NC0036277_Authorization to Construct_20040302

WDES DOCYNENT SCANNINO COVER SMEET
NPDES Permit:
NCO036277
McDowell Creek WWTP
Document Type:
Permit Issuance
Wasteload Allocation
Authorization to Construct
(AtC)
Permit Modification
Complete File - Historical
Engineering Alternatives (EAA)
Correspondence
Instream Assessment (67b)
Speculative Limits
Environmental Assessment (EA)
Document Date:
March 2, 2004
This document i6 printed on reuse paper -ignore aazy
content on the reverise side

Michael F. Easley, Governor
State of North Carolina
William G. Ross, Jr., Secretary
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Alan W. Klimek, P.E., Director
Division of Water Quality
March 2, 2004
Mr. Barry Gullet, Deputy Director
Charlotte-Meclenburg Utilities
5100 Brookshire Boulevard
Charlotte, North Carolina 28216
Subject: Authorization to Construct Permit Issuance
ATC (ATO) Number 036277AOlA
NPDES Permit NCO036277
Mecklenburg County
Dear Mr. Gullet:
A request for an Authorization to Operate (ATO) was received by the Division and
calculations for this project have been reviewed and found to be satisfactory. Authorization is
hereby granted for Charlotte Mecklenburg Utilities - McDowell Creek Wastewater Treatment
Plant to operate at 6.6 MGD, effective April 1, 2004. Final effluent limits for a design flow of
6.6 MGD must be met beginning April 1, 2004.
This Authorization to Construct is issued in accordance with NPDES Permit No.
NCO036277 issued January 9, 2004, and shall be subject to revocation unless the
wastewater treatment facilities are constructed in accordance with the conditions and
limitations specified in the permit.
The sludge generated from these treatment facilities must be disposed of in accordance
with G.S. 143-215.1 and in a manner approved by the North Carolina Division of Water
Quality.
In the event that the facilities fail to perform satisfactorily, including the creation of
nuisance conditions, the Permittee shall take immediate corrective action, including those as
may be required by this Division, such as the construction of additional or replacement
wastewater treatment or disposal facilities.
Upon classification of the facility by the Certification Commission, the Permittee shall
employ a certified water pollution control treatment system operator to be in responsible
charge (ORC) of the water pollution control treatment system. The operator must hold a
certificate of the type and grade at least equivalent to or greater than the classification assigned
to the water pollution control treatment system by the Certification Commission. The
Permittee must also employ a certified back-up operator of the appropriate type and grade to
comply with the conditions of Title 15A, Chapter 8G, .0202. The ORC of the facility must visit
each Class I facility at least weekly and each Class II, III, and IV facility at least daily, excluding
weekends and holidays, and must properly manage and document daily operation and
maintenance of the facility and must comply with all other conditions outlined in Title 15A,
Chapter 8G, .0204. Once the facility is classified, the Permittee must submit a letter to the
Certification Commission which designates the operator in responsible charge within: (A) Sixty
calendar days prior to wastewater being introduced into a new system or (B) within 120
calendar days of the following, (i) after receiving notification of a change in the classification of
the system requiring the designation of a new ORC and back-up ORC or (ii) a vacancy in the
position of ORC or back-up ORC.
1617 MAIL SERVICE CENTER, RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA 27699-1617 - TELEPHONE [phone]/FAX [phone]
VISIT US ON THE WEB AT http://h2o.enr.state.nc.us/NPDES

Permit No. NC0036277
CMU - McDowell Creek W WTP
March 2. 2004
A copy of the approved calculations for a design flow of 6.6 MGD shall be maintained on
file by the Permittee for the life of the facility.
The Operational Agreement between the Permittee and the Environmental Management
Commission is incorporated herein by reference and is a condition of this Permit.
Noncompliance with the terms of the Operational Agreement shall subject the Permittee to all
sanctions provided by G. S. 143-215.6 for violation of or failure to act in accordance with the
terms and conditions of this Permit.
Failure to abide by the requirements contained in this Authorization to Operate may
subject the Permittee to an enforcement action by the Division of Water Quality in accordance
with North Carolina General Statute 143-215.6A to 143-215.6C.
The issuance of this Authorization to Operate does not preclude the Permittee from
complying with any and all statutes, rules, regulations, or ordinances which may be imposed
by other government agencies (local, state, and federal) which have jurisdiction.
One (1) set of approved calculations for the design flow of 6.6 MGD is being forwarded
to you. If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Mr. Mark
McIntire, P.E., telephone number [phone], extension 508.
Sincerely,
"Ian W. ffiimek, P.E.
cc: Central Files
NPDES Unit, Permit File
Mooresville Regional Office, Water Quality
Point Source Compliance & Enforcement Unit, Robert Farmer
Mr. Dave Parker, Black & Veatch, 8520 Cliff Cameron Drive - Suite 350, Charlotte, NC
28269-0019

