NC0005088_Annual Report_20200121

(•) DUKE EHS Environmental Programs
411 Fayetteville Street
ENERGY® Mail Code:NC15
Raleigh,NC 27601
January 21, 2020 RECEIVED
Ms. Linda Culpepper JAN 2 8 2020
Director
North Carolina Division of Water Resources NCDEQ/DWR/NPDES
1617 Mail Services Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1617
Subject: Submittal of 2019 Surface Water Protection
and Restoration Annual Report
Duke Energy Carolinas, 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 2019 Surface Water
Protection and Restoration Annual Reports for Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC. The attached
report provides information for the following facilities:
Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC
Allen Steam Station, Belews Creek Steam Station, Buck Station, Rogers Steam Station
(Cliffside), Dan River Station, Marshall Steam Station and Riverbend Steam Station
If you have any questions regarding these materials, please contact me at [phone] or
[e-mail].
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
Cyndi Winston —via email w/attachment
EHS NC water SME's -via email w/attachment
FileNet

DUKE
ENERGY®
CAROLINAS
2019 North Carolina Surface Water
Protection and Restoration Annual
Report
Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC
Submitted: January 2020

Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC 12019 Surface Water Protection and Restoration Annual Report
Table of Contents
Page
Table of Contents
Section 1 - Introduction 2
Section 2 - Site Background 2
2.1 Allen Steam Station 2
2.2 Belews Creek Steam Station 3
2.3 Buck Combined Cycle Station 4
2.4 Rogers (Cliffside) Energy Complex 5
2.5 Dan River Combined Cycle Station 6
2.6 Marshall Steam Station 7
2.7 Riverbend Steam Station 7
Section 3 —Surface Water Sampling Summary 9
Section 4—Surface Water Protection and Restoration Summary 12
Section 5 — Discharge Identification Status 13
Section 6— Discharge Assessment Status 13
Table 3-1. Duke Energy Coal-Fired Steam Stations 2019 Surface Water Quality Sampling 9
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Duke Energy Carolinas,LLC(2019 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, 2020. This
report satisfies the requirements of N.C.G.S. § 130A-309.212(e) for activities occurring in 2019
at multiple facilities with ash basin treatment units.
Section 2 - Site Descriptions
2.1 Allen Steam Station
Allen Steam Station (Allen Station) is a five-unit, coal-fired electric generating plant with a
capacity of 1,140 megawatts located on the west bank of the Catawba River on Lake Wylie in
Belmont, Gaston County, North Carolina. The site is located east of South Point Road (NC 273),
and the surrounding area generally consists of residential properties, undeveloped land, and
Lake Wylie.
Allen Station's ash basins consist of an active ash basin and an inactive ash basin. The active
ash basin was commissioned in 1973 and is currently in operation. The inactive ash basin is
located to the north of the active ash basin and is not in operation. A large portion of the area on
top of the inactive ash basin is permitted as an industrial landfill by the North Carolina
Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Division of Waste Management (Permit No. 3612).
The area contained within the ash basin waste boundary is approximately 322 acres.
There are two earthen dikes impounding the active ash basin: the East Dike, located along the
west bank of Lake Wylie, and the North Dike, separating the active and inactive ash basins. The
surface area of the active ash basin is approximately 169 acres with an operating pond
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Duke Energy Carolinas,LLC 12019 Surface Water Protection and Restoration Annual Report
elevation of approximately 633.5 feet'. The full pond elevation of Lake Wylie is approximately
568.7 feet.
The ash basin was historically operated as an integral part of the Allen Station's wastewater
treatment system, receiving flows from the ash removal system, coal pile runoff, landfill
leachate, flue-gas desulfurization (FGD) wastewater, the station yard drain sump, and
stormwater flows. All wastewater inflows to the ash basin were ceased in 2019. Wastewater is
now routed to a newly commissioned Lined retention basin. The facility began the permitted
activity of decanting the ash basin in 2019. Ceasing inflows and decanting are the first steps
towards closure of the basin.
