NC0005126_Draft Permit_20210511

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ROY COOPER e " . ,�
Governor
DIONNE DELLI-GATTI
Secretary +� �•
S.DANIEL SMITH NORTH CAROLINA
Director Environmental Quality
May 11, 2021
Mr. Steven Smith
Tyson Farms Inc. d/b/a River Valley Animal Foods
PO Box 158
Harmony,NC 28634
Subject: Draft NPDES Permit Renewal
Permit NC0005126
Harmony Rendering Plant WWTP
Iredell County
Facility Class III
SIC Code 2077
Dear Mr. Smith:
Enclosed with this letter is a copy of the Draft NPDES permit renewal for your facility. Please
review this draft carefully to ensure thorough understanding of the requirements and conditions it
contains. There are several changes from the existing permit,including the following:
• The facility component list has been updated to reflect WWTP upgrades.
• Limits for BOD5,TSS,Oil&Grease, and ammonia were modified based on updated
production data[See A.(1.)].
• Based on the reasonable potential analysis(RPA) showing no reasonable potential to
violate state water quality standards,the monitoring requirement for Methylene-Blue
Active Substances(MBAS)has been removed from the permit[See A.(1.)].
• Some of the wording has been updated and an email address for electronic submittal of
toxicity testing results has been added in Special Condition A.(2.),Chronic Toxicity
Permit Limit(Quarterly).Please review each paragraph carefully.
• Federal regulations require electronic submittal of all discharge monitoring reports
(DMRs)and program reports.The requirement to continue reporting discharge
monitoring data electronically using the NC DWR's Electronic Discharge Monitoring
Report(eDMR)internet application has been added to your NPDES permit[See Special
Condition A.(4.)].
• A notation was made concerning the Electronic Reporting Rule—NPDES Electronic
Reporting Rule—Phase 2 Extension. EPA extended the Phase 2 deadline to December
21,2025. The current compliance date, effective January 4,2021,was extended as a final
regulation change published in the November 2,2020 Federal Register[See Special
Condition A.(4.)].
• Parameter codes have been added to the Effluent Limitations and Monitoring
Requirements [See A.(1.)].
• Regulatory citations have been added to the permit.
DE Q North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
512 North Salisbury Street 11617 Mail Service Center I Raleigh,North Carolina 27699-1617
r sr\ /"*.f 919.707.9000

The NPDES standard conditions(Parts II,III,and IV)that are a part of the permit are not included
in this draft document (cover, map, and Part I). The conditions are the same as in your current
permit except that agency and division names have been updated.The latest version is available at
https://bit.ly/3k5NFaL and can be viewed online or downloaded as a PDF file.
Concurrent with this notification the Division is publishing a notice in a newspaper having
circulation in the general Iredell County area, soliciting public comments on this draft permit.
Please provide any written comments you may have to the following:NCDEQ/DWR,NPDES
Permitting Branch, 1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh,NC 27699-1617 no later than 30 days
after receipt of this draft permit.
Following the 30-day public comment period,the Division will review all pertinent comments
and take appropriate action prior to issuing a final permit. If you have questions concerning this
draft permit,please call me at(919) 707-3644 or by email at [e-mail].
Sincerely,
EDocuSlyned by:
l 4;06 A.:46,.
B08410C9F6204F7...
Min Xiao,Engineer
NPDES Industrial Permitting Unit
Hardcopy: NPDES Files
Ecopy: US EPA Region 4
DWR/Mooresville Regional Office/Water Quality/Corey Basinger
DWR/Aquatic Toxicology Branch/Zach Thomas, Cindy Moore
DWR/Operator Certification Program/Maureen Kinney
Page 2 of 2

Permit No. NC0005126
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
PERMIT
TO DISCHARGE WASTEWATER UNDER THE
NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM
In compliance with the provisions of North Carolina General Statute 143-215.1,other lawful standards
and regulations promulgated and adopted by the North Carolina Environmental Management
Commission,and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act,as amended,the
Tyson Farms, Inc. d/b/a River Valley Animal Foods
is hereby authorized to discharge wastewater from a facility located at the
Harmony Rendering Plant
501 Sheffield Road
Harmony
Iredell County
to receiving waters designated as Hunting Creek in the Yadkin Pee Dee River Basin
in accordance with the effluent limitations,monitoring requirements,and other applicable conditions set
forth in Parts I,II,III,and IV hereof.
This permit shall become effective mmm dd,202y.
This permit and authorization to discharge shall expire at midnight on mmm dd,202y.
Signed this day mmm dd,202y.
DRAFT
S. Daniel Smith,Director
Division of Water Resources
ByAuthorityof the Environmental Management Commission
g

