DEQ-CFW_00007472

A. (2.) ACUTE TOXICITY MONITORING (QUARTERLY)
The permittee shall conduct acute toxicity tests on a quarterly basis using protocols defined in the North
Carolina Procedure Document entitled "Pass/Fail Methodology For Determining Acute Toxicity In A Single
Effluent Concentration" (Revised December 2010 or subsequent versions). The monitoring shall be
performed as a Mysid Shrimp (Xtysidopsis bahia) 24 hour static test. The effluent concentration at which
there may be at no time significant acute mortality is 90% (defined as treatment two in the procedure
document). Effluent samples for self -monitoring purposes must be obtained during representative effluent
discharge below all waste treatment. The tests will be performed during the months of
— , and _. These months signify the first month of each three month toxicity testing quarter
assigned to the facility.
All toxicity testing results required as part of this permit condition will be entered on the Effluent Discharge
Monitoring Form (MR-1) for the month in which it was performed, using the parameter code TGE3E.
Additionally, DWQ Form AT-2 (original) is to be sent to the following address:
Attention: North Carolina Division of Water Quality
Environmental Sciences Section
1621 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1621
Completed Aquatic Toxicity Test Forms shall be filed with the Environmental Sciences Section no later
than 30 days after the end of the reporting period for which the report is made.
Test data shall be complete and accurate and include all supporting chemical/physical measurements
performed in association with the toxicity tests, as well as all dose/response data. Total residual chlorine of
the effluent toxicity sample must be measured and reported if chlorine is employed for disinfection of the
waste stream.
Should there be no discharge of flow from the facility during a month in which toxicity monitoring is
required, the permittee will complete the information located at the top of the aquatic toxicity (AT) test form
indicating the facility name, permit number, pipe number, county, and the month/year of the report with the
notation of "No Flow" in the comment area of the form. The report shall be submitted to the Environmental
Sciences Section at the address cited above.
Should the permittee fail to monitor during a month in which toxicity monitoring is required, then monthly
monitoring will begin immediately. Upon submission of a valid test, this monthly test requirement will
revert to quarterly in the months specified above. Assessment of toxicity compliance is based on the toxicity
testing quarter, which is the three month time interval that begins on the first day of the month in which
toxicity testing is required by this permit and continues until the final day of the third month.
Should any test data from either these monitoring requirements or tests performed by the North Carolina
Division of Water Quality indicate potential impacts to the receiving stream, this permit may be re -opened
and modified to include alternate monitoring requirements or limits.
If the Permittee monitors any pollutant more frequently then required by this permit, the results of such
monitoring shall be included in the calculation & reporting of the data submitted on the DMR & all AT
Forms submitted.
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DEQ-CFW-00007472

NOTE: Failure to achieve test conditions as specified in the cited document, such as minimum control
organism survival and appropriate environmental controls, shall constitute an invalid test and will require
immediate follow-up testing to be completed no later than the last day of the month following the month of
the initial monitoring.
USE OF A DIFFERENT TEST ORGANISM
The permittee may request the use of a different test organism upon documentation that the alternate test
organism would provide an equal or greater level of protection and is appropriate based on the
characteristics of the discharge and receiving stream. Such documentation would consist of one of the
following:
1. For saltwater classified streams, a fathead minnow may be assigned as the acute testing species if the
salinity of the receiving stream at the point of discharge is <5 ppt throughout the tidally influenced
cycle. This determination may be based on the best professional judgment of DWQ staff or data
collection provided by the permittee and approved by DWQ staff. This evaluation should include
vertical profiles of salinity/conductivity measurements at both high tide and low tide over several 24
hr cycles.
2. Three consecutive "side -by -side" tests with results indicating that the alternate test organism is as or
more sensitive to the facility's effluent. Each test series would consist of two separate toxicity tests
conducted on the same sample of effluent with the length of exposure specified by the permit, the
only difference between the tests being the organism used.
3. An alternate plan developed by the permittee and approved by the Aquatic Toxicology Unit that
demonstrates an equal level of protection is offered by the test organism.
For items 2 and 3, it must also be demonstrated that viable and standardized culture techniques are available
for that organism and standardized testing methodologies have been developed and validated. This
demonstration should meet guidance provided by EPA in Section 6 of EPA-821-R-02-012, Short Term
Methods for Estimating the AcuteToxicity of Effluents and Receiving Waters to Freshwater Organisms.
Fifth Edition, 2002. Requests to use a different test organism and supporting documentation should be sent
to NC DWQ, ESS at the address listed above.
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