Discharge from the ash basin system is permitted and regulated by the NCDEQ Division of
Water Resources (DWR) under the NPDES Permit NC0004979. Historically, permitted effluent
from the ash basin was discharged to Lake Wylie via a discharge tower and 42-inch diameter
reinforced concrete pipe (RCP). Following modifications in 2016, effluent from the ash basin
now discharges from a weir box structure located in the southeastern portion of the ash basin via
a 42-inch diameter high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe to a concrete vault at the toe of the
dam. The permitted effluent discharge then flows through a 42-inch reinforced concrete pipe
(RCP) to Lake Wylie. The water surface elevation in the ash basin is controlled by the use of
stop logs in the weir box structure.
2.2 Belews Creek Steam Station
Belews Creek Steam Station (Belews Creek Station) is a coal-fired electric generating facility
with a capacity of 2,240 megawatts located on Belews Reservoir in Stokes County, North
Carolina. Belews Creek Station is a two-unit station, which began commercial operation in 1974.
Belews Creek, a tributary of the Dan River, was impounded by Duke Energy (Duke Power at the
time of initial impoundment) to form Belews Lake. Belews Lake is approximately 3,800 acres in
area and provides cooling water for the Belews Creek station.
The ash basin system consists of a single cell impounded by an earthen dike located on the
north end of the ash basin. The ash basin system was constructed from 1970-1972 and is
located approximately 3,200 feet northwest of Belews Creek Station. The waste boundary for
the ash basin encompasses approximately 342 acres.
The full pond elevation for the Belews Creek Station ash basin is approximately 750 feet. The
normal pond elevation of Belews Lake is approximately 725 feet.
All wastewater inflows to the ash basin were ceased in 2019. Wastewater is now routed to a
newly commissioned Lined retention basin. The facility began the permitted activity of decanting
the ash basin in 2019. Ceasing inflows and decanting are the first steps towards closure of the
basin. The discharge from the ash basin was historically through a concrete discharge tower
located in the northwest portion of the ash basin. The concrete discharge tower drains through a
24-inch-diameter SDR 17 high-density polyethylene pipe (HDPE) conduit for approximately
1,600 feet and then discharges into a concrete flume box. Modifications to the discharge flow
1 All elevations are reported in NAVD88.
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Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC 12019 Surface Water Protection and Restoration Annual Report
path have been completed which allow for discharge from the basin to be directed to the main
stem of the Dan river.
2.3 Buck Steam Station
Buck Steam Station (Buck Station) is a former coal-fired electricity generating facility with a
capacity of 256 megawatts located near the town of Salisbury in Rowan County, North Carolina.
As of April 2013, all of the coal-fired units have been retired. The site is located northwest of
Leonard Road, and the surrounding area generally consists of residential properties,
undeveloped land, and the Yadkin River. The site now contains the Buck Combined Cycle
Station (BCCS), a 620-megawatt natural gas-powered electric generating station. The entire site
is approximately 640 acres in area.
The ash basin system at the Buck Station was used to retain and settle ash generated from coal
combustion at Buck Station. The ash basin system consists of three cells, the associated
earthen dikes, discharge structures, and two canals. The cells are designated as Additional
Primary Pond (Cell 1), Primary Pond (Cell 2), and Secondary Pond (Cell 3). The ash basin is
located to the south (Cell 1) and southeast (Cells 2 and 3) of the retired Buck Steam Station
Units 1 through 6 and the BCCS.
The original ash pond at Buck Station began operation in 1957. The footprint of the original ash
pond was the approximate current footprint of Cells 2 and 3. As the ash pond capacity
diminished over time, the original pond was eventually divided into two ash ponds (Cells 2 and
3) by construction of a separator dike. In 1982, additional storage was created by construction
of Cell 1, separate from the other cells, by building a new dike up gradient from Cell 2.
Until Cell 1 was constructed, ash generated from the coal combustion process at Buck Station
was sluiced via ash discharge lines to Cell 2. Following construction of Cell 1, sluiced ash was
rerouted from Cell 2 to Cell 1. Flow from Cell 1 enters Cell 2 via the Primary Cell Discharge
Tower. Flow from Cell 2 enters Cell 3 via the Old Primary Cell Discharge Structure. Flow from
Cell 3 discharges to the Yadkin River through the Secondary Cell Discharge Tower.
The approximate pond elevations for the three ash basin cells are: Cell 1 —elevation 705 feet;
Cell 2 —elevation 682 feet; and Cell 3—elevation 674 feet. The elevation of the Yadkin River
near the site is approximately 624 feet.
