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Region 6 - Enforcement & Compliance Assurance Division INSPECTION REPORT Inspection Date(s): Media Program: Regulatory Program(s) 06/15/2023 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: Cochiti Community Development Corporation Cochiti Pueblo Sewage Lagoon 20 Buffalo Thunder Trail Cochiti Lake, Sandoval County, New Mexico 5200 Cochiti Hwy Cochiti Lake, New Mexico 87083 Sandoval (505) 465-2219 Michael Quintana CEO generalmanager@cochitigolfclub.com FRS Number: NPDES Permit Number: Media Identifier Number: NAICS: SIC: 110028119809 NM0029831 (terminated 12/20/2002) NA 221320 4952 Personnel participating in inspection: Michael Quintana Cochiti Community Development Corporation Joseph Chris Chavez Cochiti Pueblo David A. Esparza USEPA/6ECDWM Chief Executive Officer Maintenance Lead Environmental Engineer EPA Lead Inspector Signature/Date DAVID ESPARZA Date: 2023.07.12 10:19:29 -06'00' Digitally signed by DAVID ESPARZA David Esparza Date Supervisor Signature/Date ROBERTO BERNIER Roberto Bernier Digitally signed by ROBERTO BERNIER Date: 2023.07.12 13:07:26 -05'00' Date 6ENFORM-019-R8.2 (02/12/2020) 1 Cochiti Community Development Corporation/Cochiti Pueblo Sewage Lagoon Permit No. NM0029831 Inspection Date 06/15/2023 Section I - INTRODUCTION PURPOSE OF THE INSPECTION EPA Region 6 inspector David Esparza, PE, arrived at Cochiti Community Development Corporation (CCDC) office at 1:00 PM for the opening meeting prior to traveling to the Cochiti Pueblo Sewage Lagoon Treatment Plant (SLTP) (Cochiti) on June 7, 2023, for an announced inspection. I met with Mr. Michael Quintana CCDC CEO and Mr. Chris Chavez, Cochiti Pueblo, presented them my credentials and informed them that this was an EPA inspection to determine Cochiti Pueblo's Sewage Lagoon 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 CCDC 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 3:30 PM with above-described individual to answer any questions. FACILITY DESCRIPTION The WWTP is a minor discharger with a design flow capacity of 0.0.61 MGD (million gallons per day). The facility is located approximately 500-feet southeast of 1405 Cochiti Hwy (Cochiti Mini Mart) along an unnamed dirt road, Cochiti Lake, Sandoval County, New Mexico (depicted in Aerial Image #1 below). The sewage lagoon is currently in operation and though numerous pieces of appurtenant process equipment have been removed and ancillary services have been disconnected. The original CCDC NPDES permit "NM0029831" was issued on December 15, 1989 (with an effective date of January 16, 1990) and expired on January 15, 1995. The permit was terminated on December 20, 2002. This CEI was conducted to determine the existence and/or operational status of the "no-discharge" sewage lagoon. However, associated documentation, inclusive of past inspection reports, NPDES Fact Sheets etc., could not be located. 2 Cochiti Community Development Corporation/Cochiti Pueblo Sewage Lagoon Permit No. NM0029831 Inspection Date 06/15/2023 Aerial Image #1: Overall view of the Cochiti Pueblo Sewage Lagoon location. Aerial from Google Earth Maps. Section II - OBSERVATIONS I observed the following and/or the following information was provided and/or stated: x The headworks/bar screen equipment appeared to be disconnected and non-operational. Given the fact the headworks/bar screen appear to be non-operational all inorganic material and coarse solids enter the treatment process. x The treatment cells exhibited limited remaining freeboard, and corrosion. x Multiple pieces or treatment process equipment was disconnected and non-operational. x Visual observation indicated two (2) lined lagoon cells which equate to approximately 0.06-acres (westside lagoon) and 0.10-acres (eastside lagoon), respectively in surface area. It should be noted remnants of an abandoned third lagoon located along the eastern perimeter were visible, though it was unlined. x Extensive vegetative overgrowth throughout the facility area was visible, which could potentially attract rodents and/or vermin; thus, causing undermining of the facility structures. x CCDC and Cochiti personnel stated they were not sure if the solids have never been wasted. Therefore, based on this statement the current thickness of the sludge blanket on the bottom of the lagoons is not known. Depending on the depth, this may reduce treatment volume in the existing lagoons and mandate rehabilitation of the abandoned lagoon or expansion of either of the other two (2) lagoons. x There is a back-up generator onsite, but the operational status of it is unknown. x No facility personnel were onsite and locked doors prevented ready access. 