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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNC0049174_Fact Sheet_20230210FACT SHEET FOR EXPEDITED PERMIT RENEWALS This form must be completed by Permit Writers for all expedited permits which do not require full Fact Sheets. Expedited permits are generally simple 100% domestics (e.g., schools, mobile home parks, etc) that can be administratively renewed with minor changes, but can include facilities with more complex issues (Special Conditions, 303(d) listed water, toxicity testing, instream monitoring, compliance concerns). Basic Information for Expedited Permit Renewals Permit Writer / Date Siying Chen 8/8/2022 Permit Number NCO049174 Facility Name / Facility Class Smoketree Lode WWTP / WW-2 Count / Regional Office Watauga / WSRO Basin Name / Sub -basin number Watauga / 04-02-01 Receiving Stream / HUC UT Watauga River / 060101030301 Stream Classification / Stream Segment B-Trout; H W / 8- 1 Does permit need Daily Maximum NH3 limits? Already resent Does permit need TRC limits/language? Already resent Does permit have toxicity testing? IWC (%) if so No Does permit have Special Conditions? No Does permit have instream monitoring? Yes — Temperature and D.O. Is the stream impaired on 303(d) list)? No Any obvious compliance concerns? Two NODs during the permit cycle for D.O. limit violation Changes in draft permit? Updated facility address Added WWTP classification Updated eDMR requirements Added instream monitoring for turbidity Updated outfall ma New expiration date 9/30/2027 Comments on Draft Permit? SELC commented on temperature footnote Most Commonly Used Expedited Language: • 303(d) language for Draft/Final Cover Letters: "Please note that the receiving stream is listed as an impaired waterbody on the North Carolina 303(d) Impaired Waters List. Addressing impaired waters is a high priority with the Division, and instream data will continue to be evaluated. If there is noncompliance with permitted effluent limits and stream impairment can be attributed to your facility, then mitigative measures may be required". • TRC language for Combliance Level for Cover Letters/Effluent Sheet Footnote: "The facility shall report all effluent TRC values reported by a NC certified laboratory including field certified. However, effluent values below 50 µg/l will be treated as zero for compliance purposes." Fact Sheet for Permit Renewal August 2022 -- NPDES Permit NCO049174 - Page 1 Section 1. Facility Overview: This facility is a minor facility (flow < 1 MGD) discharging 100% domestic wastewater with a design capacity of 0.01 MGD. This WWTP utilizes the following treatment components: • Upflow Sludge blanket filtration plant • Flow equalization basin • Aeration basin • Clarifier • Digester • Sludge holding tank • Re -aeration • UV disinfection system • Effluent flow meter Section 2. Compliance History (October 2018 — September 2022): • Two NODS for dissolved oxygen limit violation in September 2019 and December 2019. Section 3. Changes from previous permit to draft: • Updated facility address on permit cover sheet. • Added facility grade in A. (1). • Updated eDMR footnote in A. (1) and language in A. (2). • Added instream monitoring for turbidity in A. (1) to comply with 15A NCAC 0213.0211 (21). • Updated outfall map. Section 4. Comments received on draft permit: SELC submitted comment on behalf of MountainTrue, the North Carolina Chapter of Trout Unlimited, North Carolina Wildlife Federation, Watauga Riverkeeper, and the Southern Environmental Law Center, in regards of the temperature standard in trout waters. SELC raised concerns about not having a temperature standard in the permit, even though the permittee expects to discharge effluent warmer than the maximum in -stream temperature allowed to protect the receiving streams' uses as trout waters. In response to this, NPDES permitting unit management discussed and decided that 100% domestic discharges do not qualify as a "heated liquid" as stated in the rule, and thus no trout water temperature standards should be applied to this permit. Section 5. Changes from draft to final: • Updated the sampling location for turbidity to effluent in A. (1). Fact Sheet for Permit Renewal August 2022 -- NPDES Permit NCO049174 - Page 2 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA WATAUGA COUNTY DEQ - DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES 1617 Mail Service Ctr Raleigh, NC 276991617 AFFIDAVIT OF PUBLICATION Before the undersigned, a Notary Public of said County and State, duly commissioned, qua i1fi nd authorizg yglawto administer oaths, personally appeared who being first duly sworn, deposes and says: that he (she) is an employee of ADAMS PUBLISHING GROUP, LLC, engaged in the publication of a newspaper known as Watauga Democrat, published in the city of BOONE in said County and State, that he (she) is authorized to make this affidavit and sworn statement; that the notice or other legal advertisement, a true copy of which is attached hereto, was published in Watauga Democrat, a newspaper meeting all of the requirements and qualifications of Section I-597 of the General Statues of North Carolina on the following dates: NCO035149, NCO049174 10/26/22 .�`ttON M 1 I''� CO'�i ` G �• i ''� � •• • • • • • •.� � G Notary Public 1i cov te, //k elal�l My Commission expires: � _ 2 ¢r :2 (r P.O. BOX 1815, BOONE, NC 28607 828-264-6397 This 27th day of October, 2022 Signature of person making affidavit to and subscribed before me on this 27th day of October, 2022 Public Notice North Carolina Environmen- tal Management Commis- sion/NPDES Unit 1617 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1617 Notice of Intent to Issue a NPDES Wastewater Permit NCO035149 Seven Devils Re- sort WWTP, and NCO049174 Smoketree Lodge The North Carolina Environmental Man- agement Commission proposes to issue a NPDES wastewater discharge permit to the person(s) listed below. Written comments regarding the pro- posed permit will be accepted until 30 days after the publish date of this notice. The Director of the NC Division of Water Re- sources (DWR) may hold a pub- lic hearing should there be a significant degree of public inter- est. Please mail comments and/or information requests to DWR at the above address. In- terested persons may visit the DWR at 512 N. Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC 27604 to review the information on file. Additional in- formation on NPDES permits and this notice may be found on our website: http://deq.nc.gov/about/divi- sions/water-resou rces/water- resources-permitstwastewate r- b r a n c h/ n p d e s- wastewater/public-notices, or by calling (919) 707-3601. Water Resources Management, Inc. (151-Mr Bish Blvd, Boone, NC 28607) has applied to renew NPDES permit NCO035149 for Its Seven Devils Resort WWTP (870 Devils Lake Dr, Seven Devils, Watauga County), discharging 100% do- mestic wastewater to a LIT of the Watauga River, Watauga River Basin, Watauga County. This permit approves phased flows, currently 0.020 MGD (next phases, upon approval: 0.070 MGD and 0.120 MGD). Cur- rently Fecal Coliform, Ammonia Nitrogen and Total Residual Chlorine (TRC) are water -quality limited. This discharge may af- fect future wasteload allocations to this portion of the watershed. Smoketree Lodge [11914 NC Hwy 105 S, Banner Elk, NC 28604] requested renewal of ppermit NCO049174 for its WWTP in Watauga County. This permitted facility dis- charges to an unnamed tributary to the Watauga River in the Watauga River Basin. Currently BOD, ammonia nitrogen, tota! suspended solids, dissolved oxygen, fecal coliform, and total residual chlorine are water qual- ity limited. This discharge may affect future allocations in this portion of the Watauga River. NH3/TRC WLA Calculations Facility: Smoketree Lodge WWTP PermitNo. NC0049174 Prepared By: Siying Chen Enter Design Flow (MGD): 0.01 Enter s7Q10 (cfs): 0 Enter w7Q10 cfs : 0 Total Residual Chlorine (TRC) Daily Maximum Limit (ug/1) Ammonia (Summer) Monthly Average Limit (mg NH3-N/1) s7Q10 (CFS) 0 s7Q10 (CFS) 0 DESIGN FLOW (MGD) 0.01 DESIGN FLOW (MGD) 0.01 DESIGN FLOW (CFS) 0.0155 DESIGN FLOW (CFS) 0.0155 STREAM STD (UG/L) 17.0 STREAM STD (MG/L) 1.0 Upstream Bkgd (ug/1) 0 Upstream Bkgd (mg/1) 0.22 IWC (%) 100.00 IWC (%) 100.00 Allowable Conc. (ug/1) 17 Allowable Conc. (mg/1) 1.0 Ammonia (Winter) Monthly Average Limit (mg NH3-N/1) Fecal Coliform w7Q10 (CFS) 0 Monthly Average Limit: 200/100ml DESIGN FLOW (MGD) 0.01 (If DF >331; Monitor) DESIGN FLOW (CFS) 0.0155 (If DF<331; Limit) STREAM STD (MG/L) 1.8 Dilution Factor (DF) 1.00 Upstream Bkgd (mg/1) 0.22 IWC (%) 100.00 Allowable Conc. (mg/1) 1.8 Total Residual Chlorine 1. Cap Daily Max limit at 28 ug/I to protect for acute toxicity Ammonia (as NH3-N) 1. If Allowable Conc > 35 mg/I, Monitor Only 2. Monthly Avg limit x 3 = Weekly Avg limit (Municipals) 3. Monthly Avg limit x 5 = Daily Max limit (Non-Munis) If the allowable ammonia concentration is > 35 mg/L, no limit shall be imposed Fecal Coliform 1. Monthly Avg limit x 2 = 400/100 ml = Weekly Avg limit (Municipals) = Daily Max limit (Non -Muni) MONITORING REPORT(MR) VIOLATIONS for: Report Date: 09/23/22 Page 1 of 1 Permit: nc0049174 MRS Betweei 0 - 2018 and 9 - 2022 Region: % Violation Category:% Program Category: Facility Name: % Param Nam(% County: % Subbasin: % Violation Action: % Major Minor: % PERMIT: NCO049174 FACILITY: Smoketree Lodge - Smoketree Lodge COUNTY: Watauga REGION: Winston-Salem Limit Violation MONITORING VIOLATION UNIT OF CALCULATED % REPORT OUTFALL LOCATION PARAMETER DATE FREQUENCY MEASURE LIMIT VALUE Over VIOLATION TYPE VIOLATION ACTION 09-2019 001 Effluent Oxygen, Dissolved (DO) 09/09/19 Weekly mg/I 6 5.86 2.3 Daily Minimum Not Proceed to NOD Reached 12-2019 001 Effluent Oxygen, Dissolved (DO) 12/02/19 Weekly mg/I 6 5.87 2.2 Daily Minimum Not Proceed to NOD Reached SOUTHERN 48 Patton Avenue, Suite 304 Telephone 828-258-2023 ENVIRONMENTAL Asheville, NC 28801 Facsimile 828-258-2024 LAW CENTER November 22, 2022 Via Email Richard Rogers N.C. Dept. of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources Water Quality Permitting Section 1617 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1617 publiccomments@ncdenr.gov Re: Application of the trout waters temperature standard in draft NPDES Permit Nos. NC0038401, NC0030473, NC0035149, NC0049174, NC0036692, NC0067318, and NC0059200. Dear Mr. Rogers: Please accept the following comments submitted on behalf of MountainTrue, North Carolina Chapter of Trout Unlimited, North Carolina Wildlife Federation, Watauga Riverkeeper, and the Southern Environmental Law Center related to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's ("DEQ") failure to apply the trout waters temperature standard in seven recently noticed draft National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System ("NPDES") permits: Laurel Seasons, Permit No. NCO038041; Mill Ridge Development, Permit No. NC0030473; Seven Devils Resort, Permit No. NC0035149; Smoketree Lodge, Permit No. NC0049174; Skyline Lodge & Village, Permit No. NC0036692; Nantahala School, Permit No. NC0067318; and Trillium Links & Village, Permit No. NC0059200. All seven permits would authorize discharges into designated trout waters.' Proper application of the trout waters temperature standard is critical to protecting trout populations in North Carolina. The permits discussed in this letter contain no temperature standard whatsoever for the receiving trout waters, even though permittees expect to discharge effluent warmer than the maximum in -stream temperature allowed to protect the receiving streams' uses as trout waters. This does not reflect DEQ's legal obligation to protect trout waters' designated use by ensuring discharges do not raise water temperature above certain limits or by too much. Inclusion of the trout waters temperature standard is especially important because DEQ has used the wrong water quality standard for temperature —the general mountain waters standard of 290C instead of the 1 Permit No. NC0038041 discharges into Laurel Fork, which is a Class C Trout water in the Watauga River Basin; Permit Nos. NC0030473 and NC0049174 discharge into a segment of the Watauga River, which is designated as a Class B, High Quality Waters, Trout water; Permit No. NC0035149 discharges into a separate section of the Watauga River that is designated as a Class C Trout water; Permit No. NC0059200 discharges to an unnamed tributary of Lake Glenville with a water quality classification of WS-III, High Quality Waters, Class B, Trout waters; Permit No. NC0036692 discharges, into Big Creek which has a classification of WS-11, High Quality Waters, Trout water; Permit No. NC0067318 discharges into Partridge Creek, which is a Class C Trout water. Charlottesville Chapel Hill Atlanta Asheville Birmingham Charleston Nashville Richmond Washington, DC trout waters standard of 20°C—when preparing its list of impaired waters under Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act for several of the receiving streams at issue here.2 We ask that DEQ correct these deficiencies by adding limits to each permit sufficient to ensure compliance with the Trout waters temperatures standard of 20°C. I. Trout require cold, clean water to survive. Keeping water temperature in designated trout waters below certain thresholds is critically important because North Carolina's three species of trout —brook trout, brown trout, and rainbow trout —require cold, clean, oxygen -rich water to survive and thrive. Water temperature for these trout generally needs to be kept below 20°C (68°F).3 Unfortunately, past and ongoing land management practices threaten trout habitats, including by increasing stream temperatures. As we explained in our comments on North Carolina's draft 2022 Clean Water Act § 303(d) list, numerous trout streams routinely exceed safe water temperatures for trout.4 This problem is being exacerbated by climate change. By 2060, western North Carolina is predicted to see 10-20 more days each year with air temperatures above 35°C (95°F), increasing the potential for water temperatures to rise above 21.1 °C (70°F)levels that can be lethal to trout.5 This combination of past habitat loss, ongoing poor land management practices, and climate change poses an existential threat to many western North Carolina trout populations. Declines in trout populations —driven by increasing stream temperatures or otherwise — will hurt local economies. The total economic benefit of trout fishing in North Carolina is estimated at $383.3 million annually, supporting nearly 3,600 jobs.6 If trout habitats are further reduced, these economic benefits will be at risk. Overall, stream temperatures in North Carolina are increasing, and this trajectory is predicted to continue under a changing climate. To protect trout populations and the businesses that rely on them, North Carolina must take proactive steps to ensure trout waters remain sufficiently cold. 2 See, e.g., North Carolina 2022 Integrated Report at 1035 (assessing compliance with a temperature standard of 290C in sections of the Watauga River designated as Trout waters), available at https://edocs.deq nc.gov/WaterResources/DocView.aspx?dbid=0&id=2361713&cr=1. 