The area contained within the waste boundary for Cell 1 encompasses approximately 90 acres.
For purposes of delineating the waste boundary, Cells 2 and 3 are considered a single unit, with
the area contained within this portion of the waste boundary encompassing approximately 80.7
acres. Cell 3 was developed by increasing the elevation of the earthen dike along the Yadkin
River and constructing an intermediate dike across the ash placed in Cell 2.
The ash basin system was operated as an integral part of the site's wastewater treatment
system. During operation of the coal-fired units, the ash basin received variable inflows from the
ash removal system and other permitted discharges.
The discharge from the ash basin is permitted and regulated by the NCDEQ DWR under
NPDES Permit NC0004774. Effluent from the ash basin is discharged through an above-
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•
Duke Energy Carolinas,LLC 12019 Surface Water Protection and Restoration Annual Report
• ground cast iron pipe spillway to the Yadkin River. During 2019, Duke Energy made
significant progress towards decanting the ash basin as a step towards ultimate closure.
House Bill 630 of 2016 required Duke Energy to designate two North Carolina sites for ash
beneficial reuse by January 1, 2017 and a third North Carolina site for ash beneficial reuse
by July 1, 2017. Duke Energy chose Buck Steam Station as one of the three sites
designated for ash recycling in December 2016. A beneficiation unit will be constructed to
process the ash onsite before shipping it for reuse purposes.
2.4 James E. Rogers Energy Complex
The James E. Rogers Energy Complex (formerly known as Cliffside Steam Station) is a coal-
fired electric generating facility located along the south bank of the Broad River in Rutherford
and Cleveland Counties at 573 Duke Power Road, Mooresboro, North Carolina. Rogers Energy
Complex currently operates Units 5 and 6 only. The original Units 1-4 began commercial
operation in 1940. Units 1-4 were retired in October 2011 and have been decommissioned. The
surrounding area generally consists of residential properties, undeveloped land, and the Broad
River.
Rogers Energy Complex contained three ash basins. The newest ash basin and the Units 1-4
inactive ash basin are located in Cleveland County to the east and southeast of Cliffside Station.
The Unit 5 inactive ash basin is located in Rutherford County west of Cliffside Station.
The newest ash basin is located approximately 1,700 feet to the east-southeast of Cliffside
station adjacent to the Broad River. This ash basin is impounded by earthen dikes located
between the west portion of the basin and Suck Creek and between the northeast portion of the
basin and the Broad River. The waste boundary associated with this ash basin is approximately
117 acres in area. The approximate maximum full pool water elevation of this ash basin is 770
feet. The main section of the basin was historically operated below 765 feet to leave extra
storage capacity during a heavy rain event.
The Units 1-4 inactive ash basin is located approximately 400 feet to the southeast of the
retired Units 1-4 and approximately 1,300 feet to the northeast of Unit 6, adjacent to the Broad
River. The Units 1-4 inactive ash basin is impounded by an earthen dike located along the
north and northeast side of the basin. The waste boundary associated with the Units 1-4
inactive ash basin is approximately 14.5 acres in area. The Unit 1-4 inactive ash basin is no
longer used to retain storm water or plant process water. The impounded ash material within
the inactive basin was capped with a soil cover approximately two-feet thick. Excavation is
nearly complete for the Unit 1-4 basin. Two lined retention basins and a Waste Water
Treatment Plant are being constructed within the footprint of the former ash basin.
The Unit 5 inactive ash basin is located approximately 1,000 feet to the southwest of Unit 5 and
approximately 1,000 feet west of Unit 6, south of the Broad River. The Unit 5 inactive ash basin
is impounded by two earthen dikes located along the north and northeast sides of the basin.
The waste boundary associated with the Unit 5 inactive ash basin is approximately 58 acres in
area.
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Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC 2019 Surface Water Protection and Restoration Annual Report
The ash basin system has been an integral part of the Rogers Station's wastewater treatment
system, which has received historic inflows from the ash removal system, station yard drain
sump, stormwater flows, and station wastewater. All wastewater inflows to the ash basin were
ceased in 2019. Wastewater is now routed to a newly commissioned wastewater treatment
system. The facility began the permitted activity of decanting the ash basin in 2019. Ceasing
inflows and decanting are the first steps towards closure of the basin.
