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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNC0003425_Review of Monitoring Report_20160818NCDENR North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources Division of Water Quality Beverly Eaves Perdue Coleen H. Sullins Governor Director August 24, 2010 Mr. Harry Sideris Plant Manager, Roxboro Steam Electric Plant 1700 Dunnaway Road Semora, North Carolina 27343 Dee Freeman Secretary Subject: Review of Progress Energy, NPDES Permit NC0003425 "Environmental Monitoring Report: Roxboro Stream Electric Plant', July 2010. Environmental Sciences Section staff has reviewed the subject document. Jeff Deberardinis and Debra Owen have reviewed the sections on fish tissue and water chemistry respectively. This monitoring report is required by NPDES Permit NC0003425 as issued by the Director of the North Carolina Division of Water Quality for discharges from the Roxboro Steam Electric Plant. Based on a review of the data, it is evident that measured fish tissue concentrations of Cadmium, Mercury, and Selenium are all below the EPA screening value set for recreational fisheries for each element. For Mercury the concentrations reported in this monitoring report are also below the North Carolina fish consumption level. However, the following item requires additional clarification: Starting in 2007, the apparent increase in selenium concentrations at Transects 3 and 4 (Appendix 5, Page 26) and dissolved solids at Transect 4 (Appendix 4, Page 25) suggest that there may be some potential water quality issues developing. On page 9 of the report (paragraph 4), it is stated that "the annual mean concentrations of some ions, hardness, total dissolved solids, and specific conductance continued to increase compared to means in previous years especially in the vicinity of the power plant discharge. These increases were likely the result of the operations of the Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) systems recently installed at the Roxboro Plant for control of sulfur dioxide in stack emissions." Based on a January 19, 2010 letter (attached), we understand that in your effort to understand and address the impacts of the FDG operations you have completed a preliminary study assessing the general impacts of the FGD operations on the lake and (as part of this study) you are in the process of evaluating "various treatment alternatives" (possibly including a "Zero Liquid Discharge" system) in an effort to address the issues created by the FGD operations (including those outlined above in item #1). To this end, please provide us with a letter updating this process. If you have any questions regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to contact me or my staff. cc: Danny Smith, Raleigh Regional Office Jeff Poupart, Surface Water Protection Section Sergei Chernikov, Surface Water Protection Section Charles Weaver, Surface Water Protection Section 1621 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1621 Location: 4401 Reedy Creek Road, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607 Phone: 919-743-8400 \ FAX 919-743-8517 \ Customer Service: 1-877-623-6748 Internet: http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/esb/ Sincerely, Jay Sauber Chief, Environmental Sciences Section Nne orthCarolina ;Vaturallff An Equal Opportunity \ Affirmative Action Employer Allen Stowe November 19, 2009 Page 2