3 Trout Species of North Carolina, Fly Fishing NC (accessed Sept. 26, 2022), https://www.flyfishingnc.com/trout- species-of-north-carolina. a S. Envtl. L. Ctr., Comments on North Carolina's Draft 2022 § 303(d) List (Feb. 28, 2022), Attachment 1. s Emma Johnson, Climate Change Challenges Trout Industry in North Carolina, Carolina Public Press (Feb. 17, 2021), https://carolinapublicpress.org/42527/climate-change-challenges-trout-industry-in-north-carolina/. See also Kunkel, K.E., et al., 2020: North Carolina Climate Science Report, available at https://ncics.org/wpcontent/uploads/2020/ 10/NC_Climate_Science_Report_FullReport_Final_revised_September20 20.pdf. 6 N.C. Wildlife Res. Comm'n, Mountain Trout Fishing: Economic Impacts on and Contributions to North Carolina's Economy (2015), available at https://www ncwildlife.org/Portals/0/Fishing/documents/Economic-Impacts-Trout- Fishing.pdf. N II. North Carolina promulgated a temperature water quality standard to protect trout. Recognizing that trout require cold water, North Carolina exercised its authority under the Clean Water Act to develop a temperature water quality standard designed to keep trout streams cold. The Clean Water Act requires states to designate "uses" of waterbodies and promulgate standards to protect those uses. See 33 U.S.C. § 1313; 40 C.F.R. § 131.10; N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-214.1. All waterbodies in North Carolina are subject to a temperature standard to protect their associated designated use. 15A N.C. Admin. Code 2B.0211(18). Some North Carolina waterbodies have been assigned a "trout waters" use. See 15A N.C. Admin. Code 2B.0301(b)(3) (explaining trout waters classification). The temperature standard —for both trout waters and non -trout waters —provides that water temperature is: not to exceed 2.8 degrees C (5.04 degrees F) above the natural water temperature, and in no case to exceed 29 degrees C (84.2 degrees F) for mountain and upper piedmont waters and 32 degrees C (89.6 degrees F) for lower piedmont and coastal plain Waters; the temperature for trout waters shall not be increased by more than .5 degrees C (0.9 degrees F) due to the discharge of heated liquids, but in no case to exceed 20 degrees C (68 degrees F). 15A N.C. Admin. Code 2B.0211(18). The standard has two parts —a delta limit and an absolute limit. In non -trout waters, the delta limit prohibits an increase attributable to a discharger of more than 2.8°C above the natural water temperature. The absolute limit provides that temperature shall "in no case" exceed 29°C in mountain and upper piedmont waters and 32°C in lower piedmont and coastal plain waters regardless of the presence of permitted dischargers. The trout waters standard follows this same structure: Stream temperature may not be increased "by more than .5 degrees C ... due to the discharge of heated liquids" but "in no case" shall stream temperature exceed 20°C. This makes sense because keeping trout waters below 20°C—regardless of the presence of permitted dischargers —is critical to sustaining healthy trout populations. North Carolina's temperature standard, including for trout waters, is implemented in part through NPDES permits that regulate point source discharges by setting limits and monitoring requirements for a variety of water quality characteristics. 33 U.S.C. § 1342(a). State agencies with delegated authority to administer the NPDES program, such as DEQ, are responsible for ensuring NPDES permits identify and apply the correct water quality limits for the waterbody into which the permittee will be discharging effluent. 3 III. DEQ failed to apply trout water temperature standards in draft NPDES permits currently out for comment. On Sept. 30, 2022, we filed comments noting DEQ's inconsistent application of temperature standards in five draft NPDES permits authorizing discharges into trout waters.7 In those comments, we applauded DEQ's correct application of the trout waters temperature standard in three of those permits but explained that it incorrectly applied the same standard in the other two. One of the draft permits that incorrectly applied the trout waters temperature standard has now been finalized, and we commend DEQ for rectifying its error and correctly applying the trout waters temperatures standard in the final permit. Specifically, Final Permit No. 0006564 clarifies that stream temperature -increasing discharges are prohibited when the background temperature of a receiving trout stream exceeds 20°C. See generally 15A N.C. Admin. Code 2B.0211(18) (trout streams are "in no case to exceed 20 degrees C (68 degrees F)."). Unfortunately, DEQ continues its inconsistent (and incorrect) application of the trout waters temperature standard in the seven NPDES permits at issue in this letter: None of them contains any limit to ensure compliance with the trout water temperature standard.$ For the reasons discussed above, applying and enforcing these temperature standards is not optional. Doing so is critical to sustaining healthy trout populations. As DEQ has recognized in other permits, if the background temperature of a receiving trout stream is already greater than 20°C, discharges causing further stream temperature increases will be unlawful. As noted above, DEQ corrected its approach in Final Permit No. 0006564 by prohibiting discharges that increase stream temperature if the receiving trout stream already exceeds 20°C.9 In Permit Nos. NC0030325, NC0042358, and NCO062961, DEQ correctly applied the trout waters temperature standard in the first instance by explaining in those permits that "[i]f the stream temperature exceeds 20 degrees C due to natural background conditions, the effluent cannot cause any increase in instream water temperature."10 DEQ must include that same limit in the permits at issue here: If the receiving trout stream temperature already exceeds 20°C, the permittee may not lawfully discharge effluent that will cause further increases in stream temperature. DEQ must also include a limit ensuring that discharges will not cause stream temperature to increase by more than 0.50C when the stream's background temperature is less than 20°C. This I S. Envt'l L. Ctr., Comment Letter on Draft NPDES Permit Nos. NCO030325 (Buffalo Meadows WWTP), NCO042358 (Adams Apple Condominiums WWTP), NCO062961 (Tynecastle WWTP), NC0006564 (Baxter Healthcare Corp. WWTP), and NCO059421 (Sapphire Lake WWTP No. 1) (Sept. 30, 2022), Attachment 2. a In recent draft permits for discharges into trout waters, temperature standards have been included in footnotes below the table containing proposed effluent limitations. Having reviewed those tables and footnotes in each of the draft permits at issue here, found on page 3 of each draft permit, we found no mention of a temperature limit. 9 Compare Draft NPDES Permit No. 0006564 (Baxter Healthcare Corp. WWTP) (Aug. 29, 2022), at 4, with NPDES Permit No. 0006564 (finalized Oct. 17, 2022), at 4 (clarifying that permittee could not increase the background temperature of the receiving stream under any circumstances if the background temperature exceeded 20°C). 10 See Draft Permit NC0030325, at 3; Draft Permit NC0042358, at 3; Draft Permit NC0062961, at 3. 2 is because the trout waters temperature standard prohibits discharges that increase stream temperature by "more than .5 degrees C (0.9 degrees F) due to the discharge of heated liquids." 15A N.C. Admin. Code 2B.0211(18). In combination, the trout waters temperature standard prohibits all discharges that cause stream temperature to increase over 20°C but allows increases of 0.5°C so long as the receiving stream remains below 20°C. Application of the trout water temperature standard is especially important here because five of the seven permit applications report maximum summer discharge temperatures higher than 20°C, the upper limit for trout water temperatures." In other words, discharges from these three facilities may risk causing or contributing to violations of the in -stream trout waters temperature standard. The other two permit renewal applications, NCO059200 and NC0035149, do not report the anticipated effluent temperatures.12 DEQ should require all applicants to report expected effluent temperatures. Nevertheless, based on the information before DEQ, inclusion of a temperature standard is justified to ensure the permittees do not violate the trout waters temperature standard. To be clear, DEQ has no authority to issue NPDES permits that do not ensure compliance with water quality standards which includes the trout waters temperature standard. See 33 U.S.C. § 13 11 (b)(1)(C) (requiring NPDES permits to include limitations "necessary to meet water quality standards"); 40 C.F.R. § 122.44(d)(1). As noted above, incorporating the trout waters temperature standard into all seven permits is also important because DEQ has failed to correctly apply this standard to the receiving waterbodies when preparing its Clean Water Act Section 303(d) list. Section 303(d) requires states to identify waterbodies that are not meeting water quality standards, investigate the reasons for noncompliance, and develop a plan to remediate those problems. For several years, DEQ has wrongly applied the water quality temperature standard for mountain waters (29°C) to the Watauga River and other designated trout waters protected by the 20°C standard. 13 The combination of these two errors —failure to include temperature standards in NPDES permits and 11 See Application No. NCO038041 for NPDES Permit to Discharge Wastewater, Laurel Seasons WWTP (rec'd Mar. 22, 2022), at 13 (showing a maximum daily summer effluent temperature of 25°C); Application No. NCO030473 for NPDES Permit to Discharge Wastewater, Mill Ridge WWTP (rec'd Mar. 23, 2022), at 13 (showing a maximum daily summer effluent temperature of 22°C); Application No. NCO049174 for NPDES Permit to Discharge Wastewater, Smoketree Lodge WWTP (rec'd Mar. 22, 2022), at 13 (showing a maximum daily summer effluent temperature of 24°C); Application No. NCO067318 for NPDES Permit to Discharge Wastewater, Nantahala School WWTP (rec'd May 27, 2022), at 11 (showing a maximum summer effluent temperature of 21°C); Application No. NCO036692 for NPDES Permit to Discharge Wastewater, Skyline Lodge & Village WWTP (rec'd July 7, 2022), at 11 (showing a maximum winter effluent temperature of 210C). We assume the Skyline Lodge application mistakenly swapped maximum winter and summer values, as the maximum summer temperature is listed as just 18.4°C, despite the average summer temperature being estimated at 19. VC. DEQ should clarify these parameters with the applicant prior to finalizing the permit. 12 The application for Permit No. NCO035149 lists all temperature parameters as "N/A." See Application No. NCO035149 for NPDES Permit to Discharge Wastewater, Seven Devils Resort WWTP (rec'd Mar. 18, 2022), at 13. The application for Permit No. NCO059200 does not disclose any effluent characteristics whatsoever. See Application No. NCO059200 for NPDES Permit to Discharge Wastewater, Trillium Links & Village WWTP (rec'd June 13, 2022). 13 See supra note 4. 5 failure to assess compliance with the correct temperature standard in the Section 303(d) context —risks jeopardizing trout populations. In summary, before finalizing these permits, DEQ must add language implementing the water quality temperature standard for trout waters. The most straightforward approach is to include language DEQ has already properly applied to other trout water discharge permits: "The instream temperature shall not be increased by more than 0.5 degrees C (0.9 degrees F) due to the discharge of heated liquids, but in no case to exceed 20 degrees C (68 degrees F). If the stream temperature exceeds 20 degrees C due to natural background conditions, the effluent cannot cause any increase in instream water temperature." This expression of the temperature standard, found in the most recent draft NPDES permit for the Buffalo Meadows WWTP, NPDES Permit No. NCO030325 (and others), correctly requires permittees to cause no further increase in temperature when stream temperature already exceeds trout water standards. IV. Conclusion North Carolina has some of the best and most at -risk trout habitat in the eastern United States. Ensuring viable trout populations persist in the future requires keeping trout streams clean and cold. To that end, DEQ must forthrightly apply the trout waters temperature standard in NPDES permits NC0038401, NC0030473, NC0035149, NC0049174, NC0067318, NC0036692, and NC0059200. Please notify Henry Gargan at hgargankselcnc.org or 828-258-2023 when DEQ issues final versions of the above permits. We remain available as always to discuss any of these concerns. 31 Sincerely, Henry Gargan Associate Attorney Southern Environmental Law Center hgargankselcnc.org Patrick Hunter Managing Attorney Southern Environmental Law Center cc: Charles Weaver (charles.weaver@ncdenr.gov) Siying (Sylvia) Chen (siying.chen@ncdenr.gov) Attachment 1 Comments on NC 2022 draft 303(d) list SOUTHERN 48 Patton Avenue, Suite 304 Telephone 828-258-2023 ENVIRONMENTAL Asheville, NC 28801 Facsimile 828-258-2024 LAW CENTER February 28, 2022 Via First Class U.S. Mail and Electronic Mail Cam McNutt N.C. Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources 1617 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1167 TMDL3 03 dC omments nncdenr. gov Re: Comments on North Carolina's Draft 2022 003(d) List Dear Mr. McNutt: On behalf of North Carolina Wildlife Federation, North Carolina Trout Unlimited, and MountainTrue we are submitting comments on North Carolina's draft 2022 § 303(d) list of impaired waters. The proper identification of impaired waters is essential to improving the quality and preserving the best use of the State's waters. This is critical for people who rely on these waters for their economic livelihoods, for spiritual renewal, and for recreation. Identifying impaired waters is also critical for species that depend on clean water, like Southern Appalachian brook trout. For too long, the Department of Environmental Quality ("DEQ") has ignored exceedances of the temperature standard for trout streams when preparing its 303(d) list. As a result, the causes of these exceedances are never assessed and remediated through preparation of a Total Maximum Daily Load ("TMDL")—all to the detriment of anglers, fishing guides, and, most importantly, trout and other species that rely on cold, clean water. Climate change will only exacerbate this problem. It is past time for DEQ to begin listing waters on its 303(d) list that are exceeding the temperature standard for trout waters, consistent with DEQ's listing methodology.1 DEQ should also explain how it applies narrative water quality standards when preparing its 303(d) list and fix longstanding problems with its listing and delisting methodology and water quality monitoring program. 