WI0400551_Permit (Modification)_20211007

ROY COOPER
Governor
ELIZABETH S. BISER
Secretary
S. DANIEL SMITH
Director
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
October 7, 2021
Mr. James Wells, VP EHS Programs & Environmental Sciences
Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC
526 South Church Street, Mail Code EC12J
Charlotte, NC 28202
Re: UIC Permit Type Other No. WI0400551
Duke Belews Creek Steam Station Plant
Stokes County
Sent electronically and via U.S. Postal Service
Dear Mr. Wells:
In accordance with your permit modification application received July 12, 2021, we are forwarding this
modified permit for the construction and operation of 74 UIC Type Other infiltration wells. This permit shall
be effective, unless revoked, from the date of issuance until September 30, 2025, and shall be subject to the
conditions and limitations stated therein, including the requirement to submit a Final Project Evaluation (FPE)
as stated in PART VI — MONITORING AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. Please read the entire permit
to ensure that you are aware of all compliance requirements of the permit.
Please note that the following permit condition has been modified from the original permit issued on
October 5, 2020:
Per permit condition VI.4, The equivalent of an Injection Event Record (IER) shall be submitted
annually with the Annual Report according to Part VI.2 of this permit, and in the format specified in
Attachment B. The IER form shall include injection data of all wells with dates of injection and
monthly well volumes. A modified IER in Excel format is attached to the version of this permit sent
electronically. It may be modified according to the months the wells are actually in operation
In order to continue uninterrupted legal use of this well for the stated purpose, you should submit an
application to renew the permit 120 days prior to its expiration date. As indicated in the permit, this permit is
not transferable to any person without prior notice to, and approval by, the Director of the Division of Water
Resources (DWR). If you have any questions regarding your permit or the Underground Injection Control
Program, please call me at [phone].
Best Regards,
/e,r
Michael Rogers, P.G. NC & FL (inactive)
Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program Manager
Division of Water Resources - Groundwater Resources Section
cc: Winston-Salem Regional Office, WQROS (sent electronically)
i e
Gp0,1Ard alE ranwiW
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
512 North Salisbury Street 11636 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1636
919.707.9129

NORTH CAROLINA
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (DEQ)
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA
PERMIT FOR THE USE OF A WELL FOR INJECTION
In accordance with the provisions of Article 7, Chapter 87; Article 21, Chapter 143; and other
applicable Laws, Rules, and Regulations
PERMISSION IS HEREBY GRANTED TO
Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC
Stokes County
WI0400551
FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF 74 INJECTION WELL(S) TYPE OTHER
defined in Title 15A North Carolina Administrative Code 2C .0209(5)(b)(xiii). These injection
points are located at the Belews Creek Steam Station, 3195 Pine Hall Road, Belews Creek, NC
27009, and will be constructed and operated in accordance with the permit modification
application received July 12, 2021, and in conformity with the specifications, all of which are filed
with the Department of Environmental Quality and are considered a part of this permit.
This permit is for construction and operation, and does not waive any provisions of the Water Use
Act or any other applicable Laws, Rules, or Regulations. Operation and use of an injection well
shall be in compliance with Title 15A North Carolina Administrative Code 02C .0100 and .0200,
and any other Laws, Rules, and Regulations pertaining to well construction and use.
This permit shall be effective, unless revoked, from the date of issuance until September 30, 2025.
Permit issued the 7th day of October, 2021
DocuSignAed'bry.:
rirk
97024499402C471...
for S. Daniel Smith, Director
Division of Water Resources
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission.
Permit No. WI0400551 PAGE 1 OF 10
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PART I — PERMIT GENERAL CONDITIONS
1. The Permittee shall comply with all conditions of this permit and with the standards and criteria
specified in Criteria and Standards Applicable to Injection Wells (15A NCAC 2C .0200).
Noncompliance with conditions of this permit constitutes a violation of the North Carolina
Well rionst action Act aiid is gro'iuids for enforcement action as provided for in iw.C.G.S. 8 -
94.
