Document 6R2E2dxVExnKJRgJk7Mvnb5r3

NPDES Inspection Report - Water Treatment Facility National Database Information Inspection Date: May 16, 2023 Inspection Type: CEI - Water Treatment Facility Entry/Exit Time: 9:00 am / 12:45 pm NPDES ID Number: ND0031101 NAICS Code: 221310 Inspection ID: 202305_ND0031101 Lead inspector and affiliation: Stephanie Meyers / EPA Region 8 Inspector and affiliation: Brit Rustad / EPA Region 8 Facility Location Information (Name/Location/ Mailing Address) Site/Facility Name & Location: Email Report to: Spirit Lake Water Treatment Plant NW 1/4 NE 1/4 S29 T151N R63W St. Michael, ND 58381 Alfred Thompson Jr. (b) (6) Robert Thompson sltwr-dir@spiritlakenation.com Contact Information Name(s)/Title Alfred Thompson Jr. / Facility Manager / Sioux Utilities / primary during the inspections Facility Contacts: (indicate primary lead and present during inspection) Robert Thompson / Director of Water Resources / Sioux Utilities / present during opening and closing conferences Lynnia Bustos / Environmental Technician / Spirit Lake EPA / present during inspections Tyler Timmons / Tribal Utility Consultant / IHS / present during the inspections Person/Company meeting definition of "Operator" Authorized Official(s) (Per NOI?) Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe Alfred Thompson Jr. / Facility Manager / Sioux Utilities / primary during the inspections Permit Information Is the permit on site and available? N/A Lagoon Category: N/A Monitoring Frequency: N/A Effective Date: 1/10/2013 Expiration Date: 12/31/2017 Is the Facility under a compliance schedule? No Is correct contact information indicated on ICIS? Yes Indicate correct contact information: N/A Receiving Water(s): Unnamed tributary to Devils Lake Regulatory Inspector's source of information: Notice of Intent for the previous permit, ICIS, facility representatives and facility observations. Areas Evaluated During Inspection Permit Self-Monitoring Program Records Compliance Schedule Facility Site Review Laboratory Effluent/Receiving Waters Operations and Maintenance Flow Measurement Sludge Handling/Disposal Report Review and Signature Drafter Name Meyers, Digitally signed by Meyers, Stephanie Stephanie 11:04:05 -06'00' Date: 2023.07.06 Stephanie Meyers Reviewer Name Brit Rustad Supervisor Signature/Name COLLEEN COLLEEN RATHBONE Digitally signed by RATHBONE 07:55:10 -06'00' Date: 2023.07.06 Colleen Rathbone Address/Phone Number U.S. EPA Region 8 1595 Wynkoop Street 8ENF-W-NW Denver, Colorado 80202 303-312-6885 Address/Phone Number U.S. EPA Region 8 1595 Wynkoop Street 8ENF-W-NW Denver, Colorado 80202 303-312-6938 Address/Phone Number U.S. EPA Region 8 1595 Wynkoop Street 8ENF-W-NW Denver, Colorado 80202 303-312-6133 Pretreatment Pollution Prevention Stormwater Combined Sewer Overflow Sanitary Sewer Overflow Date 7/3/2023 Date 7/5/2023 Date 7/6/2023 Inspection Narrative and Site Description The inspection was conducted at the Spirit Lake Water Treatment Plant (WTP) located in St. Michael, North Dakota to evaluate the facility's discharge status. The EPA is responsible for implementing the NPDES program in Indian Country within the State of North Dakota. The inspection was announced approximately one month prior to the inspection to coordinate logistics for the inspection. On May 16, 2023, U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) inspectors Brit Rustad and Stephanie Meyers met with operator Alfred Thompson Jr. with Sioux Utilities, Robert Thompson with Water Resources, and Lynnia Bustos with the Spirit Lake EPA. The EPA inspectors presented their credentials and had an opening conference to explain the purpose of the inspection. The inspectors proceeded to ask questions to the facility representatives to help the inspectors evaluate the facility's discharge status. Inspectors also inspected the facility. Throughout the inspection, the inspectors noted their observations in a checklist. Photographs taken during the inspection are included in the attached photo log. The Spirit Lake WTP is the potable water supply and distribution system for the residents and communities of the Spirit Lake Reservation. Raw water from the Warwick aquifer is pumped to the WTP from 5 wells. According to the previous permit application, an estimated 564,700 gallons per day will be pumped to the WTP, with an estimated 560,000 gallons per day going to the potable water distribution system after treatment. The water treatment process includes injection of potassium permanganate and ferric chloride, which oxidizes metals and coagulates arsenic respectively. The water then goes through a filter system prior to going to the potable water distribution system. The filter system creates backwash water, which is partially recycled through the treatment process. The remaining backwash water that is not recycled flows to the backwash basins where sludge is captured and then flows to the two lagoon cells (photos 293 and 295). Facility representatives stated this facility has never had to discharge, therefore did not apply for a renewal permit when the previous permit expired in 2017. At the time of the inspection, water was not flowing from the outlet of the WTP (photo 294) into the cells, and both cells were dry. At the end of the day on May 16, 2023, the inspectors returned to the main office and held a closing conference with Alfred Thompson Jr., Robert Thompson, Lynnia Bustos and Tyler Timmons where the discharge status of the WTP was discussed. Findings, Corrective Actions and Recommendations Recommendation #1: If the discharge status of the facility changes, apply for permit coverage. Should the WTP need to discharge, inform EPA of the discharge, and apply for NPDES permit coverage. Permit requirement: Part 4.4 of the previous permit states, "If the permittee wishes to continue an activity regulated by this permit after the expiration date of this permit, the permittee must apply for and obtain a new permit..." Corrective Action: No further action is required.