Document gDEv7LVqB6okRDRXNB0E0q6ZQ

EPA REGION 5 Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division INSPECTION REPORT Inspection Entry Date/Time Inspection Exit Date/Time Weather Media Statute(s)/Program(s) Type of Inspection 05/14/2025 09:00 AM (ET) 05/14/2025 10:48 AM (ET) Announced: Yes Access: Granted Water Clean Water Act, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permitting program (NPDES), Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) Compliance Evaluation Inspection (CEI) Permittee Name Facility or Site Name Facility/Site Physical Address City, State, Zip Code County/Borough/Parish Facility GPS Coordinates Mailing Address (If different) City, State, Zip Code Saline Valley Farms WWTP Saline Valley Farms WWTP 10496 River Edge Trail Saline, MI 48176 42.128824, -83.769458 FRS ID 110024404367 Permit Number(s) (If Applicable) MI0057012 SIC and/or NAICS 4952 Lead Inspector: Joseph Forth JOSEPH FORTH EPA REGION 5 Digitally signed by JOSEPH FORTH Date: 2025.12.12 11:14:09 -06'00' Forth.Joseph@epa.gov (312) 886-7275 Supervisor Review: Molly Smith MOLLY SMITH EPA REGION 5 Digitally signed by MOLLY SMITH Date: 2025.12.12 11:23:34 -06'00' Smith.Molly@epa.gov (312) 353-8773 SECTION I - INTRODUCTION Site Entry and Inspection Objectives EPA REGION 5 Lead Inspector, Joseph Forth, arrived at the Saline Valley Farms WWTP (the "Site" or "Facility"), located at 10496 River Edge Trail, Saline, MI 48176, at 09:00 AM (ET) on 05/14/2025 for an announced inspection. EPA REGION 5 Lead Inspector presented credentials to Anthony Dowson and informed them that this was an EPA REGION 5 inspection to investigate elements of the Clean Water Act (CWA), as authorized by 1 of 11 Saline Valley Farms WWTP Inspection Date(s): 05/14/2025 - 05/14/2025 CWA Section 308 and implementing regulations. This report is based on information supplied by Saline Valley Farms WWTP representatives, direct observations made by the EPA REGION 5 inspectors, records and reports maintained by the permittee and other information including: photographs taken by EPA REGION 5 inspectors, physical evidence collected by the EPA REGION 5 inspectors, measurements taken by EPA REGION 5 inspectors, verbal or written statements made by information supplied by Saline Valley Farms WWTP representatives during or subsequent to the on-site Inspection, and materials, processes, data, photographs, or documents shown, demonstrated, or submitted to the EPA REGION 5 inspectors by Saline Valley Farms WWTP representatives during or subsequent to the on-site Inspection. In addition, information gathered prior to or subsequent to the Inspection from a review of EPA, State, and/or public records may be included in this report. Attendees Organization Attendee Name EPA REGION 5 EPA REGION 5 Highland Treatment, Inc. Highland Treatment, Inc. Michigan EGLE Joseph Forth Elizabeth DeMilt Anthony Dowson Matt Horn Bridgett Carver Michigan EGLE Olivia Hagan Facility/Site Description Title Lead Inspector Inspector Certified Operator, Operator in Charge Operator Present in Opening Conf. Yes Yes Yes Present in Closing Conf. Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes NPDES Compliance Yes Yes Staff NPDES Compliance Yes Yes Staff - Part 41 Engineer EPA REGION 5 lead inspector confirmed the following facility information: Saline Valley Farms WWTP is a municipal wastewater treatment facility. The Plant was built in 2000 with upgrades installed in 2015. An operator is usually onsite 5 days a week, 3 hours a day. Anthony Dowson has a Municipal Class A certification, as well as some industrial wastewater certifications. Matt Horn does not currently have an operator certification but is in the process of receiving certification. The Facility has an