HomeMy WebLinkAboutNCS000571_Rogers Energy Complex (Cliffside) Revised Fact Sheet_20150629DENR/DEMLR
FACT SHEET FOR NPDES STORMWATER PERMIT DEVELOPMENT
NPDES No. NCS000574
BACKGROUND
The Rogers Energy Complex (formerly Cliffside Steam Station) is a coal fired electric generating
facility operated by Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC (Duke Energy. The facility is located on Duke
Power Road, off NC State Road 1002 just south of Cliffside North Carolina, on the Broad River. The
facility currently has two units (Units 5 and 6). Units 1 through 4 were retired in October 2011 and
are in the process of being decommissioned.
The Broad River supplies the Condenser Cooling Water (CCW) and other service water systems
from the intake located just upstream from the diversion dam on the Broad River. The pumps have
traveling screens for debris removal. Debris collected on the screens consist of twigs, leaves, and
other material indigenous to the river and is flushed back to the river.
Within the switchyards and buildings, runoff flows over land to ditches and catch basins and
underground piped conveyances. Stormwater from areas with significant materials or activities is
routed through treatment systems prior to discharge. Stormwater runoff from the plant yards, coal
handling areas, coal pile, Units 5 and 6, and the FGD site goes to the yard drainage basin, effluent
form the holding basin is pumped to the ash basin. Stormwater runoff from the switchyards is
routed through oil tank traps prior to discharge.
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NPDES Stormwater Permit NCS000549
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Facility Information
Applicant/ Facility Name: Rogers Energy Complex
Applicant Address:
526 South Church Street, Charlotte, NC 28202
Facility Address:
573 Duke Power Road, Mooresboro, NC 28114
Permitted Flow:
N/A (Stormwater Discharges Only)
Industrial Activities:
Primary SIC Code: 4911- Electric Services
Permit Status:
New NPDES Stormwater Permit
County:
Cleveland and Rutherford Counties
Miscellaneous
Receiving Stream:
Suck Creek and
the Broad River
Regional Office:
Asheville and
Mooresville
Regional Office
Stream Classification:
WS -IV
State Grid / USGS Quad:
F10SE Pea Ridge
303(d) Listed?
No
Permit Writer:
M. Randall
Subbasin:
03-08-02
Date:
November 8, 2014
Facility Location: Lat. 35'13'8"N Long. 81° 46'3" W
BACKGROUND
The Rogers Energy Complex (formerly Cliffside Steam Station) is a coal fired electric generating
facility operated by Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC (Duke Energy. The facility is located on Duke
Power Road, off NC State Road 1002 just south of Cliffside North Carolina, on the Broad River. The
facility currently has two units (Units 5 and 6). Units 1 through 4 were retired in October 2011 and
are in the process of being decommissioned.
The Broad River supplies the Condenser Cooling Water (CCW) and other service water systems
from the intake located just upstream from the diversion dam on the Broad River. The pumps have
traveling screens for debris removal. Debris collected on the screens consist of twigs, leaves, and
other material indigenous to the river and is flushed back to the river.
Within the switchyards and buildings, runoff flows over land to ditches and catch basins and
underground piped conveyances. Stormwater from areas with significant materials or activities is
routed through treatment systems prior to discharge. Stormwater runoff from the plant yards, coal
handling areas, coal pile, Units 5 and 6, and the FGD site goes to the yard drainage basin, effluent
form the holding basin is pumped to the ash basin. Stormwater runoff from the switchyards is
routed through oil tank traps prior to discharge.
Fact Sheet
NPDES Stormwater Permit NCS000549
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STORMWATER OUTFALLS AND DRAINAGE AREA DESCRIPTIONS
Outfall SWO01 (Drainage Area 1)
Drainage Area 1 includes the Unit 5, 115 kV switchyard and relay house. The switchyard is
relatively flat and elevated slightly above the surrounding area. The southern and western
perimeters are curbed, and ditches divert runoff around the switchyard. There is approximately 2
acres of gravel area and 1 acre of paved roadways within the drainage area. Approximately 30 % of
the drainage area is impervious. Stormwater runoff flows to a 30,000 gallon oil trap tank.