'See N.C. Dep't of Envd. Quality, 2022 303(d) Listing and Delisting Methodology (May 13, 2021). Using this methodology, DEQ will list a stream as impaired if (1) sample size is greater than nine and (2) there is a greater than 10% exceedance rate with at least 90% statistical confidence, or there is a greater than 10% exceedance rate with less than 90% confidence and there are more than three excursions with 90% confidence in newer data that have not been previously assessed. Id. at 4. For purposes of the 2022 303(d) list, "newer data" consists of data collected in 2019 and 2020. Charlottesville Chapel Hill Atlanta Asheville Birmingham Charleston Nashville Richmond Washington, DC I. The 303(d) listing process is critical to protecting the integrity of North Carolina's waters. Congress passed the Clean Water Act ("CWA") in 1972 to "to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Nation's waters." 33 U.S.C. § 1251(a). To that end, Congress charged states with identifying "designated uses" for each jurisdictional waterbody within its boundaries. 33 U.S.C. § 1313(d); 40 C.F.R. § 131.10. States then set "criteria necessary to protect the uses" as water quality standards. 40 C.F.R. § 130.3.2 Water quality standards "should, wherever attainable, provide water quality for the protection and propagation of fish, shellfish and wildlife and for recreation in and on the water and take into consideration their use and value for public water supplies." Id. "Such standards serve the dual purposes of establishing the water quality goals for a specific water body and serving as the regulatory basis for establishment of water quality -based treatment controls and strategies beyond the technology -based level of treatment required by sections 301(b) and 306 of the [CWA]." Id. States "are required to set water quality standards for all waters within their boundaries regardless of the sources of the pollution entering the waters." Pronsolino v. Nastri, 291 F.3d 1123, 1127 (9th Cir. 2002). In other words, water quality standards are set without regard to existing or future sources of pollution. Water quality standards must be approved by the Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") and are reviewed at least every three years. See 33 U.S.C. § 1313(a)—(c). If a new or revised state -promulgated water quality standard is insufficient to meet the purposes of the CWA, EPA must promulgate a sufficient water quality standard in its stead. 33 U.S.C. § 1313(c)(3). Every two years, states must identify "water quality limited segments" of jurisdictional waters within their borders and list them on their CWA § 303(d) list. See generally 33 U.S.C. § 1313(d). A "water quality limited segment" is any "segment where it is known that water quality does not meet applicable water quality standards, and/or is not expected to meet applicable water quality standards." 40 C.F.R. § 130.20). More specifically, states must identify water quality limited segments for which: (i) Technology -based effluent limitations required by [the CWA]; (ii) More stringent effluent limitations (including prohibitions) required by either State or local authority preserved by section 510 of the Act, or Federal authority (law, regulation, or treaty); and (iii) Other pollution control requirements (e.g., best management practices) required by local, State, or Federal authority are not stringent enough to implement any water quality standards applicable to such waters. 40 C.F.R. § 130.7(b) (emphasis added). "Water quality standard," as used here, includes "numeric criteria, narrative criteria, waterbody uses, and antidegradation requirements." Id. § 130.7(b)(3). States must also list water quality limited segments "for which controls on thermal z North Carolina implements this procedure by classifying waterbodies and assigning water quality standards for each classification. See N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-214.1; 15A N.C. Admin. Code 213.0101, .0301. discharges under section 301 [of the CWA] or State or local requirements are not stringent enough to assure protection and propagation of a balanced indigenous population of shellfish, fish and wildlife." Id. § 130.7(b)(2). Once prepared, states submit draft 303(d) lists to EPA for approval. Id. § 130.7(d). EPA may not approve a list that does not meet "the requirements of [40 C.F.R.] § 130.7(b)." Id. § 130.7(d)(2). If EPA disapproves a list, it must add wrongfully omitted water quality limited segments back to the state's 303(d) list. Id. States are obligated to "establish TMDLs for the water quality limited segments identified" on that state's final 303(d) list. Id. C.F.R. § 130.7(c)(1). Total Maximum Daily Loads are developed based on a waterbody's "loading capacity" which is the "greatest amount of loading that a water can receive without violating water quality standards." 40 C.F.R. § 130.2(f). A "load" is an "amount of matter or thermal energy that is introduced into a receiving water" and "loading" is the act of introducing that matter or thermal energy into a receiving water. Id. § 130.2(e). "Loading may be either man -caused (pollutant loading) or natural (natural background loading)." Id. Once the TMDL determines the "loading capacity" of a waterbody, it allocates allowable levels of pollutant discharges among nonpoint and point sources3 via load allocations4 and wasteload allocations,5 respectively. The TMDL is the sum of the load allocations (including background conditions) and wasteload allocations. It thus protects the overall health of waterbodies by ensuring that point and nonpoint discharges are reduced to ensure compliance with water quality standards. TMDLs are also subject to EPA approval. Id. § 130.7(d). Once an approved TMDL is in place, a waterbody no longer must be listed as "impaired" on the 303(d) list. In summary, inclusion on the 303(d) list is the first step toward assessing water quality -limited segments and determining load allocations and wasteload allocations through the TMDL process to ensure water quality standards are not violated and designated uses of waterbodies are protected. II. North Carolina's 303(d) list wrongfully excludes stream segments that violate the temperature standard applicable to classified trout waters. For decades, North Carolina has had a temperature water quality standard specific to classified trout streams. Compliance with the standard is critical for keeping these streams cool enough to sustain trout populations. Many trout waters are increasingly exceeding this ' A "point source" is "any discernible, confined and discrete conveyance, including but not limited to any pipe, ditch, channel, tunnel, conduit, well, discrete fissure, container, rolling stock, concentrated animal feeding operation, or vessel or other floating craft, from which pollutants are or may be discharged." 33 U.S.C. § 1362(14). Point source discharges are regulated by National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits. Nonpoint source pollution is pollution that enters waterbodies but not via "discernible, confined, discrete conveyances." 4 A "load allocation" is the "portion of a receiving water's loading capacity that is attributed either to one of its existing or future nonpoint sources of pollution or to natural background sources." 40 C.F.R. § 130.2(g). 5 A "wasteload allocation" is the "portion of a receiving water's loading capacity that is allocated to one of its existing or future point sources of pollution." 40 C.F.R. § 130.2(g). temperature standard, threatening trout viability. Nevertheless, DEQ has consistently refused to list these impaired streams on its 303(d) list by a combination of (1) interpreting the trout waters temperature standard to only apply when thermal point sources discharge into the relevant stream segment, but then (2) failing to investigate the presence of thermal point source dischargers. This interpretation is contrary to the plain wording of the trout waters temperature standard, and inconsistent with the requirements of the CWA and how DEQ applies the standard outside of the 303(d) context. Just last year, DEQ initiated an enforcement action in North Carolina Superior Court alleging violations of the trout waters temperature standard even when no thermal point source discharges were present. DEQ correctly applied the trout waters temperature standard in that instance —the same standard it applies when preparing its 303(d) list. A. North Carolina trout depend upon cool, clean water. North Carolina is home to three types of trout: brook trout, rainbow trout, and brown trout. Only brook trout are native to the state. Recent studies "suggest that the native brook trout found in the southern Appalachians, including the mountains of western North Carolina, represent a unique strain called Southern Appalachian brook trout."6 These trout "have endured in North Carolina since the last ice age more than 10,000 years ago."7 "North Carolina mountain streams once teemed with Southern Appalachian brook trout" but 19t'- and 20t'-century logging practices decimated populations.8 "Extensive erosion and siltation from land disturbing activities limited spawning success by smothering eggs and restricting their oxygen supply, and streams that historically supported coldwater fishes were warmed due to lost canopy cover."9 Stocking of rainbow, brown, and northern -strain brook trout also began around 1900.10 These introduced species often outcompeted native brook trout, leading to further declines." Today, "the future of the wild brook trout is of concern, and since 1900, the brook trout range is thought to have declined by about 80 percent."12 Brook trout, brown trout, and rainbow trout require cold, clean, oxygen -rich water to survive and thrive. Past and ongoing land management practices continue to threaten trout habitats and these threats are exacerbated by climate change. By 2060, western North Carolina is predicted to see 10-20 more days each year with air temperatures above 35' C (95' F), increasing the chances that water temperatures will rise above 21.1' C (70' F)—levels that can be lethal to 6 N.C. Wildlife Res. Comm'n, Brook Trout: North Carolina Wildlife Profiles, https://www.ncwildlife.org/Portals/O/Fishing/documents/BrookTrout.pdf, Attach. 1. 7 Doug Besler, Return of the Native?, https://www.ncwildlife.org/portals/O/Learning/documents/WINC/Sample_07/sample_Apri107.pdf, Attach. 2. a Supra note 6. 9 Id. io Id. 11 Id. 12 Id. al trout. 13 This combination of past habitat loss, ongoing poor land management practices, and climate change poses an existential threat to many western North Carolina trout populations. Declines in trout populations will also hurt local economies. The total economic benefit of trout fishing in North Carolina is estimated at $383.3 million annually, supporting nearly 3,600 jobs.14 If trout habitats are further reduced, these economic benefits will be at risk. B. North Carolina has specific temperature standards for trout waters. Consistent with its obligations under the CWA, DEQ has classified some mountain streams and lakes as "trout waters." See 15A N.C. Admin. Code 2B.0202(55) (defining "trout waters"). To protect that condition, DEQ assigned trout waters a temperature standard: Their temperature "shall not be increased by more than 0.5 degrees C (0.9 degrees F) due to the discharge of heated liquids, but in no case to exceed 20 degrees C (68 degrees F)." 15A N.C. Admin. Code 2B .0211(18); see also id. 2B.0301 (explaining that the "water quality standards applicable to each classification assigned are those established in the rules of Section .0200 of this Subchapter.").15 For purposes of compiling its 303(d) list, DEQ considers waters to be impaired when state water quality criteria —including temperature —are exceeded in more than 10% of samples with greater than or equal to 90% statistical confidence.16 Waterbodies that meet this numeric criterion must be listed;17 those that do not may still need to be listed if certain other conditions are met.18 DEQ's application of these requirements in compiling its draft 2022 303(d) report falls short for at least two reasons. First, it fails to apply the trout waters temperature standard to multiple classified trout waters. Second, it refuses to list trout waters as impaired even when the underlying data demonstrates impairment using DEQ's listing methodology. " Emma Johnson, Climate Change Challenges Trout Industry in North Carolina, Carolina Public Press (Feb. 17, 2021), https://carolinapublicpress.org/42527/climate-change-challenges-trout-industry-in-north-carolina/ Attach. 3; see also Kunkel, K.E., et al., 2020: North Carolina Climate Science Report, https://ncics.org/wp- content/uploads/2020/10/NC_Climate_Science_Report_FullReport_Final_ revised Septcmber202O.pdf, Attach. 4. 14 N.C. Wildlife Res. Comm'n, Mountain Trout Fishing: Economic Impacts on and Contributions to North Carolina's Economy at iv (2015), https://www ncwildlife.org/Portals/O/Fishing/documents/Mountain%2OTrout% 20Fishing%2OEconomic%20Impacts%20on%20and%2OContributions%20to%2ONorth%20Carolinas%2OEconomy. pdf, Attach. 5. 15 In waters that are not classified trout waters, stream temperatures are "not to exceed 2.8 degrees C (5.04 degrees F) above the natural water temperature, and in no case to exceed 29 degrees C (84.2 degrees F) for mountain and upper piedmont waters and 32 degrees C (89.6 degrees F) for lower piedmont and coastal plain Waters." 15A N.C. Admin. Code 2B .0211(18). i6 See supra note 1. 17 North Carolina carves out small exceptions for dissolved oxygen and pH in swamp waters if exceedances are due to natural conditions. Id. at 5. 18 For example, pollutants with exceedance levels above 10% with less than 90% statistical confidence must still be listed if at least three newer samples exceeded criteria with at least 90% statistical confidence. Id. at 3-4. 5 C. DEQ is applying the wrong temperature standard to numerous trout streams. DEQ recognizes a 20' C limit for some trout waters in its draft 2022 303(d) list,19 but it omits this criterion for at least forty other classified trout water segments and instead applies the temperature standard for non -trout mountain and upper piedmont streams. 