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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNCS000040 Draft Permit Cover Letter_signedEnergy, Mineral and Land Resources ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ROY COOPER Governor MICHAEL S. REGAN Secretary WILLIAM E. (TOBY) VINSON, JR. Interim Director September 19, 2018 Mr. David Waggoner Charlotte Pipe and Foundry Company P.O. Box 35430 Charlotte, NC 28235 Subject: Draft NPDES Stormwater Permit Permit No. NCS000040 Charlotte Pipe and Foundry Company Mecklenburg County Dear Mr. Waggoner: Enclosed with this letter is a copy of the draft stormwater permit for your facility. Please review the draft carefully to ensure thorough understanding of the conditions and requirements it contains. The draft permit contains the following significant changes from the facility's current permit: You are required to collect analytical and qualitative monitoring samples during "measurable storm events" as defined in Part II, Section B. This term is different from the "representative storm event" in earlier permits. Requirements for the Stormwater Pollution Plan (SPPP) have been updated in Part II, Section A. Monitoring requirements in the draft permit have changed from the previous permit. Monitoring is proposed for Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Total Copper (Cu), Total Lead (Pb), Total Zinc (Zn) and pH. Based on monitoring results reported as well as the potential pollutants at your facility the Division has determined that these parameters are appropriate for assessing potential impacts from your discharge. Monitoring results from the previous permit cycle for Oil & Grease, Chromium (Cr), Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN), Nickle (Ni) and Phenols have been consistently below the benchmark values. The draft permit proposes to remove these parameters from the permit. Comments from our regional staff or other information may result in maintaining these parameters or adding other parameters if it is apparent that your activities in some way have the potential to release them through stormwater runoff. Please note that for a number of the metals parameters the benchmark values have increased since the last permit. The table below shows the changes. Parameter 2009 Benchmark (mg/L 2018 Benchmark(m /L) Copper(Cu) 0.007 0.010 Lead Pb 0.030 0.075 Nickle Ni 0.260 0.335 Zinc Zn 0.067 0.126 Stormwater benchmarks remain in the permit as before. Keep in mind that benchmarks are not permit limits, but rather guidelines for implementing the Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SPPP). A State of North Carolina I Environmental Quality I Energy, Mineral and Land Resources 1612 Mail Service Center 1 512 North Salisbury Street I Raleigh, NC 27699-1612 919 707 9200 T NCS000040 Draft Permit Page 2 benchmark exceedance is not a permit violation; however, the permittee must respond to exceedances. The draft permit has modified the tiered response process for benchmark exceedances consistent with other permits in our program. Please become familiar with the tiered process as proper response under the tiers may be enforceable items under your permit. Response to the tiered process may include review of onsite conditions, installation of BMPs or requirements for more frequent monitoring. 4. Vehicle maintenance (Tables 4 & 5) monitoring parameters have been revised. Non -Polar Oil & Grease [EPA Method 1664 (SGT -HEM)] replaces Oil & Grease/TPH. The benchmark for Non -polar Oil & Grease using this method is 15 mg/L. This requirement appears in all individual stormwater permits; however, it only applies to facilities that perform onsite vehicle maintenance activities. If the facility begins vehicle maintenance during the permit cycle, the requirements shall apply. Also, pH monitoring is no longer required for discharges only associated with vehicle maintenance activities. The vehicle maintenance language in the permit has also been modified to clarify that these activities include not just vehicles, but also other similar equipment maintenance activities that may be exposed to stormwater. This has always been the Division's implementation of this requirement, but hopefully the adjusted language is a little clearer about this process. 5. Language has been added under Part II Section D to address potential responses to qualitative monitoring issues. 6. A new section on Special Conditions has been added in Part II, Section E to comply with federal regulations requiring electronic submittal of discharge monitoring reports. Our electronic submittal process is not available for use at this time, but we will continue to provide feedback on when this process will be available. 7. Civil and administrative penalty amounts have been updated to reflect current federal law in Part III, Section A, 2(b) and (g). 8. The definition of Bulk Storage of Liquid Materials was revised in Part IV Definitions to omit the language "located in close proximity to each other" as it applies to multiple above ground storage containers having a combined storage of 1,320 gallons. 9. To address workload issues in the Stormwater Program we are working to have similar numbers of individual permits for renewal over each of the next five years. In order to accomplish this some of our permit renewals will be issued for time periods shorter than the usual five year cycle. Your permit renewal is proposed to expire in 2021. Please review the draft permit and submit any comments to me no later than 30 days following your receipt of the draft. Comments maybe emailed to me at bradley.bennettOncdenr.gov or mailed to my attention at NC DEMLR, Stormwater Permitting Program, 1612 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1612. With this notification the Division will solicit comment on this draft by publishing a notice in a local newspaper. Following the 30 day public comment period, the Division will review comments and take appropriate action prior to issuance of the final permit. If you have any questions, please email me or call me at (919) 707-3646. Sincerely, Original Signed by Bradley Bennett Bradley Bennett Stormwater Permitting Program Attachment: Draft Permit NCS000040 cc: Zahid Khan, DEMLR Mooresville Regional Office - via email Chad Broadway, Charlotte -Mecklenburg Stormwater Services - via email Stormwater Permitting Program Files