NC0072575_Draft Permit_20210126

ROY COOPER
Governor
MICHAEL S. REGAN
Secretary
S. DANIEL SMITH
Director
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
January 26, 2021
Ms. Tina Pedley, Environmental Manager
Pilgrim's Pride Corporation
484 Zimmerman Road
Sanford, North Carolina 27330
Subj ect: Draft NPDES Permit Renewal
Permit NCO072575
Pilgrim's Pride Processing Plant
Lee County
Grade III Biological WPCS
SIC Code 2015
Dear Ms. Pedley:
Enclosed with this letter is a copy of the Draft NPDES permit renewal for your facility. Please
review this draft carefully to ensure thorough understanding of the requirements and conditions it
contains. There are several changes from the existing permit, including the following:
The NC 2007-2014 Water Quality Standard (WQS) Triennial Review was approved by
the NC Environmental Management Committee (EMC) on November 13, 2014. The US EPA
subsequently approved the WQS revisions on April 6, 2016 with some exceptions. The NC
Division of Water Resources NPDES Permitting Unit is required to implement the new
dissolved metal standards in all permits public noticed after April 6, 2016. The new standards
for most metals include acute standards. Further, the freshwater standards for several metals
are expressed as the dissolved form of the metals, and seven metals have hardness -dependent
equations. As a result, the NPDES Permitting Unit will need site -specific effluent hardness
data and instream hardness data, upstream of the discharge, for each facility monitoring these
metals in order to calculate permit limitations. Effluent hardness and instream hardness
sampling, upstream of the discharge, have been added to the permit at a monitoring
frequency of quarterly [See A. (1.)].
The Permiee shall, within the first six months of the effective date of this permit,
provide at least one effluent mercury analysis using EPA Method 1631E. Mercury testing
results shall be submitted using the Division's eDMR reporting system. [See A. (4)].
Language has been added to Footnote 1 to account for influent, effluent, upstream and
downstream abbreviations [See A. (L)].
• Some of the wording has changed in Special Condition A. (3), Chronic Toxicity Permit
Limit, please review each paragraph carefully.
A notation was made concerning the Electronic Reporting Rule — NPDES Electronic
Reporting Rule — Phase 2 Extension. EPA extended the Phase 2 deadline to December 21,
2025. The current compliance date, effective January 4, 2021, was extended as a final
regulation change published in the November 2, 2020 Federal Register.
Federal regulations require electronic submittal of all discharge monitoring reports
(DMRs) and program reports. The requirement to continue reporting discharge monitoring data
DE Q�� North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
_ 512 North Salisbury Street 11617 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
NORTH CAROLINA
Department of Envimnmentxl Quality /`� 919.707.9000

electronically using the NC DWR's Electronic Discharge Monitoring Report (eDMR) internet
application has been added tb your NPDES permit [See Special Condition A. (5.)].
• Parameter codes have been added to the Effluent Limitations and Monitoring Requirements
[ See A. (L)].
• Regulatory citations have been added to the permit.
The NPDES standard conditions (Parts II, III, and IV) that are a part of the permit are not included
in this draft document (cover, map, and Part I). The conditions are the same as in your current
permit except that agency and division names have been updated. The latest version is available at
https://bit.ly/3k5NFaL and can be viewed online or downloaded as a PDF file.
Concurrent with this notification the Division is publishing a notice in a newspaper having
circulation in the general County area, soliciting public comments on this draft permit.
Please provide any written comments you may have to the following: NCDEQ/DWR, NPDES
Permitting Branch, 1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1617 no later than 30 days
after receipt of this draft permit.
Following the 30-day public comment period, the Division will review all pertinent comments
and take appropriate action prior to issuing a final permit. If you have questions concerning this
draft permit, please call me at (919) 707- or by email at ulia.byrd� ncdenr.goN .
Sincerely,
j �A -� a
NPDES Industrial Permitting Unit
Hardcopy: NPDES Files
Ecopy:
DWfL/Raleigh Regional Office/Water Quality/Scott Vinson
DWR/Operator Certification Program/Maureen Kinney
DWR/Ecosystenis Branch/Mark Vander Borgh
DWR/Aquatic '1'oxicolog.y Branch/lath Thomas and Cindy Moore
Page 2 of 2

Permit NC0072575
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
PFRMTT
TO DISCHARGE WASTEWATER UNDER THE
NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM
In compliance with the provisions of North Carolina General Statute 143-215.1, other lawful standards
and regulations promulgated and adopted by the North Carolina Environmental Management
Commission, and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended, the
Pilgrim's Pride Corporation, Inc.
is hereby authorized to discharge wastewater from a facility located at the
Pilgrim's Pride Processing Plant
484 Zimmerman Road near Sanford
Lee County
to receiving waters designated as the Deep River within the Cape Fear River Basin
in accordance with effluent limitations, monitoring requirements, and other conditions set forth in
Parts I, II, III, and IV hereof.