20 This is the wrong standard. Classified trout waters incorrectly assessed for compliance with the 29' C standard applicable in mountain and upper piedmont streams generally -but not the correct 20' C trout waters limit -include: Broad River (12498),21 Cedar Creek (12537), First Broad River (12758), Catawba River (317), Wilson Creek (1034), French Broad River (10925), Davidson River (11278), Avery Creek (11290), Mills River (11421), Pigeon River (10565), Allen Creek (10607), Jonathans Creek (10684), Cataloochee Creek (10798), North Toe River (11971 and 11974), South Toe River (12079), Cane River (12270), Valley River (3278), Cullasaja River (6497), Nantahala River (7235 and 7236), Tuckaseegee River (8610 and 8611), Board Cove Branch (8906), Wolf Creek (9098), Little Tennessee River (5606 and 5607), Flattop Branch (122), Norris Branch (204), Buffalo Creek (233), Brush Creek (290), Crab Creek (299), Dan River (6481),22 Horsepasture River (10512), Watauga River (13574 and 13605), Buckeye Creek (12430), and Yadkin River (13904, 14027, and 14028).23 North Carolina must revise its 303(d) list and sampling approach to assess compliance with the correct temperature standard -which, in classified trout streams, is 20' C. Application of the correct standard can decide whether a stream segment is listed as impaired and therefore whether the sources of impairment will be addressed through a TMDL or another process. For example, the draft 2022 303(d) list applies the temperature standard for mountain and upper piedmont waters of 29' C to the First Broad River (WS-V, Tr; AU ID:12758) and concludes that it complies relying on data from monitoring station A4800000. That data shows that this segment was sampled 53 times during the relevant time period and none of those samples exceeded 29' C.24 But twenty of those samples exceeded the trout waters temperature standard of 20' C-a 38% exceedance rate at 99% confidence.25 Applying the correct standard, this stream should be listed as impaired for temperature. DEQ must revise its approach to apply the correct temperature standard to classified trout waters and include waterbodies on its 303(d) list that are exceeding that standard consistent with its listing methodology. 19 See, e.g., N.C. Dep't of Envtl. Qual., North Carolina 2022 Draft Integrated Report at 289, https:Hedocs.deq nc.gov/WaterResources/DocView.aspx?dbid=0&id=2167748&cr=1 [hereafter "2022 Draft Integrated Report"] (finding that Shooks Creek -a classified trout water- is "[m]eeting" the "20°C" water temperature criteria based on legacy random ambient monitoring data). 20 See supra note 15. 21 The numbers provided in parentheses are the "AU ID" from the 2022 Draft Integrated Report. 22 Compounding its error, DEQ assesses compliance for this segment using the temperature standard applicable to lower piedmont and coastal plain waters (32' Q. 23 For hundreds of other classified trout waters, the 2022 Draft Integrated Report provides no indication about which temperature standard DEQ applies. 24 See N.C. Dep't of Envtl. Qual., BasinSummAMSMCPALMP20162020and20192020_20210820. 25 Id. on D. North Carolina must list trout streams that are exceeding the temperature standard. The First Broad River is not the only trout stream exceeding the trout waters temperature standard but omitted from the draft 2022 303(d) list. The data DEQ used to prepare the draft 2022 303(d) list shows that multiple classified trout waters with ten or more sample results are exceeding the trout waters temperature standard more than 10% of the time at greater than 90% confidence level. DEQ must list these streams on its 2022 303(d) list. Monitoring locations showing exceedances of the trout waters temperature standard include: • First Broad River (A4800000)26 — 38% exceedance with 99% confidence level • Cane River (E9850000) — 32% exceedance with 99% confidence level • North Toe River (E8100000) — 28% exceedance with 99% confidence level • Valley River (F4000000) — 25% exceedance with 97% confidence level • French Broad River (E0150000) — 25% exceedance with 99% confidence level • Pigeon River (E54950000) — 23% exceedance with 99% confidence level • Davidson River (E0850000) — 2 1 % exceedance with 98% confidence level • South Toe River (E8200000) — 21% exceedance with 95% confidence level • Horsepasture River (H6000000) — 20% exceedance with 93% confidence level • North Toe River (E7000000) — 18% exceedance with 92% confidence level. E. North Carolina's trout waters temperature standard is not dependent on the presence of thermal dischargers. Many of these streams have exceeded the trout waters temperature standard for multiple 303(d) listing cycles but have never been listed.27 Indeed, members of the public have been raising this concern with DEQ since at least 2008.28 In response, DEQ has explained that it "interprets [the trout waters temperature] standard to only be assessed with thermal discharges," i.e., thermal point source discharges subject to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System ("NPDES") permits.29 This interpretation is contrary to the plain wording of the standard and the requirements of the CWA, and it is inconsistent with how DEQ and other state agencies apply the standard outside of the 303(d) context. First, the plain wording of the temperature standard leaves no doubt that it applies regardless of the presence of thermal discharges. In full, the standard states: 26 Data was collected at the monitoring stations provided in parentheses. 27 See N.C. Dep't of Envtl. Qual., 2020 303(d) list Integrated Report Data, BasinSummAMSCoalitl418and1718, https://files nc.gov/ncdeq/Water%20Quality/Planning/TMDL/303d/2020/2020_DATA.zip. 28 N.C. Dep't of Env't and Nat. Res., Responsiveness Summary on the Draft 2008 303(d) (Category S) List Submitted April 1, 2008, at 13, https:Hfiles.nc.gov/ncdeq/Water%20Quality/Planning/TMDL/303d/Draft% 26Revised2008ResponseSummaries.pdf, Attach. 6. 29 Id.; N.C. Dep't of Envtl. Qual., North Carolina 2020 Draft 303(d) List Public Comment Responsiveness Summary Submitted June 3, 2021, at 51, https://deq nc.gov/media/20453/download (the trout waters temperature standard "applies in its entirety to the evaluation of heated discharges"). 7 Temperature: not to exceed 2.8 degrees C (5.04 degrees F) above the natural water temperature, and in no case to exceed 29 degrees C (84.2 degrees F) for mountain and upper piedmont waters and 32 degrees C (89.6 degrees F) for lower piedmont and coastal plain waters; the temperature for trout waters shall not be increased by more than 0.5 degrees C (0.9 degrees F) due to the discharge of heated liquids, but in no case to exceed 20 degrees C (68 degrees F). 15A N.C. Admin. Code 2B .0211(18) (emphasis added). This standard embeds two prohibitions, only the first of which is dependent on the presence of thermal dischargers. The first prohibition is that thermal dischargers may not increase stream temperature by more than 0.5° C. For example, heated discharges that cause stream temperatures to increase from 17 to 18' C are not allowed. The second prohibition is that stream temperatures shall "in no case"—i.e., under no circumstances —exceed 20' C. The second prohibition is not dependent on the presence of thermal discharges but provides a temperature threshold that shall not be exceeded "in any case." This is consistent with the grammatical structure of the standard, which consists of two clauses. The first clause, related to the discharge of heated liquids, is separated from the second by a comma and a "but." The comma indicates a break from the preceding language. And use of "but" indicates that the second clause applies "notwithstanding" the first.30 In other words, notwithstanding the limit on temperature increases caused by thermal discharges, the temperature shall "in no case" exceed 20' C. The first half of the general surface -water temperature standard lends even more contextual support for enforcing the 20' C limit regardless of whether thermal point source discharges are present. The full standard starts by setting a delta limit applicable to thermal discharges: Temperature may not be increased by more than 2.8° C above baseline.31 It then immediately pivots to a limit applicable to all waters: Temperatures are "in no case to exceed" 29 or 32' C, depending on location. The trout waters standard is functionally identical: It sets a delta limit applicable to thermal discharges —temperature may not be increased by more than 0.5° C then immediately pivots to a limit applicable to all trout waters: temperatures are "in no case to exceed 20 degrees C." DEQ does not suggest that the 29 and 32' C limits only apply to thermal point source discharges. Given this context, DEQ cannot say that functionally identical language in the 200 C limit commands a completely different result. Understanding the 200 C limit to apply regardless of the presence of thermal point source dischargers is also the most logical interpretation of the trout waters temperature standard. Trout waters are subject to a more stringent temperature standard because high stream temperatures are lethal to trout. It makes little sense to subject trout to high stream temperatures attributable to 30 But, Merriam Webster (llth ed. 2003), https://www merriam-webster.com/dictionary/but. 31 Although this clause does not itself mention discharges of heated liquids, DEQ interprets this standard to prohibit thermal dischargers from increasing water temperatures by more than 2.8° C. See, e.g., Dep't of Envtl. Quality, NPDES Permit NC0000396 at 5 (Apr. 9, 2020), https://files nc.gov/ncdeq/Coal%20Ash/2020-actions/NC0000396- Final-Permit.pdf. EPA also understands the 2.8° C limit to apply to thermal discharges. See EPA, NC Thermal Water Quality Standards, https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2014-12/documents/nc-thermal-wqs.pdf ("The rule limits thermal discharges to 2.8 degrees C (5.04 degrees F) above the natural water temperature and includes further restrictions based on geographic regions of the state"). N. nonpoint source discharges but prohibit the same increases in temperature attributable to point source discharges. To the contrary, the standard applies regardless of whether the pollution is caused by point or nonpoint sources. Second, DEQ's interpretation cannot be squared with the requirements of the CWA. As discussed above, the CWA requires states to identify designated uses for waterbodies and then set criteria to protect those uses. See 40 C.F.R. § 130.3. "Water quality standards reflect a state's designated uses for a water body and do not depend in any way upon the source of pollution." Pronsolino, 291 F.3d at 1137. DEQ's interpretation turns this on its head by arguing that application of North Carolina's trout waters temperature standard —and therefore protection of designated uses —turns on whether pollution is coming from point sources. North Carolina could not promulgate, and EPA could not approve, a water quality standard that restricts point source temperature pollution but allows unlimited nonpoint source temperature pollution to enter a stream because that standard would not protect the designated uses of the waterbody. North Carolina state law reaches this same conclusion: "[W]ater quality standards relate to the condition of waters as affected by the discharge of sewage, industrial wastes, or other wastes including those from nonpoint sources and other sources of water pollution." 15A N.C. Admin. Code 02B .0205 (emphasis added). Neither can DEQ argue that its trout waters temperature standard applies to point and nonpoint sources generally except in the 303(d) context where only point source discharges are relevant. States must list waterbodies on 303(d) lists that are exceeding water quality standards regardless of "whether a water body receives pollution from point sources only, nonpoint sources only, or a combination of the two." Pronsolino, 291 F.3d at 1132-33. This is consistent with EPA's "long-standing interpretation of section 303(d)" that the "listing requirement applies to waters impaired by point and/or nonpoint sources. ,32 Specific to temperature, EPA has previously advised that: [W]aterbodies that do not meet an applicable State water quality criterion for temperature or a designated use due to temperature should be listed. Listing is appropriate because the applicable water quality standard is not met. Heat, the cause of the impairment, is defined as a "pollutant" under section 502(6) of the Clean Water Act and can be allocated. It is immaterial to the listing decision whether the source of the temperature -related impairment is a thermal discharge or solar radiation. Both are sources of heat, and the heat can be allocated through the TMDL process.33 12 U.S. Envtl. Protection Agency, Decision Document for the Approval of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality 2018 Section 303(d) List at 4 (May 22, 2019), https://files nc.gov/ncdeq/Water%20Quality/Planning/TMDL/303d/2018/20190522-NC-208-303d-Approval- Package.pdf. ss U.S. Envtl. Protection Agency, National Clarifying Guidance for the 1998 State and Territory Section 303(d) Listing Decisions at 5, https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-10/documents/lisgid.pdf, Attach. 7. 9 Indeed, EPA recently prepared a TMDL to address exceedances of temperature water quality standards promulgated to protect salmon and steelhead in the Pacific Northwest.34 That analysis noted, as an example, that "temperature TMDLs typically identify loss of riparian shade as a nonpoint source of heat."35 In short, to comply with the CWA, North Carolina may not 1) interpret its trout waters temperature standard as only applicable to temperature increases caused by point source discharges or 2) otherwise exclude effects from nonpoint source discharges when preparing 303(d) lists. Third, DEQ's interpretation of the trout waters temperature standard as only relating to temperature increases attributable to thermal point source discharges is inconsistent with how DEQ and other state agencies apply the standard outside of the 303(d) context. For instance, the North Carolina Forest Service has promulgated "performance standards for the protection of water quality during silvicultural activities." 2 N.C. Admin. Code 60C.0101. One performance measure requires "[s]hade ... [to] be retained to protect [perennial] streams from temperature fluctuations that result in a violation of a water quality standard of the Environmental Management Commission as contained in Rule 1 SA NCAC 2B . 