NC0005363_SOC WQ S19-006_20200423

41:•N DUKE James Wells
ENERGY. Vice President
Environmental,Health and Safety
Programs 8 Environmental Sciences
526 South Church Street
Charlotte,NC 28202
[phone]
April 23, 2020
RECEIVED
Via Overnight Mail MAY 01 2020
Trent Allen NCDEQIDWRINPDES
Fayetteville Environmental Regional Supervisor
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
Division of Water Resources
225 Green Street, Suite 714
Fayetteville, NC 28301-5095
Bob Sledge
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
Water Quality Permitting Program
Division of Water Resources
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1617
Subject: Report Under Special Order by Consent—EMC SOC WQ S 19-006
Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC —Weatherspoon Steam Electric Plant
NPDES Permit NC0005363
Quarterly Progress Report for 1st Quarter 2020
Dear Messrs. Allen and Sledge:
On behalf of Duke Energy Progress, LLC (DEP), I am submitting to you the Weatherspoon Steam
Electric Plant Progress Report summarizing the work and activities undertaken with respect to
closure of coal ash surface impoundments as required by the Weatherspoon Steam Electric Plant
NPDES Permit NC0005363 Special Order by Consent (SOC), SOC No. S 19-006 Section 2.b.4).
As required by the SOC,I certify under penalty of law that this document and all attachments were
prepared under my direction or supervision in accordance with a system designed to assure that
qualified personnel properly gather and evaluate the information submitted. Based on my inquiry
of the person or persons who manage the system, or those persons directly responsible for
gathering the information, the information submitted is, to the best of my knowledge and belief,
true, accurate, and complete. I am aware that there are significant penalties for submitting false
information, including the possibility of fine and imprisonment for knowing violations.

Background and Summary
On January 27, 2020, Duke Energy Progress, LLC (DEP) and the North Carolina Environmental
Management Commission entered into a Special Order by Consent—EMC SOC WO S19-006(SOC)
applicable to the WH Weatherspoon Power Plant (Weatherspoon). This report is submitted in
accordance with Section 2.b.4) of the SOC. In compliance with Section 2.b.4), this report
summarizes the work and activities undertaken with respect to decanting work and closure of
coal ash surface impoundments at Weatherspoon. The quarterly reports are due no later than
the last day of January, April,July, and October for the duration of the SOC.
The WH Weatherspoon Power Plant is located near the Town of Lumberton, North Carolina
(Robeson County), on the north side of the Lumber River. The Weatherspoon Plant began
commercial operation in 1949 and included three coal-fired steam units. The first unit was placed
into service in 1949, with additions in 1950 and 1952. The site still has four combustion turbine
units that began commercial operation in 1970 and 1971. Weatherspoon's coal units were
retired in 2011 and imploded in 2013.
The Cooling Pond and Ash Basin are operated under NPDES Permit No. NC0005363 to regulate
effluent discharges to the Lumber River. Additionally, the dams of the Cooling Pond and the Ash
Basin are regulated and listed under the NC DEQ Darn Safety Program.
Dam Identification Numbers:
• Cooling Pond (ROBES-004)
• Ash Basin (ROBES-009)
The regulated Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) basin that is associated with the historical coal-
fired energy generation is also located on site. The ash basin covers approximately 55 acres, with
a current ash inventory of approximately 1.49 million tons of ash, as of March 31, 2020.
The Coal Ash Management Act of 2014, as amended by Session Law 2016-95, House Bill 630,
included a closure date for the Weatherspoon site of August 1, 2028. The current plan is for
Weatherspoon to complete excavation by April 2028, with subsequent closure by August 2028.
Excavation of the Weatherspoon ash basin began on September 13, 2017 and is ongoing. During
the period January 1, 2020 - March 31, 2020, Weatherspoon excavated 72,686 tons of ash,
bringing the grand total to 678,796 tons of excavated ash.
Duke Energy has entered into a contract with Converse & Company, Inc. to beneficially reuse all
of the ash at the Weatherspoon Station by transporting it to Argos Cement and Holcim Cement
in Harleyville, South Carolina, and Holly Hill, South Carolina, respectively, for use in cement
production.
Weatherspoon: 2

Dewatering Status
Dewatering of the ash basin began in 2017 and will continue throughout beneficial reuse and
closure.
Weatherspoon: 3

Messrs. Allen and Sledge
g
April 23, 2020
Page 2
Please direct any questions concerning the Weatherspoon Steam Electric Plant SOC No. S 19-006
to Joyce Dishmon at [phone].
Sincerely,
James Wjlls
Vice President, Environment, Health & Safety-
Programs and Environmental Sciences
Duke Energy
Attachment
Weatherspoon Steam Electric Plant Quarterly Progress Report
CC: Richard Baker, Duke Energy
Joyce Dishmon, Duke Energy
Kent Tyndall, Duke Energy
George Hamrick, Duke Energy
Paul Draovitch, Duke Energy
Matt Hanchey, Duke Energy
Randy Hart, Duke Energy
1

NPDES PERMIT NC0005363
SPECIAL ORDER BY CONSENT EMC SOC WQ S19-006
QUARTERLY EXCAVATION PROGRESS REPORT
WH WEATHERSPOON POWER PLANT
APRIL 23, 2020