Document 6BgvgKL8yr7jQQG2o4XaMqz09

UNITED STATESUNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY * *REGION 1 ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCY5 POST OFFICEB OSSTQOUN,A RMAE ,0 21S0U9-I3T9E12 100 PROTECTION Date:Dated as shown on electronic signature(s) Subj:Inspection Report Clean Water Act - National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (" NPDES ") 35 Copicut Road Solar From:Andrew Spejewski, Inspector Digitally signed by ANDREW ANDREW SPEJEWSKI SPEJEWSKI Date: 2023.03.15 16:40:15 -04'00 ' Thru:Stephanie Tougas To:File I. Facility Information A. Facility Name:35 Copicut Road Solar B. Facility Location: 35 Copicut Road Freetown, MA 02702 C. Facility Contacts: James Rezendes 3 Sammy's Lane Assonet, MA 02702 508-328-6231, jrezendes@krrezendes.com D. NPDES ID No (s).: MAR10033Y II. Background Information A. Date(s) of inspection: March 7, 2023 B. Weather Conditions: Clear dry, 45 degrees F C. US EPA Representative(s): Andrew Spejewski D. State / Local Representative(s): none E. Federally Enforceable Requirements Covered During the Inspection: EPA construction general permit for stormwater ED_019088A_00019897-00001 F. Previous Enforcement Actions: No actions known. III. Type and Purpose of Inspection Unannounced Evaluation of Construction Stormwater compliance IV. Facility Description The site is a large former gravel / sand pit, now being developed for a solar panel installation covering a portion of the original pit (with incidental gravel / rock removal as part of the development process). From the east edge of the site, the site slopes down steeply towards the center of the site and also to the north. The center and west portions of the site are fairly flat, only slightly above the terrain to the north and west. The south edge of the site is, except at the far west corner, a steep slope up from the site to Copicut Road. The southwest quadrant of the site, about 500 yards east - west and 150 yards north - south, is a former gravel mining site, not being affected by the current development. An unpaved access road runs from the extreme southwest corner, at Copicut Road, to the center of the site, looping around a patch of woods just north of the southwest quadrant. From the center of the site, where the access road ends, the site extends east about 400 yards and north another 300 yards. The surrounding terrain is above the site to the south and east. At the time of the inspection the area east and north of the center was actively being regraded for the solar project. Two large basins were in place at the north end of the site and on the north side of the center. V. Inspection Mr. Spejewski arrived at the southwest site entrance unannounced at about 12:30. He drove onto the access road to the center of the site, finding a parking area and office trailer. Nobody was in the office trailer, so Mr. Spejewski approached an excavator operator, who told Mr. Spejewski that the superintendent would speak to him. A. Opening Conference Presently, Mr. Rezendes and Paolo Leandres arrived. Mr. Rezendes introduced himself as the site superintendent. Mr. Spejewski explained the purpose of the inspection, presented his credentials and provided them with a copy of the Small Business Information Sheet. Mr. Leandres then left while Mr. Spejewski talked with Mr. Rezendes and then toured the site. 2 ED_019088A_00019897-00002 Mr. Rezendes explained the site was a former gravel mine, which had been abandoned for many years. The current project started in 2019, and involved leveling the east part of the site for a solar farm (though the solar part had been through a few different partners). The project was selling the rock and gravel removed to level the site, but there were no plans to continue mining after the solar project. Mr. Rezendes said his company was planning to continue using the rest of the site (after the solar project) to do rock crushing and processing. Mr. Spejewski suggested Mr. Rezendes look into whether that activity would require an EPA Multi - Sector General Permit for stormwater. Mr. Rezendes showed a site plan for the solar site; the solar project would cover the east and most of the central part of the site, to a little west of the current trailer. B. Records Review Mr. Rezendes said that there was a SWPPP, but that he had just taken it out of his truck at his office. Mr. Rezendes said that he did site inspections every Friday, and documented them. Mr. Rezendes said that he had been just writing down the date of each inspection, all on one page, but when the new solar company joined the project, they told him he should use a full 5-page report each week, so he began doing that. Mr. Rezendes said he could email the SWPPP and a recent site inspection. On March 8, 2023, Mr. Rezendes emailed a copy of a recent site inspection report and an electronic copy of the SWPPP [see the inspection