0211." Id. 60C.0208 (emphasis added).36 While the performance measure is not specific to trout waters, it shows that the North Carolina Forest Service understands that nonpoint source pollution can cause a violation of stream temperature water quality standards. Elsewhere, DEQ itself has confirmed that the 20' C trout waters temperature standard is an absolute prohibition regardless of whether a stream is heated by point or nonpoint source discharges. With funding from EPA, DEQ completed a study in 2013 to assess risks to streams from headwater impoundments.37 There, DEQ confirmed that trout waters "have a maximum allowable [temperature] value of 20°C."38 The study ultimately found that "[d]esignated trout [ ] waters showed extremely high levels of exceedences [sic] of the 20°C maximum" with no discussion of whether those exceedances were attributable to point or nonpoint source discharges.39 Finally, and most significantly, DEQ has fled enforcement actions against private landowners for causing exceedances of the trout waters temperature standard even when no thermal point source discharges were involved. These enforcement actions thus relied on an "See U.S. Envtl. Protection Agency, Columbia and Lower Snake Rivers Temperature Total Maximum Daily Load (Aug. 13, 2021), https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2021-08/tmdl-columbia-snake-temperature- 08132021.pdf, Attach. 8. 35 Id. at 33 n.9 (emphasis added). 36 See also North Carolina Forestry Best Management Practices Manual to Protect Water Quality, https://www.ncforestservice.gov/publications/BMP2021/202 INCFSBMPManual.pdf 31 See N.C. Dept' of Env't Qual, Assessing Impacts Due to Small Impoundments in North Carolina to Support 401 Certification Policies (Feb. 28, 2013), http://www.ncwetlands.org/wp-content/uploads/Impacts-Due-to-Small- impoundments-2013-report.pdf, Attach. 9. 38 Id. at 23. 39 Id. at 41. 10 interpretation of the temperature standard DEQ has sought to disclaim in the 303(d) listing context. On June 30, 2021, DEQ issued a Notice of Violation to a landowner in Surry County, North Carolina, for violations of water quality standards stemming from widespread clearing of forested lands. DEQ did not allege that the clearing activities resulted in a point source discharge but did state that: Title 15A North Carolina Administrative Code 213 .0211 (18) requires "Temperature: not to exceed 2.8 degrees C (5.04 degrees F) above the natural water temperature, and in no case to exceed 29 degrees C (84.2 degrees F) for mountain and upper piedmont waters ...; the temperature for trout waters shall not be increased by more than 0.5 degrees C (0.9 degrees F) due to the discharge of heated liquids, but in no case to exceed 20 degrees C (68 degrees F);" Forested buffers adjacent to streams are important measures in regulating water temperature of streams, particularly in shallow tributaries as exists on the subject Parcels. Clearing of the vegetated buffers may results in increased temperatures of surface waters draining to Ramey Creek and Big Pine Creek. Temperature field readings collected by DWR staff on June 28, 2021 constitute violations of NC Water Quality Standards.40 The landowner failed to rectify the violations and on August 6, 2021, DEQ filed a Verified Complaint and Motion for Preliminary Injunctive Relief in Surry County Superior Court.41 The Complaint states: Forest buffers adjacent to streams are important measures in regulating water temperature of streams. Clearing of the vegetated buffers may result in increased temperatures. In Trout Waters, the temperature is not to, in any case, "exceed 20 degrees C (68 degrees F). " 15A NCAC 2B .0211(18).42 The Verified Complaint continued by explaining that on "June 28, 2021, [DEQ] staff conducted water quality sampling. [DEQ]'s water quality samples show several temperature exceedances above the maximum allowable temperature of 20°C. 15A NCAC 2B .0211(18).9943 It explained that "clear -cutting trees near the border of streams removes shade and can cause water temperature to exceed the regulatory limit for trout waters." Shade removal is not a point source thermal discharge, though DEQ still recognized that it could contribute to violations of the temperature standard for trout waters.44 The Verified Complaint concluded by alleging that 4' Attach. 10 (emphasis added). On October 5, 2021, DEQ issued a Notice of Continuing Violation related to activities on the same parcels of land and stating more explicitly that "[t]emperature readings above 68 degrees .. . [constitute] violations of NC Water Quality Standards." Attach. 11. Sixty-eight degrees is the maximum temperature allowed in classified trout waters. 4' Attach. 12. 42 Id. at ¶ 15 (emphasis added). 43 Id .at ¶ 43. 44 Id. 11 the landowner remained in violation of North Carolina's water quality laws, including the temperature standard applicable to trout streams, and asking the court to order the landowner to prepare a "Temperature Restoration Plan" to "restore streams to the proper temperature for trout."4s We applaud DEQ for taking action to resolve the water quality violations in Surry County. But the enforcement action removes any doubt that DEQ understands the trout waters temperature standard to apply in situations where thermal point source discharges are not present and to prohibit all exceedances of the 20°C temperature standard. DEQ cannot take the opposite position now as it compiles its 2022 303(d) list. It must list streams as impaired where data shows the streams exceeding the trout waters temperature standard consistent with DEQ's listing methodology. F. Point source dischargers are present on or upstream of several North Carolina trout streams exceeding the trout waters temperature standard. Based on this faulty application of the trout waters temperature standard when compiling past 303(d) lists, DEQ has listed some trout streams as "Category 3a" in its 2022 Draft Integrated Report.46 Category 3a is reserved for instances "where data are insufficient to determine if a parameter is meeting or exceeding criteria."47 Presumably, these streams have been listed under Category 3a because DEQ did not assess the presence of thermal point source dischargers when compiling its 303(d) list and, because it interpreted the standard to only apply when a thermal point source discharger was present, concluded it had insufficient data to know whether the standard was exceeded. As explained above, this interpretation of North Carolina's temperature standard for trout waters is inconsistent with the CWA and DEQ's application of the standard outside of the 303(d) arena. But even under DEQ's incorrect interpretation of the standard, DEQ should have listed more segments because point source dischargers are, in fact, present on or upstream of multiple segments exceeding the trout waters temperature standard. The list provided below is not comprehensive and was compiled using information available on DEQ's "Online GIS Permits Map."48 It also does not encompass general NPDES permits. Data relevant to the French Broad River (AU ID 10925) is collected at monitoring station E0150000. That data shows a 25% exceedance rate of the trout waters temperature standard at 99% confidence level.49 NPDES Permit Nos. NC0000311,50 NC0021946,51 NC0024295,12 45 Id. at ¶¶ 52-56; Prayer for Relief ¶ 2. 46 See, e.g., 2022 Integrated Report, Little River (AU ID 538) (listed as Category 3a for trout waters temperature standard). 47 N.C. Dep't of Envtl. Quality, 2020 Integrated Report Category Assignment Procedure at 5, https:Hdeq.nc.gov/media/17840/download. 48 See https:Hdata-ncdenr.opendata.arcgis.com/apps/ncdenr::permits-map/explore 49 Supra note 24. " Attach. 13. 51 Attach. 14. 52 Attach. 15. 12 NCO08622353 all appear to discharge into or upstream of this stream segment. None of these permits impose limits, aside from monitoring requirements, related to temperature except Permit No. NC0000311, which states that the "temperature of the effluent shall be such as not to cause an increase in the temperature of the receiving stream of more than 0.5°C and in no case cause the ambient water temperature to exceed 20°C." Data relevant to the Horsepasture River (AU ID 10512) is collected at monitoring station H6000000. That data shows a 20% exceedance rate of the trout waters temperature standard with 93% confidence.54 NPDES Permit Nos. NCO05942151 and NCO05943956 discharge into, upstream, or into tributaries upstream of this stream segment. Neither of these permits imposes limits related to temperature except for monitoring requirements. There are two monitoring stations on the North Toe River (E7000000 and E8100000). They both show greater than 10% exceedance of the trout waters temperature standard at greater than 90% confidence level.57 Multiple hard rock mines discharge into the North Toe River. These mines have some combination of general permits, NPDES stormwater permits, and NPDES wastewater permits including but not limited to NPDES Permit Nos. 0000175, 0000361, 0084620, 58 0085839, 0000400, and 0000353.59 None of these wastewater permits appear to impose any limitation related to temperature beyond monitoring. NPDES Permit No. 0021423 also discharges into the North Toe River and lacks requirements related to temperature beyond monitoring.60 The single monitoring station on the Valley River (F4000000) also documents 25% exceedance of the trout waters temperature standard with 97% confidence .6 1 NPDES Permit No. NCO020800 discharges into the Valley River and includes no limitation on temperature discharges beyond monitoring. In conclusion, DEQ has for too long ignored its obligation to include on its 303(d) list stream segments that are exceeding the temperature standard applicable to trout waters. DEQ's data shows this standard has been exceeded more than 10% of the time at greater than 90% confidence level on multiple trout waters that DEQ has refused to list as impaired. These exceedances may be attributable to a combination of point and nonpoint source discharges. DEQ must list these streams as impaired on its 303(d) list as a first step towards addressing these exceedances. ss Attach. 16. 54 Supra note 24. " Attach. 17. 16 Attach. 18. 57 Supra note 24. 58 Attach. 19 59 Attach. 20. 60 Attach. 21. 61 Supra note 24. 13 III. DEQ must explain how it assesses compliance with narrative water quality standards. When preparing its 303(d) list, DEQ must list those waterbodies for which existing requirements "are not stringent enough to implement any water quality standards applicable to such waters" including water quality standards based on "narrative criteria."40 C.F.R. § 130.7(b). DEQ's draft 2022 303(d) list and listing methodology fail to disclose how narrative criteria are considered in the 303(d) process. DEQ must correct this oversight. Of particular importance, North Carolina's toxic substances standard requires that "the concentration of toxic substances, either alone or in combination with other wastes, in surface waters shall not render waters injurious to aquatic life or wildlife, recreational activities, public health, or impair the waters for any designated uses." 15A N.C. Admin. Code 2B.0208(a). Compliance with this standard is critical especially for emerging contaminants, such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances ("PFAS"), for which DEQ has yet to promulgate a numeric water quality standard. EPA recently recognized PFAS as "an urgent public health and environmental issue facing communities across the United States."62 And DEQ has recognized that PFAS "meet the definition of `toxic substance"' under North Carolina law.63 DEQ must disclose how it is applying its narrative toxic substances water quality standards to ensure that waterbodies contaminated by PFAS (and other emerging contaminants that lack numeric water quality criteria) are properly listed on the state's 303(d) list. IV. DEQ's delisting methodology remains statistically unsound. For several years, multiple groups have pointed out flaws in DEQ's delisting methodology. Those concerns remain, and we incorporate previous comments by reference here.64 Briefly, North Carolina's methodology for delisting waters that are impaired for non- toxic pollutants is flawed because it fails to reverse the null hypothesis used for listing decisions. Stated differently, while it is appropriate to complete statistical analysis assuming stream segments are not impaired when evaluating whether a segment should be listed, that assumption must be reversed when evaluating whether a segment should be delisted because already listed segments must be presumed impaired until proven otherwise. Instead, DEQ applies the same method for both listing and delisting—whether waterbodies exceed criteria more than 10% of the time with more than 90% confidence —and attempts to cure the imbalance in statistical confidence by adding a second step to its delisting decisions. But this second step fails to cure 61 EPA, PFA Strategic Roadmap: EPA's Commitments to Action 2021-2024, at 1, available at https://www. epa. gov/system/files/documents/2021-10/pfas-roadmap_final-508.pdf. 63 Amended Complaint, N.C. Dept. of Environmental Quality v. Chemours, 17 CVS 580, 32 (N.C. Super. 2018), Attach. 22 (stating that "the process wastewater from [Chemours] Fluoromonomers/Nafion® Membrane Manufacturing Area contains and has contained substances or combinations of substances which meet the definition of `toxic substance' set forth in 15A N.C.A.C. 2B .0202," referring to GenX and other PFAS). "See Letter from Spencer Scheidt, SELC, to Andy Painter, DEQ at 1-9 (Apr. 2, 2021), Attach. 23. 14 the fundamental flaw with the analysis —failure to reverse the null hypothesis —and allows DEQ to remove impaired waterbodies from the list with less statistical confidence than required to list them in the first place. At the second step, DEQ allows previously listed waters with an exceedance rate greater than 10% with but less than 90% statistical confidence to be delisted "if there are less than 2 excursions of the criterion in newer data that have not been previously assessed." 65 For those previously listed waters with less than a 10% exceedance rate, waters are delisted "if there is greater than 40% statistical confidence that there is less than a 10% exceedance of the criterion or if there are less than 3 excursions of the criterion in newer data that have not been previously assessed. ,66 On their own, these exceedance limits are arbitrary and fail to account for sample size. They also fail to bring the delisting methodology to the 90% confidence level required for sound statistical analysis.67 This has real consequences. The Cane River is an important trout stream and is also home to the endangered Appalachian elktoe mussel, both of which are threatened by turbidity and sediment deposition. In 2018, the Cane River was listed as impaired for turbidity. For the 2020 303(d) listing cycle, DEQ assessed data from forty-nine sampling events, eight of which demonstrated violations of the turbidity standard.68 Applying DEQ's listing methodology this translates to a 16.3% exceedance level with 88.8% confidence, just shy of the required 90%. Had DEQ appropriately reversed the null hypothesis, these same numbers would translate to a delisting decision confidence level of 5.2%.69 Yet because the Cane River had a greater than 10% exceedance rate with just under 90% confidence, DEQ moved to step two of its delisting methodology to consider whether "there are less than 2 excursions of the criterion in newer data that have not been previously assessed." Of the sixteen newer samples related to the 2020 303(d) list, only one demonstrated an exceedance of the turbidity standard, leading DEQ to delist the Cane River to Category 3a (insufficient data). Notably, DEQ would have needed to show one exceedance out of at least thirty-eight samples to reach a 90% confidence level for its delisting decision based on this "newer" data only. This 303(d)-listing cycle, the "newer data" under DEQ's methodology shows the Cane River was sampled eleven times and two of those samples exceeded the water quality standard for turbidity —an exceedance rate of 18%.70 Thus the Cane River continues to exceed water 65 N.C. Dep't of Envtl. Quality, 2022 303(d) Listing and Delisting Methodology at 4 (May 13, 2021), https:Hdeq.nc.gov/media/19374/download. 