Document zbQXryYkKqJN0oomG6Jm5Bwz7

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION 5 77 WEST JACKSON BOULEVARD CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60604 Purpose: Clean Water Act Compliance Inspection Inspection Type: National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Facility: Ogema Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF) City of Ogema, White Earth Township, Becker County, Minnesota, NW of Section 20, T142N, R41W NPDES Permit Number: MN0049794 Facility Type: Wastewater Treatment Facility Date of Inspection: August 10, 2022 EPA Inspector(s): 1. Jason Hewitt, Environmental Engineer 2. Jessica Stromsdorfer, Environmental Engineer Other Attendees: 1. Brett Brehm, City of Ogema Contact Email Address: Brett Brehm, bbrehm8269@hotmail.com Copy requested to: Ogemacityoffice@arvig.net JESSICA Digitally signed by JESSICA STROMSDORFER EPA Lead Inspector Signature: __S_T_R__O_M_S__D_O_R__F_E_R__D_a_te_: 2_02_2_.10_.0_7_14_:1_7:_21_-0_5_'00_' ______ Approver Name & Title: Molly Smith, Supervisor, Section 1, Water Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Branch Digitally signed by MOLLY MOLLY SMITH SMITH Date: 2022.10.07 14:12:17 Approver Signature: __________________-0_5'_00_' _________________________ Facility Notification: Unannounced Inspection Announced Inspection Regulations Relevant to Inspection: NPDES Permit requirements at 40 C.F.R. 122.26 Arrival Time: Departure Time: 12:15 PM CST 12:50 PM CST OPENING CONFERENCE Presented Credentials Stated authority and purpose of inspection Provided Small Business Resource Information Sheet Small Business Resource Information Sheet not provided. Reason: Not a small business Provided CBI warning to facility The following information was obtained through review of the Facility NPDES Permit, and verbally from Representatives of the Ogema WWTF, unless otherwise noted. Process Description: The application and plans indicate that the existing wastewater treatment system consists of a municipal collection system, two lift stations, force main, a two-cell stabilization pond system and an outfall pipe. Lift Station #1 collects wastewater from the north side of the town and pumps it to Lift Station #2. Lift Station #2 collects wastewater from the rest of the town and pumps it to a 2.8-acre primary pond. It is then released to a 1.27-acre secondary pond. The primary and secondary cells are each 8 feet deep with 2 feet of sludge storage and 2 feet of freeboard, giving each cell a 4-foot operating depth. Both are measured at the four-foot operating depth. The cells provide a total detention time of 210 days at design flow. The discharge is seasonal. The facility has controlled discharge (Discharge 010 [NW of S19, T142N, R41W]) to an unnamed wetland that leads to Spring Creek and then to the South Branch of the Wild Rice River. The facility is designed to treat an average influent flow of 25,300 gallons per day (gpd) with a five-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) of 271 milligrams per liter (mg/l) and removal of 85%. Staff Interview(s) and Observations: The following information was obtained during the opening conference, led by EPA. When staff arrived, they were met by Brett Brehm, who has worked with the city for over 8 years. He explained that the first time he's had to discharge outside of the permitted period was this past spring due to heavy rain. He explained that the Facility notified Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) about the discharge outside the permitted period. MPCA followed up with an inspection in July of 2 2022. Mr. Brehm did not sample ahead of discharging and MPCA is aware. The facility is developing a standard operating procedure as a result. Mr. Brehm described regular maintenance to include jetting and televising 2,500 feet per year of the primary lagoon, to where all influent flows. The facility has never had to remove sludge. Since Mr. Brehm has begun working for the town, it has invested money for new control panels at lift stations and new pumps. There is now remote monitoring of lift stations. Dissolved oxygen and pH sampling are done on site and sampling is done on four sides of the lagoon prior to discharge. Other sampling is done by R&B labs, west of the City. Influent is sampled at the lift station and effluent is sampled at the manhole near the secondary pond. Inspectors observed available freeboard, little algae growth, and no evidence of pests on site. Facility Walk-Through Occurred: Yes Photos and/or Videos: were taken during the inspection. Included as Attachment A. Field Measurements: were not taken during this inspection. RECORDS REVIEW - NOT CONDUCTED ON SITE CLOSING CONFERENCE Provided U.S. EPA point of contact to the facility Confirm CBI status at end of closing conference Requested documents: None Areas of Concern: No Areas of Concern Identified APPENDICES AND ATTACHMENTS ATTACHMENT A: PHOTO LOG 3