Outfall SWO02 (Drainage Area 2)
Drainage Area 2 includes the Unit 5, 239 kV switchyard. The switchyard is relatively flat and
elevated slightly above the surrounding area. The southern and eastern perimeters are curbed, and
ditches divert runoff around the switchyard. There is approximately 2.7 acres of gravel area and 1
acre of paved roadways within the drainage area. Approximately 40 % of the drainage area is
impervious. Stormwater runoff flows to a 20,000 gallon oil trap tank.
Outfall SWO03 (Abandoned)
Outfall SWO03 formerly conveyed stormwater runoff from industrial activities surrounding the
Unit 5 Powerhouse. The outfall was plugged and abandoned around 2010 and all stormwater
runoff is conveyed to the ash basin. As long as outfall SWO03 does not discharge, no analytical
sampling is required. Any modifications to these outfalls that result in a potential stormwater
discharge associated with past or present industrial activities will require a permit modification.
Outfall SWO04 (Drainage Area 4)
Drainage Area 4 includes Unit 1 through 4 switchyards. The switchyard is relatively flat and
elevated slightly above the surrounding area and curbed except the northwest end. Less than 5 % of
the drainage area is paved. Stormwater runoff flows to a 20,000 gallon oil trap tank.
Outfall SW005 (Drainage Area 5)
Trenches are used to return river water used to wash debris from the intake screens. Roof drainage
from Units 1 through 4 turbine rooms is discharged via French drains. The trenches are covered
with grating and deigned to prevent run-on from adjacent areas.
Outfall SWO06 (Abandoned)
Outfall SWO06 has been abandoned and the drainage area is largely routed to the yard sump. As
long as outfall SWO06 does not discharge, no analytical sampling is required. Any modifications to
these outfalls that result in a potential stormwater discharge associated with past or present
industrial activities will require a permit modification.
Outfall 007 (Emergency and Drainage Area Overflow)
Outfall 007, an emergency and drainage basin overflow, mixes with industrial waste. Discharges
from Outfall 007 is not a normal occurrence. Any modifications to this outfall that result in a
potential stormwater discharge associated with past or present industrial activities will require a
permit modification.
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NPDES Stormwater Permit NCS000549
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Outfall SWO08 (Drainage Area 8)
Drainage Area 8 previously discharges in -stream sand mining wastewater, stormwater runoff, and
wastewater under a NODES permitNCG520000. Operations ceased in 2012 and there no longer is a
discharge. As long as outfall SWO08 does not discharge, no analytical sampling is required. Any
modifications to these outfalls that result in a potential stormwater discharge associated with past
or present industrial activities will require a permit modification.
Outfall SWO09 (Drainage Area 9)
Drainage Area 9 includes the inactive Unit 5 ash basin, a soil/stockpile, a pond, and three laydown
areas. Stormwater runoff is collected and conveyed to a sedimentation basin. Overflow from the
sedimentation basin is conveyed to a rock channel and then discharged to the Broad River.
Outfall SW010 (Drainage Area 10)
Drainage Area 10 conveys water from a perennial stream. As long as outfall SWO10 only conveys
water from a perennial stream that starts from the adjoining property no analytical sampling is
required. Any modifications to these outfalls that result in a potential stormwater discharge
associated with past or present industrial activities will require a permit modification.
Outfall SW011 (Drainage Area 11)
Drainage Area 11 conveys stormwater runoff from a gravel parking area and railroad tracks into a
sedimentation basin. Overflow is piped to Suck Creek.
Outfall SWO12 (Drainage Area 12)
Drainage Area 12 includes a gravel parking lot, locomotive storage building, a 600 gallon oil water
separator, a portion of the gypsum and fly ash haul road, and railroad tracks. Stormwater runoff is
conveyed to a sediment basin that discharges to Suck Creek.
Drainage Area 13 (combined with Drainage Area 16)
Drainage Area 13 was combined with Drainage Area 16. There is no drainage area 13. Any
modifications to these drainage areas that result in a potential stormwater discharge associated
with past or present industrial activities will require a permit modification.
Drainage Area 14 (Sheet flow)
Any modifications to Drainage Area 14 that result in a potential stormwater discharge associated
with past or present industrial activities will require a permit modification.
