NC0001422_Correspondence (Draft Major Mod)_20200616

ROY COOPER
Governor
MICHAEL S. REGAN
Secretary
S. DANIEL SMITH
Director
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
March 30, 2020
Mr. Paul Draovitch, Senior Vice President
Environmental, Health and Safety
Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC
Mail Code EC13K
P.O. Box 1006
Charlotte, North Carolina 28201-1006
Dear Mr. Draovitch:
Subject: Draft NPDES Major
Modification
Permit NC0001422
L.V. Sutton Energy Complex
New Hanover County
Facility Class I
Enclosed with this letter is a copy of the draft Major Modification for your facility. Please review
the draft very carefully to ensure thorough understanding of the conditions and requirements it
contains.
The draft Major Modification contains the following significant changes from your current
permit:
• Copper and Nickel Compliance Schedule for Outfall 001 /004 was eliminated. The facility
submitted a CORMIX model and limits for Copper (limit was eliminated), Nickel, Arsenic,
and Selenium were recalculated.
• Special conditions for continuous pH and TSS monitoring were removed from the permit
since the facility completed excavation of the ash.
• Copper compliance schedule for Outfall 008 was extended by 2 years to allow the facility to
conduct a Water Effect Ratio study.
• Wastewater from the Lay of the Land Ares (LOLA) was added to Outfall 001 to facility
excavation of coal ash from LOLA.
• Whole Effluent Toxicity monitoring frequency was reduced to Quarterly from Monthly due
to the completion of the coal ash excavation.
• Internal Outfalls 005, 006, 007, and 009 were removed from the permit since all the wastewater
from these Outfalls is monitored at Outfall 008.
• Outfalls 002 and 004 were removed from the permit since both ash ponds have been
completely excavated.
NOATH�AAo�,ND_EQ��
OapartmeM of Environmental Uual�
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
512 North Salisbury Street 1 1617 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
919.707.9000

• Limit for Copper (Outfall 001) was removed from the permit based on the results of the
Reasonable Potential Analysis that considered a new dilution derived from the CORMIX
model.
Limits for Arsenic, Selenium, and Nickel (Outfall 001) have been recalculated based on the
results of the Reasonable Potential Analysis that considered a new dilution derived from the
CORMIX model.
Acute toxicity testing requirements have been changed to Chronic Quarterly testing
requirements at 22% based on the CORMIX model.
Please provide any comments you have regarding the draft permit to this office by April 30,
2020. At this time, the Division is also publishing a notice in the newspapers of general circulation
in New Hanover County, inviting public comment on the draft major modification. Following the
30-day comment period, we will review all pertinent comments received and take appropriate action
on the permit modification.
The NPDES Standard Conditions (Parts II, III, and M are not included with this draft. They can
be found at the following link if you would like to review them in conjunction with this draft permit.
https: / /bit.1y/2BZ4xxx
If you have any questions about the NPDES permit process, please contact me at the following e-
mail address: [e-mail], or telephone number: 919-707-3606.
Sincerely,
Sergei Chernikov, Ph.D.
Environmental Engineer III
Complex NPDES Permitting Unit
cc: NPDES Files
EPA Region IV (e-copy)
Wilmington Regional Office / Surface Water Protection (e-copy)
Aquatic Toxicology Unit (e-copy)
TACU (e-copy)