The permit shall become effective: .............................................................................................. Month xx, 2021.
This permit and the authorization to discharge shall expire at midnight on: .................... Month XX, 2026.
Signed this day: .................... Month xx, 2021.
DRAFT
for S. Daniel Smith, Director
Division of Water Resources
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission

Permit NCO072575
SUPPLEMENT TO PERMIT COVER SHEET
All previous NPDES Permits issued to this facility, whether for operation or discharge are hereby revoked. As of this
permit issuance, any previously issued permit bearing this number is no longer effective. Therefore, the exclusive
authority to operate and discharge from this facility arises under the permit conditions, requirements, terms, and
provisions included herein.
Pilgrim's Pride Corporation, Inc.
is hereby authorized to:
1. Continue discharging 1.0 MGD of treated process wastewater from a treatment facility that
includes the following components:
• Solids screening and separation area
• One (1) 35,000-gallon equalization tank
• One (1) 17,000,000-gallon covered/lined anaerobic treatment lagoon
• Methane incinerator
• One (1) 2,500,000-gallon aeration basin (Schreiber process with facilities for magnesium
hydroxide)
• One (1) 500,000-gallon clarifier with RAS pumps
• One (1) flow splitter box
• One (1) tertiary filter
• One (1) backwash pump station
• One (1) 14,000,000-gallon lined emergency storage pond
• Chlorine contact basin
• De -chlorination contact chamber with recycle pumps for process re -use water
• Parshall flume effluent flow meter
• Effluent composite samples
• Cascade post -aeration basin
This facility is located at 484 Zimmerman Road near Sanford at the Pilgrim's Pride Processing Plant in
Lee County.
2. Discharge from said treatment works from Outfall 001 at the location specified on the attached map
into the Deep River, a stream classified as Class-C waters within the Cape Fear River Basin.
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Permit NCO072575
PART I
A#.) EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
[15A NCAC 02B .0400 et seq., 02B .0500 et seq.] Grade III Biological Water
Pollution Control System [15A NCAC 08G .0302]
a. Beginning on the effective date of this permit and lasting until permit expiration, the Permittee is
authorized to discharge treated wastewater from Outfall 001. Such discharges shall be limited and
monitoredl by the Permittee as specified below:
PARAMETER
Parameter Code
EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS
MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
Monthly
a
Average
Daily Maximum
Measurement
Frequency q y
Sample
T
Type
Sampl
Locatione 2
Flow 50050
1.0 MGD
Continuous
Recording
E
BODs (20-C)
C0310
(April 1- October 31)
5.0 mg/L
10.0 mg/L
3/Week
Composite
E
BODs (20-C)
C0310
(November 1- March 31)
10.0 mg/L
20.0 mg/L
3/Week
Composite
E
Total Suspended Solids3 C0530
20.0 mg/L
30.0 mg/L
3/Week
Composite
E
Ammonia (NH3 as N)
C0610
(April 1- October 31)
1.0 mg/L
2.0 mg/L
3/Week
Composite
E
Ammonia (NH3 as N)
C0610
(November 1- March 31)
2.0 mg/L
4.0 mg/L
3/Week
Composite
E
Dissolved Oxygen 00300
Daily Average >- 6.0 mg/L
3/Week
Grab
E
Fecal Coliform (geometric mean) 31616
200/100 mL
400/100 mL
3/Week
Grab
E
Total Residual Chlorine3 50060
28 µg/L
3/Week
Grab
E
Temperature, 'C 00010
Monitor and Report
Daily
Grab
E
pH 00400
Between 6.0 and 9.0 standard units
3/Week
Grab
E
TKN, mg/L 00625
Monitor and Report
Monthly
Composite
E
NO3-N + NO2-N, mg/L 00630
Monitor and Report
Monthly
Composite
E
Total NitrogeW, mg/L C0600
103 mg/L
147 mg/L
Monthly
Composite
E
Total Phosphorus, mg/L C0665
Monitor and Report
Monthly
Composite
E
Total Hardness [as 00900
CaCO3], mg/L
Monitor and Report
Quarterly
Composite
E
Chronic Toxicity5 TGP3B
See Note 5
Quarterly
Composite
E
Conductivity, µmhos/cm6 00094
Monitor and Report
Variable?
