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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNC0000396_Annual Report_20190121 • DUKE f KE E. Shannon Langley � EHS CCP Environmental Programs NL, ENERGY® 411 Fayetteville Street Mail Code.NC15 Raleigh, NC 27601 Phone:(919) 546-2439 January 21, 20197----- Ms. Linda Culpepper LDirector JAN 2 3 North Carolina Division of Water Resources 1617 Mail Services Center Drv►s1oiv o-War A „- Raleigh, NC 27699-1617 DSPF , L,, ICES Subject: Submittal of 2018 Surface Water Protection and Restoration Annual Report Duke Energy Progress, LLC. Dear Ms. Culpepper, In accordance with North Carolina General Statute 130A-309.212(e), Duke Energy is required to "...submit an Annual Surface Water Protection Report to the department no later than January 31 of each year." Duke Energy is pleased to submit the attached 2018 Surface Water Protection and Restoration Annual Reports for Duke Energy Progress, LLC. The attached report provides information for the following facilities: Duke Energy Progress, LLC Asheville Steam Plant, Cape Fear Steam Plant, H.F. Lee Energy Complex, Mayo Steam Plant, Roxboro Steam Plant, Weatherspoon Steam Plant and L.V. Sutton Energy Complex. If you have any questions regarding these materials, please contact me at (919) 546-2439 or shannon.Langley(cr�duke-energy.com. Sincerely, E. Shannon Langley Principal Environmental Specialist Attachment Cc: Jeff Poupart — via email w/attachment Jim Wells —via email w/attachment Richard Baker—via email w/attachment Anne Pifer- via email w/attachment EHS CCP NC SME's - via email w/attachment FileNet , iiiii::: if ENERGY® PROGRESS 2018 North Carolina Surface Water Protection and Restoration Annual Report epo t Duke Energy Progress, LLC Submitted: January 2019 i Duke Energy Progress,LLC 12018 Surface Water Protection and Restoration Annual Report Table of Contents Page Table of Contents Section 1 - Introduction 1 Section 2 - Site Descriptions 1 2.1 Asheville Steam Electric Plant 1 2.2 Cape Fear Steam Electric Plant 2 2.3 H.F. Lee Energy Complex 3 2.4 Mayo Steam Electric Plant 3 2.5 Roxboro Steam Electric Plant 4 2.6 L.V. Sutton Energy Complex 4 2.7 Weatherspoon Plant 5 Section 3—Surface Water Sampling Summary 6 Section 4—Surface Water Protection and Restoration Summary 7 Section 5 — Discharge Identification Status 9 Section 6 — Discharge Assessment Status 9 Table 3-1 Routine Duke Energy Coal-Fired Steam Stations 2018 Surface Water Quality Sampling 6 Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC 12018 Surface Water Protection and Restoration Annual Report Section 1 - Introduction The purpose of this document is to address the requirements of North Carolina General Statutes (N.C.G.S.) § 130A-309.212(e), Reporting, as established by North Carolina Senate Bill 729, the Coal Ash Management Act of 2014 (CAMA), for multiple ash basin sites operated under National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits as referenced herein. The following requirements are contained in N.C.G.S. § 130A-309.212: (e) Reporting. — In addition to any other reporting required by the Department, the owner of a coal combustion residuals surface impoundment shall submit an annual Surface Water Protection and Restoration Report to the Department no later than January 31 of each year. The Report shall include a summary of all surface water sampling, protection, and restoration activities related to the impoundment for the preceding year, including the status of the identification, assessment, and correction of unpermitted discharges from coal combustion residuals surface impoundments to the surface waters of the State. CAMA establishes the submittal date of this report as no later than January 31, 2019. This report satisfies the requirements of N.C.G.S. § 130A-309.212(e) for activities occurring in 2018 at multiple facilities with ash basin treatment units. Section 2 - Site Descriptions 2.1 Asheville Steam Electric Plant The Asheville Steam Electric Plant (Asheville Plant) is located near Asheville, in Buncombe County, North Carolina. The Asheville Plant began commercial operation in the 1960s, with additions in the 1990s and around 2000, and consists of two coal-fired units. In addition to the coal-fired units, the Asheville Plant has two combustion turbines. Coal combustion residuals (CCR) have been managed in the Asheville Plant's on-site ash basins/rim ditch and used as beneficial fill at the nearby Asheville Regional Airport (Asheville Airport). Lake Julian was built for cooling water purposes by damming the flow of Powell Creek on the north side of the Asheville Plant. A large portion of Lake Julian borders the east side of the Asheville Plant site. Surface water from the French Broad River is also pumped into Lake Julian as a supplemental water supply. The water from the French Broad River enters a stilling area of the lake on the north side of the Asheville Plant. Heated water is discharged back into Lake Julian to the east of the Asheville Plant. The French Broad River borders the west side of the