Outfall SWO15 (Drainage Area 15)
SWO15 represents a group often, 8 inch diameter high density polyethylene drains. Drainage Area
15 includes railroad tracks where limestone is loaded/unloaded from rail cars.
Outfall SW016 (Drainage Area 16)
Drainage Area 16 includes railroad tracks, a gravel parking lot and laydown area, a portion of the
haul road to the fly ash/gypsum landfill, part of Duke Power Road. SWO16 represents a group of
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NPDES Stormwater Permit NCS000549
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outfalls that include five separate corrugated metal pipe (CMP) outfalls (36 inch, 30 inch, 42 inch,
24 inch and 54 inch CMP).
The Landfill Drainage Area
The Landfill Drainage Area has four separate corrugated metal pipe outfalls (18 inch, 42 inch, 36
inch and 21 inch CMP). Stormwater runoff from inactive cells and exterior slopes drain to a
sedimentation basin and then through one of four separate outfalls. Stormwater runoff from active
cells at the landfill is directed into the leachate collection system, pumped to the leachate collection
basin, then to the ash basin.
Unit 6 Switchyard Area includes the Unit 6 500 kV switchyard. The switchyard is relatively flat
and elevated slightly above the surrounding area. A curb surrounds the southern and eastern
perimeters and ditches divert upland runoff around the switchyard. Drainage from the 11.8 acres
of gravel surface is conveyed via three concrete culverts, an 18 inch, 24 inch and 30 inch. The
runoff then shallow flows toward the Broad River.
WHY THIS FACILITY IS SUBIECT TO A PERMIT
Federal NPDES regulations define stormwater discharge associated with industrial activity in
40 CFR §122.26 (b)(14) as "the discharge from any conveyance that is used for collecting and
conveying storm water and that is directly related to manufacturing, processing or raw materials
storage areas at an industrial plant. The term does not include discharges from facilities or
activities excluded from the NPDES program under this part 122. For the categories of industries
identified in this section, the term includes, but is not limited to, storm water [sic] discharges from
industrial plant yards; immediate access roads and rail lines used or traveled by carriers of raw
materials, manufactured products, waste material, or by-products used or created by the facility;
material handling sites; refuse sites; sites used for the application or disposal of process waste
waters (as defined at part 401 of this chapter); sites used for the storage and maintenance of
material handling equipment; sites used for residual treatment, storage, or disposal; shipping and
receiving areas; manufacturing buildings; storage areas (including tank farms) for raw materials,
and intermediate and final products; and areas where industrial activity has taken place in the
past and significant materials remain and are exposed to storm water. For the purposes of
this paragraph, material handling activities include storage, loading and unloading, transportation,
or conveyance of any raw material, intermediate product, final product, by-product or waste
product. The term excludes areas located on plant lands separate from the plant's industrial
activities, such as office buildings and accompanying parking lots as long as the drainage from the
excluded areas is not mixed with storm water [sic] drained from the above described areas."
PROPOSED MONITORING FOR STORMWATER DISCHARGES
The Division considered potential pollutants from past and present industrial activities (coal-fired
electric generation, plant decommissioning, and future ash removal). Unlike most stormwater
permits in its program, the Division is proposing a permit structure with outfall -specific monitoring
for discharges. Parameters are based on potential pollutants in the drainage area, sampling results,
and in some cases, dependent upon future activities (e.g., ash removal through the drainage area).
Below is a table of the proposed monitoring for each outfall at the Rogers Energy Complex.
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NPDES Stormwater Permit NCS000549
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Stormwater Discharge Outfall (SDO) Monitoring
Switchyards, Oil Trap Tanks, Roof Drains, and Intake Screen wash water
SWO01, SW002, SWO04, and SW005
Polychlorinated Biphenyls
Monitored semi-annually; may be discontinued after the first
(PCBs)
year (two samples) if not detected. BASIS: Electrical equipment
drainage area and BMP effectiveness indicator
in these drainage areas (powerhouse and switchyard areas) may
Semi-annual monitoring. BASIS: Pollutant indicator and
have contained PCBs, which persist in the environment if ever
important to interpreting toxicity potential of metals
released. (An empty Used PCB Mineral Oil Storage Tank
Semi-annual monitoring only if coal or coal ash transported through
elsewhere on the property stored this material at one time.) If all
this drainage area. BASIS: Coal combustion waste (CCW)
PCBs have been removed and past releases cleaned up, these
constituents
compounds should not be detected.
