HomeMy WebLinkAboutNC0086819_Other Correspondence_20190614ROY COOPER
Gores nor
MICHAEL S. REGAN
Sect etnrr
LINDA CULPEPPER
Du ectw
NORTH CAROLINA
Envtronwentat Quality
June 14, 2019
CERTIFIED MAIL 7015 0640 0007 9833 6803
RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
Ms. Ann Hardy, County Manager
Brunswick County
P. O. Box 249
Bolivia, NC 28422-0249
Subject: Imposition of Sewer Line Moratorium
Demonstration of Future Wastewater Treatment Capacities
NPDES Permit NCO086819
Northeast Brunswick Regional WWTP
Brunswick County
Dear Ms. Hardy:
15A NCAC 02T .0118, "Demonstration of Future Wastewater Treatment Capacities," was adopted by
the Environmental Management Commission to ensure that wastewater treatment systems owned or
operated by municipalities, counties, sanitary districts or public utilities do not exceed their hydraulic
treatment capacities. This Rule specifies that no permits for sewer line extensions will be issued by the
Division of Water Resources to facilities exceeding 80% of their hydraulic treatment capacity unless
specific evaluations of future wastewater treatment needs have been completed. Facilities exceeding
90% of their hydraulic treatment capacity must submit plans and specifications and obtain all permits
needed for expansion of the wastewater treatment system before permits for sewer line extensions may
be issued.
A review of your self -monitoring reports has indicated flow at the subject facility exceeded the 90%
threshold for calendar year 2018. The average flow calculated for this period was 2.29 MGD, and
represented 92.3% of the current treatment capacity. Therefore, we will be unable to approve any
further sewer line extensions for this facility until such time as you have complied with the requirements
contained in the Rule.
In order to attain compliance with the Rule, you must obtain all permits needed for expansion of the
wastewater treatment system and, if construction is needed, submit approvable final plans and
specifications for expansion of the wastewater treatment system, including a construction schedule. If
expansion is not proposed or is proposed for a later date, a detailed justification must be made and
aD Q
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
1617 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
919-707-9125
approved by the Director based on past growth records and future growth projections and as appropriate,
shall include conservation plans or other specific measures to achieve waste flow reductions.
To prevent delays in the processing of your future permit applications for sewer line extensions, please
submit a plan of action containing the information necessary to comply with the appropriate
demonstrations as described above to the following address:
DENR-DWR
Compliance & Expedited Permitting Unit
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
Provision For Sewer Line Approvals While On Moratorium
Per the terms of NCAC 02T .0118 (3), the Director may, on a case by case basis, allow permits to be
issued to facilities exceeding the 80 or 90 percent loading rates if: 1) the additional flow will not cause
the facility to exceed its permitted hydraulic capacity, 2) the facility is in compliance with all other
permit limitations and requirements and 3) it is demonstrated that adequate progress is being made in
developing the required engineering evaluations or plans and specifications. Delegation for approval
and denial of such requests has been given to the Water Quality Regional Operations Supervisor for the
Wilmington Region. If you wish to ask for a waiver of the moratorium per this provision of the rule,
please send all required information in support of your request to the Wilmington Regional Office.
Any plans and specifications for expansion should be submitted to the Division of Water Infrastructure.
We look forward to working with you on development of plans to meet your future wastewater
treatment needs. If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact the Water Quality
Regional Operations staff of our Wilmington Regional Office at (910) 796-7215, or Emily DelDuco of
the Compliance & Expedited Permitting Unit at (919) 707-9125. E-mail correspondence may be
directed to Ms. DelDuco at emily.delduco@ncdenr.gov.
Si rely,
Linda Culpepper, Director
Division of Water Resources
Attachment (15A NCAC 02T .0118)
cc: NPDES Files
Central Files
ec: Wilmington Regional Office
15A NCAC 02T .0118 DEMONSTRATION OF FUTURE WASTEWATER TREATMENT CAPACITIES
No permits for sewer line extensions shall be issued to wastewater treatment systems owned or operated by
municipalities, counties, sanitary districts, or public utilities unless they meet the following requirements:
(1) Prior to exceeding 80 percent of the system's permitted hydraulic capacity (based on the average
flow during the last calendar year), the permittee shall submit an engineering evaluation of their
future wastewater treatment, utilization, and disposal needs. This evaluation shall outline plans for
meeting future wastewater treatment, utilization, or disposal needs by either expansion of the
existing system, elimination or reduction of extraneous flows, or water conservation and shall
include the source of funding for the improvements. If expansion is not proposed or is proposed
for a later date, a justification shall be made that wastewater treatment needs will be met based on
past growth records and future growth projections and, as appropriate, shall include conservation
plans or other measures to achieve waste flow reductions.
(2) Prior to exceeding 90 percent of the system's permitted hydraulic capacity (based on the average
flow during the last calendar year), the permittee shall obtain all permits needed for the expansion
of the wastewater treatment, utilization, or disposal system and, if construction is needed, submit
final plans and specifications for expansion, including a construction schedule. If expansion is not
proposed or is proposed for a later date, a justification shall be made that wastewater treatment
needs will be met based on past growth records and future growth projections and, as appropriate,
shall include conservation plans or other specific measures to achieve waste flow reductions.
(3) The Director shall allow permits to be issued to facilities that are exceeding the 80 percent or 90
percent disposal capacity if the additional flow is not projected to result in the facility exceeding
its permitted hydraulic capacity, the facility is in compliance with all other permit limitations and
requirements, and adequate progress is being made in developing the required engineering
evaluations or plans and specifications. In determining the adequacy of the progress, the Director
shall consider the projected flows, the complexity and scope of the work to be completed, and any
projected environmental impacts.
History Note: Authority G.S. 143-215.3;
Eff September 1, 2006;
Readopted Eff. September], 2018.