2. This permit shall become voidable unless the facility is constructed in accordance with the
conditions of this permit, the approved plans and specifications, and other supporting data [15A
NCAC 02C .0211(k)].
3. This permit is valid only for construction and operation of the number of injection wells
described in the application and other supporting data. Construction of additional injection
wells must be approved in advance by the Division of Water Resources (DR) [15A NCAC
.0211(a)].
4. This permit is not transferable without prior notice and approval. In the event there is a desire
for the facility to change ownership, or there is a name change of the Permittee, a formal permit
amendment request and any supporting materials must be submitted at least 30 days prior to
the date of the change [15A NCAC 02C .0211(0)].
5. The issuance of this permit shall not relieve the Permittee of the responsibility of complying
with any and all statutes, rules, regulations, or ordinances that may be imposed by other local,
state, and federal agencies having jurisdiction. Furthermore, the issuance of this permit does
not imply that all regulatory requirements have been met [15A NCAC 02C .0203].
PART II - WELL CONSTRUCTION GENERAL CONDITIONS
1. Each injection well shall not hydraulically connect separate aquifers [15A NCAC 02C
.0211(b)].
2. Multi -screened wells shall not hydraulically connect different aquifers or zones having
differences in water quality that would result in a degradation of any aquifer or zone [15A
NCAC 02C .0225(h)(17)].
3. Each injection well shall be constructed in such a manner that water from land surface cannot
migrate into the gravel pack or well screen [15A NCAC 02C .0225(h)(4)]. NOTE: A bentonite
seal of sufficient thickness (minimum 1 foot) shall be used if it is determined the proposed 2
feet of fine sand and 2 feet of very fine sand is inadequate to prevent water from land surface
to migrate into gravel pack or well screen.
4. Bentonite grout shall not be used to seal any water -bearing zone with a chloride concentration
equal to or greater than 1,500 milligrams per liter. In areas where elevated chloride levels are
known to exist or are probable, such as coastal areas, chloride levels shall be verified in the
field to determine existing conditions. [15A NCAC .0225(h)(8)].
5. Each injection well shall be secured to reasonably insure against unauthorized access and use.
Each well shall be permanently labeled with a warning that it is for injection purposes and the
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entrance to each well shall be secured with a locking cap as defined in G.S. 87-85(16) [15A
NCAC 02C .0225(h)(23)].
6. Each injection well shall be afforded reasonable protection against damage during construction
and use [15A NCAC 02C .0225(j)(3)].
7. Each permanent injection well shall have a permanently affixed identification plate [15A
NCAC .0225(h)(20)].
8. If not previously submitted, a copy of the completed Well Construction Record (Form GW-1)
shall be submitted as described in Part VI.3 of this permit (the original document goes to the
address indicated on the form).
PART III - WELL CONSTRUCTION SPECIAL CONDITIONS
1. At least forty-eight (48) hours prior to constructing or operating any injection well, the
Permittee shall notify the Underground Injection Control (UIC) Central Office staff, telephone
number 919-707-9000, and the Winston-Salem Regional Office staff, telephone number 336-
776-9800.
2. Included in additional information received by DWR on August 12, 2020, was a written request
for a variance to the injection well construction rule 15A NCAC 02C.0225(h), which states
that wells shall not hydraulically connect aquifers or zones having differences in water quality.
Information provided indicates there exists vertical hydraulic connectivity of
hydrostratigraphic zones, and that the distribution of contaminates of interest (COI) crosses the
zones. Corrective action has been proposed with infiltration wells constructed with well screen
and/or sand pack material across three water -bearing zones (saprolite, transition, and bedrock
zones) to better improve the effectiveness of the proposed groundwater remediation system.
The proposed infiltration wells are not expected to generate a risk to groundwater or human
health and no water supply wells are located within 500 feet of the wells. The factors specified
are sufficient to satisfy the conditions for approval of a variance as defined in Rule 15A NCAC
02C .0241. The granting of this variance is for the screened and packed intervals only, and in
no way relieves the owner or agent from other requirements of the North Carolina Well
Construction Standards, or any other applicable law, rule or regulation that may be regulated
by other agencies.
