Document k7gLqRRwomeZj2r4O4M14gGD

Region 6 - Enforcement & Compliance Assurance Division INSPECTION REPORT Inspection Date(s): Media Program: Regulatory Program(s) 03/27/2025 Water CWA Company Name: Facility Name: Facility Physical Location: (city, state, zip code) Mailing address: (city, state, zip code) County/Parish: Facility Phone Number Facility Contact: Village of Taos Ski Valley Taos Ski Valley WWTP 101 Ocean Boulevard Village of Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico 87525 Post Office Box 100 Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico 87525 Taos 575-776-8220 Kevin Cisneros WWTP Operator kevin@vtsv.org FRS Number: Identification/Permit Number: Media Identifier Number: NAICS: SIC: 110002047197 NM0022101 NA 221320 4952 Personnel participating in inspection: Kevin Cisneros Village of Taos Ski Valley Damean Crenen Village of Taos Ski Valley Josiah Griego Village of Taos Ski Valley David Esparza EPA-R6/ECDWM WWTP Operator WWTP Operator WWTP Operator Environmental Engineer EPA Lead Inspector Signature/Date DAVID ESPARZA David Esparza Digitally signed by DAVID ESPARZA Date: 2025.04.29 14:42:35 -06'00' Date Supervisor Signature/Date ROBERTO BERNIER Date: 2025.04.30 16:30:52 -05'00' Digitally signed by ROBERTO BERNIER Roberto Bernier Date 6ENFORM-020-R8.2 (02/12/2020) 1 Village of Taos Ski Valley/Taos Ski Valley WWTP Permit No. NM0022101 Inspection Date 03/27/2025 Section I - INTRODUCTION PURPOSE OF THE INSPECTION United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 6 inspector David Esparza, PE, arrived at the Village of Taos Ski Valley (Taos Ski Valley) Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) at approximately 8:30 AM on March 27, 2025, for an unannounced inspection. I (David Esparza) presented my credentials to Mr. Kevin Cisneros, Lead Wastewater Operator of Taos Ski Valley and informed him that this was an EPA inspection to determine the facility's compliance under the Clean Water Act (CWA) and the requirements 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 Taos Ski Valley representatives, observations made by the EPA inspector, NMED, and records and reports maintained by the permittee (Taos Ski Valley), and the EPA. Before leaving the facility on March 27, 2025, an exit briefing was held with Mr. Cisneros, to explain areas of concern noted at the time of the inspection. It should be noted the WWTP also maintains a discharge permit (DP-1383) issued by the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED), Groundwater Quality Bureau (GWQB) in conjunction with sewage sludge disposal. FACILITY DESCRIPTION The Village of Taos Ski Valley (VTSV) WWTP facility is classified as a minor discharger with a design capacity of 0.9 MGD serving a year-round population of approximately 500 people and a peak tourist population of approximately 5,000. The facility is located at 38 Ocean Boulevard Taos Ski Valley, Taos County New Mexico or approximately 0.36-miles west of the Village Administration Office, between New Mexico State Road (SR) 150 and Ocean Boulevard in Taos Ski Valley, Taos County, New Mexico (denoted in Aerial Image #1 below). Approximate coordinates to the VTSV WWTP facility are Latitude 3635'48.66" North, Longitude 10527'40.67" West. Site hours of operation are Monday through Friday 7am to 5pm. The existing WWTP is located inside a building to protect it from inclement weather during the winter months. The WWTP treatment process is comprised of a gravity collection system, one (1) lift station (identified in Table #1), headworks comprised of a grit removal system with a screw pump