Permit No. NC0005126
SUPPLEMENT TO PERMIT COVER SHEET
All previous NPDES Permits issued to this facility,whether for operation or discharge are hereby revoked.As of
this permit issuance,any previously issued permit bearing this number is no longer effective. Therefore, the
exclusive authority to operate and discharge from this facility arises under the permit conditions,requirements,
terms,and provisions included herein.
Tyson Farms, Inc. d/b/a River Valley Animal Foods
is hereby authorized to:
1. Continue to operate a 0.5 MGD wastewater treatment facility(outfall 001)that includes the following
components:
• Flow equalization basin with surface aerator and diffusers
• DAF influent pump station
• Pretreatment DAF unit
• Anoxic reactor#1A with surface aerator and mixing system
• Anoxic reactor#1B with jet aeration and mixing system and surface aerators
• Reactor#1 effluent pump station
• Nitrification reactor#2A with surface aerator and diffusers
• Nitrification reactor#2B with jet aeration and mixing system
• Polishing tank with jet aeration and mixing system
• Flocculation tank
• Final gravity clarifier
• Aerated lagoon with mechanical aerators
• RAS/WAS pump stations
• Effluent chlorination/dechlorination chamber
• V-notch weir with ultrasonic measurement
2. Discharge from said treatment works at the location specified on the attached map into Hunting
Creek which is classified WS-III waters in the Yadkin Pee Dee River Basin.
Page 2 of 8

Permit No.NC0005126
PART I-MONITORING,CONTROLS,AND LIMITATIONS FOR PERMITTED DISCHARGES
A.(1.) EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
[15A NCAC 02B .0400 et seq.,15A NCACO2B .0500 et seq.] Grade III
Biological Water Pollution Control System [15A NCAC 08G.0302]
(a.) During the period beginning on the effective date of the permit and lasting until expiration,the
permittee is authorized to discharge treated wastewater from Outfall 001. Such discharges shall be
limited and monitored)by the permittee as specified below:
EFFLUENT CHARACTERISTICS EFFLUENT LIMITS MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
Parameter Code Monthly Average Daily Maximum MFrequencyeasurement Monthly Average Daily Maximum
Flow 50050 0.5 MGD Continuous Recording Effluent
BOD,5-day,20°C QD310 262.0 pounds/day 523.9 pounds/day 3/Week Composite Effluent
Total Suspended Solids QD530 323.6 pounds/day 647.2 pounds/day 3/Week Composite Effluent
Oil and Grease 00556 154.1 pounds/day 308.2 pounds/day Weekly Grab Effluent
NH3-N QD610 107.9 pounds/day 215.7 pounds/day Weekly Composite Effluent
Total Residual Chlorin& 50060 28 pg/L Weekly Grab Effluent
Fecal Coliform(geometric mean) 31616 200/100mL 400/100mL Weekly Grab Effluent I
Dissolved Oxygen 00300 Monitor and Report,mg/L Weekly Grab Effluent
Temperature 00010 Monitor and Report,°C 3/Week Grab Effluent
pH 00400 Between 6.0 and 9.0 standard units 3/Week Grab Effluent 1
Total Nitrogen(NO2+NO3+TKN) C0600 134.0 mg/L 194.0 mg/L Weekly Composite Effluent I
Total Phosphorus C0665 Monitor and Report,mg/L Weekly Composite Effluent
' Chronic Toxicity3 TGP3B
bMonitor and Report Quarterly Composite Effluent
Footnotes:
1. The permittee shall submit Discharge Monitoring Reports electronically using NC DWR's eDMR application system.
See Special Condition A.(4.).
2. The Division shall consider all effluent total residual chlorine values reported below 50 1.1g/1 to be in compliance with
the permit. However,the permittee shall continue to record and submit all values reported by a North Carolina
certified laboratory(including field certified),even if these values fall below 50 µg/1.
3. Chronic Toxicity(Ceriodaphnia)limit at 1.8% with testing in January,April,July,and October[see A. (2.)].
(b.) There shall be no discharge of floating solids or visible foam in other than trace amounts.
Page 3 of 8

