08172020 Transmittal Letter Closure Plan Decision Belews Creek

ROY COOPER
Governor
NCHAEL S. REGAN
Secretary
Paul Draovitch
Senior Vice President
Environmental, Health & Safety
Duke Energy
526 South Church Street
Mail Code EC3XP
Charlotte, North Carolina 28202
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
August 17, 2020
Subject: Coal Ash Impoundment Closure Plan — Determination of Compliance with General
Statute 130A-309.214(a)(4) of Session Law 2016-95 of the Coal Ash Management
Act — Belews Creek Steam Station
Dear Mr. Draovitch:
On December 31, 2019, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ)
received the proposed Coal Ash Impoundment Closure Plan for the Belews Creek Steam Station
(Closure Plan); the deadline required under General Statute 130A-309.214(a)(3) of Session Law
2016-95 of the Coal Ash Management Act referred to hereafter as CAMA. Duke Energy also
submitted a Corrective Action Plan (CAP) Update with the Closure Plan. Duke Energy submitted
an amendment to the Belews Creek Steam Station Closure Plan on February 12, 2020. Finally, on
April 7, 2020, Duke Energy submitted a modeling demonstration showing compliance with the
groundwater standards could be achieved by December 31, 2029 at Belews Creek Steam Station.
The complete modeling demonstration was received by the agency on April 17, 2020.
Closure Plan and Updated CAP Review
Per 130A-309.214(b), NCDEQ has reviewed the proposed Closure Plan to determine compliance
with the requirements of 130A-309.214(a)(4) and otherwise complies with the requirements of
CAMA.
The following item was noted during the review of the proposed Closure Plan and will require the
submittal of additional information from Duke Energy:
The Division of Waste Management (DWM) requests an Excavation Plan to be submitted for
review and approval and to include, but not limited to the following: 1) site plan with annual phased
excavation, 2) transportation plan for routes to off -site landfills, 3) dust control plan, 4)
management of non -recyclable coal ash disposal both on -site and off -site, 5) all necessary permits
E
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
217 West Jones Street 1 1601 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1601
919.707.8600

6) plan for stockpiling coal ash, and 7) health and safety plan for dewatering ash. The Division's
expectation is that the Excavation Plan will be updated annually. If excavation is to be
implemented within the 2020 calendar year, the Excavation Plan shall be submitted to the DWM
90 days from receipt of this letter. Otherwise, the Excavation Plan shall be submitted 90 days prior
to the commencement of excavation.
NCDEQ has also conducted a review of the CAP Update and the February 12, 2020 amended
Closure Plan and has concluded that it is sufficient to provide compliance with the applicable
requirements under 130A-309.214(a)(4). NCDEQ will provide more detailed comments regarding
the CAP Update in a separate correspondence. Therefore, this letter shall not serve as an official
approval of the CAP Update for the requirements under 15A NCAC 02L .0106.
Determination of Compliance with 130A-309.214 a 4
With the exception of the items listed above, NCDEQ has determined that the proposed Closure
Plan otherwise complies with the requirements of CAMA. Specifically, DEQ has found that:
• The proposed Closure Plan complies with the requirements of 130A-309.214(a)(4).
• The updated CAP is sufficient to provide compliance with the applicable requirements
under 130A-309.214(a)(4).
• A review of the public comments provided under the requirement of 130A-309.214(b)
yielded no additional information that suggests the proposed Closure Plan or the CAP
Update is in non-compliance with the requirements of 130A-309.214(a)(4).
• The items noted during the review of the Closure Plan will require additional follow-up
from Duke Energy; however, NCDEQ believes that the Closure Plan is adequate for Duke
Energy to proceed with its implementation.
Im lementation and Modification of the Proposed Closure Plan
Unless otherwise indicated in this letter, the additional items that require follow-up from Duke
Energy shall be provided in an addendum to the Closure Plan within 30 days of the date of this
letter. Per 130A-309.214(e), as soon as practicable, but no later than 60 days from the date of this
letter, Duke Energy shall begin implementation of the proposed Closure Plan. Modifications, both
major and minor, to this Closure Plan shall be in conformance with 130A-309.214(e).
If you have any questions, please contact me at [phone].
CC: DWM — Ed Mussler
DWR — Rick Bolich
DEMLR — George Eller
WSRO WQROS
Sincerely,
Sheila C. Holman
Assistant Secretary for Environment
DEQ*
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
217 West Jones street 1 1601 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1601
919.707.8600