property and flows south to north. Powell Creek also flows south to north prior to formation of Lake Julian. Powell Creek flows east to west from the Lake Julian Dam to the French Broad River. The Asheville Plant is located on the east side of 1-26 and the French Broad River where the ash management system consisted of a series of basins. The original 1964 ash basin, built Page 1 I- Duke Energy Progress,LLC 2018 Surface Water Protection and Restoration Annual Report during Asheville Plant construction and expanded in the 1970s, was overlain with lined wastewater treatment wetlands. The wastewater treatment wetlands have been removed and the FGD wastewater they were designed to treat is currently being sent to the municipal sewer under an industrial pretreatment permit. The 1964 ash basin was replaced in approximately 1982 with a second ash basin, built to the west of the 1964 basin. Removal of all visible ash from the 1982 ash basin was completed by the end of September 2016. The removal of ash from this basin was completed consistent with NCDEQ's document titled "CCR Surface Impoundment Closure Guidelines for Protection of Groundwater" received under cover letter dated November 4, 2016. Ash being generated by ongoing electric generation is treated and removed in a concrete-lined rim ditch located on a portion of the 1964 ash basin prior to being dewatered and removed from the site for disposal at an offsite landfill. A natural gas fired combined cycle generation unit is being constructed within the footprint of the 1982 ash basin. The ash basin/rim ditch system is part of the Asheville Plant's wastewater treatment system; receiving inflows from ash transport water, coal pile runoff, storm water runoff, and various low volume wastes. The treated wastewater is regulated and permitted by NPDES permit number NC000396. Treated effluent from the wastewater system is released to the French Broad River through a permitted outfall. 2.2 Cape Fear Steam Electric Plant The Cape Fear Steam Electric Plant (Cape Fear Plant) is located on approximately 900 acres in central North Carolina near Moncure, in Chatham County. The site is along the east bank of the Cape Fear River, southeast of Moncure and west of Corinth Road. Cape Fear Plant operations began in 1923 with additional units added from 1924 to 1969. In the most recent configuration, the Cape Fear Plant employed two coal-fired units along with four oil-fueled combustion turbine units. Residuals generated from coal combustion were treated and stored on-site in ash basins. Operations were terminated at the Cape Fear Plant in October 2012 and generation plant demolition activities have been completed. Five ash basins were historically used at the Cape Fear Plant and are referenced using the date of construction: 1956, 1963, 1970, 1978, and 1985. The 1956 ash basin is located north of the former Cape Fear Plant, and the remaining ash basins are located south of the Cape Fear Plant area. The 1963 and 1970 ash basins were constructed on the west side of the Cape Fear Plant property, adjacent to the Cape Fear River. The 1978 ash basin was constructed east of and abutting the 1963 and 1970 ash basins. The 1985 ash basin was constructed east of the existing ash basins between the wastewater discharge canal and Corinth Road. The ash basins are impounded by earthen dams. Currently, the 1956, 1963, and 1970 ash basins are dry and entirely covered with vegetation (hardwood and pine trees). A small area near the southern end of the 1970 ash basin is seasonally wet. All wastewater, formerly generated by the site, historically discharged to the discharge canal prior to the combined outfall called outfall 007. The combined outfall now contains all waste stream flows and is located in the effluent channel. Page 12 Duke Energy Progress,LLC 12018 Surface Water Protection and Restoration Annual Report Discharges from the 1978 and 1985 ash basins are permitted by the NCDEQ DWR under NPDES Permit NC0003433. A new outfall, outfall 008, has been permitted to allow for releases associated with basin closure to be discharged to the Cape Fear river. 2.3 H.F. Lee Energy Complex The H. F. Lee Energy Complex (Lee Plant) is located in central eastern North Carolina near Goldsboro, North Carolina. The Lee Plant began operations in 1951, adding coal-fired units in the early 1950s and 1960s. The Lee Plant employed various combinations of three coal-fired units along with four oil-fueled combustion turbine units to produce energy. The three coal-fired units were retired in September 2012 followed by the four oil-fueled combustion turbine units in October 2012. In December 2012, the H.F. Lee Combined Cycle Plant was brought online. The property encompasses approximately 2,100 acres, including the ash basins, a cooling pond (located to the east of the Lee Plant operations area), and the Neuse River. Four ash basins have been used to manage sluiced coal ash generated at the Lee Plant and are referenced using the date of construction. Three inactive ash basins were built in approximately the late 1950s and early 1960s and are located west of the power production area. The active ash basin was constructed in the late 1970s and is located northeast of the power production area. Combined, the active and inactive ash basins encompass approximately 314 acres (171 acres for the inactive ash basins and 143 acres for the active ash basin). The ash basins are impounded by earthen dikes. Discharge from the active ash basin to the Neuse River is permitted and regulated under NPDES Permit NC0003417. 