15A NCAC 08G .0204      RESPONSIBILITIES OF AN OPERATOR IN RESPONSIBLE CHARGE (ORC)

An ORC of a water pollution control system shall:

(1)           possess a valid certificate of the appropriate type and grade for the system;

(2)           visit the system as often as is necessary to ensure the proper operation of the system but in no case less frequently than specified in the following schedule, unless otherwise specified in permit:

(a)           biological Grade I systems with the exception of Sub-item (2)(e) of this Rule: weekly;

(b)           biological Grade II, III, and IV systems, other than those systems specified in Sub-item (2)(f) of this Rule: five days per week, excluding State and federal holidays;

(c)           surface irrigation systems with the exception of Sub-item (2)(e) of this Rule: weekly;

(d)           collection systems: within 24 hours of knowledge of a bypass, spill, or overflow of wastewater from the system, unless visited by a collection system Back-up ORC;

(e)           domestic wastewater systems with a treatment capacity of 1500 gallons per day or less: twice per year with a six-month interval between visits;

(f)            domestic wastewater ATUs with a treatment capacity of 1500 gallons per day or less: weekly;

(g)           systems permitted under rules adopted by the Commission for Public Health: as required by 15A NCAC 18A .1961, which is hereby incorporated by reference, including subsequent amendments and editions;

(h)           physical/chemical systems:

(i)            Grade I systems, including groundwater remediation systems: weekly;

(ii)           Grade II systems: five days per week, excluding State and federal holidays;

(i)            land application systems: during or within 48 hours after application of residuals;

(j)            systems not otherwise classified: as specified by the Commission based on the complexity of the system;

(3)           operate and maintain the system and attempt to ensure the compliance of the system with any permits issued for the system as well as any other applicable local, State, and federal environmental permitting and regulatory requirements;

(4)           certify by signature the validity of all monitoring and reporting information performed on the system as prescribed in any permit issued for the system and provide the owner a copy of monitoring and reporting forms;

(5)           document the operation, maintenance, and all visitation of the system in a log that shall be maintained at the system;

(6)           notify the owner of the system within 24 hours and in writing within five days of first knowledge, of any:

(a)           overflows from the system or any treatment process unit;

(b)           bypasses of the system or any treatment process unit; or

(c)           violations of any limits or conditions of the permit;

(7)           notify the owner in writing of the need for any system repairs and modifications that may be necessary to ensure the compliance of the system with all local, State, and federal environmental permitting and regulatory requirements;

(8)           be available on an on-call basis for in-person interactions:

(a)           for consultations with the system owner and regulatory officials;

(b)           to handle emergency situations; and

(c)           to provide access to the facility to regulatory agencies; and

(9)           upon vacating an ORC position, send the Commission and the appropriate regional office, or the local health department for subsurface system owners, written notice within 14 days of the vacancy.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 90A-37; 90A-38; 90A-44;

Eff. April 1, 1999;

Amended Eff. December 1, 2006;

Readopted Eff. September 1, 2018.