NC0024201_staff comments_19950627

DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
MEMORANDUM
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
June 27, 1995
Preston Howard
Steve Tedder
Roanoke Rapids WWTP
NPDES No. NC0024201
Halifax County
The Roanoke Rapids WWTP currently operates under a permit that requires the addition
of disinfection capabilities and relocation of the outfall from Chockoyotte Creek to the
Roanoke River by May 31, 1997. At present, the discharge is not disinfected. Upon
request by the Roanoke Rapids Sanitary District, the Water Quality Section has
reexamined the issue of outfall relocation in light of the expected difficulties and
considerable expense involved in the proposed relocation_ The Section's recommendations
follow.
1) It is recommended that the facility not be required to relocate to the Roanoke River.
The limited possible environmental advantages (and possible disadvantages) do not justify
the considerable expense of relocation.
2) It is recommended that ongoing work be continued to determine the instream waste
concentration (IWC) at the existing discharge point. The current permit limits for DO,
ammonia, and BOD are sufficient to protect the dissolved oxygen standard. However,
because the IWC at the existing site is unknown, the existing whole effluent toxicity limit
may need to be modified. A study is presently underway to determine the appropriate
IWC (available dilution is the result of mixing flows from Chockoyotte Creek and the
Roanoke). Once completed (by October 1995), the permit will be reopened to remove the
outfall relocation requirement and to set an appropriate toxicity limit.
3) It is recommended that the requirement to install disinfection remain in the permit.
This recommendation is consistent with current SOP and will address concerns raised by
Regional Office Staff about the proximity of the discharge to recreational areas.
cc: Judy Garrett, RRO
Don Safrit
Central Files

Page 1
Note for Don Safrit
From: Steve Tedder
Date: Thu, Jun 22, 1995 12:43 PM
Subject: RE: ROANOKE SANITARY DISTRICT
To: Don Safrit
Cc: Ken Eagleson
THIS ISSUE WAS AROUND TWO YEARS AGO. SOUNDS TO ME LIKE WE ARE
MAKING A CAREER OUT OF AN EASY DECISION. I THOUGHT THE REGION
SAID OVER A YEAR AGO THAT BECAUSE OF THE ROCK FORMATIONS, THE
SLOPE ETC, IT WOULD NOT EVEN BE REASONABLE TO MOVE THE DISCHARGE
AND IT WAS SO CLOSE TO THE CONFLUENCE IT WAS PRACTICALLY IN THE
RIVER ANY WAY.
WHAT THIS STUDY BS? I THOUGHT YOUR STAFF AND KENS WERE TO GO TO
THE SITE , PULL SOME QUICK INFO IF NECESSARY AND LET GET ON WITH
THE DECISION AND THE PROGRAM.
From: Don Safrit on Thu, Jun 22, 1995 12:08 PM
Subject: RE: ROANOKE SANITARY DISTRICT
To: Steve Tedder
Cc: Dennis Ramsey; Dianne Williams Wilburn
... but it does not qualify as an effluent channel.
From: Dianne Williams Wilburn on Thu, Jun 22, 1995 12:02 PM
Subject: RE: ROANOKE SANITARY DISTRICT
To: Steve Tedder
Cc: Dennis Ramsey; Don Safrit
Permit had a requirement to move to the Roanoke River. They discharge to the mouth of a
creek. The facility said would costs lots of $ and didn't think the Corps would approve. Juan
Mangles is heading up a study and the facility is doing some monitoring for chlorides and
conductivity to determine the conc of the effluent in the creek. The RRO is evaluating letting
them stay where they are. They think the discharge would just end up back in the mouth of
the creek.
From: Steve Tedder on Thu, Jun 22, 1995 10:04
Subject: ROANOKE SANITARY DISTRICT
To: Dianne Williams Wilburn; Don Safrit
Cc: Dennis Ramsey
WHAT DO WE HAVE GOING ON WITH THIS DISCHAARGE FACILITY?
HAVE WE ISSUED A PERMIT OR ORDER REQUIRING RECOCATION OF THE
OUTFALL? IS THIS THE ONE THE REGION (RRO) WAS CONCERNED ABOUT A
COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WHERE THE LIMITS WERE TO THE ROANOKE AND
THEY FINALLY DID A PROPER INSPECTION AND FOUND THE DISCHARGE
ACTUALLY IN A TRIG CLOSE TO THE CONFLUENCE WITH THE RIVER? PLEASE
ADVISE