Document LgDxpNbX0Mjp5Z69pXo0a4bpQ
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION 3
Four Penn Center 1600 JFK Blvd.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103-2029
Report Title: Inspection Date(s): Regulatory Program(s): Type of Activity: Facility Name: Permittee(s):
Facility Operator: Facility Address:
Latitude: County/Parish: Permit Number: NAICS Code: DSB ID#:
Clean Water Act Compliance Inspection Report
06/25/2024
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
Wastewater
Kettle Creek STP
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
("PA DCNR")
PA DCNR
97 Kettle Creek Park Lane
Renovo, PA 17764
41.3752
Longitude: -77.9327
Clinton
PA0228860
721211
SIC: 7033
ECAD - 5494
Facility Representative(s):
Point of Contact
Robert Grenell, Operator
Phone: 570-923-6004
Email: Rgrenell@pa.gov
William Shinn
Phone: 814-203-2460
Email: wshinn@pa.gov
Nick Selner, Region 1 Operator
Phone: 814-999-3851
Email: nselner@pa.gov
Stephanie Countess
Phone: 717-783-3329
Email: scountess@pa.gov
EPA Inspectors:
Angela Weisel
Phone: 215-814-2124
Email: Weisel.angela@epa.gov
Johannah Jacobson
Phone: 215-814-2318
Email: Jacobson.johannah@epa.gov
Weisel, Angela
Digitally signed by Weisel, Angela Date: 2024.08.14 13:04:30 -04'00'
Report Preparer
Angela Weisel, NPDES Section 1
Date
Signature/Date
MARK ZOLANDZ
Digitally signed by MARK ZOLANDZ Date: 2024.08.14 13:16:43 -04'00'
Supervisor Signature/Date
Mark Zolandz, NPDES Section 1 Chief
Date
Unique Project#: ECAD - 5494
Kettle Creek State Park Inspection Report
Inspection Date: June 25, 2024
Table of Contents
Section
Page
I Introduction............................................................................................................. 3 A Inspection Opening Conference...................................................................... 3 B Weather and Precipitation Conditions............................................................ 3 C Summary of the Facility.................................................................................. 4
II Facility Activity................................................................................................. 4
III Observations.................................................................................................... 5
IV Records Review............................................................................................... 7
V Closing Conference......................................................................................... 7
VI List of Attachments.......................................................................................... 8
DSB- ID #: ECAD - 5494
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Kettle Creek State Park Inspection Report
Inspection Date: June 25, 2024
I. Introduction
On June 25, 2024, an inspection team composed of staff from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") Region 3 (hereinafter, "EPA Inspection Team") conducted a Wastewater Inspection of the Kettle Creek State Park facility (hereinafter, "the facility"). The purpose of the inspection was to observe compliance with the Clean Water Act (CWA) and to verify compliance with the facility's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit No. PA0228860 (hereinafter, the "Permit") and applicable State and Federal regulations.
A. Inspection Opening Conference
The EPA Inspection Team arrived at the facility at est. 8:00 AM for the inspection. Inspectors met with the following facility representatives:
Name
Angela Weisel Johannah Jacobson
Robert Grenell William Shinn
Nick Selner Stephanie Countess
Table 1: Inspection Attendee List
Affiliation
Telephone
Email
EPA Region 3 Inspectors and Contractors
EPA Inspector
215-814-2124
Weisel.angela@epa.gov
EPA Inspector
215-814-2318 Jacobson.johannah@epa.gov
Facility Representatives
PA DCNR
570-923-6004
PA DCNR
814-203-2460
PA DCNR
814-999-3851
PA DCNR
717-783-3329
rgrenell@pa.gov wshinn@pa.gov nselner@pa.gov scountess@pa.gov
The EPA Inspection Team displayed their credentials to Robert Grenell at the outset of the inspection, and explained the purpose of the inspection was to observe compliance with its Permit. A copy of the Permit is provided in Attachment A. The EPA Inspection Team informed Robert Grenell that any information that the Facility deemed to be confidential business information ("CBI") should be identified to EPA representatives during the inspection and it would be handled as CBI according to EPA's CBI procedures.
B. Weather and Precipitation Conditions
During the inspection, weather was sunny. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Weather Service precipitation data for the date of the inspection and 5 days prior are provided in the Table 2 below:
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Kettle Creek State Park Inspection Report
Inspection Date: June 25, 2024
Table 2. Precipitation Data
Station Name
Date
US1PAMT0090, GREEN LANE 0.9 ESE, PA US US1PAMT0090, GREEN LANE 0.9 ESE, PA US US1PAMT0090, GREEN LANE 0.9 ESE, PA US US1PAMT0090, GREEN LANE 0.9 ESE, PA US US1PAMT0090, GREEN LANE 0.9 ESE, PA US US1PAMT0090, GREEN LANE 0.9 ESE, PA US
6/20/2024 6/21/2024 6/22/2024 6/23/2024 6/24/2024 6/25/2024
Precipitation Amount (inches)1
0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
C. Summary of the Facility
The facility treats wastewater from the Kettle Creek State Park campsite shower house. The campground services 63 campsites and closes in the winter. The open season for the campsites is based off of the hunting and fishing seasons established by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and is typically April through December. The wastewater treatment plant's average flow is about 1,000 gallons per week, and 3,000 gallons per week during a busy holiday weekend.
The facility is operated by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources ("PA DCNR") 5 days a week from approximately 8 AM to 4 PM. There is one operator onsite daily, and a seasonal operator that comes on the weekend.