CHARLOTTE
December 17, 2003
Mr. David Goodrich U EI; 9 YUU3
N.C. Division of Water Quality/NPDES Unit
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
Subject: McDowell Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant
Expansion to 12 mgd
NPDES Permit NCO036277
Request for Authorization to Construct
Dear Dave:
Black & Veatch submitted a request for Authorization to Construct for the subject project on
November 7, 2003. This letter is to confirm that Black & Veatch is under contract to the City
of Charlotte (Charlotte -Mecklenburg Utilities) for this project, and they are serving as our
agent with this submission. The request for Authorization to Construct was made on our
behalf.
Please contact me at 704-391-5092 if there is any additional information required.
Sincerely,
CHARLOTTE MECKLENBURG UTILITIES
Thomas W. Howard, P.E.
Project Manager
C: Mark McIntire, NCDENR/DWQ
Valerie Stevens, NCDENR/DWQ
Barry Gullet, CMU
Jackie Jarrell, CMU
Dave Parker, Black & Veatch
File
Engineering Division 5100 Brookshire Boulevard Charlotte, NC 28216 704/399-2551
Charlotte -Mecklenburg Utility Department

McDowell Creek
Subject: McDowell Creek
Date: Tue, 30 Sep 2003 08:52:47 -0400
From: Alex Marks <[e-mail]>
Organization: NC DENR DWQ
To: "Gullet, Barry" <[e-mail]>
CC: Jackie Nowell <[e-mail]>,
DAVID GOODRICH <[e-mail]>
Barry,
The Division has transmitted the McDowell Creek EA and FONSI to the
Clearinghouse for publication in the State's Environmental Bulletin to be
published this Friday. The 30-day review period will end on November 3, 2003.
The project has been assigned state application number 04-E-4300-0079. If you
have any questions about the Clearinghouse review please call Ms. Chrys Baggett
at [phone]. I have attached a copy of the FONSI for your records. The
NPDES unit has also been given a copy of the final EA and the FONSI.
I can be reached at [phone] ext. 555.
Thanks,
Alex Marks
Name: fonsi.doc
nfonsi.doc Type: Microsoft Word Document (application/msword)
Encoding: base64
Download Status: Not downloaded with message
Alex Marks, AICP
Environmental Specialist
DENR/Division of Water Quality
[phone] ext 555
I of 1 9/30/03 9:12 AM

FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSEMENT FOR THE MCDOWELL CREEK
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT EXPANSION
September 25, 2003
Project Applicant: Charlotte -Mecklenburg Utilities
Project Number: DWQ # 13203
Responsible Agency: NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality, Water Quality Section (Division)
Pursuant to the requirements of the North Carolina Environmental Policy Act (N.C.G.S. § 113A-
1, et seq.), an environmental assessment (EA) has been prepared for the expansion of the existing
McDowell Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). The proposed project will expand the
plant's existing permitted capacity of 6.0 million gallons per day (mgd) to 12mgd. The additional
treatment capacity is needed to accommodate increased flows projected to occur as result of new
growth and development within the service area.
The plant, owned and operated by the Charlotte -Mecklenburg Utilities (CMU), provides service
to customers within the towns of Huntersville and Cornelius and their extra territorial
jurisdictions. The plant is located on Neck Road in northern Mecklenburg County within
Huntersville's extra -territorial jurisdiction. Effluent from the plant is discharged into McDowell
Creek approximately one half mile upstream of Mountain Island Lake on the Catawba River.
Approximately 21,500 acres in Huntersville and 8,200 acres in Cornelius will be served by the
project.
Several alternatives to the proposed project were analyzed for the EA. Options discussed
included diverting wastewater to Cabarrus County, to other CMU treatment plants, constructing
smaller package treatment plants, and taking no action. The selected project was chosen because
by expanding the existing facility no new land will need to be disturbed, the existing discharge
can be utilized, and treatment consistent with NPDES discharge permits can be assured.
All construction activity related to the expansion of the McDowell Creek WWTP will occur at
the existing 100-acre plant site. The project will add an additional 14 acres of new facilities. All
construction will take place above the 100-year flood plain elevation on McDowell Creek and
Mountain Island Lake. An Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plan will be submitted to the
DENR Raleigh office for approval before construction commences. Permanent stormwater
detention ponds will be constructed to improve runoff quality from the site. A 100 foot
vegetated buffer around the site on Neck Road will be provided.
The land surrounding the plant is generally rural. A majority of the land use throughout the
service area is designated as single family residential. There are no prime or unique agricultural

lands at the project location. No critical habitat, significant, rare, or unique terrestrial wildlife
habitat was identified nor will be impacted.
Secondary and cumulative impacts to the environment associated with new development could
result from the increase in capacity. Various town ordinances and land development regulations
of Huntersville and Cornelius will mitigate many of the adverse effects from such development.
These include riparian buffer, stormwater management, and open space protection programs.
Application of Huntersville's low impact development ordinance will. provide further mitigation
for potential water quality impacts. Additionally, the Town of Cornelius requires delineation of
jurisdictional waters as part of its site plan review process. These and other mitigation measures
to be utilized by both jurisdictions are described in further detail within the EA.
The Division of Water Quality has concluded that the proposed project will not result in
significant impacts to the environment. This decision is based upon information provided in the
EA and review by governmental agencies. This EA and Finding of No Significant Impact
(FONSI) are prerequisites for the issuance of a NPDES Discharge Permit and 401 Water Quality
Certification by the Division of Water Quality. An environmental impact statement will not be
prepared for this project. This FONSI completes the environmental review record, which is
available for inspection at the State Clearinghouse.
North Carolina Division of Water Quality
September 25, 2003

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