average daily flow of 20,000 gallons per day (gpd) and a max daily flow of 30,000 gpd. The max designed flow of the Facility is 160,000 gpd. The Facility does not accept any industrial discharge, only residential sanitary discharge. The collection system separates sanitary and storm sewers. The wastewater treatment process begins with influent, which is fed by grinder pumps that convey the wastewater into the system. The flow then enters one of two equalization tanks, each approximately 18,000 gallons. The wastewater is pumped to one of the extended aeration basins, liquid alum is added to help treat phosphorous. After aeration, the flow enters final clarification (installed 8 years ago). The wastewater stream then goes through the ultraviolet (UV) building for disinfection. After disinfection, the wastewater flow is measured and conveyed via gravity to the final discharge point (Outfall 001A) at the Saline River. The Plant treats sludge with 2 large digesters. The Facility does not often need to haul out sludge, but when it does, the sludge is sent to a landfill in Tennessee County, Michigan. Samples are taken before and after disinfection. The Facility analyzes Dissolved Oxygen (DO) and pH onsite. At the time of inspection, the Facility was not recording the time when pH and DO samples were analyzed to 2 of 11 Saline Valley Farms WWTP Inspection Date(s): 05/14/2025 - 05/14/2025 ensure that the time sensitive sampling requirements are met. Carbonaceous Biological Oxygen Demand (CBOD), phosphorous, ammonia, total suspended solids (TSS) are analyzed by Highland Treatment Laboratories offsite. During the inspection, the Facility shared information about recent updates and upgrades to the Facility. These include: a third blower, fine air diffusers, Ross line increased diameter. According to Anthony Dowson, the 2023 self-reported nitrogen effluent limit exceedances were related to not being able to "waste enough and get the waste liquor down". In response, the Facility replaced Blower #2. According to Anthony Dowson, the 2024 selfreported phosphorous effluent limit exceedances were caused by the liquid alum line freezing. The issue was addressed by changing the location where the alum is added and increasing the amount of liquid alum added. Between November 13, 2023, and November 17, 2023, the automatic continuous sampler malfunctioned, and the staff did not separately take the permit required grab samples. The Facility is currently in the renewal process for a new NPDES permit with the State of Michigan. Facility/Site Information Location(s) Location/Area/Sub-area WWTP Description All processes and equipment related to the wastewater treatment system. SECTION II - OBSERVATIONS Location: WWTP Observation #: JF1-OB-001 Date: 05/14/2025 Weather: Water from the sludge digesters is decanted to the clarifiers. During the inspection, EPA staff noted there was stagnant water standing in the aeration basin not being currently utilized. Anthony Dowson stated that the stagnant water in the aeration basin, not currently being utilized, is kept at that level to protect the diffusers to UV deterioration. Additionally, at the time of inspection, the sample refrigerator was at 5 degrees Celsius. Photo(s) 1. IMG_0489.JPG 2. IMG_0488.JPG 3. IMG_0485.JPG 4. IMG_0487.JPG 5. IMG_0483.JPG 6. IMG_0486.JPG 7. IMG_0490.JPG 8. IMG_0484.JPG 9. IMG_0482.JPG SECTION III - RECORDS REVIEW Records may not be in sequential order. 