Document BvRxjB3XMyy5QpKnvOnjB9Xem

Region 6 - Enforcement & Compliance Assurance Division INSPECTION REPORT Inspection Date(s): Media Program: Regulatory Program(s) 09/18/ 2025 Water NPDES Company Name: Facility Name: Facility Physical Location: (city, state, zip code) Mailing address: (city, state, zip code) County/Parish: Facility Phone Number Facility Contact: Pueblo of Tesuque Tesuque Casino 7 Tesuque Road Santa Fe, New Mexico 87506-5512 20 TP-828 Santa Fe, New Mexico 87506 Santa Fe 505-984-8414 ext-696 Peter Romero Director of Facilities Peter.romero@tesuquecasino.com FRS Number: Identification/Permit Number: Media Identifier Number: NAICS: SIC: 110070381669 NM0031224 N/A 221320 4952 Personnel participating in inspection: Peter Romero Tesuque Casino Raul Martinez Contract Operator Mark Valdez Contract Operator Marcus Apodoca Contract Operator David Esparza EPA-R6/ECDWM Director of Facilities Operator Operator Operator Environmental Engineer EPA Lead Inspector Signature/Date DAVID ESPARZA Date: 2025.09.30 11:21:52 -06'00' Digitally signed by DAVID ESPARZA David Esparza Date Supervisor Signature/Date ROBERTO BERNIER Roberto Bernier Digitally signed by ROBERTO BERNIER Date: 2025.10.02 11:05:31 -05'00' Date 6ENFORM-019-R9 (02/27/2025) 1 Section I - INTRODUCTION Pueblo of Tesuque/Tesuque Casino WWTP Permit No. NM0031224 Inspection Date 09/18/2025 PURPOSE OF THE INSPECTION EPA Region 6 inspector David Esparza, PE, arrived at the Pueblo of Tesuque Casino Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) (Tesuque Casino) office at approximately 1:00 PM on September 18, 2025, for an announced inspection. I met with Mr. Peter Romero, presented my credentials, and informed him that this was an EPA inspection to determine Tesuque Casino's WWTP compliance under the Clean Water Act (CWA). This compliance evaluation inspection (CEI) was conducted under the authority of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, in accordance with the CWA. The generation of this report is based on information supplied by Tesuque Casino representatives, observations made by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) inspector, and records and reports maintained by the permittee, and the US EPA. Before leaving the facility, an exit briefing was held at approximately 3:00 PM with Mr. Romero to discuss or address any questions. FACILITY DESCRIPTION The WWTP is a minor discharger with a design flow capacity of 0.08 MGD (million gallons per day). Currently the average daily flow equates to approximately 5,000 gpd (gallons per day). The facility is located approximately 0.10-miles west of U.S Highway 84/285 (aka Santa Fe Highway), Santa Fe County, New Mexico (depicted in Aerial Image #1 below). The WWTP facility serves the Casino and associated administrative buildings. The WWTP facility is currently operated under a contract agreement with Southwest Water Works (for operations and maintenance), on a scheduled basis and consists of a staff of at least 4 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions. A Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system provides around the clock monitoring of WWTP operations. After entering the headworks structure, the influent is piped into an equalization tank (EQ tank), thence to an Ovivo microBLOXTM membrane bioreactor (MBR). Samples are collected via an automatic sampler located after a bank of six (6) ultraviolet (UV) disinfection units prior to discharge to a 40K-gallon effluent storage tank. Routine weekly maintenance is performed on the UV system to ensure the proper disinfection of the effluent. Currently, in lieu of using the onsite belt press, due to low waste stream volume, the sludge is placed into an approximate 8K-gallon storage tank that is pumped and transported for disposal. Current permit conditions allow part of the treated effluent to be used for landscape irrigation within the facility grounds typically during the months of March through November and/or piped to a subsurface drain field. The WWTP currently maintains a series of ten (10) leach fields beneath the existing asphalt paved parking areas. Though an intermittent discharge of the effluent, approved via Outfall 001, to the Pojoaque River is possible, the facility normally utilizes the effluent for landscape irrigation or pumps it to the leach fields. The WWTP maintains a backup diesel generator for power that is exercised weekly, typically every Tuesday. 2 Pueblo of Tesuque/Tesuque Casino WWTP Permit No. NM0031224 Inspection Date 09/18/2025 Aerial Image #1: Overall view of the Pueblo of Tesuque-Tesuque Casino Wastewater Treatment Plant Location. Aerial from Google Earth Section II - OBSERVATIONS I observed the following and/or the followinginformation was provided and/or stated: A bearing within the headworks structure was awaiting replacement, though the process treatment was not impacted. A Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system provides around the clock monitoring of WWTP operations. Currently the onsite belt press is not in use due to low waste stream volume. It was stated the sludge is placed into a storage tank that is pumped and transported for disposal. Effluent totalizing flow meter readings are recorded daily. Mr. Romero also stated there has been no discharge through the outfall from start up to present day. All associated treatment process equipment, except for the headworks and the effluent storage tank are located within a locked building. The interior of the building is clean and well maintained. 3 Pueblo of Tesuque/Tesuque Casino WWTP Permit No. NM0031224 Inspection Date 09/18/2025 The WWTP did have secure perimeter fencing and the premises are under camera surveillance; thus, limiting access. Section III - AREAS OF CONCERN/RECOMMENDATIONS I observed no areas of concern at the time of the inspection. RECOMMENDATION Installation of a locking device on the lift station hatchway cover and safety gate into the lift station beneath the cover. Closing Conference EPA Region 6 inspectors David Esparza conducted a closing conference at the Tesuque Casino WWTP at approximately 3:00 PM on September 18, 2025, for the inspection. During the closing conference, fielded questions from facility personnel, and provided information about the next steps in the inspection process. Section IV - FOLLOW UP No additional information was received by EPA after exiting the Facility on September 18, 2025. Section V - LIST OF APPENDICES Appendix 1 - Photo Log - 2 photos taken 09/18/2025 4 Pueblo of Tesuque/Tesuque Casino WWTP Permit No. NM0031224 Inspection Date 09/18/2025 Appendix 1 Photograph Log UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY Photograph Log Location: Tesuque Casino City: Santa Fe Photo No. 1 County/Parish: Santa Fe State: New Mexico View inside the onsite lift station after the hatchway had been opened. (IMG_0371) Photographed by D. Esparza. 09/18/2025 (1:23 PM) UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY Photograph Log Location: Tesuque Casino City: Santa Fe Photo No. 2 County/Parish: Santa Fe State: New Mexico View inside the onsite lift station (LS). Note: it was stated that LS is approximately 14-feet deep. (IMG_0372) Photographed by D. Esparza. 09/18/2025 (1:25 PM)