PART IV - OPERATION AND USE CONDITIONS
1. The Permittee shall be required to comply with the terms and conditions of this permit even
if compliance requires a reduction or elimination of the permitted activity [15A NCAC 02C
.0211(i)].
2. The issuance of this permit shall not relieve the Permittee of the responsibility for damages
to surface water or groundwater resulting from the operation of this facility [15A NCAC 02C
.0206].
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3. The injection facility shall be properly maintained and operated at all times to achieve
compliance with the conditions of this permit and the rules of 15A NCAC 02C .0200, even
if compliance requires a reduction or elimination of the permitted activity [15A NCAC 02C
.0211(i)].
4. In the event that the facility fails to perform satisfactoril-y resulting in he creation of nuisance
conditions, failure of the injection zone to adequately assimilate the injected fluid, or
daylighting, the Permittee shall take immediate corrective actions including, but not limited
to, repairs, modifications, or abandonment of the injection facility. The Permitee shall report
non-compliance according to Part VI.7 of this permit [15A NCAC 02C .0206].
PART V - INSPECTIONS [15A NCAC 02C .0211(j)]
Any duly authorized officer, employee, or representative of the Division of Water Resources
(DWR) may, upon presentation of credentials, enter and inspect any property, premises, or
place on or related to the injection facility at any reasonable time for the purpose of determining
compliance with this permit, may inspect or copy any records that must be maintained under
the terms and conditions of this permit, and may obtain samples of groundwater, surface water,
or injection fluids.
2. DWR representatives shall have reasonable access for purposes of inspection, observation, and
sampling associated with injection and any related facilities as provided for in N.C.G.S. 87-
90.
3. Provisions shall be made for collecting any necessary and appropriate samples associated with
the injection facility activities.
PART VI - MONITORING AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
1. The proposed monitoring plan included in the application and provided through an additional
information request received August 12, 2020, (Attachment A) shall be followed. Any
additional monitoring, including groundwater, surface water, or soil sampling, deemed
necessary to ensure surface water and groundwater protection may be established and an
acceptable sampling reporting schedule shall be followed [15A NCAC 02C .0225(k)].
2. An Annual Report with all historical monitoring results shall be submitted in bound hard copy
format with attached CD or flash drive to the UIC Program Central Office, and Winston-Salem
Regional Office starting within one year of the first injection event. Monitoring reports shall
include, a summary of injection activities and monitoring results, analytical data presented in
a spreadsheet distinguishing between pre -injection and post injection data, and an update on
the status and location of monitoring and injection wells. Well locations may be given in a
table with the name and geographic coordinates or shown on an updated version of the site
map [15ANCAC 02C .0225(1)].
3. Records of well construction, repair, or abandonment shall be submitted within 30 days of
completion of such activities [15A NCAC 02C .0225(1)].
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4. The equivalent of an Injection Event Record (IER) shall be submitted annually with the Annual
Report according to Part VI.2 of this permit, and in the format specified in Attachment B.
The IER form shall include injection data of all wells with dates of injection and monthly well.
volumes. A modified IER in Excel format is attached to the version of this permit sent
electronically. It may be modified according to the months the wells are actually in operation
[15A NCAC 02C .0225(1)].
5. The Permittee shall submit a Final Project Evaluation (FPE) within 9 months after completing
all injection -related activity associated with this permit or produce an interim evaluation to be
submitted with a renewal application for this permit. Both the final project evaluation and
interim evaluation shall contain historical monitoring data and updated contaminant plume and
potentiometric surface maps. Each monitoring report shall include a summary identifying any
detectable contaminants, and a table with historical laboratory analytical results. The table shall
indicate any exceedances of groundwater standards per 15A NCAC 02L .0202, and shall
distinguish data collected prior to injection from data collected after injection [15A NCAC
02C .0225(1)].