Grab
U, D
Dissolved Oxygen, mg/L6 00300
Monitor and Report
Variable?
Grab
U, D
Temperature, o0 00010
Monitor and Report
Variable?
Grab
U, D
Total Hardness [as CaCO3], mg/L8 00900
Monitor and Report
Quarterly
Grab
U
Footnotes-
1. The Permittee shall submit discharge monitoring reports electronically using NC DWR's eDMR application system.
See Special Condition A. (5.).
2. Sample Locations: E - Effluent. U- Upstream at NCSR 1400, D- Downstream 50-feet downstream of discharge near
the City of Sanford outfall.
3. The Division shall consider all effluent total residual chlorine values reported below 50 ug/1 to be in compliance
with the permit. However, the permittee shall continue to record and submit all values reported by a North
Carolina certified laboratory (including field certified), even if these values fall below 50 ug/l.
4. Total Nitrogen = TKN + (NO3-N + NO2-N), where TN is Total Nitrogen, TKN is Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen, and
Nitrate and Nitrite are (NO3-N + NO2-N) respectively.
5. Chronic Toxicity (Ceriodaphnia) P/F Q 9%, quarterly in January, April, July, October. See Special Condition A. (2.).
6. Monitoring upstream (U) and downstream (D) are provisionally waived, based on the Permittee's membership in
the Upper Cape Fear River Basin Association. If at any time during the term of this permit, membership in the
association is terminated, the permittee shall notify the Division immediately, and immediately continue instream
(Footnotes continue on next page)
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Permit NCO072575
Footnotes (continued):
monitoring as stipulated in this permit.
7. Variable: sample upstream and downstream 3/week during summer months of June, July, August and September;
and 1/week throughout the remainder of the year.
8. The Permittee shall sample instream hardness, upstream of the facility's discharge. The sample shall be
representative of the hardness in the receiving stream. If the Permittee is a member of the Monitoring Coalition
Program, sampling for instream hardness may be waived as long as the Monitoring Coalition agrees to sample
hardness at the nearest upstream location, at a minimum frequency of quarterly, and the Permittee has obtained
approval from DWR - NPDES Permitting Unit that the upstream station being monitored by the Coalition is
representative of the receiving stream for this discharge. The Permittee is responsible for submitting instream
hardness test results with its permit renewal application package. If Coalition membership is cancelled or the
Coalition terminates instream hardness sampling at the approved station, the Permittee will immediately notify the
Division and resume sampling for instream hardness, upstream of its discharge.
There shall be no discharge of floating solids or visible foam in other than trace amounts.
A.(2.) CHRONIC TOXICITY PERMIT LIMIT (QUARTERLY)
[15A NCAC 02B .0200 et seq.]
The effluent discharge shall at no time exhibit observable inhibition of reproduction or significant
mortality to Ceriodaphnia dubia at an effluent concentration of 9%.
The permit holder shall perform at a minimum, uag rterl monitoring using test procedures outlined in
the "North Carolina Ceriodaphnia Chronic Effluent Bioassay Procedure," Revised December 2010, or
subsequent versions or "North Carolina Phase II Chronic Whole Effluent Toxicity Test Procedure"
(Revised- December 2010) or subsequent versions. The tests will be performed during the months of
January, April, July, and October. These months signify the first month of each three-month toxicity
testing quarter assigned to the facility. Effluent sampling for this testing must be obtained during
representative effluent discharge and shall be performed at the NPDES permitted final effluent
discharge below all treatment processes.
If the test procedure performed as the first test of any single quarter results in a failure or ChV
below the permit limit, then multiple -concentration testing shall be performed at a minimum, in
each of the two following months as described in "North Carolina Phase II Chronic Whole Effluent
Toxicity Test Procedure" (Revised -December 2010) or subsequent versions.
All toxicity testing results required as part of this permit condition will be entered electronically using
the Divisions eDMR system for the months in which tests were performed, using the parameter code
TGP313 for the pass/fail results and THP313 for the Chronic Value. Additionally, DWR Form AT-3
(original) is to be sent to the following address:
Attention: North Carolina Division of Water Resources
Water Sciences Section/Aquatic Toxicology Branch
1621 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1623
Or, results can be sent to the email, [e-mail].