Effluent from the ash basin system is permitted and regulated by NPDES permit number
NC0005088. Effluent from the treatment system is discharged from the active basin to the
Broad River through a concrete inlet structure at the left abutment of the downstream dam.
The inlet structure discharges through two 42" RCP Pipes that combine into a single 48" RCP
pipe that runs along the access road at the left abutment and then into a concrete discharge
structure that discharges to the Broad River.
2.5 Dan River Steam Station
Dan River Steam Station (Dan River Station)was a coal-fired generating facility located near
the town of Eden in Rockingham County, North Carolina. The three-unit station began
commercial operation in 1949. All three coal-fired units, along with three oil-fired combustion
turbine units, were retired in 2012 and have been decommissioned. The Dan River Combined
Cycle Station (DRCCS), a 620-megawatt natural gas-fired facility, began commercial operations
on site on December 10, 2012. The Dan River site is located on the north bank of the Dan
River, and the surrounding area generally consists of undeveloped and agricultural land, the
Dan River, and a small number of residential properties.
The ash basin system was located adjacent to the Dan River and consisted of a Primary Cell, a
Secondary Cell, and associated embankments and outlet works. The ash basin was impounded
by earthen dikes, and an earthen/ash divider dike separates the Primary Cell from the
Secondary Cell. The Primary Cell had a surface area of approximately 21.8 acres. The
Secondary Cell had a surface area of approximately 12.2 acres.
The original ash basin was constructed in 1956 with an approximate crest elevation of 525 feet.
In 1968 and 1969, the ash storage basin was expanded to cover the area occupied today. At
that time, the dikes were raised to an approximate elevation of 530 feet. In 1976 and 1977, the
intermediate dike was constructed to stage sluicing by subdividing the basin into a Primary Cell
and Secondary Cell. The intermediate dike and new Primary Cell dikes were vertically
expanded through inward dike construction, where the outward dike slope was maintained and
extended upward to the dike crest. Through inward dike construction, portions of the main dike
were constructed over ash. The intermediate dike was also constructed over ash.
In 1980, newer dikes, referenced as the dredge dikes, were constructed north of the Primary
and Secondary Cells, creating a dredge pond and two dry storage areas. Ash was dredged to
the southernmost portion of the northern ash fill, and free liquids were allowed to gravity drain to
the topographically lower dredge pond located between the dry storage areas. Once dewatered,
ash was transported and placed dry in the two dry storage areas known as Ash Fill 1 and Ash
Fill 2. The placement of ash in the ash storage areas occurred during multiple projects.
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Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC 12019 Surface Water Protection and Restoration Annual Report
The ash basin was operated as an integral part of the site's wastewater treatment system.
During operation of the coal-fired units, the ash basin received variable inflows from the ash
removal system, station yard drain sump, stormwater flows, and other permitted discharges.
The coal ash was sluiced to the southwest corner of the Primary Cell on a variable basis (i.e.,
dependent on Dan River Station operations) via sluice pipes.
Removal of CCR material from Ash Stack 1 was completed on July 27, 2017. The CCR
material was hauled off site for disposal or reuse until the onsite landfill became operational.
The Ash Basin has been excavated and is no longer in service.
2.6 Marshall Steam Station
Marshall Steam Station (Marshall Station) is a four-unit, coal-fired electric generating plant with
a capacity of 2,090 megawatts located in Catawba County, North Carolina, near the community
of Terrell. The site is located north of NC Hwy 150, east of Sherrills Ford Road and south of
Island Point Road, and the surrounding area generally consists of residential properties,
undeveloped land, and Lake Norman.
The ash basin system consists of a single cell impounded by an earthen dike located on the
southeast end of the ash basin. The ash basin system was constructed in 1965 and is located
approximately 2,000 feet northeast of Marshall Station.
The full pond elevation for the Marshall Steam Station ash basin is approximately 790 feet. The
normal pond elevation of Lake Norman is approximately 760 feet.