6. All monitoring results, forms, and reports required in this Part shall be submitted to:
UIC Program
NC Division of Water Resources and
1636 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1636
Water Quality Regional Operations
WQROS Winston-Salem Regional Office
450 West Hanes Mill Road, Suite 300
Winston-Salem, NC 27105
7. The Permittee shall report any monitoring or other information that indicates noncompliance
with a specific permit condition, that a contaminant may cause a violation of applicable
groundwater quality standards, or that a malfunction of the injection system may cause the
injected fluids to migrate outside the approved injection zone or area. As specified in rule
15A NCAC 02C .0211(p), noncompliance notification shall be as follows:
(A)
(B)
(C)
Oral notification shall be given within 24 hours of the occurrence, or first knowledge
of the occurrence, to the Winston-Salem Regional Office, telephone number 336-
776-9800.
Written notification shall be made within five days of the occurrence and submitted
to the addresses in Item #6 above.
The written notification shall contain a description of the noncompliance and its
cause; the period of noncompliance, including dates and times; if the noncompliance
has not been corrected, the anticipated time it is expected to continue; and any steps
taken or planned to reduce, eliminate, and prevent reoccurrence of the
noncompliance.
PART VII - CORRECTIVE ACTION [15A NCAC 02C .0206]
1. Any injection well not constructed or operated in accordance with this permit, or the criteria
and standards specified in 15A NCAC 02C .0200, shall be subject to corrective action as
provided under rule 15A NCAC 02C .0206.
2. The following corrective actions shall apply to elevated concentrations of injectants or reaction
byproducts resulting from the permitted injection activity:
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(A) Continued monitoring until concentrations return to pre -injection values or meet the
standards specified in 15A NCAC 02L .0202, whichever are greater. The frequency,
duration, and location of monitoring shall be appropriate for site specific conditions and
potential receptors.
(B) Groundwater quality parameters that do not attenuate as described in 2(A) above may
warrant a corrective action plan as provided under rule 15A NCAC 02C .0206, depending
on the type, concentration, and distribution of the groundwater quality standards being
exceeded.
PART VIII - PERMIT RENEWAL [15A NCAC 02C .0211(h)]
In order to continue uninterrupted legal use of the injection facility for the stated purpose, the
Pennittee shall submit an application to renew the permit 120 days prior to its expiration date.
PART IX - CHANGE OF WELL STATUS [15A NCAC 02C .0240]
1. The Permittee shall provide written notification within 15 days of any change of status of an
injection well. Such a change would include the discontinued use of a well for injection. If a
well is taken completely out of service temporarily, the Permittee must install a sanitary seal.
If a well is not to be used for any purpose that well must be permanently abandoned according
to 15A NCAC 2C .0240, Well Construction Standards.
2. When operations have ceased at the facility and a well will no longer be used for any purpose,
the Permittee shall abandon that injection well in accordance with the procedures specified in
15A NCAC 2C .0240, including but not limited to the following:
(A) All casing and screen materials may be removed prior to initiation of abandonment
procedures if such removal will not cause or contribute to contamination of the
groundwaters.
(B) The entire depth of each well shall be sounded before it is sealed to insure freedom
from obstructions that may interfere with sealing operations.
(C) The well shall be thoroughly disinfected, prior to sealing, if WQROS staff determines
that failure to do so could lead to the contamination of an underground source of
drinking water.
(D) Drilled wells shall be completely filled with cement grout or bentonite grout, which
shall be introduced into the well through a pipe which extends to the bottom of the well
and is raised as the well is filled.
(E) In the case of gravel -packed wells in which the casing and screens have not been
removed, neat -cement, or bentonite grout shall be injected into the well completely
filling it from the bottom of the casing to the top.
(F) In those cases when, as a result of the injection operations, a subsurface cavity has been
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created, each well shall be abandoned in such a manner that will prevent the movement
of fluids into or between underground sources of drinking water and in accordance with
the terms and conditions of the permit.
