410013_Acknowledgement Letter_20180204

NC Department of
Enviro Received uality
F[B 12 2018 February 4, 2018
Winston-Salem
Sherri V. Knight, P. E. Regional Office
Regional Supervisor
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ-WSRO
450 West Hanes Mill Road, Suite 300
Winston-Salem, N. C. 27105
Re: Permit AWCA10013
Guilford County
Dear Ms. Knight,
The dynamics on our farm operation are changing due to my health problems. My wife and daughter
are in the process of taking control of the operation and making the needed improvements. They are
concentrating on raising heifers to sell also, therefore the milking herd has been reduced from 300 to
150 head. Mary Ann is planning to take the initial certification class this year to acquire her certification
to become the backup operator.
Millie Langley of Guilford County Soil and Water was contacted. The engineering staff as well as Michael
Sheperd working along with her will have the waste level gauges resurveyed and correctly labeled by
April 10, 2018. They will also look over the entire farm to make recommendations for all improvements
needed. The waste plan will be updated to remove land no longer leased and to incorporate irrigation
onto pasture land if necessary in the future. The manure haulers removed around 500,000 more gallons
of liquid manure after the inspection. Just like all dairies White Cedar's financial strain is enormous.
The pond levels are well below maximum levels. The trees will be removed from the embankments on
the upper and lower ponds within 90 days. The ground surface surrounding the upper pond will be
reconditioned and reseeded also.
The flow to the freshwater pond was stopped immediately while the inspectors were present. The
portable aluminum piping was replaced with a solid hard plastic hose with no joints to pump the liquid
from the lower pond to the upper pond. Due to the rain we have received in the last month the ground
is still too wet to scrape the channel clean but will be in the next 3 months.
We deeply regret the unintentional overflow of the waste water. We apologize for not keeping a closer
eye on the farm's condition. But in the future we will monitor the waste pond levels in a strict and
timely manner. Millie Langley has sent me the most up today measurement forms and she will instruct
us on how to properly record the data. We will also be closely monitoring the upcoming weather
predictions to avoid any future problems. But if there are any problems arise, they will be reported
within the 24 hour timeline. We want the waters of the state as clean as possible.

Sincerely,
e erson Hopkins
8255 White Cedar Road
Browns Summit, N.C. 27214