed to ensure that adequate aeration is provided. Records of this maintenance shall be maintained by the Permittee. 10. The chlorine tablets used in the disinfection facility shall be of the kind and type specified in the plans and specifications approved by the Division. III. MONITORING AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS 1. Any monitoring 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 l this documentation shall be: a. Date of flow measurement device calibration b. Name of person performing calibration c. Percent from true flow W00024023 Version 1.1 Page 3 of 10 91 Plans and specifications for the flow measuring device shall be prepared by a licensed Professional Engineer and submitted to the appropriate regional office 30 days prior to installation. The flow measuring device shall be installed within 1 year of the date of this permit. As an indicator of proper operation and maintenance, the facility shall produce an effluent in compliance with the following limitations: Parameter Monthly Average a Daily Maximumc Flow 10,080 GPD BOD5 (5-day, 20°C) 10 mg/1 NH3 as N 4 mg/1 NO3 20 mg/1 TSS 20 mg/1 Fecal Coliform 14 per 100 in,b 43 per 100 ml The effluent pH shall not be less than 6.0 standard units nor greater than 9.0 standard units. a Monthly averages for all but fecal colifonn shall be the arithmetic mean of all samples collected during the reporting period. 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 specific location for the following parameters: Parameter Sampling Point Sampling Frequency Tyne of Sample Flow Influent or Effluent Continuous Recording BODS (5-day, 20°C) Effluent *2/Month Composite NH3 as N Effluent *2/Month Composite TSS Effluent *2/Month Composite Fecal Coliform Effluent *2/Month Grab Settleable Matter Effluent Daily Grab Residual Chlorine Effluent Daily Grab NO3 Effluent *2/Mouth Grab TDS Effluent **Triannually Grab TOC Effluent **Triannually Grab Chloride Effluent **Triannually Grab pH Effluent **Triannually Grab * 2/Month sampling frequency only during the months of April through October. During the remainder of the year, these parameters shall be monitored monthly. ** Triannually sampling shall be conducted during April, August and December. If Groundwater sampling indicates or predicts problems with compliance with of the Groundwater Standards, this permit will be modified to include additional and/or more restrictive limitations. WQ0024023 Version 1.1 Page 4 of 10 4. Three (3) copies of all monitoring data (as specified in condition 1112 and III 3) on Form NDMR-1 1 and three (3) copies of all operation and disposal records (as specified in condition 111 4) on Form NDAR-2 shall be submitted 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, North Carolina 27699-1617 5. A record shall be maintained of all residuals removed from this facility. The record shall include the name of the hauler, the permit authorizing the disposal or a letter from a municipality agreeing to accept the residuals, the date the residuals were hauled, and the 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 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; and f. Dates fields were raked and arms inspected. 7. Noncompliance Notification: The Permittee shall report by telephone to the Wilmington Regional Office, telephone number (910) 796-7215, 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 basin or tank, 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 renders 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 of all or any portion of the influent to such station or facility; or d. Any time that self -monitoring information indicates that the facility is not in 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. WQ0024023 Version 1,1 Page 5 of 10 IV. 1. Well Construction / Abandonment Criteria: a. Prior to beginning waste disposal operations, 3 monitor well(s), 1 upgradient and 2 downgradient, shall be installed to monitor groundwater quality. The well(s) shall be constructed such that the water level in the well is never above or below the screened (open) portion of the well at any time during the year. Each monitoring well shall be located at the Review boundary, constructed in accordance with this permit, and approved by the Wilmington Regional Office. b. The well(s) must be constructed by either a North Carolina Certified Well Contractor, the property owner, or the property lessee according to General Statutes 87-98.4(b)(2). If the construction is not performed by a certified well contractor, the property owner or lessee, provided that they are a natural person, must physically perform the actual well construction activities. All well(s) must be constructed according to the North Carolina Well Construction Standards (15A NCAC 2C .0108) and any local county rules. c. The Wilmington Regional Office, telephone number 910-796-7215, shall be notified at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the construction of any monitoring well so that an inspection can be made of the monitoring well location. Such notification to the regional groundwater 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. d. Within thirty (30) days of completion of all well construction activities, a certification must be received from a professional engineer or a licensed geologist certifying that the monitoring well(s) are located according to this permit. 2. Sampling Criteria: a. Monitor well(s) (MW-1, MW-2 and MW-3) shall be sampled initially after construction and prior to waste disposal operations, and thereafter every April, August and December for the parameters listed below. Prior to sampling the parameters, the measurement of water levels must be taken. The depth to water in each well shall be measured from the surveyed point on the top of the casing. The measuring points (top of well casing) of all monitoring wells shall be surveyed relative to a common datum. Chloride Total Ammonia Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) —in December only PH Water Level Nitrate Fecal Coliforms Total Dissolved Solids Total Organic Carbon The effluent stream shall be sampled every December for the parameters listed below. Volatile Organic Compounds Total Organic Carbon (TOC) Dissolved Organic Carbon (0.45 um filter followed by TOC analysis) Residual Chlorine WQ0024023 Version 1.1 Page 6 of 10 b. For Total Organic Carbon (TOC), if concentrations greater than 10 mg/l are detected in any down -gradient monitoring well, additional sampling and analysis must be conducted to identify the individual constituents