2.4 Mayo Steam Electric Plant The Mayo Steam Electric Plant (Mayo Plant) is a single-unit, coal-fired electric generating facility located in Person County, North Carolina, near the city of Roxboro. The Mayo Plant became fully operational in June 1983. The Mayo Plant is located on Boston Road (US Highway 501) north of Roxboro. The northern property line extends to the North Carolina/Virginia state line. The overall topography of the Mayo Plant generally slopes toward the east (Mayo Reservoir) and northeast. The Mayo Plant ash basin is approximately 140 acres in size with an earthen dike. The ash basin is located north of the Mayo Plant operational area and west of Mayo Lake. CCR was transported via hydraulic sluicing to the ash basin until 2013, when the Mayo Plant converted to a dry ash system. Final system upgrades were completed in October 2016; all CCR collection is collected dry. Dry fly ash was hauled and disposed in the landfill located at the nearby Roxboro Steam Electric Plant (Roxboro Plant) from August 2012 until November 2014. Beginning in November 2014, CCR from the Mayo Plant has been managed in a newly constructed on-site landfill located west of the ash basin. Discharge from the ash basin to Mayo Lake is permitted and regulated by the NCDEQ DWR under NPDES Permit NC0038377. Page 13 Duke Energy Progress, LLC 12018 Surface Water Protection and Restoration Annual Report 2.5 Roxboro Steam Electric Plant The Roxboro Steam Electric Plant (Roxboro Plant) is located near Semora, in Person County, North Carolina. A large part of the Roxboro Plant property encompasses Hyco Reservoir. The Hyco Reservoir was constructed to provide a source of cooling water for the Roxboro plant. The coal-fired electric generating facility began operations in the 1960s and continued to add capacity through the 1980s. CCR's have historically been managed in two on-site ash basins, with an approximate combined area of approximately 495 acres, and a lined landfill located south-southwest of Hyco Reservoir and Hyco River. Discharge from the West Ash Basin is permitted and regulated by the NCDEQ DWR under NPDES Permit NC0003425. CCR generated from coal combustion has been stored in on-site ash basins and a lined landfill. Ash has been sluiced to the ash basins or conveyed in its dry form to the lined landfill. Two ash basins have been used at the Roxboro Plant and are referenced using the date of construction and relative location: the 1966 East Ash Basin and the 1973 West Ash Basin. The East Ash Basin is located southeast of the Roxboro Plant, and the West Ash Basin is located south of the Roxboro Plant. An unlined landfill was constructed on the East Ash Basin in the late 1980s. A lined landfill was subsequently constructed over the unlined landfill around 2004. The ash basins are impounded by permitted earthen dams. Currently, the East Ash Basin and lined landfill are largely covered with vegetation (grasses and shrubs) where the landfill is not active. Wet ash and runoff from the East Ash Basin landfill is directed to the West Ash Basin for settling. The West Ash Basin encompasses approximately 200 acres and discharges to a permitted internal outfall (outfall 002) and then by a permitted outfall into Hyco Reservoir (outfall 003). 2.6 L.V. Sutton Energy Complex The L.V. Sutton Energy Complex (Sutton Plant) is a former coal-fired electric generating facility located near Wilmington in New Hanover County, North Carolina. The facility is located north of Wilmington on the west side of U.S. Highway 421. The topography around the property is relatively gentle, generally sloping downward toward the Cape Fear River. The Sutton Plant utilizes an approximately 1,100-acre cooling pond located adjacent to the Cape Fear River. The ash management area is located adjacent to the cooling pond, north of the Sutton Plant. The Sutton Plant started operations in 1954 and consisted of three coal-fired boilers to produce steam. The Sutton Plant coal fired generation units were retired in 2013. A natural gas fired combined cycle generation unit was constructed on the site to replace the coal fired units. The Sutton Plant, cooling pond, and ash management area are located on the east side of the Cape Fear River. The ash management area is located adjacent to the cooling pond, north of Page 14 Duke Energy Progress,LLC 12018 Surface Water Protection and Restoration Annual Report the Sutton Plant. The ash management area consists of three locations: • The 1971 ash basin is an unlined ash basin built in approximately 1971. The basin