Source: NCDEQ, 3/31/21 The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of
Water Resources (DWR) has approved permit modification requests to install
anaerobic digesters at four animal feeding operations participating in a biogas
processing project with Align RNG, LLC. After extensive review of the
applications and consideration of community concerns, DWR added additional
sampling conditions and site-specific changes to the best management practices. Four permitted swine operations, located in Duplin and Sampson
counties, submitted applications to DWR to modify their existing permits. Three
of these facilities requested to install new in-ground, synthetically-lined and
covered anaerobic digesters. The fourth facility requested to cover an existing
synthetically-lined lagoon. DEQ conducted enhanced public outreach, environmental justice
analysis and held a public meeting and comment period to provide an opportunity
for community input. DEQ staff reviewed the concerns raised by the public
and carefully evaluated the permit modifications to address the concerns within
the existing authority of the agency and applicable state rules and
regulations. DWR staff conducted an additional on-site inspection at each farm
to determine current compliance and examine the specific location and operation
impact of each digester. DWR has determined the digesters will be a
significant step toward achieving the criteria for environmentally superior
technology standards. In addition to methane capture, the proposed digesters
would serve as additional treatment units and reduce hydrogen sulfide gas in
the waste stream, which should reduce odors in the waste storage lagoons as
well as in the animal barns which flush with the recycled wastewater. In order to document the pollutant reduction and treatment effectiveness of the anaerobic digester, three of the final permits include an additional requirement for quarterly nutrient and pathogen sampling of the digester influent and effluent. Waters Farm–M&M Rivenbark Farm (AWI310035), Benson Farm (AWI310039) and Farm 2037 & 2038 (AWI820466) will be required to conduct the sampling for the first two years of digester operation. Based on the site inspections, the Benson Farm (AWI310039) and the
Kilpatrick Farm 1, 2, 4, & 5, & Merritt Farm (AWS820005) are required
to submit a report to the Division within 180 days of permit issuance of any
additional best management practices (BMPs) implemented on specific sprayfields
(pulls) to further reduce risk of off-site impacts to neighboring properties
and the community. The BMPs may include planting of vegetative buffers
along roadways and residential property lines, use of hose-drag land
application method, increase of land application setbacks, and reducing or
eliminating use of these specific pulls for irrigation using traveling
gun/reels. The permit modifications do not allow for expansion in the steady
state live weight at any of the facilities and continue to be non-discharge
permits, which prohibit off-site discharge of waste. The final permits, meeting report, and other related documents are
available at https://deq.nc.gov/swinebiogas.
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