Copper
Semi-annual monitoring. BASIS: Coal combustion waste (CCW)
this drainage area. BASIS: Coal combustion waste (CCW)
constituent
Selenium
Semi-annual monitoring. BASIS: Coal combustion waste (CCW)
constituent
Mercury
Semi-annual monitoring with Method 1631E. BASIS: Coal
combustion waste CC constituent
Zinc
Semi-annual monitoring. BASIS: Coal combustion waste (CCW)
constituent
Total Suspended Solids (TSS)
Semi-annual monitoring. BASIS: Potential pollutant from
drainage area and BMP effectiveness indicator
Non -polar Oil & Grease (Method
Semi-annual monitoring. BASIS: Potential pollutant from
1664 SGT -HEM)
lubricants; Method 1664 SGT -HEM targetspetroleum-based 0&G
pH
Semi-annual monitoring. BASIS: Pollutant indicator and
important to interpreting toxicity potential of metals
Stormwater Discharge Outfall (SDO) Monitoring
Haul Roads, Parking Lots, Laydown Areas, and Railroad Tracks
Designated as Analytical Monitoring Requirements for Laydown Drainage Area 2,
SWO09, SWO11, SWO12, SWO15, SWO16 and the Landfill Drainage Area
Total Suspended Solids (TSS)
Semi-annual monitoring. BASIS: Potential pollutant from
drainage area and BMP effectiveness indicator
pH
Semi-annual monitoring. BASIS: Pollutant indicator and
important to interpreting toxicity potential of metals
Priority Pollutant Metals Ag, As,
Semi-annual monitoring only if coal or coal ash transported through
Be, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se,
this drainage area. BASIS: Coal combustion waste (CCW)
Tl, and Zn.
constituents
Boron
Semi-annual monitoring only if coal or coal ash transported through
this drainage area. BASIS: Coal combustion waste (CCW)
constituent coal tracer.
STORMWATER BENCHMARKS AND TIERED RESPONSE
Rather than limits, North Carolina NPDES Stormwater permits contain benchmark concentrations.
Stormwater benchmarks are numerical action levels for stormwater monitoring. Benchmarks are
not effluent limits, and benchmark exceedances are not permit violations. Benchmarks
provide facilities a tool for assessing the significance of pollutants in stormwater discharges and the
effectiveness of best management practices (BMPs). Benchmark concentrations are intended as
guidelines for the facility's development and implementation of the Stormwater Pollution
Prevention Plan (SPPP).
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NPDES Stormwater Permit NCS000549
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Benchmark exceedances require the permittee to increase monitoring, increase management
actions, increase record keeping, and/or install stormwater BMPs in a tiered program. The permit
establishes a tiered approach to specify actions the permittee must take in response to analytical
results above benchmark concentrations (Part II, Section B., following Table 3). The tiered
structure of the permit provides the permittee and NCDEMLR wide flexibility to address issues that
may arise with one or more parameters and/or outfalls.
Metals benchmarks are calculated to mimic acute water quality standards and with the guidance of
NC's Division of Water Resources (DWR). NC DWR follows established federal procedures for
calculating acute standards when developing the benchmarks. Just like the acute standards, metals
benchmarks normally reflect one half of the calculated Final Acute Value (the "1/2 FAV"). In most
cases, translation into total recoverable values is based on an assumed hardness of 25 mg/1 and a
total suspended solids (TSS) concentration of 10 mg/1. Acute standards protect aquatic life from
negative impacts of short-term exposure to higher levels of chemicals where the discharge enters a
waterbody. The Stormwater Permitting Program applies this approach because of the ephemeral
nature of rainfall events.
