NCS000429_Gastonia Audit Notification Sent_20220225

ROY COOPER
Governor
ELIZABETH S. BISER
Secretary
BRIAN WRENN
Director
CERTIFIED MAIL
RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
NORTH CAROLINA
avironmental ualW
February 25, 2022
City of Gastonia
Attention Michael Peoples, City Manager
Post Office Box 1748
Gastonia, North Carolina 28053-1748
CERTIFIED MAIL
RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
7018 3090 0001 2322 6389
7018 3090 00012322 6372
City of Gastonia
Attention: Danon Lawson, Stormwater Utility Administrator
1300 North Broad Street
Gastonia, North Carolina 28053
Subject: MS4 PERMIT COMPLIANCE AUDIT NOTIFICATION
City of Gastonia
NPDES MS4 Permit No. NCS000429
Gaston County
Dear Mr. Peoples:
The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has reviewed the documents submitted in response to the
February 11, 2022 pre -audit documentation request. Based upon this review, staff will be performing the
following National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer
System (MS4) Permit compliance audit for the subject permit.
An on -site audit will be performed, which includes on -site interviews with MS4 representatives and site
inspection(s) of municipal industrial facilities. The on -site audit is scheduled for March 29, 2022
beginning at 9:00 am and is expected to take at least two (2) full day (see attached agenda). Please
arrange for an appropriate meeting space that will accommodate your representatives, 2-3 staff members
from DEQ, and access to any tools routinely utilized to implement the MS4 Program (e.g. databases, GIS,
forms, etc.).
You are expected to ensure that all relevant staff, contractors and management/leadership/officials are
present for scheduled audit meetings. The audit is structured but informal, and the agenda will be flexible
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality j Division of Energy, Mineral and Land Resources
Mooresville Regional Office 1 610 East Center Avenue, Suite 3011 Mooresville, North Carolina 28115
704-663-1699

MS4 Permit Compliance Audit Notification
City of Gastonia
February 25, 2022
Page 2 of 2
depending upon progress. However, the Preliminary Findings portion of the audit will be held as scheduled
so that management and elected officials can plan to attend.
On -site meeting rooms must provide adequate space for all participants to maintain appropriate social
distancing protocols for COVID-19. If special arrangements or schedule adjustments are necessary to
achieve this, please discuss this with me prior to the audit date. All participants of on -site meetings are
expected to wear personal protective equipment in accordance with current state requirements, guidelines
and recommendations; and to also maintain appropriate social distancing protocols for COVID-19 at all
times.
Should you have any questions regarding the upcoming MS4 Permit compliance audit, please feel free to
contact Jesse McDonnell at jesse.mcdorinell�'iz,,.ncdenr.gov or [phone]
Sincerely,
E
�3
Zahid S. Khan, CPM, CPESC, CPSWQ
Regional Engineer
Land Quality Section
Department of Environmental Quality
Enclosure: Preliminary Agenda for MS4 Program Audit
ec Lawson, Danon, [e-mail]
[e-mail], DEMLR MS4 Program Coordinator
DEMLR NPDES MS4 Permit Laserfiche File

""
Preliminary Agenda for MS4 Program Audit
Gastonia, NC
March 29-30, 2022
Meeting Location: TBD
9:00 am - 9:30 am
Opening Discussions and Program Management Overview
9:30 am - 10:15 am
Office Discussion: Program Implementation, Documentation and
Assessment
10:15 am —10:30
Break
10:30 am - 11:15 am
Office Discussion: Public education and Outreach/Public Involvement
and Participation
11:30 am — 12:00 pm
Office Discussion: Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
(IDDE)
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Lunch
1:00 pm — 1:45 pm
Pollution Prevention and good Housekeeping
1:45 pm - 4:30 pm
Site Visits (IDDE, Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping,
Construction Sites)
4:30 pm — 5:00 pm
Recap and Planning for Thursday
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Site Visits and/or Follow-up Discussions
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Lunch
1:00 pm — 2:00 pm
Site Visits and/or Follow-up Discussions
2:00 pm — 2:30 pm I Closing Conference/Preliminary Findings
Page t