received fly ash, bottom ash, boiler slag, storm water, ash sluice water, coal pile runoff, and low-volume wastewater. • The 1984 ash basin has a 12-inch clay liner and was built in approximately 1984. This basin is located toward the northern portion of the ash management area and was operated from 1984 to 2013. The basin received fly ash, bottom ash, boiler slag, storm water, ash sluice water, coal pile runoff, and low volume wastewater. The ash basins are impounded by an earthen dike. CCR removal from the ash basins and placement in the Brickhaven structural fill was on-going during 2016 and through June 2017 when shipments of ash to Brickhaven were ceased. Duke Energy then began disposing of ash into the on-site landfill as Cell 3 received its permit to operate on July 6, 2017; Cell 4 received its permit to operate on August 25 2017; and Cell 5 received its permit to operate on December 7, 2017. Wastewater discharge from the Sutton Plant to the Cape Fear River is permitted and regulated by the NCDEQ DWR under the NPDES Permit NC0001422. 2.7 W.H. Weatherspoon Plant The W.H. Weatherspoon Plant (Weatherspoon Plant) is a former coal-fired electric generating facility located in Robeson County, North Carolina, near the city of Lumberton. The Weatherspoon Plant started operations in 1949. Two additional units were added in the 1950s. Four oil- and natural gas-fueled combustion turbines were added in the 1970s. As of October 2011, all of the coal-fired units were retired. The four oil- and natural gas-fueled units continue to operate as needed to meet peak demand. The facility is located southeast of Lumberton on the east side of North Carolina Highway 72. The topography around the property generally slopes downward toward the Lumber River. The Weatherspoon Plant, cooling pond, and ash basin are located on the east side of the Lumber River. The ash basin is located north of the cooling pond and northeast of the former Weatherspoon Plant coal-fired generation units. The ash basin covers an area of approximately 65 acres. The ash basin is impounded by an earthen dike. Ash generated from historic coal combustion is stored on-site in the ash basin. Treated water flows from the ash basin to the cooling pond through an engineered pathway from the ash basin into the northeast corner of the cooling pond. The Weatherspoon Plant cooling pond covers an area of approximately 225-acres and is located adjacent to the Lumber River. The Weatherspoon Plant NPDES permit (NC005363) authorizes and regulates the discharges at the site. Page 15 Duke Energy Progress, LLC 12018 Surface Water Protection and Restoration Annual Report Section 3 — Surface Water Sampling Summary The NPDES program regulates wastewater discharges from ash basins to surface waters to assure that surface water quality standards are maintained. Surface water discharges are identified and evaluated to locate potential outfalls for inclusion in the permit. The NPDES permitting program requires that permits be renewed at least every five years. Routine surface water monitoring was performed in 2018 in accordance with each site's NPDES permit conditions and CAMA. Table 3-1 below summarizes the 2018 routine surface water quality sampling conducted at the seven Duke Energy Progress, LLC coal-fired steam stations described in Section 2. Table 3-1. Routine Duke Energy Coal-Fired Steam Stations 2018 Surface Water Quality Sampling4 Station Water Quality' Water Chemistry2 Trace Elements3 Asheville Plant X X Fish muscle tissue Cape Fear Plant X X Fish muscle tissue Lee Plant X X Fish muscle tissue Mayo Plant X X Fish muscle tissue, sediments Roxboro Plant X X Fish muscle tissue, sediments Sutton Plant X X Fish muscle tissue, sediments Weatherspoon Plant X X Fish muscle tissue 'Temperature, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, pH, and secchi disk transparency depth (at lake stations only). Page 16 Duke Energy Progress, LLC 12018 Surface Water Protection and Restoration Annual Report 2 Water Chemistry constituents analyzed C -0 o .n n3 "o L U a cp (73 E Ea) c Z c� rn Q '= o a) § E o 2 L = li z m o 84 a) o g o a c ) i m — i� Es E Trs 0 0 o c o n3 o o 03 as a) o m 2 _ o o = E o 1— 1— f— U to U rn Q Q D3 U U 0 _1 2 2 2 — N H — Z Q Asheville Plant X X X X X X X X X X X X X XXXXXX Cape Fear Plant X X X X X X X X X X XXXXXXXXXXXX Lee Plant XXXXXXX X X X XXXXXXXXXXXX Mayo Plant XXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXX Roxboro Plant X X X X X X X X XXXX XX X XXXXXX Sutton Plant XXXXXXX X X X X XXXXXX Weatherspoon X X X X'' X X X X X X XXXXXXXXXXXX Plant 3 Total arsenic, selenium, and mercury. 