Completed Aquatic Toxicity Test Forms shall be filed with the Water Sciences Section no later than 30
days after the end of the reporting period for which the report is made.
Test data shall be complete, accurate, include all supporting chemical/physical measurements and all
concentration/response data, and be certified by laboratory supervisor and ORC or approved
designate signature. Total residual chlorine of the effluent toxicity sample must be measured and
reported if chlorine is employed for disinfection of the waste stream.
Should there be no discharge of flow from the facility during a month in which toxicity monitoring is
required, the Permittee will complete the information located at the top of the aquatic toxicity (AT) test
form indicating the facility name, permit number, pipe number, county, and the month/year of the
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Permit NCO072575
report with the notation of "No Flow' in the comment area of the form. The report shall be submitted
to the Water Sciences Section at the address cited above.
Should the Permittee fail to monitor during a month in which toxicity monitoring is required,
monitoring will be required during the following month. Assessment of toxicity compliance is based on
the toxicity testing quarter, which is the three month time interval that begins on the first day of the
month in which toxicity testing is required by this permit and continues until the final day of the third
month.
Should any test data from this monitoring requirement or tests performed by the North Carolina
Division of Water Resources indicate potential impacts to the receiving stream, this permit may be re-
opened and modified to include alternate monitoring requirements or limits.
NOTE: Failure to achieve test conditions as specified in the cited document, such as minimum control
organism survival, minimum control organism reproduction, and appropriate environmental controls,
shall constitute an invalid test and will require immediate follow-up testing to be completed no later
than the last day of the month following the month of the initial monitoring.
A.(3.) NUTRIENT RE -OPENER
[G.S.143-215.1]
Pursuant to N.C. General Statutes section 143-215.1 and the implementing rules found in North
Carolina Administrative Code at 15A NCAC 2H.0112 (b) (1) and 2H.0114 (a) and Part II sections B-12
and B-13 of this permit, the Director of DWQ may reopen this permit to require supplemental nutrient
monitoring of the discharge. The purpose of additional monitoring will be to support water quality
modeling efforts within the Cape Fear River Basin and shall be consistent with a monitoring plan
developed jointly by the Division and affected stakeholders. In addition, the results of water quality
modeling may require that limits for total nitrogen and total phosphorous be imposed in this permit
upon renewal.
A.(4.) MERCURY MONITORING AND RE -OPENER
[G.S.143-215.1]
The permit holder shall, within the first six months from the effective date of this permit shall provide
at least one effluent mercury monitoring using test procedure EPA Method 1631E. Any additional
mercury measurement conducted from the effective date of this permit and up to the application date
shall also be submitted using the Division's eDMR reporting system. Pursuant to N.C. General Statutes
section 143-215.1 and the implementing rules found in North Carolina Administrative Code at 15A
NCAC 2H.0112 (b) (1) and 2H.0114 (a) and Part II sections B-12 and B-13 of this permit, the Director of
DWQ may reopen this permit to require supplemental mercury monitoring of the discharge.
A.(5.) ELECTRONIC REPORTING OF DISCHARGE MONITORING REPORTS
[G.S.143-215.1(b)]
Federal regulations require electronic submittal of all discharge monitoring reports (DMRs) and
program reports. The final NPDES Electronic Reporting Rule was adopted and became effective on
December 21, 2015.
NOTE: This special condition supplements or supersedes the following sections within Part II of this
permit (Standard Conditions for NPDES Permits):
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Permit NC0072575
• Section B. (11.) Signatory Requirements
• Section D. (2.) Reporting
• Section D. (6.) Records Retention
• Section E. (5.) Monitoring Reports
1. Reporting Requirements [Supersedes Section D. (2.) and Section E. (5.) (a)]
The Permittee shall report discharge monitoring data electronically using the NC DWR's Electronic
Discharge Monitoring Report (eDMR) internet application.
Monitoring results obtained during the previous month(s) shall be summarized for each month and
submitted electronically using eDMR. The eDMR system allows permitted facilities to enter
monitoring data and submit DMRs electronically using the internet. Until such time that the state's
eDMR application is compliant with EPA's Cross -Media Electronic Reporting Regulation
(CROMERR), Permittees will be required to submit all discharge monitoring data to the state
electronically using eDMR and will be required to complete the eDMR submission by printing,
signing, and submitting one signed original and a copy of the computer printed eDMR to the
following address:
NC DEQ / Division of Water Resources / Water Quality Permitting Section
ATTENTION: Central Files
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
If a Permittee is unable to use the eDMR system due to a demonstrated hardship or due to the
facility being physically located in an area where less than 10 percent of the households have
broadband access, then a temporary waiver from the NPDES electronic reporting requirements
may be granted and discharge monitoring data may be submitted on paper DMR forms (MR 1,1.1,
2, 3) or alternative forms approved by the Director. Duplicate signed copies shall be submitted to
the mailing address above. See "How to Request a Waiver from Electronic Reporting" section
below.