II. Facility Activity and Walkthrough
During the inspection, the EPA Inspection Team visually observed the facility conditions in the presence of the facility representative. Inspection observations were made pursuant to the requirements of the Permit. The observations from the inspection are described in detail below in the Observations section. Photographs were taken during the inspection by Johannah Jacobson, and are provided in Attachment B.
Influent enters the wastewater treatment system via a gravity pump from the campground shower house. From there, waste travels through a grinder pit before entering an equalization tank ("EQ tank") (refer to Attachment B, Photographs 001 and 002). The EQ tank has a high and low level valve (refer to Attachment B, Photograph 003), that will turn the plant on after the water level has reached 9 feet. If the level does not reach 9 feet, the wastewater treatment
1 Source: NOAA National Climatic Data Center (http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/).
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Kettle Creek State Park Inspection Report
Inspection Date: June 25, 2024
system does not operate. Facility representatives stated that the average water level stays around 9 feet, so the plant is usually operating.
From the EQ tank, waste flows to the clarifier and then to the aeration tank (refer to Attachment B, Photographs 005 and 006). The aeration tank is continuously running (refer to Attachment B, Photograph 004). Next, waste flows to the mudwell or back wash tank (refer to Attachment B, Photograph 007). Solids from the filters are either returned to the mudwell or hauled out as needed (refer to Attachment B, Photograph 008). Sludge is typically hauled at the end of the season before the treatment plant closes in December.
The filters are cleaned on Monday and Friday mornings. From the filters, waste flows to the clear well (refer to Attachment B, Photograph 009) before the UV light pit (refer to Attachment B, Photographs 010 through 012). Photograph 011 shows the sample point within the UV light pit where grab samples are taken by the facility. Effluent discharges through the discharge pipe that is submerged in Kettle Creek (refer to Attachment B, Photograph 021).
Facility representatives stated that they add chlorine, soda ash, or alum as needed. The chemical additives were stored inside the treatment building (refer to Attachment B, Photograph 019).
Following the tour of the wastewater treatment system, the EPA Inspection Team observed the conditions of the onsite lab at the time of the inspection. Operators are responsible for analyzing pH, dissolved oxygen, and total residual chlorine. Fecal coliform samples are analyzed at the White Oak Lab in Ridgway, PA. All other parameters are analyzed by the PA DEP Laboratories in Harrisburg, PA. The EPA Inspection Team was able to observe the daily sampling logs for May and June, the pH probe calibration log, and the buffers used for calibration (refer to Attachment B, Photographs 015 through 020).
III. Observations
The inspection observations below are made pursuant to the requirements of the Permit.
Effluent Limitations, Monitoring, Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements
Part A.I.A.2 states that for Outfall 001, "the following effluent limitations and monitoring requirements apply."
Observation 1: DMR's submitted by the facility were reviewed by the EPA Inspection Team. The following exceedances were reported by the facility from June 30, 2022 through September 30, 2023 (See Table 3 below).
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Kettle Creek State Park Inspection Report
Inspection Date: June 25, 2024
Table 3. DMR Exceedances
Monitoring Period Date 6/30/2022 9/30/2022 11/30/2022 5/31/2023 5/31/2023 5/31/2023 5/31/2023
7/31/2023
9/30/2023
Parameter Description
Coliform, fecal general pH Solids, total suspended Solids, total suspended Coliform, fecal general Coliform, fecal general BOD, carbonaceous, 05 day, 20 C BOD, carbonaceous, 05 day, 20 C Coliform, fecal general
Statistical Base Type INST MAX INST MIN MO AVG MO AVG GEO MEAN INST MAX MO AVG
MO AVG
INST MAX
DMR Value 2419.6 4 45 31 2420 2419.6 35
28.9
2420
Limit Value 1000 6 30 30 200 1000 25
25
1000
Value Unit
% Exceedance
#/100mL 142
SU
mg/L
50
mg/L
3
#/100mL 1110
#/100mL 142
mg/L
40
mg/L
16
#/100mL 142
Facility representatives explained that the source of the fecal coliform exceedances were from a clogged UV light trap. Sludge had built up around the traps, leading to effluent exceedances. The facility was able to clean the light traps and developed a maintenance schedule to ensure similar issues will not arise again. The UV light traps are cleaned once a month.
Observation 2: The facility did not sample for E. Coli for the 2022 monitoring period. The facility is required to grab one sample per year.
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Kettle Creek State Park Inspection Report
Inspection Date: June 25, 2024
IV. Records Review
During the opening conference, the EPA Inspection Team reviewed documentation including: pH calibration logs, May and June 2024 daily sampling logs, and the Operation and Maintenance manual. The 2023 Operation and Maintenance Log, and recent lab analytical results were sent to the EPA Inspection Team and received on July 11, 2024. Copies of the referenced documents are provided under Attachment C.
V. Closing Conference
After the facility walk, the EPA Inspection Team met with the facility representatives for a closing conference. The EPA Inspection Team shared preliminary observations with the facility. The EPA Inspection Team reiterated to the facility representatives that all preliminary observations discussed were not compliance determinations. Any and all preliminary observations shared were subject to further investigation by EPA upon the additional review of records and documentation. Additional observations may be contained in this inspection report that were not identified at the time of the closing conference after EPA reviewed additional materials following the inspection.
The inspection concluded at 9:00 AM.
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Kettle Creek State Park Inspection Report
VI. List of Attachments A. Permit B. Photograph Log C. Exhibit Log 1. Operation and Maintenance Log 2. Recent Lab Analytical Reports
Inspection Date: June 25, 2024
DSB- ID #: ECAD - 5494
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