DEQ-CFW_00020989

From: Emily Barnes (Sen. Michael Lee) [[e-mail]]
Sent: 6/13/2017 9:04:59 PM
To: Grzyb, Julie [/o=ExchangeLabs/ou=Exchange Administrative Group
(FYDIBOHF23SPDLT)/cn=Recipients/cn=75d1654d45154c2abb08596a2c9af282-jagrzyb]
CC: Culpepper, Linda [/o=ExchangeLabs/ou=Exchange Administrative Group
(FYDIBOHF23SPDLT)/cn=Recipients/cn=73d475cbae324a29687e1711dc9a79c5-ImcuI pepper]
Subject: RE: Follow up - GenX
Hi Julie,
Thank you for this information. I will let you knave if Senator Lee has any further questions.
Have a great night!
Emily Barnes
Legislative Assistant
Office of Senator Michael Lee
9't' District New Hanover
[phone]
Tuesday,1
To: Emily Barnes (Sen. Michael Lee)
Culpepper, Linda
Subject: " •GenX
Emily,
Regarding this question:
Our office is researching what is required of a company before they discharge chemicals or substances into a river, as
well as what they are required to show. If you have any information that is readily available to us, it would be ,greatly
appreciated!
Here is some general information that I hope will help walk you through the process.
NC Administrative Code requires (15A NCAC 02H .0101) a perrnit for control of sources of water pollution by providing
the requirements and procedures for application and issuance of state NPDES permits for a discharge fr€:ern an outlet,
paint source, or disposal system discharging to the surface waters of the state. These rules reflect Federal NPDE5
permitting laws under 40 CFR 122 which the State implements.
Major industrial discharges, such as Chemours, are required to complete EPA NPDES applications which require a certain
amount of sampling as described in 48 1=R 14153, Apr 1, 1983. Applicants evaluate effluent for priority pollutants as
defined by EPA. fink to application forms: htt: s. €:fie€ .nc. av errnitbnf�-F licatia€i.s
EPA has established effluent guidelines for over 57 different types of Industrial categories. Chernours is subject to the
Organic Chemicals, Plastics, and Synthetic Fibers (OCPSF) Point: Source Category (40 CFR Part 41.4), Each industrial
applicant must characterize their wastestreams (define each source and provide test analysis of the contaminants
contained in each wastestrearn). The applicant is required to give the discharge volume of each wastestrearn and what
treatment will be provided to rneet: State and Federal Standards for the receiving st:rearn to which they propose to
discharge.
DEQ-CFW 00020989

The applicant may be required to perform a model for its oxygen consuming wastes — to protect dissolved oxygen in the
stream. Also, depending on the receiving stream classification (use) they may have to perform a treatability study to
confirm treatment levels and/or a nutrient response model to protect Nutrient Sensitive Waters,
Federal Categorical Guidelines often have set: technology based effluent limitations that: NPDES puts in the permit:. In
addition, limits and/'or monitoring for pollutants of concern for particular types of wastewaters are put in the permit.
And last, the discharge characterization supplied in the application (each chemical sampled per the list: supplied by EPA)
is compared against State and Federal Standards or Criteria to see if there is potential to violate any standards/ criteria.
If so, additional limitations are added to the permit.
If the permittee identifies a unique contaminant, NPDES reviews EPA databases for guidance on how to regulate the
contaminant. As described in rule 15A NCAC 02B .0208 "For carcinogens, the concentrations of toxic substances shall
not: result in unacceptable health risks and [...] An unacceptable health risk for cancer shall be considered to be more
than one case of cancer per one million people exposed (1 C risk level)—" -Therefore if EPA has a study that has
determined this risk level, than this is the concentration NPDES would use to determine a NPDES permit limitation.
The draft permit is sent to public notice, EPA, and the permittee - all at the same time for a minimum of thirty days.
Anyone car) comment or request a hearing. If no hearing is requested the permit can be issued 15 days after the end of
the public notice period provided any changes made to address comments are not significant: (do not make tale permit:
less stringent).
Please let: me know if you need additional information,
Julie
Julie A Grzyb
Supervisor
NPDES Complex Permitting
NC DEQ / Division of Water Resources / Water Quality Permitting
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From: Culpepper, Linda
Sent: Monday, June 12, 2017 10:30 PM
To: Emily Barnes (Sen. Michael Lee) <L .].. r J :*; 3:rlgags>; Grzyb, Julie <j!jI€e gTLr I I::tz y.a
Subject: RE: Follow up - GenX
Emily — I apologize for the delay due to meetings most of the day on the same topic.
DEQ-CFW 00020990

Hope that DHHS will have their health statements available to help with the risk perspective.
Julie — please help Emily with information when you get in tomorrow.
Linde Culpepper
Deputy Director
Division of Water Resource;
North Carolina Department of Fnvironrnental Quality
� 61.1. Mail Service Center
Prone: 919-707-9014
From: Emily Barnes (Sen. Michael Lee) [€ ailto;Leel,�nc-a.stat ..nc,usJ
Sent: Monday, June 12, 2017 10:39 AM
To: Culpepper, Linda <linda.cul e er��ncdenr.�,ov>
Subject: RE: Follow up - GenX
Good morning Linda,
Our office is researching what: is required of a company before they discharge chemicals or substances into a river, as
well as what they are required to show. If you have any information that is readily available to us, it would be greatly
appreciated!
Thank you,
Emily Barnes
Legislative Assistant
Office of Senator Michael Lee
91" District — New Hanover
919)715-2525
From: Culpepper, Linda [mallto:linda.cul er("&)ncdnr. ov]
Sent: Friday, June 09, 2017 5:55 PM
To: Emily Barnes (Sen. Michael Lee)
Cc: Godreau, Jessica; Grzyb, Julie; Miller, Anderson
Subject: Follow up - GenX
Emily — thank you for sharing the below with Sen. Lee and Rep. Grange. Appreciated the opportunity to talk with them
this afternoon.
We certainly understand the public concerns surrounding the issue with GenX and are working with the EPA and others
to learn more about the chemical compound and any potential impacts it may have.
It's important for the public to know that drinking water from the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority meets all state and
federal drinking water standards.
DEQ-CFW 00020991

EPA has established standards for many pollutants impacting water quality and public health. North Carolina and other
states are in communication with EPA as further guidance and research is developed that
will provide the state Department of Environmental Quality with the information needed to begin developing regulatory
limits for GenX.
The EPA is the sole agency responsible for establishing drinking water standards nationwide and has extensive resources
necessary to determine the nature, extent and potential impacts ofchemicals such as 6enX.
When EPA establishes guidance for emerging contaminants such as GenX, this triggers the process used by EPA and
states like North Carolina to develop regulations for these contaminants.
People should beassured that there are steps that DBlstaff are taking while we're awaiting guidance from the EPA.
DEQ officials are talking with Chemours to assess waste streams containing GenX and determine
if the company can reduce the amount of the chemical compound being discharged to the river.
DHHS has drafted a summary of their review and I have asked them to share that with you directly so that you can
follow upwith them asneeded.
Thank you for your time this afternoon.
LinclaCu|m¥pe'
Deputy Director
Division of Water Resources
North Carolina Department ofEnvironmental Quality
1611Mail Service Center
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