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Home My WebLink AboutNCG500139_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_20210923ROY COOPER. Gervurrrof ELIZABETH S. E3ESER secretary $. DAF4IEL SMITH DIJVCrOr N IRTH CAI C'LINA Enkirnvr thentat Quality September 23, 2021 Mr. Steve Calhoun, Lead Environmental Specialist Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC 410 south Wilmington St NRCH floor 15 Raleigh NC, 27601 Subject: Compliance Evaluation Inspection Cowans Ford Hydroelectric Station NPDES Permit No. NCG500139 Lincoln County Dear Ms. Gardner: Enclosed is a copy of the Compliance Evaluation Inspection for the inspection conducted at the subject facility on September 22, 2021, by Ori Tuvia. Glenn Long's cooperation during the site visit was much appreciated. Please advise the staff involved with this NPDES Permit by forwarding a copy of the enclosed report. The report should be self-explanatory; however, should you have any questions concerning this report, please do not hesitate to contact Ori Tuvia at (704) 235-2190, or at ori.tuvia@ncdenr.gov. Sincerely, DocuSigned by: Al 4CC681AF27425... W. Corey Basinger Regional Supervisor Mooresville Regional Office Division of Water Resources Cc: NPDES Unit, MRO Files (Laserfiche) North Carolina Department of En viranmrnlal Quality I DFvishon of Water Rrsourrrs Mooresville Regional. Ofnce 1670 East Center Avenue, Suite 301 1 Mu x csvallc, North Carolina 28315 70L$.b63.169.g United States Environmental Protection Agency EPA Washington, D.C. 20460 Water Compliance Inspection Report Form Approved. OMB No. 2040-0057 Approval expires 8-31-98 Section A: National Data System Coding (i.e., PCS) Transaction 1 IN I 21IIIIII Code NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection 2 IL I 3 I NCG500139 111 121 21/09/22 117 Type 1810I IIIIIIIIIII Inspector Fac Type 19I S I 2011 IIIIIIIIIII IIIIIII I IIIIII P6 Inspection Work Days Facility Self -Monitoring Evaluation Rating B1 QA Reserved 67I1.0 I 70I4 I 711 1 72 I N I 73I 1 74 751 I I 1 I I I I I I 180 Section B: Facility Data Name and Location of Facility Inspected (For Industrial Users discharging to POTW, also include POTW name and NPDES oermit Number) Cowans Ford Hydroelectric Station 257 Duke Ln Stanley NC 28164 Entry Time/Date 11:15AM 21/09/22 Permit Effective Date 20/12/14 Exit Time/Date 12:10PM 21/09/22 Permit Expiration Date 25/11/30 Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) /// Glenn Long//980-722-0678 / Other Facility Data Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number Contacted Michael T Brissie,257 Duke Ln Stanley NC 28164/General Manager// No Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated) Permit Flow Measurement Operations & Maintenar Records/Reports Self -Monitoring Progran Facility Site Review Effluent/Receiving Wate Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) (See attachment summary) Name(s) and Ori A Tuvia Signature(s) of Inspector(s) Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date 9/23/2021 ,-DocuSigned by: DWR/MRO WQ/704-663-1699/ c - BB057A2DE017498... Signature of Management Q A Reviewer Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date W. Corey Basinger DWR/Division of Water Quality/704-235-2194/ EPA Form 3560-3 (Rev 9-94) Previous editions are obsolete. DocuSigned by: 9/23/2021 A14CC681AF27425... Page# 1 NPDES yr/mo/day 31 NCG500139 111 121 21/09/22 I17 Inspection Type 18 [j 1 Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) Page# 2 Permit: NCG500139 Inspection Date: 09/22/2021 Owner - Facility: Cowans Ford Hydroelectric Station Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Permit Yes No NA NE (If the present permit expires in 6 months or less). Has the permittee submitted a new ❑ ❑ ❑ application? Is the facility as described in the permit? • ❑ ❑ ❑ # Are there any special conditions for the permit? ❑ • ❑ ❑ Is access to the plant site restricted to the general public? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the inspector granted access to all areas for inspection? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Comment: The subject permit expires on 11/30/2025 Record Keeping Are records kept and maintained as required by the permit? Is all required information readily available, complete and current? Are all records maintained for 3 years (lab. reg. required 5 years)? Are analytical results consistent with data reported on DMRs? Is the chain -of -custody complete? Dates, times and location of sampling Name of individual performing the sampling Results of analysis and calibration Dates of analysis Name of person performing analyses Transported COCs Are DMRs complete: do they include all permit parameters? Has the facility submitted its annual compliance report to users and DWQ? (If the facility is = or > 5 MGD permitted flow) Do they operate 24/7 with a certified operator on each shift? Is the ORC visitation log available and current? Is the ORC certified at grade equal to or higher than the facility classification? Is the backup operator certified at one grade less or greater than the facility classification? Is a copy of the current NPDES permit available on site? Facility has copy of previous year's Annual Report on file for review? Yes No NA NE • ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ Page# 3 Permit: NCG500139 Inspection Date: 09/22/2021 Owner - Facility: Cowans Ford Hydroelectric Station Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Record Keeping Yes No NA NE Comment: Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC has been certified by the Division to conduct the required oil & grease analyses (Commercial Laboratory #248) as well the temperature and pH analyses (Field Laboratory #5134). TRC and COD analyses are not required because no chemicals are added in the electricity generating process. The records reviewed during the inspection were organized and well maintained. Effluent, upstream, and downstream data were reviewed for 2020. No effluent limit violations and/or instream temperature exceedances were reported Flow Measurement - Effluent # Is flow meter used for reporting? Is flow meter calibrated annually? Is the flow meter operational? (If units are separated) Does the chart recorder match the flow meter? Comment: The discharge flow is estimated. Yes No NA NE ❑ ❑ • ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ Effluent Sampling Yes No NA NE Is composite sampling flow proportional? ❑ ❑ • ❑ Is sample collected below all treatment units? ❑ ❑ • ❑ Is proper volume collected? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Is the tubing clean? ❑ ❑ • ❑ # Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0 ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ degrees Celsius)? Is the facility sampling performed as required by the permit (frequency, sampling type • ❑ ❑ ❑ representative)? Comment: The subject permit requires grab sampling. Upstream / Downstream Sampling Yes No NA NE Is the facility sampling performed as required by the permit (frequency, sampling type, ■ ❑ ❑ ❑ and sampling location)? Comment: Operations & Maintenance Yes No NA NE Is the plant generally clean with acceptable housekeeping? • ❑ ❑ ❑ Does the facility analyze process control parameters, for ex: MLSS, MCRT, Settleable ❑ ❑ • ❑ Solids, pH, DO, Sludge Judge, and other that are applicable? Page# 4 Permit: NCG500139 Inspection Date: 09/22/2021 Owner - Facility: Cowans Ford Hydroelectric Station Inspection Type: Compliance Evaluation Operations & Maintenance Yes No NA NE Comment: The Permittee notes 14 outfalls at the station for the four electric generating units; four outfalls are maintained for emergency bypass procedures. Discharges are released at the tailrace of the dam. Oil/water separators are used on Outfalls 001, 004, 007, 010, and 013 to remove oil that might leak from the generators or associated equipment. Outfall 014 discharges groundwater seepage through the dam to ensure structural integrity. Effluent Pipe Is right of way to the outfall properly maintained? Are the receiving water free of foam other than trace amounts and other debris? If effluent (diffuser pipes are required) are they operating properly? Comment: Yes No NA NE • ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ • ❑ Page# 5