66 Id. 67 Any "statistical conclusion that has a confidence level of less than 90% is considered not acceptable by most statistics practitioners." Pi-Erh Lin, Duane Meeter, & Xu-Feng Nui, A Nonparametric Procedure for Listing and Delisting Impaired Waters Based on Criterion Exceedances at 7 (2000), https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water issues/programs/tmdl/records/state board/2003/ refl913.pdf. 68 See N.C. Dep't of Envtl. Quality, Div. of Water Res., BasinSummAMSCoalitl418and1718 [hereinafter "2020 Data"], https:Hfiles nc.gov/ncdeq/Water%20Quality/Planning/TMDL/303d/2020/2020_DATA.zip. 69 The delisting "level of confidence" was calculated using the Excel BINOM.DIST function: 1- [BINOM.DIST(#exceedances, #samples, 10% exceedance rate, TRUE)]. 70 Supra note 24 15 quality standards more than 10% of the time, but DEQ proposes to keep it listed under Category 3a based on its faulty delisting methodology. Had DEQ used a statistically sound delisting approach, the Cane River would never have been removed from the impaired list in the first instance and the reasons for its turbidity impairment should have been assessed and mitigated through preparation of a TMDL. Instead, it continues to routinely exceed water quality standards but remains indefinitely listed in Category 3a to the detriment of species like Appalachian elktoe that require cool, clean water to survive. DEQ also relies on the 10% exceedance rate to assess impairment for toxic pollutants. As EPA has explained, this approach is inappropriate for toxics.71 Nevertheless, DEQ has never "provided a scientifically defensible rationale to support [its] Listing Methodology for toxics."72 DEQ has failed to do so again as part of its draft 2022 303(d) list. During each of the past four 303(d) cycles EPA has rejected DWR's toxics findings and independently reviewed North Carolina's water quality data to determine whether all waterbody impairments were identified — it will be required to do so again in 2022. V. DEQ must collect data at times and locations that reveal the full extent of pollution. Finally, we reiterate and incorporate the concerns raised by several groups in comments on the 2020 303(d) list related to deficiencies in DEQ's monitoring network and sampling approach.73 Specifically, an ambient monitoring program that samples at arbitrary intervals and allows sampling to be delayed for "bad weather" with no limitation is likely to underreport exceedances for pollutants like turbidity. DEQ's ambient monitoring locations also appear to avoid some of the most problematic areas, resulting in underreporting pollution and unjustified delistings. We are mindful of limitations in agency resources and competing agency priorities, but we encourage DEQ to work to develop a more representative monitoring network. VI. Conclusion We appreciate the opportunity to submit comments on North Carolina's draft 2022 303(d) list. We request a meeting with DEQ to discuss the trout waters temperature standard. In particular, we would like to better understand DEQ's position regarding application of the standard and discuss ways to mitigate rising temperatures in trout streams. 71 U.S. Envtl. Protection Agency, Decision Document for the Partial Approval of the North Carolina Department of Environment Quality 2016 Section 303(d) List at 12 (Dec. 8, 2016), https://files nc.gov/ncdeq/Water%20Quality/Planning/TMDL/303d/2016/NC2016-303dDecisionPackage2Ol6l2O8 %20%28003%29.pdf. 72 Id. at 22. 73 See supra note 64 at 15-17. 16 Sincerely, pv�K I Patrick Hunter Managing Attorney phunter(&,selcnc. org Susannah Knox Senior Attorney sknoxgselcnc.org cc via email only: Lauren Petter, EPA Region 4, Petter.Lauren@epa.gov 17 Attachment 2 Comments on trout temperature standards in five draft NPDES permits SOUTHERN 48 Patton Avenue, Suite 304 Telephone 828-258-2023 ENVIRONMENTAL Asheville, NC 28801 Facsimile 828-258-2024 LAW CENTER September 30, 2022 Via E-mail Richard Rogers N.C. Dept. of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources Water Quality Permitting Section 1617 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1617 publiccomments@ncdenr.gov Dear Mr. Rogers: Please accept the following comments submitted on behalf of the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation, MountainTrue, North Carolina Chapter of Trout Unlimited, North Carolina Wildlife Federation, Watauga Riverkeeper, and the Southern Environmental Law Center related to application of the trout waters temperature standard in five recently noticed draft National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits: NCO030325 (Buffalo Meadows WWTP), NCO042358 (Adams Apple Condominiums WWTP), NCO062961 (Tynecastle WWTP), NC0006564 (Baxter Healthcare Corp. WWTP), and NCO059421 (Sapphire Lake WWTP No. 1). Proper application of the trout waters temperature standard is critical to protecting trout populations in North Carolina. The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has correctly applied the trout waters temperature standard for three of the permits, but not for two others. We ask that DEQ promptly correct these deficiencies before finalizing the permits. I. Trout require cold, clean water to survive. Keeping water temperature in designated trout waters below certain thresholds is critically important because North Carolina's three species of trout —brook trout, brown trout, and rainbow trout —require cold, clean, oxygen -rich water to survive and thrive. Water temperature for these trout generally needs to be kept below 20' C (68' F).' Unfortunately, past and ongoing land management practices threaten trout habitats, including by inducing stream temperature increases. As we explained in our comments on North Carolina's draft 2022 Clean Water Act § 303(d) list, numerous trout streams routinely exceed safe water temperatures for trout.2 This problem is being exacerbated by climate change. By 2060, western North Carolina is predicted to see 10-20 more days each year with air temperatures above 35' C (95' F), increasing the potential for water temperatures to rise above 21.10 C (70' F)—levels that can be 1 Trout Species of North Carolina, Fly Fishing NC (accessed Sept. 26, 2022), https://www.flyfishingnc.com/trout- species-of-north-carolina. 2 S. Envtl. L. Ctr., Comments on North Carolina's Draft 2022 § 303(d) List (Feb. 28, 2022), Attachment 1. Charlottesville Chapel Hill Atlanta Asheville Birmingham Charleston Nashville Richmond Washington, DC lethal to trout.' This combination of past habitat loss, ongoing poor land management practices, and climate change poses an existential threat to many western North Carolina trout populations. Declines in trout populations —driven by increasing stream temperatures or otherwise will hurt local economies. The total economic benefit of trout fishing in North Carolina is estimated at $383.3 million annually, supporting nearly 3,600 jobs.4 If trout habitats are further reduced, these economic benefits will be at risk. Overall, stream temperatures in North Carolina are increasing, and this trajectory is predicted to continue under a changing climate. To protect trout populations and the businesses that rely on them, North Carolina must take proactive steps to ensure trout waters remain sufficiently cold. II. North Carolina promulgated a temperature water quality standard to protect trout. Recognizing that trout require cold water, North Carolina exercised its authority under the Clean Water Act to develop a temperature water quality standard designed to keep trout streams cool. The Clean Water Act requires states to designate "uses" of waterbodies and promulgate standards to protect those uses. See 33 U.S.C. § 1313; 40 C.F.R. § 131.10; N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-214.1. All waterbodies in North Carolina are subject to a temperature standard to protect their associated designated use. 15A N.C. Admin. Code 2B.0211(18). Some North Carolina waterbodies have been assigned a "trout waters" use. See 15A N.C. Admin. Code 213.0301(b)(3) (explaining trout waters classification). The temperature standard —for both trout waters and non -trout waters —provides that water temperature is: not to exceed 2.8 degrees C (5.04 degrees F) above the natural water temperature, and in no case to exceed 29 degrees C (84.2 degrees F) for mountain and upper piedmont waters and 32 degrees C (89.6 degrees F) for lower piedmont and coastal plain Waters; the temperature for trout waters shall not be increased by more than .5 degrees C (0.9 degrees F) due to the discharge of heated liquids, but in no case to exceed 20 degrees C (68 degrees F). 15A N.C. Admin. Code 2B.0211(18). The standard has two parts —a delta limit and an overall prohibition. In non -trout waters, the first part prohibits an increase attributable to a discharger of more than 2.8° C above the natural water temperature. Under the second part, temperature shall "in no case" exceed 29' C in mountain and upper piedmont waters and 320 C in lower piedmont and coastal plain waters regardless of the presence of permitted dischargers. 3 Emma Johnson, Climate Change Challenges Trout Industry in North Carolina, Carolina Public Press (Feb. 17, 2021), https://carolinapublicpress.org/42527/climate-change-challenges-trout-industry-in-north-carolina/. See also Kunkel, K.E., et al., 2020: North Carolina Climate Science Report, https://ncics.org/wpcontent/uploads/2020/ 10/NC_Climate_Science_Report_FullReport_Final_revised_September20 20.pdf. 4 N.C. Wildlife Res. Comm'n, Mountain Trout Fishing: Economic Impacts on and Contributions to North Carolina's Economy (2015), https://www.ncwildlife.org/Portals/0/Fishing/documents/Economic-Impacts-Trout- Fishing.pdf. OA The trout waters standard follows this same structure: Stream temperature may not be increased "by more than .5 degrees C ... due to the discharge of heated liquids" but "in no case" shall stream temperature exceed 20' C. This makes sense because keeping trout waters below 20' C—regardless of the presence of permitted dischargers —is critical to sustaining healthy trout populations. North Carolina's temperature standard, including for trout waters, is implemented in part through NPDES permits that regulate point source discharges by setting limits and monitoring requirements for a variety of water quality characteristics. 33 U.S.C. § 1342(a). State agencies with delegated authority to administer the NPDES program, such as DEQ, are responsible for ensuring NPDES permits identify and apply the correct water quality limits for the waterbody into which the permittee will be discharging effluent. III. DEQ inconsistently applies the trout waters temperature standard in draft NPDES permits currently out for comment. We commend DEQ for correctly applying the trout waters temperature standard in three recently noticed NPDES permits. But DEQ incorrectly applies this same standard in two additional permits, one of which incompletely states the discharger's obligations, while the other lacks any reference to a temperature standard whatsoever. DEQ must correct its application of the trout waters temperature standard in these final two permits. DEQ correctly applies the trout waters temperature standard in draft NPDES permits NCO030325 (Buffalo Meadows WWTP), NCO042358 (Adams Apple Condominiums WWTP), and NCO062961 (Tynecastle WWTP). All three permits authorize discharges into Class B trout waters.5 And all three explain that "instream temperature shall not be increased by more than 0.5 degrees C (0.9 degrees F) due to the discharge of heated liquids, but in no case to exceed 20 degrees C (68 degrees F)."6 Crucially, the permits explain that "[i]f the stream temperature exceeds 20 degrees C due to natural background conditions, the effluent cannot cause any increase in instream water temperature."7 Restated, all three permits recognize that trout waters may "in no case" exceed 20' C; they therefore prohibit all stream -warming discharges into trout waters already exceeding that threshold.$ We especially commend DEQ for applying the appropriate trout waters temperature standard to draft permits NCO042358 (Adams Apple Condominiums WWTP) and NCO062961 (Tynecastle WWTP), which both discharge into the Watauga River. When preparing its § 303(d) lists, DEQ has incorrectly applied the non -trout "mountain waters" temperature standard to the Watauga River which allows increases in water temperature up to 29' C.9 Those temperatures 5 See Draft Permit NC0030325, Draft Permit NC0042358, Draft Permit NC0062961. 6 See Draft Permit NC0030325, at 3 n.4; Draft Permit NC0042358, at 3; Draft Permit NC0062961, at 3. 