(G)The Permittee shall submit a Well Abandonment Record (Form GW-30) as specified
in 15A NCAC 2C .0225(1) within 30 days of completion of abandonment.
3. The written documentation required in Part IX (1) and (2)(G) shall be submitted to:
UIC Program
DEQ-Division of Water Resources
1636 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1636
Permit No. WI0400551 PAGE 7 OF 10
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ATTACHMENT A
Table 1
Clean Water Infiltration Source Monitoring Plan Pilot Test Monitoring Plan
Duke Energy - Belews Creek Steam Station Belews Creek, North Carolina
Constituent
Total Alkalinity
2021
Pre -Startup Sample
2021
(`April - December)
Monthly
Quarterly
(SM-2320-2011)
Alkalinity, Bicarbonate
x
x
Alkalinity, Carbonate
x
x
Total Alkalinity as CaCO3
Nitrate (EPA 353.2,
[Nitrite + Nitrate (Colorimetric)
x
EPA 365.1)
x
x
X
Tniai D knonhrrus (Colerimetri,.l
„
,
Inorganic Ions
(EPA 300.0)
Chloride
x
x
Fluoride
x
x
Sulfate
x
x
Sulfide
x
x
Site COIs [Dissolved and Total
Lithium
Metals (by ICP EPA
200.7)]
x
x
Cobalt
x
x
Manganese
x
x
Thallium
x
x
Beryllium
x
x
Strontium
x x
CAP Excluded COIs [Dissolved and
Total Metals (by ICP EPA 200.7)]
Antimony
x x
Barium
x
x
Chromium and Hexavalent Chromium (3500Cr B-2011)
x
x
Molybdenum
x
x
Vanadium
Dissolved and Total Metals
Aluminum
x
(by ICP EPA 200
x
x
7)
x
Calcium
x
x
Iron
x
x
Magnesium
x
x
Potassium
x
x
Sodium
x
x
Mercury (EPA
245.1)
Mercury
x
x
Geochemical
Parameters
pH
x
x
Oxidation -Reduction Potential
x
x
Dissolved Oxygen (DO)
x
x
Specific Conductivity
x
x
Total Dissolved Solids
x
x
Total Suspended Solids
x
x
Total Organic Carbon
x
x
Biological Oxygen Demand
x
x
Total Hardness
x
x
Ferrous Iron
x
x
Ferric Iron
x
x
Bacterial Counts (biofouling)
x
x
Table 1 (cont.)
Clean Water Infiltration Source Monitoring Plan Pilot Test Monitoring Plan
Permit No. W10400551
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l /.1t : l/ l l
PAGE 8 OF 10

Duke Energy - Belews Creek Steam Station Belews Creek, North Carolina
Constituent
2021
Pre -Startup Sample
2021
(—April - December)
Monthly
Quarterly
nrelated Site Constituentsb
Total PCBs (EPA 8082)
x
x
Pesticides (EPA 80811
x
x
Lead and Silver (200.7/245.1)
xc
VOCs (EPA 8260)
x
x
SVOCs (EPA 8270)
is
x
PFAS (EPA 537.1 aqueous)
x
x
Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS)
x
x
Perfluoro-n-octanoic acid (PFOA)
x
x
Perfluoro-l-butanesulfonic acid (PFBS)
x
x
Notes:
a If analytical results show consistent water quality below the applicable groundwater standards, a reduced sampling
program may be implemented for future operations.
b Unrelated site constituents will be monitored, including select PFAS compounds, at NCDEQ's request. These
constituents are unrelated to Duke Energy and the operations and activities at the Belews Creek Steam Station.
PFAS = per- and polyfuoroalkyl substances
PCB = polychlorinated biphenyl
SVOC = semi -volatile organic compound
VOC = volatile organic compound
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2-
0
4
IC
ATTACHMENT B
1
!II
Permit No. WI0400551
�-er. 8-25-2020 UIC-Other
r
3
2
M
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