3 Cochiti Community Development Corporation/Cochiti Pueblo Sewage Lagoon Permit No. NM0029831 Inspection Date 06/15/2023 Section III - AREAS OF CONCERN I observed the following areas of concern at the time of the inspection. x The headworks/bar screen equipment appeared to be disconnected and non-operational. Given the fact the headworks/bar screen appear to be non-operational all inorganic material and coarse solids enter the treatment process. x The treatment cells exhibited limited remaining freeboard, and corrosion. x Multiple pieces or treatment process equipment was disconnected and non-operational. x Visual observation indicated two (2) lined lagoon cells which equate to approximately 0.06-acres (westside lagoon) and 0.10-acres (eastside lagoon) in surface area. It should be noted remnants of a third lagoon located along the eastern perimeter were visible, though it was unlined. x Extensive vegetative overgrowth throughout the facility area was visible, which could potentially attract rodents and/or vermin; thus, causing undermining of the facility structures. x CCDC and Cochiti personnel stated they were not sure if the solids have never been wasted. Therefore, based on this statement the current thickness of the sludge blanket on the bottom of the lagoons is not known. Depending on the depth, this may reduce treatment volume in the existing lagoons and mandate rehabilitation of the abandoned lagoon or expansion of either of the other two (2) lagoons. x There is a back-up generator onsite, but the operational status of it is unknown. x No facility personnel were onsite and locked doors prevented ready access. Section IV - FOLLOW UP No additional information was received by EPA after exiting the Facility on June 15, 2023. Section V - LIST OF APPENDICES Appendix 1 - Photo Log - 6 photos taken 06/15/2023 4 Cochiti Community Development Corporation/Cochiti Pueblo Sewage Lagoon Permit No. NM0029831 Inspection Date 06/15/2023 Appendix 1 Photograph Log UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY Photograph Log Photo No. 1 Location: Cochiti Pueblo Sewage Lagoon City: Cochiti Pueblo County/Parish: Sandoval State: New Mexico View looking approximately southwest towards the aeration basin treatment process equipment. The treatment structure in the foreground was offline. Note: The extensive vegetative overgrowth visible throughout the facility, which could potentially attract rodents and/or vermin; thus, causing undermining of the facility structures. (DSCN 2598). Photographed by D. Esparza. UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY Photograph Log Photo No. 2 Location: Cochiti Pueblo Sewage Lagoon City: Cochiti Pueblo County/Parish: Sandoval State: New Mexico View looking approximately northwest form the aeration basins on the left and an offline clarifier on the right. In the approximate upper center of the photograph is the offline headworks/bar screen. (DSCN 2600). Photographed by D. Esparza. UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY Photograph Log Photo No. 3 Location: Cochiti Pueblo Sewage Lagoon City: Cochiti Pueblo County/Parish: Sandoval State: New Mexico Another view looking approximately northwest of the facility. Note: the yellow sump pump at the center right of the photograph. Additionally, note the visible rust on the two (2) clarifiers. The center clarifier was almost empty and the clarifier of the left exhibited standing or stagnate aromatic water, inclusive visible algae growth. (DSCN 2601). Photographed by D. Esparza. UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY Photograph Log Photo No. 4 Location: Cochiti Pueblo Sewage Lagoon City: Cochiti Pueblo County/Parish: Sandoval State: New Mexico View of both sewage evaporative lagoons. Located along the approximate southside of the facility. Note: The extensive vegetative overgrowth visible along the perimeter of the lagoons, which could potentially attract rodents and/or vermin; thus, causing undermining of the facility structures. (DSCN 2602). Photographed by D. Esparza. UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY Photograph Log Photo No. 5 Location: Cochiti Pueblo Sewage Lagoon City: Cochiti Pueblo County/Parish: Sandoval State: New Mexico View of eastside lagoon. Note: there were visible signs of liner degradation along the containment banks in various areas. (DSCN 2603). Photographed by D. Esparza. UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY Photograph Log Photo No. 6 Location: Cochiti Pueblo Sewage Lagoon City: Cochiti Pueblo County/Parish: Sandoval State: New Mexico View of additional decommissioned process treatment equipment situated along the eastside of the facility. (DSCN 2604). Photographed by D. Esparza.