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Home My WebLink AboutNC0027341_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_20210715 SENT VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL ONLY: NO HARD COPY WILL BE MAILED. July 15, 2021 Eric Hamby Tennessee Valley Authority Email: edhamby@tva.gov SUBJECT: Compliance Inspection Report Fontana Hydro Plant NPDES WW Permit No. NC0027341 Graham County Dear Permittee: The North Carolina Division of Water Resources conducted an inspection of the Fontana Hydro Plant on 7/14/2021. This inspection was conducted to verify that the facility is operating in compliance with the conditions and limitations specified in NPDES WW Permit No. NC0027341. The findings and comments noted during this inspection are provided in the enclosed copy of the inspection report entitled "Compliance Inspection Report". There were no significant issues or findings noted during the inspection and therefore, a response to this inspection report is not required. If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at 828-296-4667 or via email at lauren.armeni@ncdenr.gov. Sincerely, Lauren Armeni, Environmental Specialist Water Quality Regional Operations Section Asheville Regional Office Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ ATTACHMENTS: Inspection Report Ec: LF Lisa Perkey (Northeast Regional Environmental Scientist) DocuSign Envelope ID: 42E61764-751D-484C-AA03-9E95849AA01C EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency Washington, D.C. 20460 Water Compliance Inspection Report Form Approved. OMB No. 2040-0057 Approval expires 8-31-98 Section A: National Data System Coding (i.e., PCS) Transaction Code NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection Type Inspector Fac Type 1 N 52 NC0027341 21/07/14 C S31112171819 20 21 66 Inspection Work Days Facility Self-Monitoring Evaluation Rating B1 QA ----------------------Reserved------------------- N67707172 73 74 75 80 Section B: Facility Data Name and Location of Facility Inspected (For Industrial Users discharging to POTW, also include POTW name and NPDES permit Number) Fontana Hydro Plant Off NC Hwy 28 Asheville NC 28816 Entry Time/Date Permit Effective Date Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date 11:15AM 21/07/14 18/09/01 Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) /// Other Facility Data 12:30PM 21/07/14 23/08/31 Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number Eric Hamby,1280 City Park Dr Lenoir City TN 37772//865-988-1149/Contacted No Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated) Permit Operations & Maintenance Records/Reports Self-Monitoring Program Effluent/Receiving Waters Laboratory Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) (See attachment summary) Name(s) and Signature(s) of Inspector(s)Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date Lauren E Armeni DWR/ARO WQ/828-296-4500/ Signature of Management Q A Reviewer Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date EPA Form 3560-3 (Rev 9-94) Previous editions are obsolete. Page#1 DocuSign Envelope ID: 42E61764-751D-484C-AA03-9E95849AA01C 7/15/2021 7/15/2021 NPDES yr/mo/day 21/07/14 Inspection Type C3111218 1 Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) Lauren Armeni, with the Asheville Regional Office, conducted a Compliance Evaluation Inspection of the Fontana Hydroelectric Plant on July 14, 2021. The inspection was conducted to determine if the system is being operated and maintained in compliance with General NPDES Permit No. NCG500000. Linda Perkey (Northeast Regional Environmental Scientist), Eric Hamby (Plant Manager), and Jacob Kurr (Environmental Technician) were present during the inspection. No deficiencies were noted during the inspection. The Fontana Hydroelectric Plant consists of three turbines as part of their conventional hydroelectric generating units. There are a total of six outfalls at the facility - all are underwater with the exception of Outfall 6. The permit outlines what is connected to each outfall and the associated sampling requirements. There is one sump with oil detection that collects all drainage inside the facility. According to the most recent permit application, water discharged from the draft tube unwatering operations, powerhouse floor drains, penstock envelope leakage, and wheel pit make up flows into the sump for Outfalls 1 and 2. Oil absorbent pads and booms are used in sumps if needed and for points of equipment oil leaks. These pads are changed at least once a quarter, and used pads/booms are placed in drums and stored. Once the drums are full, Waste Management picks them up and they are taken to a landfill. Sediment