The Division may evaluate results to determine if a smaller suite of parameters for some outfalls is
adequate to characterize potential pollution or BMP effectiveness. For example, one or more metals
or other parameters may serve as an adequate tracer for the presence of ash pollution during
disturbance or ash removal in specific drainage areas at this site. For parameters that do not have a
stormwater benchmark, the Division may develop a benchmark value if appropriate toxicity data
become available or if rising trends in concentrations suggest a persistent source.
A summary of the benchmarks in the draft permit, and their basis, is below:
Parameter
Benchmark
Basis
Antimony (Sb), m L
0.09
Acute Aquatic Criterion, 1/2 FAV
Arsenic (As), m L
0.34
Acute Aquatic Criterion, 1/2 FAV
Beryllium (Be), m L
0.065
Acute Aquatic Criterion, 1/2 FAV
Cadmium (Cd), m L
0.003
Acute Aquatic Criterion, 1/2 FAV
1/2 FAV, based on (Cr III + Cr VI) acute thresholds
Chromium (Cr), mg/L
0.9
and assumption that industrial activities here are
not a source of hexavalent chromium.
Copper (Cu), m L
0.010
Acute Aquatic Criterion, 1/2 FAV
Lead (Pb), m L
0.075
Acute Aquatic Criterion, 1/2 FAV
Monitoring only, CCW/Coal Constituent. Hg
influenced by regional transport and wet
Mercury (Hg), ng/L
N/A
deposition. Values above 12 ng/L (NC WQ
standard) should be noted on the DMR but do not
trigger Tier Responses.
Nickel (Ni), m L
0.335
Acute Aquatic Criterion, 1/2 FAV
1/2 FAV, NC -specific, based on 1986 Study on Se
Selenium (Se), mg/L
0.056
impacts in North Carolina
Acute Aquatic Criterion, 1/2 FAV. (The Division
Silver (Ag), mg/L
0.0003
notes this value is below the practical quantitation
level (PQL) of 1 µg/L of EPA Method 200.8)
Monitoring only, CCW/Coal Constituent. Narrative
Boron (B), mg/L
N/A
National Recommended Water Quality Criterion.
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NPDES Stormwater Permit NCS000549
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Parameter
Benchmark
Basis
Monitoring Only, CCW/Coal constituent. National
Thallium (Tl), mg/L
N/A
Recommended Human Health Criterion.
Zinc (Znl, m L
0.126
Acute Aquatic Criterion, 1/z FAV
Total Suspended Solids (TSS),
National Urban Runoff Program (NURP) Study,
mg/L
100
1983
Polychlorinated biphenyl
Detected
NC Water Quality Standards vs. present Arochlors
compounds (PCBs), µg/ L
quantitation levels (higher than standard
q ( g )
Non -Polar Oil & Grease, EPA
Review of other state's daily maximum benchmark
Method 1664 (SGT -HEM),
15
concentration for this more targeted 0&G; NC WQ
mg/L
Standard that does not allow oil sheen in waters.
pH
6-9
NC Water Quality Standard (Range)
STORMWATER POLLUTION PREVENTION PLAN
The proposed permit conditions reflect the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) and North
Carolina's pollution prevention approach to stormwater permitting. The Division's maintains that
implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs) and traditional stormwater management
practices that control the source of pollutants meets the definition of Best Available Technology
(BAT) and Best Conventional Pollutant Control Technology (BCT). The permit conditions are not
numeric effluent limitations but are designed to be flexible requirements for implementing site-
specific plans to minimize and control pollutants in stormwater discharges associated with the
industrial activity. Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) §122.44(k)(2) authorizes the use of
BMPs in lieu of numeric effluent limitations in NPDES permits when the agency finds
numeric effluent limitations to be infeasible. The agency may also impose BMP requirements
which are "reasonably necessary" to carry out the purposes of the Act under the authority of 40
CFR 122.44(k) (3). The conditions proposed in this draft permit are included under the authority of
both of these regulatory provisions. In essence, the pollution prevention and BMP requirements
operate as limitations on effluent discharges that reflect the application of BAT/BCT.
The permit proposes some language specific to coal fired power plants (and in particular, to those
plants being decommissioned). Determining specific BMPs that are appropriate for the site and
activities are the permittee's responsibility, and the permit strives not to limit what BMPs can be
used. The permittee should also refer to the BMPs described in both EPA's Multi -Sector Permit
(MSGP) and Industrial Stormwater Fact Sheet for Steam Electric Power Generating Facilities (Sector
0) for guidance on pollution prevention measures.