4 Additional upstream and downstream sampling was conducted at the L.V. Sutton, H.F. Lee and Weatherspoon stations in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence. An interim report with those samples was submitted to the NC DWR dated November 3, 2018. A final report related to that activity should be submitted in the first quarter of 2019. Section 4 — Surface Water Protection and Restoration Summary In 2018, Duke Energy identified and submitted a number of documents and undertook a number of actions to comply with the CAMA and other regulatory requirements. Documents submitted and additional activities of note undertaken in 2018 are listed below: • Obtained and implemented renewed NPDES permit for Mayo, Weatherspoon, Cape Fear and Asheville plant. Anticipate H.F. Lee NPDES permit to be issued in January 2019. • Commisioned onsite landfill for ash disposal at L.V. Sutton plant. • Submitted numerous responses to requests for additional information related to various NPDES permit applications. Page 17 Duke Energy Progress,LLC 12018 Surface Water Protection and Restoration Annual Report • Obtained and began implementation of Special Orders by Consent (SOC) related to basin seepage for Roxboro, Mayo and Asheville plants. Anticipate a SOC for H.F. Lee to be finalized and issued in January, 2019. Anticipate a SOC for Cape Fear and Weatherspoon to be finalized in the first quarter of 2019. • Made significant progress on construction of systems and treatment needed to support replacement of ash basins in accordance with deadlines established in NC law at Roxboro and Mayo. • Permitting work associated with Beneficiation of ash project at H.F. Lee Energy Complex and Cape Fear plant site. • Conducted weekly and annual dam inspections. • Completed providing alternate drinking water options to neighbors of ash basins as required by NC law. • Continued transport of coal ash from basins at L.V. Sutton Energy Complex and Asheville Plant. • Identified additional potential areas of wetness in proximity to ash basins and provided information on these areas to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). • In accordance with authorization received from DEQ, continued decanting activities at L.V. Sutton Energy Complex, H.F. Lee and Cape Fear. • Completed excavation of Asheville 1982 basin and continued construction of replacement generation natural gas fired combined cycle plant. • Continued ash transport from Weatherspoon for reuse activities in September 2017. • Sampling and restoration efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence. Upcoming commitments related to the CAMA include: • End stormwater discharge to impoundments at retired plants consistent with the requirements of N.C.G.S. § 130A-309.210(c). • Complete excavation of impoundments at Asheville Plant and L.V. Sutton Energy Complex. • Startup ash beneficiation facilties at H.F. Lee and Cape Fear. • End stormwater and wastewater discharge to impoundments at active plants consistent with the requirements of N.C.G.S. § 130A-309.210(c). • Startup new wastewater treatment systems as ash basins are closed. • Close basins as required by CAMA and in accordance with performance standards set out in the federal coal combustion residuals rule to the extent of its applicability to a particular station. • Implement Special Order by Consent related to seepage for Roxboro, Mayo, H.F Lee, Cape Fear, Weatherspoon and Asheville plants. • Obtain and comply with NPDES wastewater renewal permits for Roxboro and H.F. Lee sites. Page 18 Duke Energy Progress, LLC 12018 Surface Water Protection and Restoration Annual Report Section 5 — Discharge Identification Status The Discharge Identification Plans submitted in September 2014 for all seven (7) DEP sites addressed the requirements of N.C.G.S § 130A-309.212(d), Identification and assessment of discharges; correction of unpermitted discharges. Inspection procedures developed to satisfy the requirements of N.C.G.S. § 130A-309.212(d) were presented in these plans and used as the basis for developing the topographic map required by N.C.G.S. § 130A-309.212(a)(2). These documents were submitted to DEQ on September 30, 2014 for all seven (7) DEP plants described in Section 2. In 2018, Duke Energy implemented the procedures outlined in the previously submitted Discharge Identification Plans. Special orders by Consent issued by the North Carolina Environmental Management Commission for DEP stations will govern required activities for future identification of discharges. Section 6 — Discharge Assessment Status Duke Energy submitted the required Topographic Map and Discharge Assessment Plans to DEQ on December 30, 2014. The plan addressed the requirements of N.C.G.S. § 130A- 309.212(a)(2), topographic map, and (b), Assessment of Discharges from Coal Combustion Residuals Surface Impoundments to the Surface Waters of the State. The elements required in N.C.G.S. § 130A-309.212(a) were incorporated into the plan. These documents were submitted to DEQ on December 30, 2014 for all seven (7) DEP stations described in Section 2. During 2018, Duke Energy provided sampling data to DEQ of potential discharges from coal combustion residual surface impoundments. Duke Energy participated in numerous meetings and site visits with DEQ staff in evaluating such potential discharges. Special Orders by Consent issued by the North Carolina Environmental Management Commission for DEP stations will govern required activities for future handling of discharges. Page