and bagging system. Flow from the headworks then traverses through a flow control box; thence to two (2) in-ground equalization (EQ) basins, i.e., an anoxic EQ basin with mixers and a steel EQ basin. The WWTP maintains the following basins which were retrofitted from the existing treatment facility. This includes one (1) PreAnoxic Zone (PAX) basin of approximately 24K-gallons (existing tank) which flows into the one (1) Pre-Aeration Zone (PAI) basin of approximately 71K-gallons (existing tank). Flow is separated into two (2) parallel treatment trains. Each train consists of one (1) Pre-Aeration Zone tank of approximately 30K-gallons (existing tanks) which flow into the following process zones. One (1) Post-Anoxic Zone (AXP) basin of 29K-gallons per train which flow into one (1) Membrane Zone (MBR) basin of approximately 21K-gallons. Solids from the MBR basin are returned to the Pre-Anoxic Zone basin. The 2 Village of Taos Ski Valley/Taos Ski Valley WWTP Permit No. NM0022101 Inspection Date 03/27/2025 permeate water thence traverses through two (2) ultraviolet (UV) disinfection units per train prior to discharge to the Rio Hondo, a tributary of the Rio Grande. The WWTP utilizes an Alfa Laval centrifuge located within the dewatering building prior to discharging to the sludge pad. Final disposal of the sludge is at the Taos County Regional Landfill or Rio Rancho Landfill. In June 2019 an improvement project included the placement of an Ovivo Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) system that provides primary treatment in the WWTP. This MBR system is comprised of two (2) treatment trains including an upgraded ultra-violet (UV) disinfection system that has two (2) banks of three (3) modules for each treatment train and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) instrumentation. Aerial Image #1: Overall view of the Village of Taos Ski Valley's Wastewater Treatment Plant. Aerial from Google Earth maps. Table 1: Village of Taos Ski Valley Lift Stations Lift Station 1 Kachina 104 Kachina Road Address Taos Ski Valley has written policies and procedures to address potential sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs), and standard operating procedures (SOPs) pertaining to facility operations and maintenance (O&M) and a current Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG) program policy regarding existing and new FOG contributors. Additionally, their utility Asset Management Plan was updated. 3 Village of Taos Ski Valley/Taos Ski Valley WWTP Permit No. NM0022101 Inspection Date 03/27/2025 Currently, there is no Industrial Users (IU) or satellite communities contributing to the WWTP. Section II - OBSERVATIONS I observed the following and/or the following information was provided or stated on March 27, 2025. It was stated that Mr. Drew Padilla, Prodigy Builders, Inc. was the contract operator for VTSV, and he was on-site approximately 2 times per month. The previous June 2019 improvements, which included upgrades to the disinfection system, a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) instrumentation, and placement of an Ovivo Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) system; continue to provide improved treatment monitoring and operation. The WWTP maintains an on-site generator for backup power that is routinely exercised every week. The previously observed stockpiled sludge remains on-site. It appears new sludge material has been added to the stockpiled sludge. Overall operation and maintenance (O&M) of the WWTP appeared to be satisfactory. All equipment looked to be running properly. Regarding the identified submitted Integrated Compliance Information System (ICIS) Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMR) data for the period of January 21, 2022, through December 31, 2024, the WWTP stated they were attempting the following actions: 1. Nitrogen as Ammonia- increasing the air to reduce the Total Nitrogen 2. Total Phosphorus- adding aluminum sulfate 3. 