It is important to note that the majority of stormwater at this facility is ultimately routed into the
waste treatment system (ash pond), and those discharges are regulated by the NPDES wastewater
permit.
MERCURY MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
The proposed permit requires mercury to be measured in stormwater samples by EPA Method
1631E, which can detect levels as low as 0.5 ng/1. This requirement is consistent with recent
federal rule-making that requires NPDES permittees to monitor discharges with sufficiently
sensitive test procedures approved under 40 CFR §136. Modifications to 40 CFR §122.44(i) require
a method that has a minimum level (ML) at or below the effluent limit (not applicable here), or the
lowest minimum level (ML) of EPA approved analytical methods for the measured parameter.
Based on results, Method 1631E will be required to quantify levels in these discharges. NC DEMLR
understands that this method is more costly and requires a more intensive sampling protocol than
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NPDES Stormwater Permit NCS000549
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most other parameters, and that fish tissue sampling will be provided during the permit cycle.
Therefore, no benchmark applies that would trigger tiered response actions. Proposed permit
provisions also allow the permittee to use field blank and/or method blank concentrations to adjust
reported mercury levels as long as documented is submitted with the Data Monitoring Report
(DMR).
FLEXIBILITY IN TIER RESPONSES
Tier Two actions (upon two consecutive benchmark exceedances at an outfall) proposed in this
draft permit differs slightly from the Program's standard template and includes step 6. That step
provides an opportunity for the permittee to propose an alternative monitoring plan for
approval by the Region.
Alternatively, in lieu of steps 2 and 3, the permittee may, after two consecutive exceedances,
exercise the option of contacting the DEMLR Regional Engineer as provided below in Tier Three.
The Regional Engineer may direct the response actions on the part of the permittee as provided in
Tier Three, including reduced or additional sampling parameters or frequency.
If pursuing the alternative above after two consecutive exceedances, the permittee may propose an
alternative monitoring plan for approval by the Regional Engineer.
The permit therefore allows the permittee to petition the Regional Office for monitoring changes
sooner than Tier Three (upon any four benchmark exceedances) and gives guidance on one option
to take. For example, the permitttee may request that mercury only be monitored semi-annually
under the tiers, or that only parameters over the benchmark be monitored more frequently. In this
way, changes to the monitoring scheme for any outfall could be handled outside of a permit
modification.
OTHER PROPOSED REQUIREMENTS
• It is standard for Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SPPP) requirements to include an
annual certification that stormwater outfalls have been evaluated for the presence of non-
stormwater discharges, and if any are identified, how those discharges are permitted. The
draft permit requires this facility to submit the first certification to DEMLR no later
than 90 days after the effective date of the permit (Part II, Section A.).
• Requirement to submit a request for permit modification if the facility identifies or creates
any new outfalls, removes outfalls, or alters any drainage area that changes potential
pollutants. This site may trigger this requirement during demolition or ash removal
activities.
• Standard text that allows a permittee to forgo collecting samples outside of regular
operating hours was omitted in Part II because this power plant is not currently operating.
The Division expects the permittee to apply best professional judgment and consider the
safety of its personnel in fulfilling sampling obligations under the permit.
• Proposed federal regulations will require electronic submittal of all discharge monitoring
reports (DMRs). If a state does not establish a system to receive such submittals, then
permittees must submit DMRs electronically to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The Division anticipates that these regulations will be adopted and is beginning
implementation. Permit provisions addressing this impending requirement is included in
Part III, Section B. (General Conditions), 3.e.
• Quarterly Qualitative/Visual Monitoring to assure regular observation of outfalls
throughout year.
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PROPOSED SCHEDULE FOR PERMIT ISSUANCE:
Draft Permit to Public Notice: [Date]
Permit Scheduled to Issue: [Date]
STATE CONTACT:
If you have any questions about any of the above information or the attached permit, please contact
Mike Randall at (919) 807-6374 or mike.randall@ncdenr.gov.
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