The ash basin was operated as an integral part of Marshall Steam Station's wastewater
treatment system and receives inflows from the ash removal system, coal pile runoff, landfill
leachate, FGD wastewater, the station yard drain sump, stormwater flows, and station
wastewater. All wastewater inflows to the ash basin were ceased in 2019. Wastewater is now
routed to a newly commissioned Lined retention basin. The facility began the permitted activity
of decanting the ash basin in 2019. Ceasing inflows and decanting are the first steps towards
closure of the basin.
The discharge from the ash basin is permitted and regulated by NPDES permit number
NC0004987. Treated effluent is released through a 36-inch HDPE pipe into Lake Norman.
2.7 Riverbend Steam Station
Riverbend Steam Station (Riverbend Station) is a former coal-fired electric generating facility
which had a capacity of 454 megawatts located near the town of Mt. Holly in Gaston County,
North Carolina. As of April 2013, all of the coal-fired units have been retired. The seven-unit
station began commercial operation in 1929 with two units and then expanded to seven by
1954. During its final years of operation, Riverbend Station was considered a cycling station and
was brought online to supplement energy supply when electricity demand was at its highest.
The ash basin area is located approximately 2,400 feet to the northeast of the power plant,
adjacent to Mountain Island Lake. The ash basin system consisted of a Primary Cell and a
Secondary Cell, separated by an intermediate dike. The ash basin at Riverbend Station
originally consisted of a single-cell basin commissioned in 1957 and was expanded in 1979. The
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Duke Energy Carolinas,LLC(2019 Surface Water Protection and Restoration Annual Report
• single basin was divided by constructing a divider dike to form two separate cells in 1986.The
Primary Cell is impounded by an earthen embankment dike, referred to as Dam #1 (Primary),
located on the west side of the Primary Cell. The Secondary Cell is impounded by an earthen
embankment dike, referred to as Dam #2 (Secondary), located along the northeast side of the
Secondary Cell. The toe areas for both dikes are in close proximity to Mountain Island Lake.
The surface area of the Primary Cell was approximately 41 acres and had an approximate
maximum pond elevation of 724 feet during normal, historic operations. The surface area of
the Secondary Cell was approximately 28 acres and had an approximate pond maximum
elevation of 714 feet during normal, historic operations. The full pond elevation of Mountain
Island Lake is approximately 647 feet.
The ash basin system was an integral part of Riverbend Station's wastewater treatment system,
which predominantly received inflows from the ash removal system, station yard drain sump,
and stormwater flows. Before the Riverbend Station was retired, inflows to the ash basin were
variable due to the cyclical nature of station operations. The inflows from the ash removal
system and the station yard drain sump are discharged through sluice lines into the Primary
Cell. Discharge from the Primary Cell to the Secondary Cell was through a concrete discharge
tower located near the divider dike.
The Riverbend Station is retired, and the ash basin system has been excavated and no
longer discharges to Mountain Island Lake through the concrete discharge tower. A
wastewater treatment facility was constructed and began operations in 2016 to assist in
decanting and dewatering efforts as part of ash basin closure activities. Ash excavation at
Riverbend Station began in 2015 with excavation from the Ash Storage Area, and excavation
of ash from the Primary Cell began in late 2016. Bulk dewatering was completed in February
2017 and the intermediate dam was decommissioned in March 2017. The primary dam was
lowered 10 feet in December 2017 in order to access and excavate ash underlying the dam
material. Excavation of the ash basin was completed in 2019 and final decommissioning
activities are underway.
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Duke Energy Carolinas,LLC 12019 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
ensure 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 2019 in accordance with each site's NPDES
permit conditions and CAMA. Table 3-1 below summarizes the 2019 routine surface water
v n Duke EnergyCarolinas, LLC coal-fired steam stations
quality sampling conducted at the see
q Y P 9
described in Section 2. Sample results are submitted to the Department of Environmental
Quality in accordance with timelines and procedures identified in each sites respective NPDES
permit. Some additional site-specific sampling events were undertaken associated with the
requirements of various consent orders and groundwater to surface water interaction
demonstrations. Those results were also submitted to the Department in accordance with the
requirement timeframes and protocols.
