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HomeMy WebLinkAbout430024_ENFORCEMENT_20171231NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES DlvlsioN OF WATER QUALITY FAYETTEVILLE REGIONAL OFFICE DIVISION OF WATER QUALITY March 20, 2000 Joseph Ferrell 125 Dixon Road Coats, NC 27521 SUBJECT: NOTICE OF VIOLATION Notice of Recommendation for Enforcement Permit No. AWS 430024 Ferrell Farms Facility No. 43 - 24 Harnett County Dear Mr. Ferrell: You are hereby notified that, having been permitted to have a non -discharge permit for the subject animal waste disposal system pursuant to 15A NCAC 2H .0217, you have been found to be in violation of your 2H .0217 Permit. On February 1, 2000, you or staff from your farm notified the Fayetteville Regional Office of the Division of Water Quality, as required by General Permit condition III.6.e, that the freeboard level of the lagoon was less than the minimum required by the General Permit. The liquid level of both lagoons were reported as 11 inches, which is less than the minimum required for structural stability (less than 12 inches). General Permit condition V.3 states that "The maximum waste level in lagoons/storage ponds shall not exceed that specified in the CAWMP. At a minimum, maximum waste Ievel for lagoons/storage ponds must not exceed the level that provides adequate storage to contain the 25 -year, 24- hour storm event plus an additional 1 foot of structural freeboard.". The Division of Water Quality requests that the following items be addressed: 1. If not already accomplished, lower the lagoon level to the required freeboard as specified in your Certified Animal Waste Management Plan (CAWMP) and/or your Permit in a manner that is consistent with your CAWMP and your Permit. 2. Please provide specific actions proposed to prevent future freeboard violations at this facility, which are not in compliance with the CAWMP or the General Permit. Fl��T x o I o 225 GREEN STREET, SUITE 714 / SYSTEL BLD. F'AYETTEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA 28341-5043 PHONE 910-486-1541 FA% n1 O-486.0707 AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY / AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER - 50% ReCYCLED/10% POST -CONSUMER PAPER Page 2 Ferrell Farms March 20, 2000 Failure to comply with the above conditions may result in the facility's General Permit being revoked and being required to obtain an individual non -discharge permit for the facility. Please be advised that this notice does not prevent the Division of Water Quality from taking enforcement actions for this violation or any past or future violation. You are hereby notified that based on the above information the Division of Water Quality is considering forwarding recommendation to the Director for consideration of enforcement for these violations. Furthermore, the Division of Water Quality has the authority to levy a civil penalty of not more than $25,000.00 per day per violation. If you have an explanation for these violations that you wish to present to this office please forward a detailed explanation, in writing, of the events noted and why you feel that this office should not proceed with recommendations for enforcement. This response should be received by this office on or before March 30, 2000. A copy of this response will also need to be submitted to the DWQ Central Office at the following: Mr. Steve Lewis NCDENR DWQ 1617 Mail Service Center Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1671 Information provided to this office and the DWQ Central Office will be reviewed and if enforcement is still deemed appropriate, your explanation will be forwarded to the Director with the enforcement package for his consideration. If you have any questions concerning this matter, please do not hesitate to contact either Mr. Jeffery Brown, Environmental Engineer or myself at (910) 4V=}�41. kUK Raul E. Rawls Regional Water Quality Supervisor cc: Sonya Avant - Compliance Group Parks Blake - Bladen Co. NRCS Trent Allen - DSWC Fayetteville Office Central Files - Raleigh Steve Lewis - Compliance Group Glenn Clifton - Prestage Farms, Inc. A 4!t41 f NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT ANE) NATURAL RESOURCES FAYETTEVILLE REGIONAL OFFICE DIVISION OF WATER QUALITY April 20, 1998 CERTIFIED,IL. RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED Mr. Joseph Ferrell Route 2 Box 495 Coats, NC 27521 Subject Dear Mr. Ferrell: Notice of Violation