'Id. (Emphasis added). s Id. 9 See, e,g., North Carolina 2022 Integrated Report, at 1035-36 (applying the 29' C standard to AU IDs 13574 and 13605), https://edocs.deq nc.gov/WaterResources/DocView.aspx?dbid=0&id=2361713&cr=1. can be lethal to trout, and we are pleased DEQ is appropriately applying the trout waters 200 C standard in Watauga River permits. Unfortunately, DEQ abandons this approach for Draft NPDES Permit NC0006564, which authorizes discharges from the Baxter Healthcare Corp. WWTP into the North Fork of the Catawba River —also a Class B trout water. DEQ starts out on the right foot, explaining that the "facility shall not exceed the instream water temperature of 20' C and not exceed 0.5°C above background temperature." But it missteps by including language stating that "[i]f the instream temperature exceeds 20' C upstream of the facility, the discharge will not be considered out of compliance with this permit limit based on the maximum regulatory limit of 20' C." This latter provision seems to allow increases of "0.5°C above background temperature," even if the "background temperature" already exceeds 20' C. This language must be stricken for the permit to comply with the trout water temperature standard, which requires that trout waters "in no case" exceed 200 C. In other words, the permit must be made consistent with draft NPDES permits NC0030325, NC0042358, and NC0062961, which correctly require that "[i]f the stream temperature exceeds 20 degrees C due to natural background conditions, the effluent cannot cause any increase in instream water temperature." DEQ may be able to address difficulties with meeting this standard through the schedule of compliance being developed for the Baxter Healthcare Corp. permit, but it cannot rewrite the trout waters temperature standard to authorize discharges which cause or contribute to exceedances above the 20' C threshold. Finally, Draft Permit NCO059421 authorizes the Sapphire Lake WWTP to discharge into the Horsepasture River, a designated Class C trout water.10 But this permit makes no mention of any temperature standard (beyond monitoring). DEQ must add language to this permit consistent with permits NC0030325, NC0042358, and NCO062961 requiring that "instream temperature shall not be increased by more than 0.5 degrees C (0.9 degrees F) due to the discharge of heated liquids, but in no case to exceed 20 degrees C (68 degrees F)" and explaining that "[i]f the stream temperature exceeds 20 degrees C due to natural background conditions, the effluent cannot cause any increase in instream water temperature." Applying the correct trout water temperature standard at the Sapphire Lake WWTP is critical because, as we pointed out in our comments on the draft 2022 § 303(d) list, the Horsepasture River routinely exceeds safe temperatures for trout and DEQ has consistently applied the wrong temperature standard.11 Data used in the 2022 § 303(d) process shows with a 93% confidence level that the Horsepasture River exceeds the 20' C threshold for trout waters 20% of the time.12 DEQ must investigate and address the reasons for these exceedances, including by applying the trout waters temperature standard in NPDES permits in this watershed. In the 2022 § 303(d) listing process, DEQ also incorrectly applied the water quality temperature standard for "mountain" waters ("in no case to exceed 29 degrees C") rather than trout waters ("in no case to exceed 20 degrees C") to the Horsepasture River.13 DEQ must not make the same to Draft Permit NCO059421. 11 See Attachment I at 6-7. 12 Id. at 7. is See North Carolina 2022 Integrated Report, supra note 9, at 895. 2 mistake here. Instead, it must apply the 20' C threshold in the Sapphire Lakes WWTP NPDES permit. IV. Conclusion North Carolina has some of the best and most at -risk trout habitat in the eastern United States. Ensuring viable trout populations persist in the future requires keeping trout streams clean and cold. To that end, DEQ must forthrightly apply the trout waters temperature standard in NPDES permits NC0006564 and NC0059421, as it has for permits NC0030325, NC0042358, and NCO062961. Please notify Henry Gargan at hgargankselcnc.org or 828-258-2023 when DEQ issues final versions of NPDES permit Nos. NC0006564 and NC0059421. We remain available as always to discuss any of these concerns. Sincerely, Henry Gargan Associate Attorney Southern Environmental Law Center hgargan(a), selcnc. org Patrick Hunter Managing Attorney Southern Environmental Law Center cc: Joe Corporon Ooe.corporon@ncdenr.gov) Charles Weaver (charles.weaver@ncdenr.gov) Pam Behm (pamela.behm@ncdenr.gov) Cam McNutt (cam.mcnutt@ncdenr.gov) 5 From: Water ouality Labs To: Chen, Sivina Cc: ambvri(ayahoo.com; Graznak. Jennv; Snider, Lon; Weaver, Charles Subject: [External] Re: NPDES Permit Issuance - Smoketree Lodge WWTP NCO049174 Date: Friday, February 10, 2023 2:47:08 PM Attachments: imaae001.Dna CAUTION: External email. Do not click links or open attachments unless you verify. Send all suspicious email as an attachment to Report Spam. Good afternoon Ms. Chen, I have received the permit for Smoketree Lodge and I was able to view and download the attachment. Thank you, Paul Isenhour Water Quality Lab & Operations, Inc. Phone-(828) 898-6277 Fax- (828) 898-6255 On Thursday, February 9, 2023 at 01:50:48 PM EST, Chen, Siying <siying.chen@ncdenr.gov> wrote: Hi Mr. Isenhour, Attached is the final NPDES permit renewal for Smoketree Lodge WWTP (NC0049174). The permit will be effective on April 1, 2023. Please respond to this email confirming that you received the attached document, were able to open and view the document and have saved/printed a copy for your records. Thank you! Siying Chen (she/her/hers) Environmental Specialist, Division of Water Resources North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Office: (919) 707-3619 siying.chen(@ncdenr.gov NORTH CAROLINA E Q Department of Environmental quality Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties. Permit NCO049174 Grade II Biological Water Pollution Control System [15A NCAC 08G.03021 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES PERMIT 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, Smoketree Lodge is hereby authorized to discharge wastewater from a facility located at the Smoketree Lodge WWTP NC Highway 105, north of Boone Watauga County to receiving waters designated as an unnamed tributary to the Watauga River in the Watauga River Basin in accordance with effluent limitations, monitoring requirements, and other conditions set forth in Parts I, II, III, and IV hereof. This permit shall become effective October 1, 2018. This permit and authorization to discharge shall expire at midnight on September 30, 2022. Signed this day September 5, 2018. Linda Culpepper, Interim Director Division of Water Resources By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission Page 1 of 6 Permit NCO049174 Grade II Biological Water Pollution Control System [15A NCAC 08G.03021 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. Smoketree Lodge is hereby authorized to: 1. Continue to operate an existing 0.01 C includes the following components: ♦ Upflow Sludge blanket filtration plant ♦ Flow equalization basin ♦ Aeration basin ♦ Clarifier ♦ Digester ♦ Sludge holding tank ♦ Re -aeration ♦ UV disinfection system ♦ Effluent flow meter The facility is located north of Boone Highway 105 in Watauga County. MGD wastewater treatment plant that at the Smoketree Lodge WWTP off NC 2. Discharge from said treatment works at the location specified on the attached map into an unnamed tributary to the Watauga River, currently classified B-Trout HQW waters in the Watauga River Basin. Page 2 of 6 Permit NCO049174 Grade II Biological Water Pollution Control System [15A NCAC 08G.03021 A. (1) EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS [15A NCAC 02B .0400 et seq., 15A NCAC 02B .0500 et seq.] During the period beginning on the effective date of the permit and lasting until expiration, the Permittee is authorized to discharge from outfall 001. Such discharges shall be limited and monitored' by the Permittee as specified below: PARAMETER Limits Monitoring Requirements [eDMR Code] Monthly Daily Measurement Sample Type Sample Average Maximum Frequency Location2 Flow 0.010 MGD Continuous Recording Influent or 50050 Effluent BOD, 5-day (20°C) [C0310] 5.0 mg/L 7.5 mg/L Weekly Composite Effluent (April 1 —October 31 BOD, 5-day (20°C) [C0310] 10.0 mg/L 15.0 mg/L Weekly Composite Effluent November 1 — March 31 Total Suspended Solids 10.0 mg/L 15.0 mg/L Weekly Composite Effluent C0530 NH3 as N [C0610] (April 1 —October 31 2.0 mg/L 10.0 mg/L Weekly Composite Effluent NH3 as N [C0610] November 1 — March 31 4.0 mg/L 20.0 mg/L Weekly Composite Effluent Dissolved Oxygen 00300 Daily average > 6.0 mg/L Weekly Grab Effluent Dissolved Oxygen Weekly Grab U & D 00300 Fecal Coliform (geometric mean) 2001100 mL 400/100 mL Weekly Grab Effluent 31616 Total Residual Chlorine (TRC)3 17 pg/L 2/Week Grab Effluent 50060 Temperature (°C) Monitor & Report Weekly Grab Effluent, 00010 U & D Total Nitrogen (NO2+NO3+TKN) Monitor & Report Semi -Annually Composite Effluent C0600 Total Phosphorus C0665 Monitor & Report Semi -Annually Composite Effluent pH 00400 > 6.0 and < 9.0 standard units — — Weekly Grab Effluent Footnotes: 1. The permittee shall submit discharge monitoring reports electronically using the Division's eDMR application system [see A. (2)]. 2. U: at least 100 feet upstream of the outfall. D: at least 300 feet downstream of the outfall. 3. TRC limit and monitoring requirements apply only if chlorine is added for disinfection. The Permittee shall report all effluent TRC values reported by a NC -certified laboratory [including field - certified]. Effluent values < 50 µg/L will be treated as zero for compliance purposes. There shall be no discharge of floating solids or visible foam in other than trace amounts. Page 3 of 6 Permit NCO049174 Grade II Biological Water Pollution Control System [15A NCAC 08G.03021 A. (2) ELECTRONIC REPORTING OF MONITORING REPORTS [NCGS 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): • 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)l 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. Page 4 of 6 Permit NCO049174 Grade II Biological Water Pollution Control System [15A NCAC 08G.03021 Starting on December 21, 2020, 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)]. 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: http: / /www2.epa.gov/compliance/final-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://deg.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/edmr Page 5 of 6 Permit NCO049174 Grade II Biological Water Pollution Control System [15A NCAC 08G.03021 4. Signatory Requirements [Supplements Section B. (11.1 (b) and Supersedes Section B. (11.) (d)1 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://deg.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: U 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.j] 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 date of the report. This period may be extended by request of the Director at any time [40 CFR 122.41]. Page 6 of 6 ROY COOPER Governor ELIZABETH S. BISER Secretary RICHARD E. ROGERS, JR. Director Smoketree Lodge Attn: Amy Burnette, GM 11914 NC Hwy 105 S Banner Elk, NC 28604 Subject: Permit Renewal Application No. NCO049174 Smoketree Lodge Watauga County Dear Applicant: NORTH CAROLINA Environmental Quality March 23, 2022 The Water Quality Permitting Section acknowledges the March 22, 2022 receipt of your permit renewal application and supporting documentation. Your application will be assigned to a permit writer within the Section's NPDES WW permitting branch. Per G.S. 15OB-3 your current permit does not expire until permit decision on the application is made. Continuation of the current permit is contingent on timely and sufficient application for renewal of the current permit. The permit writer will contact you if additional information is required to complete your permit renewal. Please respond in a timely manner to requests for additional information necessary to allow a complete review of the application and renewal of the permit. Information regarding the status of your renewal application can be found online using the Department of Environmental Quality's Environmental Application Tracker at: https://deq.nc.gov/permits-regulations/permit-guidance/en_v_ironmentaI-application-tracker If you have any additional questions about the permit, please contact the primary reviewer of the application using the links available within the Application Tracker. cc: Paul Isenhour-WQ Lab & Operations, Inc. ec: WQPS Laserfiche File w/application k E I -A Q ; q,e� Sincerely, 3��4 Wren Thedford Administrative Assistant Water Quality Permitting Section North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources Winston-Salem Regional Office 1 450 West Hanes Mill Road, Suite 300 1 Winston-Salem North Carolina 27105 336,776.9800 0 North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Modified Application Form 2A Division of Water Resources Revised March 2021 SAWIE--TRCc- Modified Application Form 2A Minor Sewage Facilities < 0.1 MGD and No Pretreatment Program NPDES Permitting Program RECEIVED MAR 2 2 2022 NCDEQ/DWR/NPDES Note: Complete this form if your facility is a MINOR new or existing publicly owned treatment works. NPDES Permit Number Facility Name Modified Application Form 2A NCO049174 Smoketree Lodge WWTP Modified March 2021 Form NC Department of Environmental Quality - Application for NPDES Permit to Discharge Wastewater MINOR SEWAGE FACILITIES (Before completing this form, please read the instructions. Failure to follow NPDES the instructions may result in denial of the application.) SECTION•N INFORMATION FOR i Facility name 1.1 Smoketree Lodge WWTP Mailing address (street or P.O. box) P.O. Box 3047 City or town State ZIP code o w Boone NC 28607 EContact name (first and last) Title Phone number Email address Amy Burnette General Manager (828) 963-6505 ambvri@yahoo.com _ Location address (street, route number, or other specific identifier) ❑ Same as mailing address R LL NC Highway 105, North of Boone City or town State ZIP code Boone NC 28607 1.2 Is this application for a facility that has yet to commence discharge? ❑ Yes 4 See instructions on data submission ❑ No requirements for new dischargers. 1.3 Is applicant different from entity listed under Item 1.1 above? ❑ Yes ❑ No SKIP to Item 1.4. Applicant name Water Quality Lab and Operations, Inc. = Applicant address (street or P.O. box) w v P.O. Box 1167 E City or town State ZIP code 0 Banner Elk NC 28604 Contact name (first and last) Title Phone number Email address CL Paul Isenhour President (828) 898-6277 waterqualitylabs@yahoo.com n a 1.4 Is the applicant the facility's owner, operator, or both? (Check only one response.) ❑ Owner ❑✓ Operator ❑ Both 1.5 To which entity should the NPDES permitting authority send correspondence? (Check only one response.) ❑ Facility ❑r Applicant ❑ Facility and applicant (they are one and the same) 1.6 Indicate below any existing environmental permits. (Check all that apply and print or type the corresponding permit number for each. dExisting Environmental Permits CL NPDES (discharges to surface ❑ RCRA (hazardous waste) ❑ UIC (underground injection water) control) E NCO049174 0 ❑ PSD (air emissions) ❑ Nonattainment program (CAA) ❑ NESHAPs (CAA) w rn y ❑ Ocean dumping (MPRSA) ❑ Dredge or fill (CWA Section ❑ Other (specify) w 404) Page 1 NPDES Permit Number Facility Name Modified Application Form 2A NCO049174 Smoketree Lodge WWTP Modified March 2021 1.7 Provide the collections stem information requested below for the treatment works. Municipality Population Collection System Type Ownership Status Served Served indicate percentage) Lodging 80 100 % separate sanitary sewer ❑ Own 1] Maintain % combined storm and sanitary sewer ❑ Own ❑ Maintain d ❑ Unknown ❑ Own ❑ Maintain % separate sanitary sewer ❑ Own ❑ Maintain R% combined storm and sanitary sewer ❑ Own ❑ Maintain ElUnknown ❑ Own ElMaintain CL O a % separate sanitary sewer ❑ Own ❑ Maintain % combined storm and sanitary sewer ❑ Own ❑ Maintain cc ❑ Unknown ❑ Own ❑ Maintain d% separate sanitary sewer ❑ Own ❑ Maintain % combined storm and sanitary sewer ElOwn ❑ Maintain _ ElUnknown ❑ Own ❑ Maintain Total 80 Population ci Served Separate Sanitary Sewer System Combined Storm and Sanitary Sewer Total percentage of each type of 100 % ° sewer line in miles)�0 1.8 Is the treatment works located in Indian Country? 