3 of 11 Saline Valley Farms WWTP Inspection Date(s): 05/14/2025 - 05/14/2025 Record: Other - Bench sheet Ref #: JF1-RR-001 Reviewed By: Joseph Forth AOC: No Reviewed Date: 06/06/2025 Facility provided updated bench sheet with columns for recording pH sampling times. Document(s) 1. Copy of Ph and DO bench sheet.xlsx SECTION IV - SAMPLING ACTIVITIES AND ANALYTICAL RESULTS No sampling was conducted. SECTION V - AREA OF CONCERN Areas of Concern may not be in sequential order. The presentation of Areas of Concern does not constitute a formal compliance determination or violation. AOC Reference #: JF1-OC-FD AOC: Opening Conference At the time of inspection, the Facility was not recording the time pH and DO samples are analyzed, to ensure that the time sensitive sampling requirements are met. Additional Notes: On June 6, 2025, Anthony Dowson provided a new bench sheet template containing fields to record both sample collection and sample analyzation time. AOC Reference #: JF1-OC-FD AOC: Opening Conference An operator is usually onsite 5 days a week, 3 hours a day. Additional Notes: During the inspection, Anthony Dowson stated that Highland Treatment is in the process of hiring and certifying 4 new wastewater operators to help increase operator presence at all of Highland Treatment's facilities. SECTION VI - CLOSING CONFERENCE AND FOLLOW UP Closing Conference The EPA REGION 5 Lead Inspector held a closing conference with Facility personnel at 10:48 AM (ET) on 05/14/2025 for the inspection. During the closing conference, EPA REGION 5 Lead Inspector discussed the observations and Areas of Concern identified during the inspection. Observations and Areas of Concern have not yet been evaluated for a formal compliance determination. U.S. EPA Staff conducted a Cybersecurity Questionnaire was conducted at 10:40 AM. 4 of 11 Saline Valley Farms WWTP Inspection Date(s): 05/14/2025 - 05/14/2025 Follow Up/ Communication Log Anthony Dowson contacted U.S. EPA staff on 05/14/2025 and 6/6/2025 to provide requested information/materials via email. Highland Treatment, Inc. has hired 4 new operators and is in the process of getting each operator certified to help expand operator presence at all their facilities. SECTION VII - LIST OF APPENDICES 1. Photo Log 2. Document Log 5 of 11 Saline Valley Farms WWTP Inspection Date(s): APPENDIX 1: PHOTO LOG 05/14/2025 - 05/14/2025 Photo 1 05/14/2025 09:58 AM No CBI WWTP Photo of DO sampling point. No PII IMG_0482.JPG Photographer: Joseph Forth Down Photo 2 05/14/2025 09:59 AM No CBI WWTP Photo of the equalization tank. No PII IMG_0483.JPG Photographer: Joseph Forth South 6 of 11 Saline Valley Farms WWTP Inspection Date(s): 05/14/2025 - 05/14/2025 Photo 3 05/14/2025 10:00 AM WWTP Photo of aeration basin. No CBI No PII IMG_0484.JPG Photographer: Joseph Forth North Photo 4 05/14/2025 10:02 AM WWTP Photo of digester system. No CBI No PII IMG_0485.JPG Photographer: Joseph Forth Down 7 of 11 Saline Valley Farms WWTP Inspection Date(s): 05/14/2025 - 05/14/2025 Photo 5 05/14/2025 10:06 AM WWTP Photo of clarifier. No CBI No PII IMG_0486.JPG Photographer: Joseph Forth Down Photo 6 05/14/2025 10:06 AM WWTP Photo of clarifier. No CBI No PII IMG_0487.JPG Photographer: Joseph Forth Down 8 of 11 Saline Valley Farms WWTP Inspection Date(s): 05/14/2025 - 05/14/2025 Photo 7 IMG_0488.JPG 05/14/2025 10:09 AM No CBI No PII Photographer: Joseph Forth WWTP UV Building Photo of UV system and post disinfection grab sample point. Photo 8 05/14/2025 10:10 AM No CBI WWTP Photo of composite sampler. No PII IMG_0489.JPG Photographer: Joseph Forth UV Building 9 of 11 Saline Valley Farms WWTP Inspection Date(s): 05/14/2025 - 05/14/2025 Photo 9 05/14/2025 10:19 AM WWTP Outfall 001-A No CBI No PII IMG_0490.JPG Photographer: Joseph Forth South 10 of 11 Saline Valley Farms WWTP Inspection Date(s): APPENDIX 2: DOCUMENT LOG Document Type Document Name Other - Bench sheet Copy of Ph and DO bench sheet.xlsx 05/14/2025 - 05/14/2025 Contains Contains Uploaded By CBI PII No No Joseph Forth Date Received 06/6/2025 11 of 11