Administrative Code 15A NCAC 2H.0217 Ferrell Farms Swine Farm Facility No. 43 - 24 Harnett County You are hereby notified that, having been deemed permitted to have a non discharge permit for the subject animal waste disposal system pursuant to 15A NCAC 2H .0217, you have been found to be in violation of your 2H .0217 Permit. On April 15, 1998, staff from the Fayetteville Regional Office of the Division of Water Quality conducted a routine inspection of your swine farm located off SR 1559 in Harnett County. It was observed that both of the facility's waste lagoons were in the emergency storage level (both were at 8"). There was some erosion noted between one of the buildings and the back lagoon. There also was an erosion problem observed in one of the spray fields. A seepage problem was noted around the discharge pipe leaving the building going through the dike of lagoon two. It was noted that irrigation records were not being kept for each pull listed for a field, but by the entire field as one unit. A spray field that was being used was not listed as an application site in the certified animal waste management plan (CAWMP). 225 GREEN STREET, SUITE 714, FAYETTEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA 28301-5043 PHONE 910-496-1541 FAR 910-486-0707 AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY / AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER - 50% RECYCLED/10% POST -CONSUMER PAPER ilk Page 2 Mr. Joseph Ferrell April 20, 1998 The Division of Water Quality requests that the following items be addressed: 1. Lower the lagoon levels to the required freeboard on a suitable waste application field as soon as weather permits. 2. Consult with a technical specialist for assistance in correcting the erosion problem between the buildings and the back lagoon. Also consult with technical specialist in correcting the erosion noted in the spray field. 3. Contact a technical specialist immediately for assistance in correcting the seepage problem around the discharge pipe through the lagoon dike. 4. Consult with a technical specialist for assistance in regard to calculating the number of acres in each pull for each one of the spray fields so that accurate IRR -1 and IRR -2 forms can be maintained. 5. Consult with a technical specialist in regard to updating CAWMP to include additional acreage for irrigation. Please be advised that this notice does not prevent the Division of Water Quality from taking enforcement actions for this violation or any past or future violation. Furthermore, the Division of Water Quality has the authority to levy a civil penalty of not more than $10,000.00 per day per violation. Please provide a written response to this office on or before May 20, 1998, regarding corrective actions taken or planned. if you have any questions concerning this matter, please do not hesitate to contact either myself or Mr. Jeffery Brown, Environmental Engineer, at (910) 486-1541. Sincerely, -k Kerr T. Stevens Regional Supervisor cc: Sue Homewood - Compliance Group Parks Blake - Harnett Co. NRCS Audrey Oxendine - DSWC Fayetteville Office Central Files - Raleigh Prestage Farms O�OF WA '11��9QG Michael F. Easley Governor William G. Ross Jr., Secretary Department of Environment and Natural Resources p Alan W. Klimek, P.E. Director Division of Water Quality April 16, 2003 CERTIFIED MAIL RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED Joseph Ferrell 195 Dixon Road Coats NC 27521 SUBJECT: Notice of Violation Request for Information Inadequate Freeboard Ferrell Farms #43-24 Harnett County Dear Sir or Madam: P 'h a I s APR 2 3 2003. On March 7, 2003, a representative of your animal operation informed the Division of Water Quality (DWQ) that there was inadequate freeboard in the lagoon(s) serving this facility. This lack of adequate freeboard is in non-compliance with the Certificate of Coverage issued to this facility on September 26, 2000. In addition to this Notice of Violation (NOV), this non-compliance is subject to an appropriate enforcement action by DWQ. This action can consist of one or more of the following: a civil or criminal enforcement action; an injunction; and/or a requirement to apply for coverage under an individual permit. The action chosen will be based on complete evaluation of all factors that resulted in the inadequate feeboafd; the actions taken to restore the needed freeboard; and the actions being proposed to prevent the problem from reoccurring. To assist us in our review, please provide the Fayetteville Regional Office with an evaluation of the reasons for the freeboard violation(s) and a strategy to prevent future freeboard violation(s). This evaluation and strategy must include but is not limited to the following: Current Freeboard level(s) Freeboard level records in the lagoon(s) for the past 12 months up to the date of submittal Spraying records for the past 12 months up to the date of submittal . WNW Customer Service. Mailing Address, Telephone (919) 733-5083 Location. 