NC0000396_Plan of Action (Fish Sampling)_20190529

4 05 DUKE
ENERGY.
PROGRESS
Certified Mail: 7016 2140 0001 0231 1845
File: 12520-A, 12520-B
May 29, 2019
Water Sciences Section
Attention: Ms. Cyndi Karoly
NCDEQ- Division of Water Resources
1621 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1621
Subject: Duke Energy Progress Asheville Steam Electric Plant
NPDES Permit No. NCO000396
Fish Tissue Monitoring Plan Submittal
Dear Ms. Karoly:
Garry A. Whisnant
Plant General Managei
Asheville Steam Electric Plant
Duke Energy Progress
ASVL PLT / 200 CPSL Di
Arden. NG28704
o: 828•687.5201
f 828a7.5204
Barry [e-mail]
In accordance with condition A. (13.) of the above referenced permit, enclosed please find the
Fish Tissue Monitoring Plan for review and approval. If you have any questions please contact
Reid Garrett at [phone] or Teresa Williams at [phone].
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 fines and
imprisonment for knowing violations.
Sincerely,
Gary Fouts
Asheville Plant Operations Superintendent
Enclosure w/CD
cc: WQ Permitting Section — NPDES Certified Mail: 7016 2140 0001 0231 1852
Attention: Dr. Sergei Chernikov
NCDEQ, Division of Water Resources
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1617

bc: Teresa Williams
Reid Garrett
Mariea Keezel
Gary Fouts
Jeff McFee
Tammy Lyda
Matt Fields
Robert Wylie
Cynthia Winston

Asheville Plant Steam Electric Plant
NPDES Permit No. NC000396
Fish Tissue Monitoring in the
French Broad River Study Plan
Asheville, North Carolina
Buncombe County
Water Resources
Duke Energy
May 2019
Raleigh, North Carolina

Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction
Page
.................................................... I
2.0 Site Descriptions and Sampling Locations....................................................................... l
3.0 Target Species................................................................................................................... l
4.0 Field Sampling Methods................................................................................................... 2
5.0 Laboratory Processing and Metals Analysis..................................................................... 2
6.0 Reporting.......................................................................................................................... 3
7.0 References......................................................................................................................... 3
List of Figures
Figure 1 Transect UP in the French Broad River .........................................
Figure 2 Transect DI in the French Broad River ..........................................
Page
....................... 4
........... 4

1.0 Introduction
Duke Energy Progress, Inc. (DEP) owns and operates the Asheville Steam Electric Plant (Asheville
Plant) located on the east side of the French Broad River in Buncombe, North Carolina. As required
by the Asheville Plant's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit No.
NC000396, DEP will annually monitor arsenic, selenium, and mercury in fish tissue in the French
Broad River. This study plan is submitted for approval to fulfill the monitoring requirements under
Part I, Section A. (13) Fish Tissue Monitoring Near Cooling Pond Discharge (Outfall 001).
2.0 Site Descriptions and Sampling Locations
Fish muscle tissues will be sampled from the French Broad River at two areas near the Asheville
Plant (Figure l and 2). An area upstream (Transect UP) of discharge point will serve as a
reference location to monitor background elements concentration in fish muscle tissue and an
area in the immediate vicinity of the discharge point (Transect DI) will serve to monitor near -
field uptake and assimilation of elements in fish muscle tissue. Both locations can be
characterized as riverine with woody debris and overhanging trees. The upstream sampling
location will start approximately 9.0 river kilometers above the discharge point and extend for
approximately 3.0 river kilometers downstream. The discharge sampling location will start
approximately 0.6 river kilometers above the discharge point (Outfall 001) and extend for
approximately 0.6 river kilometers downstream.
3.0 Target Species
The proposed target species are based on prior sampling experience, species availability,
importance as fish food, predatory nature of certain species, and general trophic level. Proposed
target species will be black bass (Micropterus spp.)/rock bass (Ambloplires spp.) and sunfish
(Lepomis spp.). DEP will attempt to collect six individuals of each group from each sampling
location. Specimens retained for individual analysis will be larger individuals consider of older
age and sufficient for human consumption. As recommended by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (USEPA), an attempt will be made to ensure that the size of the smallest
individual sampled will not be less than 75% of the total length of the largest fish within each
species group (USEPA 2000). An attempt will be made to conform to this number and size
criteria; however, the number and size of each species will depend upon the availability of
species at a sampling area.
0

4.0 Field Sampling Methods
The following active and passive sampling methods may be employed to efficiently collect target
species: boat electrofisher (pulsed DC current), hoop nets, gill nets, and trotlines. Standard
sampling methods will be used for each gear type as outlined in the American Fisheries
Techniques Manual (Zale, Parrish, and Sutton 2012). Nets and trotlines will be checked at
approximately 24-hour intervals during the sampling period.
Individual fish retained for trace elements analysis will be identified to species, measured for
total length to the nearest millimeter, weighed to the nearest gram, and placed into a labeled
(date, sampling location, etc.) bag on ice until they can be processed or frozen (fish will be frozen
if processing cannot occur within 24-hours of sample collection). Only fresh fish that show no
signs of deterioration will be retained for analysis. Fish that have visible, open wounds that can
allow contamination will not be retained.
Other supporting environmental data will be collected during each trip. Water quality, consisting
of temperature, dissolved oxygen, and specific conductance will be monitored at the surface of
each sampling area during the sampling period. Other environmental conditions may be noted
during each sampling period include river flow conditions (discharge based on the nearest U.S.
Geological Survey gauging station), weather conditions, and other conditions that may assist in
data interpretation.
5.0 Laboratory Processing and Metals Analysis
All fish will be processed in the laboratory for metals analysis according to DEP procedure NR-
00107 Rev. 4 Trace Elements Monitoring Laboratory Procedure approved SOP on file with
NCDEQ). Sample custody and tracking of samples will be performed using chain -of custody
forms during transport to and from the laboratory. Quality of vendor laboratory data, if
applicable, will be ensured by comparing to National Institute of Standards and Technology
tissue standards. The remaining processed samples will be archived for two years if re -analysis
is needed.
2

6.0 Reporting
Arsenic, mercury, and selenium concentrations (converted to µg/g fresh weight) from fish tissue
analysis will be reported along with sampling methods, data analysis, and conclusions. A final report
will be prepared and submitted with the subsequent NPDES permit renewal application as required by
NPDES Permit No. NC000396.
7.0 References
USEPA. 2000. United States Environmental Protection Agency. Guidance for assessing chemical
contaminant data for use in fish advisories, vol. 1. Fish sampling and analysis, third edition. EPA 823-
B-00-007. US EPA, Office of Water. Washington, DC.
Zale AV, DL Parrish, and TM Sutton, editors. 2012. Fisheries techniques, third edition. American
Fisheries Society. Bethesda, MD.
3

- , I - -
Figure 1. Transect UP in the French Broad River.
Al
FIR 13 A
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X
Figure 2. Transect DI in the French Broad River.
4