NC0024333_approval_20040729

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Michael F. Easley, Governor
William G. Ross Jr., Secretary
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Alan W. K1itnek,RE--•Director
Coie h H Sullins, DeputyDirector.
Division=o _Wala:,u ur
July 29, 2004
Mr. Russ Colbah, PE
Water Resources Engineering Manager
City of Monroe
PO Box 69
Monroe, North Carolina 28111-0069
Subject: Approval of Delegated Local Permit Program for Sewer Extensions
Dear Mr. Colbath:
In accordance with your request for delegation of the local permit program for sewer extensions received on June
9, 2003 and additional information received on July 21, 2003, February 5, 2004 and May 3, 2004, the Division of
Water Quality is hereby forwarding confirmation of your approval granted by the Environmental Management
Commission on July 8, 2004 (draft minutes enclosed). This approval has been granted in accordance with NCGS
143-215.1(f) and 15A NCAC 2H .0218 and based upon the submittal of your proposed permit program
information.
The City of Monroe has been approved to issue permits for the construction and operation of new public gravity
sewer lines and modifications to proposed or existing public gravity sewer lines within the City of Monroe
corporate limits and areas of extraterritorial jurisdiction. The following collection systems shall continue to be
permitted by the Division:
1. Privately owned gravity sewer systems;
2. Public or private pump station and force main projects;
3. Outfalls into a basin where sewer service has not yet been provided;
4. Low pressure sewer systems or STEP systems;
5. Projects involving Environmental Assessments; and
6. Any collection system where a variance from state regulations is required.
As an approved local program, the City of Monroe will be responsible for adhering to the following requirements
and/or limitations:
1. Any future amendment to the requirements of the statute, regulations or sewer minimum design criteria
pertaining to the local sewer extension permitting program shall be incorporated into the City of Monroe
local sewer system program within sixty days of the effective date of the amendments;
2. The Mooresville Regional Office shall approve all wastewater flow tributary to the appropriate
wastewater treatment plant. The City shall meet with the regional office to determine and document how
flow allocations shall be handled prior to starting the delegated program (i.e. on a permit by permit basis
or a block allocation).
N. C. Division of Water Quality 1617 Mail Service Center Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617 [phone] Customer Service
1-877-623-6748

Mr. Colbath
July 29, 2004
Page 2
3. Each project permitted by the local sewer system program shall be inspected for compliance with the
requirements with the local program at least once during construction;
4. Any changes to the approved minimum design specifications must be submitted to the Division for
approval prior to incorporating these changes into the local permitting program. Any other changes to the
local permitting program, including adjustments to wastewater flow rates, shall receive prior approval
from the Division.
5. A quarterly report shall be submitted to the Non -Discharge Permitting Unit and the Mooresville Regional
Office listing for each local permit issued during the quarter, the name of the project, permit number, the
treatment facility receiving the waste, and the design flow and the type of waste for sewer system
extensions or changes. The report shall also provide a listing and summary of all enforcement actions
taken or pending during the quarter. The quarters begin on January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1, and
the report shall be submitted within 30 days after the end of each period. This form will be E-mailed to
you. This Division form is to be used to submit your quarterly reports. The Division will notify of
updated forms as necessary. Monroe must allocate flow against the treatment plant upon permit issuance
and NOT upon construction completion and operation of the permitted system. If a permitted system is not
constructed and/or the permit expires, the flow allocation can be credited back to the plant. This
information shall be tracked and presented to the Division with the quarterly report.
6. The City of Monroe treatment plant is subject to the requirements of 15A NCAC 2H .0223. Upon the
facility reaching 80% of the permitted hydraulic capacity based on the previous calendar year average
flows, the Permittee must submit an approvable engineering evaluation of future treatment needs. Prior to
exceeding 90% of the permitted hydraulic capacity of the treatment plant based on the last calendar year
average flows, the Permittee shall obtain all permits needed to implement the approved plan. Sewer
extension permits should not be issued while the treatment plant is exceeding 80% or 90% loading rates
unless the additional flow is not projected to result in the treatment plant exceeding the permitted
hydraulic capacity, the treatment plant is in compliance with all other permit limitations and it is
demonstrated that progress is being made towards a solution to lowering the hydraulic flows or expanding
the treatment plant. Additionally, sewer extension permits shall not be issued if the total allocated flows
in Division issued or Monroe issued extension permits exceed the hydraulic treatment plant capacity (i.e.
permits shall not continue to be issued if paper flow allocations exceed the treatment plant permitted
capacity).
7. Per General Statute 143-215.67(a), no person shall willfully cause or allow new sources of wastewater to
a waste -disposal system without adequate capacity to treat such waste. The City shall not issue sewer
extension permits to introduce new flows into any part of the sewer system where there are known
capacity issues or where the permitted treatment plant flow will be exceeded.
If necessary, the Division will continue to accept any applications for permitting from the approved local
programs for which the delegated authority is uncomfortable permitting. If you have any questions or comments
on this matter, please contact Marie Doklovic or Kim Colson at [phone] ext. 371 and ext. 540,
respectively.
Sincerely,
Alan W. Klimek, P.E.
cc: Rex Gleason, Mooresville Regional Office, Water Quality
Susan Wilson, Division of Water Quality NPDES Unit
Kathryn Jones Cooper, Attorney General's Office
Delegation File — City of Monroe