1-877-623-6748 1617 Mail Service Center Fax (919) 733-0059 512 N. Salisbury St Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617 State Courier #52-01-01 Raleigh, NC 27699-1617 An Equal Opportunity /Affirmative Action Employer 50% recycled 110% post -consumer paper httpJ1h2o. enr state.nc.us Inadequate Freeboard Page 2 Rainfall records for the past 12 months for this site up to the date of submittal (if available) Cropping system and PAN specified in the CAWMP. If the cropping system was not in compliance with the facility's CAWMP, provide details of the cropping system in place for the past 12 months. A summary of actions taken to restore the needed freeboard in the lagoon(s) including but not limited to removal of animals from the site, delay of restocking of animals, pumping and hauling waste to another site (specify site), securing additional irrigation equipment, and securing additional spray sites. A description of water conservation measures in use at the facility and the date(s) installed. If the lagoon level(s) are still in violation of the facility's CAWMP and Permit, provide an updated Plan of Action as to how the facility will return to compliance. Provide a detailed description of the actions taken or proposed to be taken to insure that there are no further freeboard violations at this facility. This information must be received by the Fayetteville Regional Office at the following address no later than 10 days following receipt of this letter. Division of Water Quality 225 Green Street, Suite 714 Fayetteville, NC 28301-5043 Once this information is received and evaluated by the DWQ staff, a determination will be made as to the appropriate compliance/enforcement actions to be taken. Each case will be evaluated on its own merit. The efforts by the owner/producer to notify DWQ of the problem, efforts made to resolve the problem once identified, and efforts proposed to prevent future problems will be positive factors in this determination. Nothing in this letter should be taken as removing from you either the responsibility or liability for this non-compliance or future cases of non-compliance. If you have any questions regarding this letter, please do not hesitate to contact our Fayetteville Regional Office Staff at (910) 486-1541. Sincerely, Alan W. Klimek, P.E. Director cc: Fayetteville Regional Office Non -Discharge Compliance/Enforcement Unit Central Files QF 1NA7F Michael F. Easley, Govemor RQ6 William G. Ross Jr., secretary y North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources > Alan W. Klimek, P.E. Director p Division of Water Quality July 18, 2003 CERTIFIED MAIL RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED Mr. Joseph Ferrell 195 Dixon Road Coats, NC 27521 Subject: Rescission of Notice of Violation / Issuance of Notice of Deficiency Ferrell Farms Facility Number 43-24 Harnett County Dear Mr. Ferrell: Thank you for your recent submittal of the information requested in our letter dated April 15, 2003. We greatly appreciate the effort that you made in compiling this information and sending it to our Fayetteville Regional Office by the date required. We also appreciate the fact that you reported the problem with high freeboard to our staff as required by your permit and worked with our staff to manage the problem once it occurred. Upon review and consideration of the information submitted, the Fayetteville Regional Office has determined that no further compliance/enforcement actions will be taken by the Division for these high freeboards. Also, based on your actions to properly operate your facility, the Division'of Water Quality hereby rescinds the Notice of Violation that was issued to you on April 15, 2003, and replaces it with this Notice of Deficiency. In the future, please continue to evaluate ways to maintain freeboard levels in the required range. These methods include, but are not limited to, water conservation