Permit No. NC0005 126
A.(2.) CHRONIC TOXICITY PERMIT LIMIT(QUARTERLY) [15A NCAC 02B.0200]
The effluent discharge shall at no time exhibit observable inhibition of reproduction or significant
mortality to Ceriodaphnia dubia at an effluent concentration of 1.8%.
Thepermit holder shallperform at a minimum,quarterlymonitoringusingtest r procedures outlined in
the"North Carolina Ceriodaphnia Chronic Effluent Bioassay Procedure," (Revised December 2010,or
subsequent versions)or"North Carolina Phase II Chronic Whole Effluent Toxicity Test Procedure"
(Revised December 2010,or subsequent versions).The tests will be performed during the months of
January,April,July and October. These months signify the first month of each three-month toxicity
testing quarter assigned to the facility. Effluent sampling for this testing must be obtained during
representative effluent discharge and shall be performed at the NPDES permitted final effluent discharge
below all treatment processes.
If the test procedure performed as the first test of any single quarter results in a failure or ChV below
the permit limit,then multiple-concentration testing shall be performed at a minimum,in each of the
two following months as described in"North Carolina Phase II Chronic Whole Effluent Toxicity Test
Procedure" (Revised-December 2010,or subsequent versions).
All toxicity testing results required as part of this permit condition will be entered electronically using
the Division's eDMR system for the months in which tests were performed,using the parameter code
TGP3B for the pass/fail results and THP3B for the Chronic Value. Additionally,DWR Form AT-3
(original)is to be sent to the following address:
North Carolina Division of Water Resources
Water Sciences Section/Aquatic Toxicology Branch
1621 Mail Service Center
Raleigh,NC 27699-1621
Or,results can be sent to the email,[e-mail].
Completed Aquatic Toxicity Test Forms shall be filed with the Water Sciences Section no later than 30
days after the end of the reporting period for which the report is made.
Test data shall be complete,accurate,include all supporting chemical/physical P PP /Psical measurements and all Y
concentration/response data,and be certified by laboratory supervisor and ORC or approved designate
signature. Total residual chlorine of the effluent toxicity sample must be measured and reported if
chlorine is employed for disinfection of the waste stream.
Should there be no discharge of flow from the facility during a month in which toxicity monitoring is
required,the permittee will complete the information located at the top of the aquatic toxicity(AT)test
form indicating the facility name,permit number,pipe number,county,and the month/year of the
report with the notation of"No Flow"in the comment area of the form. The report shall be submitted to
the Water Sciences Section at the address cited above.
Should the permittee fail to monitor during a month in which toxicity monitoring is required,
monitoring will be required during the following month.Assessment of toxicity compliance is based on
the toxicity testing quarter,which is the three-month time interval that begins on the first day of the
Page 4 of 8

Permit No.NC0005126
month in which toxicity testing is required by this permit and continues until the final day of the third
month.
Should any test data from this monitoring requirement or tests performed by the North Carolina
Division of Water Resources indicate potential impacts to the receiving stream,this permit may be re-
opened and modified to include alternate monitoring requirements or limits.
NOTE: Failure to achieve test conditions as specified in the cited document,such as minimum control
organism survival,minimum control organism reproduction,and appropriate environmental controls,
shall constitute an invalid test and will require immediate follow-up testing to be completed no later
than the last day of the month following the month of the initial monitoring.
A.(3.) NUTRIENT REOPENER FOR HIGH ROCK LAKE[NCGS 143-215.1 (b)]
The Division may,upon written notification to the permittee,re-open this permit in order to incorporate
or modify effluent limitations and monitoring and reporting requirements when such action is necessary
for the implementation of a nutrient strategy or TMDL for the High Rock Lake watershed.
A.(4.) ELECTRONIC REPORTING-DISCHARGE MONITORING REPORTS[G.S.143-215.1(b)]
Federal regulations require electronic submittal of all discharge monitoring reports(DMRs)and program
reports.The final NPDES Electronic Reporting Rule was adopted and became effective on December 21,
2015.
NOTE: This special condition supplements or supersedes the following sections within Part II of this
permit(Standard Conditions for NPDES Permits):
• Section B.(11.) Signatory Requirements
• Section D. (2.) Reporting
• Section D. (6.) Records Retention
• Section E.(5.) Monitoring Reports
1. Reporting Requirements[Supersedes Section D.(2.1 and Section E.(5.1 (all
The permittee shall report discharge monitoring data electronically using the NC DWR's Electronic
Discharge Monitoring Report(eDMR)internet application.
Monitoring results obtained during the previous month(s)shall be summarized for each month and
submitted electronically using eDMR. The eDMR system allows permitted facilities to enter
monitoring data and submit DMRs electronically using the internet. The eDMR system may be
accessed at:https:/Ideq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/edmr.
If a permittee is unable to use the eDMR system due to a demonstrated hardship or due to the facility
being physically located in an area where less than 10 percent of the households have broadband
access,then a temporary waiver from the NPDES electronic reporting requirements may be granted
and discharge monitoring data may be submitted on paper DMR forms(MR 1,1.1,2,3)or alternative
forms approved by the Director. Duplicate signed copies shall be submitted to the following
address:
Page 5 of 8