is pulled out of the galleries prior to cleaning by coring and suctioning out the sediment, which is then put into drums and disposed of. Record Keeping: Per our conversation during the inspection, sampling data should be entered on the eDMR under the month samples are collected. If any issues arise in the system moving forward, they will be resolved. The facility utilizes a work management system where all plant inspections are stored. The tailrace and transformer yard are inspected weekly. NC0027341 17 (Cont.) Page#2 DocuSign Envelope ID: 42E61764-751D-484C-AA03-9E95849AA01C Permit:NC0027341 Inspection Date:07/14/2021 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Fontana Hydro Plant Compliance Evaluation Permit Yes No NA NE (If the present permit expires in 6 months or less). Has the permittee submitted a new application? Is the facility as described in the permit? # Are there any special conditions for the permit? Is access to the plant site restricted to the general public? Is the inspector granted access to all areas for inspection? The use of biocides is a special condition in this permit; however, they do not use biocides at the Fontana Hydroelectric Plant. The Certificate of Coverage took effect on 09/01/2018 and will expire on 08/31/2023. Comment: Operations & Maintenance Yes No NA NE Is the plant generally clean with acceptable housekeeping? Does the facility analyze process control parameters, for ex: MLSS, MCRT, Settleable Solids, pH, DO, Sludge Judge, and other that are applicable? Housekeeping and maintenance of the facility were very good at the time of the inspection. The facility was newly painted. Comment: Record Keeping Yes No NA NE Are records kept and maintained as required by the permit? Is all required information readily available, complete and current? Are all records maintained for 3 years (lab. reg. required 5 years)? Are analytical results consistent with data reported on DMRs? Is the chain-of-custody complete? Dates, times and location of sampling Name of individual performing the sampling Results of analysis and calibration Dates of analysis Name of person performing analyses Transported COCs Are DMRs complete: do they include all permit parameters? Has the facility submitted its annual compliance report to users and DWQ? (If the facility is = or > 5 MGD permitted flow) Do they operate 24/7 with a certified operator on each shift? Is the ORC visitation log available and current? Is the ORC certified at grade equal to or higher than the facility classification? Page#3 DocuSign Envelope ID: 42E61764-751D-484C-AA03-9E95849AA01C Permit:NC0027341 Inspection Date:07/14/2021 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Fontana Hydro Plant Compliance Evaluation Record Keeping Yes No NA NE Is the backup operator certified at one grade less or greater than the facility classification? Is a copy of the current NPDES permit available on site? Facility has copy of previous year's Annual Report on file for review? Analytical results are consistent with eDMR reports; however, the month samples were collected does not always correlate with the month they were entered on the eDMRs. Ms. Lisa Perkey, Northeast Regional Environmental Scientist, stated that they were previously told by the DEQ to enter the data that way years ago, since they are not required to collect quarterly samples under their individual permit. See summary for details. Comment: Effluent Sampling Yes No NA NE Is composite sampling flow proportional? Is sample collected below all treatment units? Is proper volume collected? Is the tubing clean? # Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0 degrees Celsius)? Is the facility sampling performed as required by the permit (frequency, sampling type representative)? Sampling is being conducted as required by their individual permit.Comment: Effluent Pipe Yes No NA NE Is right of way to the outfall properly maintained? Are the receiving water free of foam other than trace amounts and other debris? If effluent (diffuser pipes are required) are they operating properly? No foam or oil was observed in the tailrace during the inspection. Ms. Perkey stated that pollen is more of an issue in the spring, which can cause foam in the discharge area at the bottom of the dam. Comment: Upstream / Downstream Sampling Yes No NA NE Is the facility sampling performed as required by the permit (frequency, sampling type, and sampling location)? The upstream sample is collected at the intake inside the building. The downstream sample is collected approximately one-half mile downstream of the tailrace. Comment: Page#4 DocuSign Envelope ID: 42E61764-751D-484C-AA03-9E95849AA01C