comprising this TOC concentration. If the TOC concentration as measured in the background monitor well exceeds 10 mg/1, this concentration will be taken to represent the naturally occurring TOC concentration. Any exceedances of this naturally occurring TOC concentration in the down -gradient wells shall be subject to the additional sampling and analysis as described above. c. For Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) sampled in December, use only one of the following methods: 1) Standard Method 6230D, Practical Quantitation Limit (PQL) at 0.5 ug/L or less 2) Standard Method 6210, PQL at 0.5 ug/L or less 3) EPA Method 8021, Low Concentration, PQL at 0.5 ug/L or less 4) EPA Method 8260, Low Concentration, PQL at 0.5 ug(L or less 5) Another method with prior approval by the Groundwater Section Chief. Any of the referenced methods used for VOCs must at a minimum, include all the constituents listed in Table VIII of Standard Method 6230D. Any method used must provide a PQL of 0.5 ug/L or less, which must be supported by laboratory proficiency studies as required by the DWQ Laboratory Certification Unit. Any constituents detected above the Method Detection Limit (MDL) but below the PQL of 0.5 ug/L must be qualified (estimated) and reported. d. Any laboratory selected to analyze parameters must be Division of Water Quality (DWQ) certified for those parameters required. 3. Reporting / Documentation: a. All reports and documentation (GW-1, GW-30, GW-59) shall be mailed to the following address: NC Division of Water Quality Information Processing Unit 1617 Mail Service Center Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617 Updated blank forms (GW-1, GW-30, GW-59) may be downloaded from the Groundwater Section's website at hAP://My.ehnr.state.nc.us/ or requested from the address mentioned above. b. For the initial sampling of the well(s), the permittee shall submit a copy of the GW-1 Form (Well Construction Record) with the Compliance Monitoring Form (GW-59) for each well to the address listed in the "Reporting / Documentation" section of the Groundwater Requirements. Initial Compliance Monitoring Forms that do not include copies of the GW-1 form may be returned to the permittee without being processed. Failure to submit these forms as required by this permit may result in the initiation of enforcement activities pursuant to NC General Statutes 143-215.6A. c. The results of the sampling and analysis must be received on Form GW-59 (Groundwater Quality Monitoring: Compliance Report Form) by the Groundwater Section (address listed in the "Reporting / Documentation" section of the Groundwater Requirements), on or before the last working day of the month following the sampling month. The data of all groundwater sampling analyses required by the permit conditions must be reported using -the most recent GW-59 form along with attached copies of the laboratory analyses. WQDOZ4023 Version 1.1 Page 7 of 10 d. Within sixty (60) days of completion of all monitoring well(s), the permittee shall submit two original copies of a scaled site map (scale no greater than 1 "=100); however, special provisions may be granted upon prior approval for large properties. The map(s) must include the following information: 1) The location and identity of each monitoring well. 2) The location of major components of the waste disposal system. 3) The location of property boundaries within 500 feet of the disposal area(s). 4) The latitude and longitude of the established horizontal control monument. 5) The elevation of the top of the well casing (which shall be known as the "measuring point') relative to a common datum. 6) The depth of water below the measuring point at the time the measuring point is established. 7) The location of Review and Compliance boundaries. 8) The date the map is prepared and/or revised. Control monuments shall be installed in such a manner and made of such materials that the monument will not be destroyed due to activities that may take place on the property. Maps and any supporting documentation shall be sent to the Groundwater Section as addressed in the "Reporting / Documentation" above. The permittee is responsible for the geographic accuracy of any map submitted, however produced. 4. Vertical Separation Requirements: 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 one (1) foot. 5. Applicable Boundaries: a. 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 subj ect to remediation action according to 15A NCAC 2L .0106(d)(2). b. 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).Any additional groundwater quality monitoring, as deemed necessary by the Division, shall be provided. 1. Adequate inspection, maintenance, and cleaning shall be provided by the Permittee to insure proper operation of the subject facilities. WQ0024023 Version 1.1 Page 8 of 10 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 maintain 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 Pernttee for a period of three years from the date of the inspection and shall be made available to the Division or other permitting authority, upon request. 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. 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. The subject wastewater treatment and disposal facilities shall be connected to an operational publicly owned wastewater collection system within 180 days of its availability to the subject facilities, if the subject wastewater treatment or disposal facilities are in noncompliance with the terms and conditions of this non -discharge permit or the governing statutes or regulations. Prior to the initiation of these connection activities, appropriate approval must be received from this Division. 5. 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 211.0205 (c)(4). 6. 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 2B.0200, erosion and sedimentation control requirements in 15A NCAC Chapter 4 and under the Division's General Permit NCGOlO000, and any requirements pertaining to wetlands under 15A NCAC 2B .0200 and 2H .0500. 8. A set of approved plans and specifications for the subject project must be retained by the Permittee for the life of this project. W00024023 Version 1.1 Page 9 of 10 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 the 13th day of July, 2012 NORTH CAROLINA ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION Ssv uc aldld, P.E., Director Divi 'on of Water Quality By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission Permit Number W00024023 W00024023 Version 1.1 Page 10 of 10