practices, adding additional application sites, updating your cropping systems, adding additional and/or more flexible application equipment, and maintaining the lagoon levels at the lowest allowable and appropriate levels throughout the year. Our staff looks forward to continuing to work with you and your Technical Specialist to evaluate and implement any needed changes to your system. i IVE-b MR Customer Service: Mailing Address: Telephone: (999) 733-5083 Location: 1 800 623-7748 1617 Mail Service Center Fax: (919) 733-0059 512 N. Salisbury St. Raleigh, NC 27699-1617 State Courier #52-01-01 Raleigh, NC 27699-1617 An Equal Opportunity 1 Affirmative Action Employer 50% recycled 110% post -consumer paper hitp:/th2o. en r. state. nc. us Inadequate Freeboard Page 2 Thank you again for your cooperation. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the staff of our Fayetteville Regional Office at 910-486-1541. Sincerely, aul E. Rawls Water Quality Regional Supervisor cc: FRO CAFO File: 43-24 Non -Discharge Compliance and Enforcement Unit Central Files July 11, 2007 CERTIFIED MAIL RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED Joseph Ferrell 195 Dixon Rd. Coats, NC 27521 Re: Notice of Deficiency High Freeboard Ferrell Farms Inc. AW S430024 Harnett County Dear Mr. Ferrell: Michael F. Easley, Governor William G. Ross Jr., Secretary North Carolina Departmem of Environment and Natural Resources Alan W. Klimek, P.E. Director Division of Water Quality On 21912007, you or an employee of your farm notified the Fayetteville Regional Office Division of Water Quality, as required by the Swine Waste Management General Permit AWG200000 Section III 13(c), that the freeboard level of the lagoon was 15.0 inches, which is less than the minimum required. The General Permit states "The maximum waste level in lagoons/storage ponds shall not exceed that specified in the facility's CAWMP. At a minimum, maximum waste level for lagoons/storage ponds must not exceed the level that provides adequate storage to contain the 25 -year, 24-hour storm event plus an additional one (1) foot of structural freeboard." . We appreciate your cooperation in self -reporting high freeboards and providing records. Please bear in mind that high freeboards must be reported by phone, email, fax, or personal contact within 24 hours. Plans of Action (POAs) must be filed within 24 hours for structural and 48 hours for storm storage high freeboards. They EXPIRE after five (5) days for structural and thirty (30) days for storage high freeboards. At that time, the situation should be resolved or, upon request, the Division may grant extensions for adverse conditions. Required Corrective Action. At this time, the incident is closed. The Division strongly recommends that you review your facilities and procedures with the goal of eliminating future high freeboards, which could lead to mandatory review of your Waste Utilization Plan by a Technical Specialist, Notices of Violation or civil penalties in the future if freeboard noncompliance remains an issue. Aquifer Protection Section 1636 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1636 Internet: www.ncwaterquality,ore Location: 2728 Capital Boulevard Raleigh, NC 27604 An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer— 50% Recycledl10% Post Consumer Paper No ` Carolina Telephone: (919) 733-3221 Fax 1: (919)715-0588 Fax 2: (919) 715-6048 Customer Service: (877) 623-6748 July 11, 2007 Page 2 Ferrell If you are not aware, you now may pump up to eight (8) inches below the "Stop Pump" mark between June 15 and October 31 provided that the criteria in NRCS Standard for Waste Treatment Lagoon No. 359 are met. The Division of Water Quality has the authority to levy a civil penalty of up to $25,000 per day per violation. Please be advised that nothing in this letter should be taken as removing from you the responsibility or liability for failure to comply with any State Rule, State Statue or permitting requirement. If you have any questions regarding this letter, please do not hesitate to call Joan Schneier at the Fayetteville Regional Office at (910) 433-3333. State email addresses typically are in the format firstname.lastname@ncmail.net. POAs can be found under 'Reporting Forms" on the left side of the page, at our website http://h2o.enr.state.nc.uslaps/afou/afou_home.him Sincerely, Art Barnhardt Regional Supervisor cc: Facility File -- 43-024 APS Central Files Prestage Farms, Inc.