Document kdEboMz9kkzDvmGrDepX7RDb

NPDES Inspection Report - Wastewater Treatment Facility National Database Information Inspection Date: September 11, 2024 Inspection Type: CEI - Wastewater Treatment Facility Entry/Exit Time: NPDES ID Number: ND0030813 Opening Conference: 8:15 a.m. - 9:10 a.m. Site Review: 9:15 a.m. - 10:20 a.m. NAICS Code: 221320 Inspection ID: 202409_ ND0030813 Lead inspector and affiliation: Stephanie Meyers / EPA Region 8 Inspector and affiliation: Stephanie Passarelli / EPA Region 8 Facility Location Information Site/Facility Name & Location: Dakota Magic Casino Wastewater Treatment Facility 16849 102nd Street SE Hankinson, ND 58041 Email Report to: Bryan DuMarce, Superintendent Dakota Magic Casino bdumarce@dakotamagic.com Contact Information Facility Contacts: Person/Company meeting definition of "Operator" Authorized Official(s) Name(s)/Title Allen Weiand / Operator / Dakota Magic Casino / present during the opening and closing conferences as well as the inspection David Baird / Operator / Dakota Magic Casino / present during the opening conference Lyndon Haug / Technician / Dakota Magic Casino / present during the opening conference Bryan DuMarce / Superintendent / Dakota Magic Casino / present during part of the inspection and closing conference Dakota Nation Gaming Enterprise Bryan DuMarce / Superintendent / Dakota Magic Casino Permit Information Is the permit on site and available? Lagoon Category: No Discharge Monitoring Frequency: N/A Yes, digitally Effective Date: 07/01/2018 Expiration Date: 06/30/2023 Is the Facility under a compliance Administratively Continued schedule? No Is correct contact information indicated on ICIS? Yes Indicate correct contact information: N/A Receiving Water(s): No-discharge Regulatory Inspector's source of information: Notice of Intent for the permit, ICIS, ECHO and facility representatives Page 1 of 4 Areas Evaluated During Inspection Permit Records Facility Site Review Self-Monitoring Program Compliance Schedule Laboratory Effluent/Receiving Waters Flow Measurement Operations and Maintenance Sludge Handling/Disposal Pretreatment Pollution Prevention Stormwater Combined Sewer Overflow Sanitary Sewer Overflow Report Review and Signature Drafter Name Draft Date Contact Information U.S. EPA Region 8 Stephanie Meyers 11/14/2024 Denver, Colorado meyers.stephanie@epa.gov (303) 312-6938 Reviewer Name Draft Date Contact Information U.S. EPA Region 8 Stephanie Passarelli 11/18/2024 Denver, Colorado passarelli.stephanie@epa.gov (303) 312-6803 Management Reviewer Name/Signature/Date Contact Information EMILIO LLAMOZAS Digitally signed by EMILIO LLAMOZAS Date: 2024.11.21 15:42:58 -07'00' U.S. EPA Region 8 Denver, Colorado llamozas.emilio@epa.gov (303) 312-6407 Emilio Llamozas, NPDES and Wetlands Enforcement Section Supervisor Inspection Narrative and Site Description On September 11, 2024, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) inspectors Stephanie Meyers and Stephanie Passarelli (inspectors) conducted an inspection of the Dakota Magic Casino wastewater treatment facility (WWTF; facility), located within the exterior boundaries of the Lake Traverse Reservation, owned by the Dakota Nation Gaming Enterprise and operated by the Dakota Magic Casino. The purpose of the inspection was to determine compliance with the facility's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit No. ND0030813 (permit). The WWTF is permitted as a "No-Discharge" facility, with permission to discharge if granted by the permit issuing authority and conducted in accordance with the permit. Inspectors were accompanied by Dakota Magic Casino representatives Allen Weiand, David Baird, Lyndon Haug, and Bryan DuMarce. The inspection was coordinated with Bryan DuMarce three weeks in advance. Page 2 of 4 The inspectors first met with facility representatives at the wastewater treatment office. Inspectors presented their credentials and conducted an opening conference to explain the purpose of the inspection. Mr. Weiand provided an overview of facility operations, maintenance, and recordkeeping procedures, and used a facility schematic to walk through the treatment processes (photo 1). Throughout the inspection, inspectors noted their observations in a checklist. Photographs taken during the inspection are included in the attached photo log. The facility was constructed approximately 15 years ago and utilizes a package plant to treat wastewater from the hotel, casino, convention center, restaurants, gas station, store, and maintenance buildings. After treatment, discharges are pumped to a holding pond, which also receives drinking water backwash. Water from the holding pond goes to an irrigation pond, and water is used to irrigate the golf course. According to the facility representatives, the average daily flow rate during the week is 40,000 gallons per day (gpd), around 60,000-70,000 gpd on the weekends, and sometimes can reach around 80,000 gpd during special events. The facility is designed to treat 150,000 gpd. After the opening conference, inspectors proceeded to conduct the field portion of the inspection. Wastewater from the casino and associated facilities first flows to the WWTF headworks (photo 8). In the basement of the wastewater office, inspectors observed the pumps that pump wastewater to the splitter box or lift station (photo 3). Facility representatives informed inspectors that these pumps were scheduled to be replaced the following week. Inspectors then observed the vertical screen that removes trash and debris before wastewater flows to the WWTF (photo 4). Wastewater that is then screened, flows to the lift station (photo 5), which is then pumped to a splitter box. The splitter box then directs wastewater to either the north oxidation ditch or south oxidation ditch (photos 9 and 10), where wastewater is treated by bacteria consuming organic matter. After that, wastewater flows into clarifiers (photos 11 and 12) where solids settle. Wastewater from the clarifiers then goes through ultraviolet (UV) disinfection (photo 2), and sludge from the clarifiers then goes to the aerobic digester for treatment (photo 13). Sludge is then transferred to reed beds, which consume organic and inorganic nutrients (photo 15). Treated effluent is pumped via a lift station (photo 14) to the holding pond (photo 6). The holding pond then flows into an irrigation pond (photo 7), which is then used to irrigate the golf course. The inspection concluded with a closing conference in the office, where inspectors presented preliminary findings. Findings, Corrective Actions and Recommendations Finding #1: At the time of the inspection, a clarifier was not functioning. During the inspection, inspectors observed that one of the clarifiers was not working. The clarifier pump and arm were not functioning and therefore had to be taken offline. Wastewater was being routed through the second back-up clarifier, and facility representatives stated they were waiting on parts to arrive to fix the broken clarifier. Page 3 of 4 Permit requirement: Part 3.5 of the Permit states, "The Permittee shall at all times properly operate and maintain all facilities and systems of treatment and control (and related appurtenances) which are installed or used by the Permittee to achieve compliance with the conditions of this Permit. Proper operation and maintenance also includes adequate laboratory controls and appropriate quality assurance procedures. This provision requires the operation of back-up or auxiliary facilities or similar systems which are installed by a permittee only when the operation is necessary to achieve compliance with the conditions of the Permit. However, the Permittee shall operate, at a minimum, one complete set of each main line unit treatment process whether or not this process is needed to achieve Permit effluent compliance." Recommendation: While the permit requires operation of one complete set of each main line unit treatment process, ensure backup units are functioning in the event of failure of the main treatment unit. Provide the EPA with documentation demonstrating the backup clarifier has been fixed and is functioning. Page 4 of 4