file]. C. Site Tour The center of the site was flat, with clearly sandy soil in general. A small basin was present just southwest of the office trailer. There was a rip - rap overflow to the west, pointing into a wooded area between the southwest area and the entrance road. Mr. Rezendes said it theoretically discharged to the west, but he had never seen it overflow, as it had a sand bottom and water infiltrated. To the north was a series of forebays and the main detention basin. The main walls of the basin had well established grass (which appeared to be more than a year old); some interior slopes were not completely stabilized, including some small gulleys into the basin. The basin had a concrete outlet structure and a rip - rap overflow. Mr. Rezendes said the basin never filled up in his experience. A'bathtub ring'deposit a couple feet up the basin walls appeared to show the general high - water mark, well below the top of the walls. No signs of flow or sediment deposit could be seen at the outfall pipe or overflow. Farther east and slightly north of the north basin, the site sloped steeply down a slope that had weed and grass growth at the top, but little stabilization along the lower part. A heavy line of crushed rock was in place along the flat area at the foot of the slope. There was no sign of concentrated flow past the crushed rock barrier, and no signs of sediment deposited in the flat area outside of the barrier. The northeast basin was on the west side of the northern extension of the site. The walls had well - established grass, and the rip - rap overflow appeared clean. East of the basin, 3 ED_019088A_00019897-00003 the northern extension of the site had been logged, but stumps had not been removed. The east and south sides of the site were below the surrounding terrain. West of the north basin, north of the entrance drive, were several large stockpiles of dirt. The external (north) sides of the stockpiles were covered with thick grass and weed growth. The area around the entrance drive was flat, and covered with grass at least a year old. At the extreme southwest of the site, just east of the entrance drive, a high (about six feet) earth berm was in place between Copicut road and the site. The berm was unstabilized with gulleys a few inches deep. Below the berm, on the external side, the site had been dug a few inches below the grass adjacent to the road, with rocks also in place along the border. No sign of concentrated flow off the site could be seen and no signs of sediment being carried off the site. The site entrance coming from Copicut Road consisted of about 30 feet of pavement then dirt road (the entrance drive). There did not appear to be a rock or gravel site entrance. Mr. Rezendes explained that the town required a site entrance of crushed asphalt, to prevent rocks and gravel from being carried onto town roads. Some sand and sediment could been seen on the paved entrance; Mr. Rezendes said they had put some sand down because of snow last week. D. Closing Conference Mr. Spejewski departed at approximately 2:00 PM. Picture List: [Note: the camera was set for Eastern Daylight Time, while the inspection took place during Eastern Standard Time, therefore the timestamps for photos are one hour later than actual time] IMG 2911.JPGSite plan partial IMG 2912.JPGSite plan full view IMG 2913.JPGFrom center of site, facing south IMG 2914.JPGFrom center of site, facing southwest IMG 2915.JPGFacing west - southwest over basin in center of site IMG 2916.JPGForebay for center basin IMG 2917.JPGFacing east / northeast over center basin IMG 2918.JPGOutfall from center basin IMG 2919.JPGTemporary rip - rap walls between center and north basins IMG 2920.JPGslope above rip - rap walls IMG 2921.JPGTerrain below rip - rap walls IMG 2922.JPGFacing southwest, rough road above rip - rap walls IMG 2923.JPGroad running to north basin 4 ED_019088A_00019897-00004 IMG 2924.JPGNorth basin, facing north IMG 2925.JPGNorth basin, facing east IMG 2926.JPGDetail, stockpiles northwest portion of site IMG_2927.JPGNorth side of stockpiles northwest portion of site IMG 2928.JPGSmall basin north of entrance road IMG 2929.JPGSite entrance IMG 2930.JPGBerm at southwest corner of site IMG 2931.JPGExterior of berm at southwest corner ** END ** Unless otherwise noted, this report describes conditions at the facility / property as observed by EPA inspector(s), and / or through records provided to and / or information reported to EPA inspector(s) by facility representatives and as understood by the inspector(s). This report may not capture all operations or activities ongoing at the time of the inspection. This report does not make final determinations on potential areas of concern. Nothing in this report affects EPA's authorities under federal statutes and regulations to pursue further investigation or action. 50 ED_019088A_00019897-00005