'o ❑ Yes ❑ No U r- 1.9 Does the facility discharge to a receiving water that flows through Indian Country? ❑ Yes ❑ No 1.10 Provide design and actual flow rates in the designated spaces. Desi n Flow Rate 0.010 mgd Annual Average Flow Rates Actual Two Years Ago Last Year This Year c 0.0015 mgd 0.0014 mgd 0.0023 mgd Maximum Daily Flow Rates Actual Two Years Ago Last Year This Year 0.018 mgd 0.007 mgd 0.024 mgd 'A 1.11 Provide the total number of effluent discharge points to waters of the State of North Carolina by type. Total Number of Effluent Discharge Points b T e a Combined Sewer Constructed M Treated Effluent Untreated Effluent Overflows Bypasses Emergency L Overflows y 0 1 Page 2 NPDES Permit Number Facility Name Modified Application Form 2A NCO049174 Smoketree Lodge W WTP Modified March 2021 Outfalls Other Than to Waters of the State of North Carolina 1.12 Does the POTW discharge wastewater to basins, ponds, or other surface impoundments that do not have outlets for discharge to waters of the State of North Carolina? ❑ Yes ❑✓ No 4 SKIP to Item 1.14. 1.13 Provide the location of each surface impoundment and associated discharge information in the table below. Surface Im oundment Location and Dischar a Data Average Daily Volume Continuous or Intermittent Location Discharged to Surface (check one) Impoundment ❑ Continuous gpd ❑ Intermittent ❑ Continuous gpd ❑ Intermittent ElContinuous gpd ❑ Intermittent s°, 1.14 Is wastewater applied to land? ❑ Yes 0 No 4 SKIP to Item 1.16. c 1.15 Provide the land application site and discharge data requested below. y Land Application Site and Discharge Data o Continuous or 0 Location Size Average Daily Volume Intermittent rn Applied check one s acres d gpd ❑ Continuous o ❑ Intermittent ❑ Continuous w acres gpd ❑ Intermittent acres gpd ❑ Continuous ❑ Intermittent 1.16 Is effluent transported to another facility for treatment prior to discharge? o ❑ Yes ❑✓ No 4 SKIP to Item 1.21. 1.17 Describe the means by which the effluent is transported (e.g., tank truck, pipe). 1.18 Is the effluent transported by a party other than the applicant? ❑ Yes ❑ No 4 SKIP to Item 1.20. 1.19 Provide information on the transporter below. Trans orter Data Entity name Mailing address (street or P.O. box) City or town State ZIP code Contact name (first and last) Title Phone number Email address Page 3 NPDES Permit Number Facility Name Modified Application Form 2A NCO049174 Smoketree Lodge WWTP Modified March 2021 1.20 In the table below, indicate the name, address, contact information, NPDES number, and average daily flow rate of the facility. -receiving Receiving F cility Data a Facility name Mailing address (street or P.O. box) d City or town State ZIP code 0 Contact name (first and last) Title 0 d Phone number Email address nNPDES number of receiving facility (if any) ❑ None Average daily flow rate mgd 0 1.21 Is the wastewater disposed of in a manner other than those already mentioned in Items 1.14 through 1.21 that do 0 not have outlets to waters of the State of North Carolina (e.g., underground percolation, underground injection)? ❑ Yes ❑� No -* SKIP to Item 1.23. 0 1.22 Provide information in the table below on these other disposal methods. Information on Other Disposal Methods o Disposal Location of Size of Annual Average Continuous or Intermittent Method Disposal Site Disposal Site Daily Discharge (check one) Description Volume ❑ Continuous w acres gp d ❑ Intermittent ElContinuous acres gpd ❑ Intermittent acres gp d ❑ Continuous ❑ Intermittent 1.23 Do you intend to request or renew one or more of the variances authorized at 40 CFR 122.21(n)? (Check all that apply. Consult with your NPDES permitting authority to determine what information needs to be submitted and when.) „ w ❑ Discharges into marine waters (CWA ❑ Water quality related effluent limitation (CWA Section Section 301(h)) 302(b)(2)) ❑✓ Not applicable 1.24 Are any operational or maintenance aspects (related to wastewater treatment and effluent quality) of the treatment works the responsibility of a contractor? 0 Yes ❑ No +SKIP to Section 2. 1.25 Provide location and contact information for each contractor in addition to a description of the contractor's operational and maintenance responsibilities Contractor Information Contractor 1 Contractor 2 Contractor 3 o Contractor name Water Quality Labs (company name o Mailing address (street or P.O. box P.O. Box 1167 o City, state, and ZIP Banner Elk, NC 28604 R code Conc tact name (first and � last) Paul Isenhour Phone number (828) 898-6277 Email address waterqualitylabs@yahoo.com Operational and Operations & Maintenance maintenance responsibilities of contractor Page 4 NPDES Permit Number Facility Name Modified Application Form 2A NCO049174 Smoketree Lodge WWTP Modified March 2021 o Outfalls to Waters of the State of North Carolina 2.1 Does the treatment works have a design flow greater than or equal to 0.1 mgd? o ❑ Yes ❑✓ No 4 SKIP to Section 3. 0 2.2 Provide the treatment works' current average daily volume of inflow Average Daily Volume of Inflow and Infiltration R r and infiltration. gpd w Indicate the steps the facility is taking to minimize inflow and infiltration. R 3 0 c 2.3 Have you attached a topographic map to this application that contains all the required information? (See instructions for M Q specific requirements.) o CL 0 0 ❑ Yes ❑ No E 2.4 Have you attached a process flow diagram or schematic to this application that contains all the required information? (See instructions for specific requirements.) _ a " o ❑ Yes ❑ No 2.5 Are improvements to the facility scheduled? ❑ Yes ❑ No 4 SKIP to Section 3. Briefly list and describe the scheduled improvements. 0 m 1. d E 0- 2. E 0 0 y d 3. 3 d U 4. Cn 13 2.6 Provide scheduled or actual dates of completion for improvements. Scheduled or Actual Dates of Completion for Im rovements E E Scheduled Affected Begin End Begin Attainment of > a CL Improvement Outfalls (list l Construction Construction Discharge Operational Level E (from above) bee)outfa number (MM/DD/YYYY) (MM/DD/YYYY) (MM/DD/YYYY) MM/DD/YYYY -0 d m U 2 3. 4. 2.7 Have appropriate permits/clearances concerning other federal/state requirements been obtained? Briefly explain your response. ❑ Yes ❑ No ❑ None required or applicable Explanation: Page 5 NPDES Permit Number Facility Name Modified Application Form 2A NC0049174 Smoketree Lodge WWTP Modified March 2021 SECTION 3. INFORMATION ON EFFLUENT DISCHARGES (40 CFR 122.21(j)(3) to (5)) 3.1 Provide the following information for each outfall. (Attach additional sheets if you have more than three outfalls.) Outfall Number 001 Outfall Number Outfall Number State North Carolina y County Watauga 0 City or town Boone 0 Distance from shore w L Depth below surface ft. ft. ft. 0 Average daily flow rate 0.0017 mgd mgd mgd Latitude W 09 07" NIA ° ° 1 11 Longitude 81° 49 59" vFZJ 1 11° " 3.2 Do any of the outfalls described under Item 3.1 have seasonal or periodic discharges? o ❑ Yes El No 4 SKIP to Item 3.4. m 3.3 If so, provide the following information for each applicable outfall. y Outfall Number Outfall Number Outfall Number 0 Number of times per year discharge occurs a Average duration of each `o discharge (specify units oAverage flow of each mgd mgd mgd y discharge in Months in which discharge occurs 3.4 Are any of the outfalls listed under Item 3.1 equipped with a diffuser? 21 Yes ❑ No 4 SKIP to Item 3.6. 3.5 Briefly describe the diffuser pe at each applicable outfall. Outfall Number 001 Outfall Number Outfall Number Forced Air Diffuser vi 3 6 Does the treatment works discharge or plan to discharge wastewater to waters of the State of North Carolina from one or more discharge points? w ❑✓ Yes ❑ No 4SKIP to Section 6. Page 6 NPDES Permit Number Facility Name Modified Application Form 2A NCO049174 Smoketree Lodge WWTP Modified March 2021 3.7 Provide the receiving water and related information if known for each outfall. Outfall Number 001 Outfall Number Outfall Number Receiving water name Unnamed Tributary Name of watershed, river, c or stream system Watauga River U.S. Soil Conservation y Service 14-digit watershed o code R Name of state management/river basin Watauga River Basin U.S. Geological Survey 8-digit hydrologic cataloging unit code Critical low flow (acute) cfs cfs cfs Critical low flow (chronic) cfs cfs cfs Total hardness at critical mg/L of mg/L of mg/L of low flow CaCO3 CaCO3 CaCO3 3.8 Provide the following information describing the treatment provided for discharges from each outfall. Outfall Number 001 Outfall Number Outfall Number Highest Level of ❑ Primary ❑ Primary ❑ Primary Treatment (check all that ❑ Equivalent to ❑ Equivalent to ❑ Equivalent to apply per outfall) secondary secondary secondary El Secondary ❑ Secondary ❑ Secondary ❑ Advanced ❑ Advanced ❑ Advanced ❑ Other (specify) ❑ Other (specify) ❑ Other (specify) c 0 Q Design Removal Rates by Outfall d BOD5 or CBOD5 85 % % % c as E m TSS 85 % % % H 0 Not applicable ❑ Not applicable ❑ Not applicable Phosphorus % /o o 0 /o 0 Not applicable ❑ Not applicable ❑ Not applicable Nitrogen % % ° /o Other (specify) 0 Not applicable ❑ Not applicable ❑ Not applicable Page 7 ES Permit Number Facility Name Modified Application Form 2A Nco049174 Smoketree Lodge WWTP Modified March 2021 3.9 Describe the type of disinfection used for the effluent from each outfall in the table below. If disinfection varies by season, describe below. UV Disinfection v m 3 c c 0 Outfall Number Outfall Number Outfall Number 0 w .2- Disinfection type U to d 0 Seasons used d E W Dechlorination used? ❑ Not applicable ❑ Not applicable ❑ Not applicable ❑ Yes ❑ Yes ❑ Yes ❑ No ❑ No ❑ No 3.10 Have you completed monitoring for all Table A parameters and attached the results to the application package? 21, Yes ❑ No 3.11 Have you conducted any WET tests during the 4.5 years prior to the date of the application on any of the facility's discharges or on any receiving water near the discharge points? ❑ Yes ✓❑ No 4 SKIP to Item 3.13. 3.12 Indicate the number of acute and chronic WET tests conducted since the last permit reissuance of the facility's discharges by outfall number or of the receiving water near the discharge points. Outfall Number Outfall Number Outfall Number Acute Chronic Acute Chronic Acute Chronic R .r o Number of tests of discharge rn = water Number of tests of receiving water d all 3.14 Does the POTW use chlorine for disinfection, use chlorine elsewhere in the treatment process, or otherwise have reasonable potential to discharge chlorine in its effluent? N/A Aoe-4 o ae6i9V) Floes ❑ Yes 4 Complete Table B, including chlorine. ✓❑ No + Complete Table B, omitting chlorine. 3.15 Have you completed monitoring for all applicable Table B pollutants and attached the results to this application package? M/A AU2 i6ees) r1 P1pLJ J El Yes El No Have you completed monitoring for all applicable Table D pollutants required by your NPDES permitting authority and 3.18 attached the results to this application package? additional sampling required by NPDES ❑ Yes ID permitting authority. Page 8 NPDES Permit Number Facility Name Modified Application Form 2A NCO049174 Smoketree Lodge WWTP Modified March 2021 3.19 Has the POTW conducted either (1) minimum of four quarterly WET tests for one year preceding this permit application or (2) at least four annual WET tests in the past 4.5 years? ❑ Yes ❑ No 4 Complete tests and Table E and SKIP to Item 3.26. 3.20 Have you previously submitted the results of the above tests to your NPDES permitting authority? ❑ Yes ❑ No 4 Provide results in Table E and SKIP to Item 3.26. 3.21 Indicate the dates the data were submitted to our NPDES permitting authority and provide a summary of the results. Date(s) Submitted Summary of Results MMIDDIYYYY -a m 0 c w 0 UR. 3.22 Regardless of how you provided your WET testing data to the NPDES permitting authority, did any of the tests result in o toxicity? ❑ Yes ❑ No 4 SKIP to Item 3.26. w. 3.23 Describe the cause(s) of the toxicity: c d U1 w 3.24 Has the treatment works conducted a toxicity reduction evaluation? ❑ Yes ❑ No 4 SKIP to Item 3.26. 3.25 Provide details of any toxicity reduction evaluations conducted. 3.26 Have you completed Table E for all applicable outfalls and attached the results to the application package? ❑ Yes ❑ Not applicable because previously submitted information to the NPDES permitting authority. Page 9 NPDES Permit Number Facility Name Modified Application Form 2A NCO049174 Smoketree Lodge WWTP Modified March 2021 SECTION1 CERTIFICATION STATEMENT (40 In Column 1 below, mark the sections of Form 2A that you have completed and are submitting with your application. For 6.1 each section, specify in Column 2 any attachments that you are enclosing to alert the permitting authority. Note that not all applicants are required to provide attachments. Column 1 Column 2 Section 1: Basic Application ❑ w/ variance request(s) ❑ wl additional attachments Information for All A licants ❑ Section 2: Additional ❑ wl topographic map ❑ wl process flow diagram Information ❑ w/ additional attachments r❑ wl Table A ❑ wl Table D Section 3: Information on ❑ w/ Table B ❑ wl additional attachments Effluent Discharges E ❑ w/ Table C U' Section 4: Not Applicable 0 w Section 5: Not Applicable U a Section 6: Checklist and ❑ w/ attachments Certification Statement N Y 6.2 Certification Statement 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 fine and imprisonment for knowing violations. Name (print or type first and last name) Official title �o ul 1 sevl ll t,k_r Pre��V* Signature Date signed Z/Alzlp� 3 - ( � —?— L LIM Page 10 NPDES Permit Number Facility Name Outfall Number NCO049174 T Smoketree Lodge WWTP 001 Modified Application Form 2A Modified March 2021 Maximum Daily Discharge Average Daily Discharge Analytical ML or MDL Value Units Pollutant NumberMethod' (include units) Value Units Samples Biochemical oxygen demand El ML 2 o BOD5 or o CBODs 13.7 mg/L 1.93 mg/L 156 SM-52106 17 MDL (report one Fecal coliform 200 cfu/100mL 6.14 cfu/100mL 156 SM-9222D 1 0 ML MDL Design flow rate 0.024 MGD 0.0017 MGD Continuous pH (minimum) 6.3 s/u pH (maximum) 7.9 s/u Temperature (winter) 20 Degrees Celsius 10.24 Degrees Celsius 60 Temperature (summer) 24 Degrees Celsius 17.97 Degrees Celsius 84 Total suspended solids (TSS) 15 mg/L 1.95 mg/L 156 SM 2540D 2.5 Z MDL 1 Sampling shall be conducted according to sufficiently sensitive test procedures (i.e., methods) approved under 40 CFR 136 for the analysis of pollutants or pollutant parameters or required under 40 CFR chapter I, subchapter N or 0. See instructions and 40 CFR 122.21(e)(3). Page 11