Permit No. NC0005 126
NC DEQ/ Division of Water Resources/ Water Quality Permitting Section
ATTENTION: Central Files
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh,North Carolina 27699-1617
See"How to Request a Waiver from Electronic Reporting"section below.
Regardless of the submission method,the first DMR is due on the last day of the month following the
issuance of the permit or in the case of a new facility,on the last day of the month following the
commencement of discharge.
Starting on December 21,2025,the permittee must electronically report the following compliance
monitoring data and reports,when applicable:
• Sewer Overflow/Bypass Event Reports;
• Pretreatment Program Annual Reports;and
• Clean Water Act(CWA)Section 316(b)Annual Reports.
The permittee may seek an electronic reporting waiver from the Division(see"How to Request a
Waiver from Electronic Reporting"section below).
2. Electronic Submissions
In accordance with 40 CFR 122.41(l)(9),the permittee must identify the initial recipient at the time of
each electronic submission. The permittee should use the EPA's website resources to identify the
initial recipient for the electronic submission.
Initial recipient of electronic NPDES information from NPDES-regulated facilities means the entity
(EPA or the state authorized by EPA to implement the NPDES program)that is the designated entity
for receiving electronic NPDES data [see 40 CFR 127.2(b)].
EPA plans to establish a website that will also link to the appropriate electronic reporting tool for
each type of electronic submission and for each state. Instructions on how to access and use the
appropriate electronic reporting tool will be available as well. Information on EPA's NPDES
Electronic Reporting Rule is found at:
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2015/10/22/2015-24954/national-pollutant
discharge-elimination-system-npdes-electronic-reporting-rule
Electronic submissions must start by the dates listed in the"Reporting Requirements"section above.
3. How to Request a Waiver from Electronic Reporting
The permittee may seek a temporary electronic reporting waiver from the Division. To obtain an
electronic reporting waiver,a permittee must first submit an electronic reporting waiver request to
the Division. Requests for temporary electronic reporting waivers must be submitted in writing to
the Division for written approval at least sixty(60)days prior to the date the facility would be
required under this permit to begin submitting monitoring data and reports. The duration of a
temporary waiver shall not exceed 5 years and shall thereupon expire. At such time,monitoring
data and reports shall be submitted electronically to the Division unless the permittee re-applies for
and is granted a new temporary electronic reporting waiver by the Division. Approved electronic
Page 6 of 8

Permit No. NC0005 126
reporting waivers are not transferrable. Only permittees with an approved reporting waiver request
may submit monitoring data and reports on paper to the Division for the period that the approved
reporting waiver request is effective.
Information on eDMR and the application for a temporary electronic reporting waiver are found on
the following web page:
http://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/edmr
4. Signatory Requirements[Supplements Section B.(11.) (b) and Supersedes Section B.(11.1(d)1
All eDMRs submitted to the permit issuing authority shall be signed by a person described in Part II,
Section B.(11.)(a)or by a duly authorized representative of that person as described in Part II,Section
B.(11.)(b). A person,and not a position,must be delegated signatory authority for eDMR reporting
purposes.
For eDMR submissions,the person signing and submitting the DMR must obtain an eDMR user
account and login credentials to access the eDMR system. For more information on North Carolina's
eDMR system,registering for eDMR and obtaining an eDMR user account,please visit the following
web page:
http://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/edmr
Certification. Any person submitting an electronic DMR using the state's eDMR system shall make
the following certification[40 CFR 122.22]. NO OTHER STATEMENTS OF CERTIFICATION WILL
BE ACCEPTED:
"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."
5. Records Retention [Supplements Section D.(6.)j
The permittee shall retain records of all Discharge Monitoring Reports,including eDMR
submissions. These records or copies shall be maintained for a period of at least 3 years from the
date of the report. This period may be extended by request of the Director at any time [40 CFR
122.41].
Page 7 of 8

Permit No. NC0005126
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Tyson Farms,Inc. Facility location(not to scale)
Harmony Rendering Plant WWTP
Latitude: 352 57'16" N State Grid: Calahaln
Longitude: 802 43'12" W Permitted Flow: 0.5 MGD N NPDES Permit No.NC0005126
Receiving Stream: Hunting Creek Stream Class: WS-III
Drainage Basin: Yadkin Pee Dee River Basin Sub-Basin: 03-07-06 Iredell County
Page 8 of 8