Regardless of the submission method, the first DMR is due on the last day of the month following
the issuance of the permit or in the case of a new facility, on the last day of the month following the
commencement of discharge.
Starting on December 21, 2025, the permittee must electronically report the following compliance
monitoring data and reports, when applicable:
Sewer Overflow/Bypass Event Reports;
Pretreatment Program Annual Reports; and
Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 316(b) Annual Reports.
The Permittee may seek an electronic reporting waiver from the Division (see "How to Request a
Waiver from Electronic Reporting" section below).
2. Electronic Submissions
In accordance with 40 CFR 122.41(1)(9), the Permittee must identify the initial recipient at the time
of each electronic submission. The Permittee should use the EPA's website resources to identify the
initial recipient for the electronic submission.
Initial recipient of electronic NPDES information from NPDES-regulated facilities means the entity
(EPA or the state authorized by EPA to implement the NPDES program) that is the designated
entity for receiving electronic NPDES data [see 40 CFR 127.2(b)].
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Permit NC0072575
EPA plans to establish a website that will also link to the appropriate electronic reporting tool for
each type of electronic submission and for each state. Instructions on how to access and use the
appropriate electronic reporting tool will be available as well. Information on EPA's NPDES
Electronic Reporting Rule is found at:
https: / /vvww.federalregister.gov/ documents/2015 / 10/ 22/ 2015-24954/national-pollutant-
discharge-elimination-system-npdes-electronic-reporting-rule
Electronic submissions must start by the dates listed in the "Reporting Requirements' section
above.
3. How to Request a Waiver from Electronic Reporting
The Permittee may seek a temporary electronic reporting waiver from the Division. To obtain an
electronic reporting waiver, a Permittee must first submit an electronic reporting waiver request to
the Division. Requests for temporary electronic reporting waivers must be submitted in writing to
the Division for written approval at least sixty (60) days prior to the date the facility would be
required under this permit to begin submitting monitoring data and reports. The duration of a
temporary waiver shall not exceed 5 years and shall thereupon expire. At such time, monitoring
data and reports shall be submitted electronically to the Division unless the Permittee re -applies for
and is granted a new temporary electronic reporting waiver by the Division. Approved electronic
reporting waivers are not transferrable. Only Permittees with an approved reporting waiver
request may submit monitoring data and reports on paper to the Division for the period that the
approved reporting waiver request is effective.
Information on eDMR and the application for a temporary electronic reporting waiver are found on
the following web page:
http://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/edmr
4. Signatory Requirements [Supplements Section B. (11.) (b) and Supersedes Section B. (11.) (d)]
All eDMRs submitted to the permit issuing authority shall be signed by a person described in Part
II, Section B. (11.)(a) or by a duly authorized representative of that person as described in Part II,
Section B. (11)(b). A person, and not a position, must be delegated signatory authority for eDMR
reporting purposes.
For eDMR submissions, the person signing and submitting the DMR must obtain an eDMR user
account and login credentials to access the eDMR system. For more information on North
Carolina's eDMR system, registering for eDMR and obtaining an eDMR user account, please visit
the following web page:
http://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/edmr
Certification. Any person submitting an electronic DMR using the state's eDMR system shall make
the following certification [40 CFR 122.22]. NO OTHER STATEMENTS OF CERTIFICATION WILL
BE ACCEPTED:
"I certify, under penalty of law, that this document and all attachments were prepared under my direction or
supervision in accordance with a system designed to assure that qualified personnel properly gather and
evaluate the information submitted. Based on my inquiry of the person or persons who manage the system, or
those persons directly responsible for gathering the information, the information submitted is, to the best of
my knowledge and belief, true, accurate, and complete. I am aware that there are significant penalties for
submitting false information, including the possibility of fines and imprisonment for knowing violations."
5. Records Retention [Supplements Section D. (6.)]
The Permittee shall retain records of all Discharge Monitoring Reports, including eDMR
submissions. These records or copies shall be maintained for a period of at least 3 years from the
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Permit NCO072575
date of the report. This period may be extended by request of the Director at any time [40 CFR
122.41].
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Permit NCO072575
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