NC0043796_Draft Permit_20220321

ROY COOPER ,b
Governor z
ELIZABETH S.BISER �✓ a
Secretary
S.DANIEL SMITH NORTH CAROLINA
Director Environmental Quality
March 21,2022
Mr.Alan Faulk
Columbus County Schools/Board of Education
PO Box 729
Whiteville,NC 28472-0729
Subject: DRAFT NPDES PERMIT NC0043796
Acme Delco Elementary School WWTP
Grade I Biological WPCS
[15A NCAC 08G.0302]
Columbus County
Dear Mr.Faulk:
Enclosed with this letter is a copy of the draft permit for your facility. Please review the draft very carefully
to ensure thorough understanding of the conditions and requirements it contains. Your permit is among
several in the Cape Fear River Basin that the Division has targeted for expedited renewal.
This draft contains the following changes from the existing permit:
➢ Electronic Reporting-The language in section A.(3)has been updated to be consistent with the
finalization of federal requirements for electronic reporting
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.The latest
version is available at https://bit.ly/2BZ4xxx and can be viewed online or downloaded as a PDF file.
With this notification,the Division will solicit public comment on this draft permit by publishing a notice
in newspapers having circulation in the general Columbus County area, per EPA requirements. Please
provide your comments,if any,to me no later than 30 days after receiving 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 the draft,please contact
me via email at[[e-mail]]or call 919-707-9125.
Sincerely,
gik041-
Emily Richards
Environmental Specialist II
NPDES Program
ec: NPDES files
Wilmington Regional Office
Nonmt m Quality I W Rerc
D E Q 512rth NorthCaroli SalisbaDeurypart Street
en of 11617 Mail
Environ Serviceental Center I Raleigh,Division Northofater Carolinasou 2769es9-1617
w�sury+� W � �� 919.707.9000

Permit NC0043796
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 provision 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,
Columbus County Schools
is hereby authorized to discharge wastewater from a facility located at the
Acme Delco Elementary School WWTP
16337 Old Lake Road
Riegelwood
µ€ < Columbus County
to receiving waters designated as an unnamed tributary to Pretty Creek in subbasin 05-07-01 of the New River
Basin in accordance with effluent limitations,monitoring requirements,and other conditions set forth in Parts I,II,
III and IV hereof.
This permit shall become effective xxxx
This permit and authorization to discharge shall expire at midnight on November 30,2026.
Signed this day xxxx
S.Daniel Smith,Director
Division of Water Resources
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
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Permit NC0043796
SUPPLEMENT TO PERMIT COVER SHEET
All previous NPDES Permits issued to this facility,whether for operation or discharge are hereby revoked,and as
of this 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.
Columbus County Schools
is hereby authorized to:
1. Continue to operate an existing 0.009 MGD wastewater treatment system with the following
components:
• 9,000-gallon septic tank
• Pump tank
• Float control pump-actuated dosing system
• Recirculating sand filter(ca.2,000 ft2)
• Ultraviolet disinfection system
• Turbine-type flow meter
• High water alarm
The facility is located at the Acme Delco Elementary School WWTP off Old Lake Rd near
Riegelwood in Columbus County.
2. Discharge from said treatment works via Outfall 001, at the location specified on the attached map
into an unnamed tributary to Pretty Creek, [18-64-13] currently classified C; Swamp+waters in
subbasin 03-06-17 [HUC: 0303000504] of the Cape Fear Basin.
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Permit NC0043796
Part I
A. (1) EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
[15A NCAC 02B.0400 et seq., 15A NCAC 02B.0500 et seq.]
Beginning with the effective date of this 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 LIMITATIONS MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
Parameter Code Monthly Daily Measurement Sample Sample
Average Maximum Frequency Type Location
Flow 50050 0.009 MGD Weekly Instantaneous Influent or
Effluent
BOD,5-day,(20°C)—Summer* C0310 5.0 mg/L 7.5 mg/L 2/Month Grab Effluent
BOD,5-day,(20°C)—Winter* C0310 10.0 mg/L 15.0 mg/L 2/Month Grab Effluent
Total Suspended Solids C0530 30.0 mg/L 45.0 mg/L 2/Month Grab Effluent
NH3 as N—Summer* C0610 2.0 mg/L 10.0 mg/L 2/Month Grab Effluent
NH3 as N—Winter* C0610 4.0 mg/L 20.0 mg/L 2/Month Grab Effluent
Dissolved Oxygen 00300 Daily average>6.0 mg/L Weekly Grab Effluent
Dissolved Oxygen 00300 Weekly Grab Upstream&
Downstream 3
Fecal Coliform 31616 200/100 ml 400/100 ml 2/Month Grab Effluent
(geometric mean)
Total Residual Chlorine 2 50060 17 pg/L 2/Week Grab Effluent
Effluent,
Temperature(°C) 00010 Daily Grab Upstream&
Downstream 3
>6.0 and<9.0
pH 00400 2/Month Grab Effluent
standard units
*Summer: April 1 —October 31
*Winter: November 1 —March 31
Footnotes:
1. The permittee shall submit discharge monitoring reports electronically using the NC DWR's eDMR system [see A.(3)].
2. Limits and monitoring apply only if chlorine is added to the treatment system. The Division shall consider all effluent
TRC values reported below 50 µg/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/l.
3. Upstream is at least 100 feet from the outfall. Downstream is at NCSR 1815
THERE SHALL BE NO DISCHARGE OF FLOATING SOLIDS OR VISIBLE FOAM IN OTHER THAN TRACE
AMOUNTS.
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Permit NC0043796
A. (2) PERMIT RE-OPENER: TMDL IMPLEMENTATION
[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,monitoring&reporting requirements and other permit conditions when it deems such action is
necessary to implement TMDL(s)approved by the USEPA.
A. (3) ELECTRONIC REPORTING OF MONITORING REPORTS
[NCGS 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.)and Section E.(5.)(a)1
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://deq.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:
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;
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Permit NC0043796
• Pretreatment Program Annual Reports;and
• Clean Water Act(CWA)Section 316(b)Annual Reports.
The pennittee 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(lx9), 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 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.)(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
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Permit NC0043796
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 cert , 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 offines and imprisonment for knowing violations."
5. Records Retention [Supplements Section D.(6.)l
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].
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