Table 3-1. Duke Energy Coal-Fired Steam Stations 2019 Surface Water Quality Sampling
Station Water Quality' Water Chemistry2 Trace Elements3
Allen Station X X Fish muscle tissues
Belews Creek Station X X Fish muscle tissues
Buck Station X X Fish muscle tissues
Rogers Steam Station X X Fish muscle tissues
Dan River Station X X Fish muscle tissues
Marshall Station X X Fish muscle tissues
Riverbend Station X X Fish muscle tissues
'Temperature, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, pH, secchi disk transparency depth (at lake stations only).
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Duke Energy Carolinas,LLC 12019 Surface Water Protection and Restoration Annual Report
2 Water Chemistry constituents analyzed
Ca
•o a 0
cn o -fl
ate) -0 2 a) U aa)
T C j L .c a) a) V O
.� a) O (1) E n m c
Y a) a) E c '�—, E E N s �_ Z '� o' Z
Q cA 0 La g a) E c ••" E • a) co e CO 'c c . - c a o Z d, o O s
To a3 (0 O E 'U E 4) .L O 2 a c N c cr Y coo a) OV > a3 c U a L (6 a3 E a3lig
0 0 0 7 7 2 co O 3 12 c0 O co O 0 O a CO a) V O a) = — L @ c 0 0 = E O O
H H H H U cn m U cn Q < m m U U U _1 2 2 2 Z a_ co u) v) H > N 2 H O H Z < H Y
Allen XXXXXXXXXXXXXX XX XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXX
Steam
Station
Belews XXXXXXXX XXXXX XX XXXXXX X XXXXXXXXXXXX
Creek
Steam
Station
Buck XXXXXXXXXXX XX XX XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXX
Steam
Station
Dan River X X X X X X X X X X X
Steam
Station
JamesE. XXXXXXXXXXX XX XX XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXX
Rogers
Energy
Complex
Marshall XXXXXXXXXXXXXX XX XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXX
Steam
Station
Riverbend XXXXXXXXXXXXXX XX XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXX
Steam
Station
3 Total arsenic, selenium, and mercury
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Duke Energy Carolinas,LLC 12018 Surface Water Protection and Restoration Annual Report
Section 4 — Surface Water Protection and Restoration Summary
In 2019, Duke Energy identified and submitted a number of documents and undertook a number
of actions to comply with the CAMA requirements. Documents submitted and additional
activities of note undertaken are listed below:
• Conducted weekly and annual dam inspections.
• Completed efforts to provide permanent drinking water options to applicable neighbors
of ash basins.
• Ceased wasterwater inflows to ash basins and began using newly constructed
wastewater treatment systems at Allen, Belews Creek, Marshall and Rogers stations.
• Implemented the terms of Special Orders by Consent related to ash basin seepage at all
DEC sites. DEC sites operate under Consent Orders S16-005, S17-009 and S18-004.
• Continued removal of ash from basins at Riverbend Station, Dan River Station, and
Cliffside Station.
• Received and began implementation of reissued NPDES permit for Belews Creek
station.
• Submitted NPDES permit renewal request for Riverbend station site.
• Continued implementation of NPDES permit coverage for industrial stormwater
discharges at all sites.
• Completed a number of conservation and recreation projects identified as part of
the Dan River Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration (NRDAR)
process the company initiated following the February 2014 Dan River coal ash
release.
• Began decanting of ash basins at Allen, Buck, Belews Creek, Marshall and Rogers..
• Continued construction of ash beneficiation facility at Buck station.
• Continued development of groundwater assessments and plans.
• Completed work to allow for co-firing of natural gas at Belews Creek station.
• During 2019, DEP/DEC worked with regulatory agency staff towards settling a number of
differences related to ash basin closure and litigation matters. On December 31, 2019,
the company agreed to a settlement with North Carolina Department of Environmental
Quality (NCDEQ) and the environmental and community groups represented by the
Southern Environmental Law Center which requires excavation of the majority of ash at
the remaining active coal-fired stations while helping control costs.
Upcoming commitments and activities related to the CAMA include:
• 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.
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Duke Energy Carolinas,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) DEC 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) DEC stations
described in Section 2. In 2019, 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 DEC stations 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) stations described in Section 2. During 2019,
Duke Energy provided sampling data to DEQ of potential discharges from coal combustion
residuals 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 DEC stations govern required activities for future handling of discharges.
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