5-day Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD5)- adding a slurry of molasses syrup 4. pH- adding caustic soda and liquid Section III - AREAS OF CONCERN A review of the submitted Integrated Compliance Information System (ICIS) Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMR) data for the period January 21, 2022, through December 31, 2024, indicates NPDES permit exceedances with respect to Nitrogen and Phosphorus, as well as 5-day Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD5) and pH (Appendix 1 ICIS E90 Effluent Violations). EPA Region 6 inspector David Esparza conducted a closing conference at the Village of Taos Ski Valley's WWTP at approximately 11:30 AM on March 27, 2025, for the inspection. Section IV - FOLLOW UP 4 Village of Taos Ski Valley/Taos Ski Valley WWTP Permit No. NM0022101 Inspection Date 03/27/2025 No additional information was received by EPA after exiting the Facility on March 27, 2025. Section V - LIST OF APPENDICES Appendix 1 - ICIS E90 Effluent Violations 5 Village of Taos Ski Valley/Taos Ski Valley WWTP Permit No. NM0022101 Inspection Date 03/27/2025 Appendix 1 Review of the ICIS E90 Effluent Violations E90 Effluent Violations From 01/01/2019 - Present NM0022101 TAOS SKI VALLEY, VILLAG Monitoring Period End Date 01/31/2022 01/31/2022 01/31/2022 02/28/2022 03/31/2022 03/31/2022 03/31/2022 03/31/2022 04/30/2022 05/31/2022 05/31/2022 01/31/2023 Perm Feature ID 001 001 001 001 001 001 001 001 001 001 001 001 Limit Set Designator A A A A A A A A A A A A Parameter Desc Statistical Base Short Desc Nitrogen, ammonia total [a 7 DA AVG Nitrogen, ammonia total [a 7 DA AVG Nitrogen, total [as N] 7 DA AVG Phosphorus, total [as P] 7 DA AVG Phosphorus, total [as P] 30DA AVG Phosphorus, total [as P] 30DA AVG Phosphorus, total [as P] 7 DA AVG Phosphorus, total [as P] 7 DA AVG Phosphorus, total [as P] 7 DA AVG BOD, 5-day, 20 deg. C 30DA AVG BOD, 5-day, percent remo MO AV MN Nitrogen, ammonia total [a 30DA AVG Limit Unit Short Desc lb/d mg/L mg/L mg/L lb/d mg/L lb/d mg/L mg/L mg/L % mg/L Limit Value 5.34 3.2 12.3 .75 .8 .5 1.2 .75 .75 30 85 3.2 DMR Value Qualif ier Code = = = = = = = = = = = = DMR Value 6.41 11 17.3 .85 1.34 2.44 2.35 4.1 1.1 41 16.33 3.63 Reported Number of Excursions 2 2 1 1 10 10 10 10 1 1 1 3 Monitoring Period End Date 01/31/2023 01/31/2023 01/31/2023 01/31/2023 02/28/2023 02/28/2023 02/28/2023 02/28/2023 02/28/2023 03/31/2023 03/31/2023 03/31/2023 03/31/2023 03/31/2023 03/31/2023 03/31/2023 03/31/2023 03/31/2023 03/31/2023 Perm Feature ID 001 001 001 001 001 001 001 001 001 001 001 001 001 001 001 001 001 001 001 Limit Set Designator A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A Parameter Desc Statistical Base Short Desc Nitrogen, ammonia total [a 7 DA AVG Nitrogen, ammonia total [a 7 DA AVG Nitrogen, total [as N] 30DA AVG Nitrogen, total [as N] 7 DA AVG Nitrogen, ammonia total [a 30DA AVG Nitrogen, ammonia total [a 7 DA AVG Nitrogen, ammonia total [a 7 DA AVG Nitrogen, total [as N] 30DA AVG Nitrogen, total [as N] 7 DA AVG Nitrogen, ammonia total [a 30DA AVG Nitrogen, ammonia total [a 30DA AVG Nitrogen, ammonia total [a 7 DA AVG Nitrogen, ammonia total [a 7 DA AVG Nitrogen, total [as N] 30DA AVG Nitrogen, total [as N] 30DA AVG Nitrogen, total [as N] 7 DA AVG Nitrogen, total [as N] 7 DA AVG Phosphorus, total [as P] 30DA AVG Phosphorus, total [as P] 7 DA AVG Limit Unit Short Desc lb/d mg/L mg/L mg/L mg/L lb/d mg/L mg/L mg/L lb/d mg/L lb/d mg/L lb/d mg/L lb/d mg/L mg/L lb/d Limit Value 5.34 3.2 8.2 12.3 3.2 5.34 3.2 8.2 12.3 5.34 3.2 5.34 3.2 13.65 8.2 20.5 12.3 .5 1.2 DMR Value Qualif ier Code = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = DMR Value 5.56 8.4 9.53 13.3 8.59 14.56 24 12.73 26.41 20.42 34.4 29.02 44 21.3 35.88 29.83 45.22 .95 1.25 Reported Number of Excursions 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 0 0 12 12 12 12 10 10 10 10 6 6 Monitoring Period End Date 03/31/2023 04/30/2023 04/30/2023 04/30/2023 04/30/2023 04/30/2023 08/31/2023 08/31/2023 08/31/2023 08/31/2023 08/31/2023 08/31/2023 08/31/2023 08/31/2023 08/31/2023 09/30/2023 09/30/2023 09/30/2023 09/30/2023 Perm Feature ID 001 001 001 001 001 001 001 001 001 001 001 001 001 001 001 001 001 001 001 Limit Set Designator A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A Parameter Desc Statistical Base Short Desc Phosphorus, total [as P] 7 DA AVG Nitrogen, ammonia total [a 30DA AVG Nitrogen, ammonia total [a 7 DA AVG Nitrogen, ammonia total [a 7 DA AVG Nitrogen, total [as N] 30DA AVG Nitrogen, total [as N] 7 DA AVG Nitrogen, ammonia total [a 30DA AVG Nitrogen, ammonia total [a 30DA AVG Nitrogen, ammonia total [a 7 DA AVG Nitrogen, ammonia total [a 7 DA AVG Nitrogen, total [as N] 30DA AVG Phosphorus, total [as P] 30DA AVG Phosphorus, total [as P] 30DA AVG Phosphorus, total [as P] 7 DA AVG Phosphorus, total [as P] 7 DA AVG Nitrogen, ammonia total [a 30DA AVG Nitrogen, ammonia total [a 30DA AVG Nitrogen, ammonia total [a 7 DA AVG Nitrogen, ammonia total [a 7 DA AVG Limit Unit Short Desc mg/L mg/L lb/d mg/L mg/L mg/L lb/d mg/L lb/d mg/L mg/L lb/d mg/L lb/d mg/L lb/d mg/L lb/d mg/L Limit Value .75 3.2 5.34 3.2 8.2 12.3 5.34 3.2 5.34 3.2 16.6 1.2 1.5 1.8 2.25 5.34 3.2 5.34 3.2 DMR Value Qualif ier Code = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = DMR Value 1.9 5.5 7.12 21 8.92 24.13 6.56 18 6.56 18 19.16 3.02 8.3 3.02 8.3 13.98 33 13.98 33 Reported Number of Excursions 6 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 1 4 4 4 4 Monitoring Period End Date 09/30/2023 09/30/2023 09/30/2023 09/30/2023 09/30/2023 09/30/2023 10/31/2023 12/31/2023 02/29/2024 02/29/2024 03/31/2024 03/31/2024 04/30/2024 04/30/2024 06/30/2024 10/31/2024 12/31/2024 Perm Feature ID 001 001 001 001 001 001 001 001 001 001 001 001 001 001 001 001 001 Limit Set Designator A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A Parameter Desc Statistical Base Short Desc Nitrogen, total [as N] 30DA AVG Nitrogen, total [as N] 7 DA AVG Phosphorus, total [as P] 30DA AVG Phosphorus, total [as P] 30DA AVG Phosphorus, total [as P] 7 DA AVG Phosphorus, total [as P] 7 DA AVG pH MINIMUM Nitrogen, ammonia total [a 7 DA AVG Phosphorus, total [as P] 30DA AVG Phosphorus, total [as P] 7 DA AVG Phosphorus, total [as P] 30DA AVG Phosphorus, total [as P] 7 DA AVG Phosphorus, total [as P] 30DA AVG Phosphorus, total [as P] 7 DA AVG pH MINIMUM BOD, 5-day, percent remo MO AV MN Nitrogen, ammonia total [a 7 DA AVG Limit Unit Short Desc mg/L mg/L lb/d mg/L lb/d mg/L SU mg/L mg/L mg/L mg/L mg/L mg/L mg/L SU % mg/L Limit Value 12.7 19 .8 2.5 1.2 3.75 6.6 3.2 .5 .75 .5 .75 .5 .75 6.6 85 3.2 DMR Value Qualif ier Code = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = < < DMR Value 34 34 6.36 15 6.36 15 6.42 4 .57 .88 1.25 1.3 1.74 3 6.38 95.14 3.8 Reported Number of Excursions 22 2 3 3 2 2 2 2 19 2 3