NC0003417_2022 Progress Report 1st Qtr_20220429

RECEIVED/NCDENR/DWP
(� DUKE
ENERGY.:
April 26, 2022
APR 2 9 2022
Water Quality
Regional Operations Section
Washington Regional Office
David May
NC DEQ Water Quality Regional Supervisor
943 Washington Square Mall
Washington, NC 27889
Bob Sledge
Division of Water Resources
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1617
James Wells
Vice President
Environmental, Health and Safety
Programs & Environmental Sciences
526 South Church Street
Charlotte, NC 28202
[phone]
Subject: Report Under Special Order by Consent — EMC SOC WQ S 18-006
Duke Energy Progress, LLC — H.F. Lee Energy Complex
NPDES Permit NC0003417
Quarterly Progress Report for 1st Quarter 2022
Dear Messrs. May and Sledge:
On behalf of Duke Energy Progress, LLC (DEP), I am submitting to you the H.F. Lee Energy
Complex Progress Report summarizing the work and activities undertaken with respect to closure
of coal ash surface impoundments as required Special Order by Consent (SOC), SOC No. S 18-
006 Section 2.b.3).
Please direct any questions concerning the H.F. Lee Energy Complex SOC No. S18-006 to
Shannon Langley at [phone] or [e-mail].
As required by the SOC, 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

Messrs. May and Sledge
April 26, 2022
Page 2
true, accurate, and complete. I am aware that there are significant penalties for submitting false
information, including the possibility of fine and imprisonment for knowing violations.
Sincerely,
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James Wells
Vice President, Environmental, Health & Safety
Programs and Environmental Sciences
Duke Energy
Attachment
H.F. Lee Energy Complex Quarterly Progress Report
CC: Richard Baker - via email, Duke Energy
Joyce Dishmon — via email, Duke Energy
Mike Graham - via email, Duke Energy
Jessica Bednarcik — via email, Duke Energy
Matt Hanchey — via email, Duke Energy
Shannon Langley — via email, Duke Energy
Randy Hart — via email, Duke Energy

NPDES PERMIT NC0003417
SPECIAL ORDER BY CONSENT EMC SOC WQ S18-006
QUARTERLY EXCAVATION PROGRESS REPORT
HF LEE PLANT
APRIL 26, 2022

•
Background and Summary
On January 10, 2019, Duke Energy Progress, LLC (DEP) and the North Carolina Environmental Management
Commission entered into a Special Order by Consent — EMC SOC WQ 518-006 (SOC) applicable to the HF
Lee Plant (HF Lee). This report is submitted in accordance with Section 2.b.3) of the SOC. In compliance
with Section 2.b.3), this report summarizes the work and activities undertaken with respect to decanting
and dewatering work and closure of coal ash surface impoundments at HF Lee. The quarterly reports are
due no later than the 30th day of January, April, July, and October until the completion of two years of
beneficiation operations.
The HF Lee Plant is located in Goldsboro, NC (Wayne County) along the Neuse River. The Plant began
commercial operation in 1951. The plant's three coal-fired units were retired in September 2012. In
December 2012, the HF Lee Combined Cycle Plant was brought on-line, which applies two sources of
energy, via combustion and steam turbines, to convert natural gas to electricity. The Coal Combustion
Residuals (CCR) basins associated with the historical coal-fired energy generation are also located on the
site.
The HF Lee Plant has four regulated CCR basins on site and a Lay of the Land Area (LOLA). The ash basins
cover approximately 314 acres (excluding LOLA). The basins are referred to as:
• Basin 1 or 1950 Inactive CCR Basin (State ID WAYNE-031)
• Basin 2 or 1955 Inactive CCR Basin (State ID WAYNE-032)
• Basin 3 or 1962 Inactive CCR Basin (State ID WAYNE-033)
• Active Basin or 1982 CCR Basin (State ID WAYNE-022)
HF Lee was chosen on December 13,2016, as an ash beneficiation site required by NC House Bill 630. NC
House Bill 630 also requires that such sites shall be closed no later than December 31, 2029. Excavation
of ash from the HF Lee site for beneficial use will occur over multiple years. Construction activities began
in February 2019. Ash removed from the site will be beneficiated by SEFA, with whom Duke Energy has
entered into an agreement to process and sell ash from the HF Lee Basins for use in the concrete industry.
Operation of the plant commenced in Q3 2020.
Excavation of HF Lee's Active Ash Basin began on September 16, 2020 and is ongoing. As of March 31,
2022, total ash excavated at HF Lee is approximately 411,475 tons.
Decanting and Dewatering Status
Prior to the Special Order by Consent, Duke Energy commenced decanting of the HF Lee Active Ash Basin
HF Lee: 2

on November 27, 2017. Decanting was completed on November 2, 2018. Duke Energy performed
periodic maintenance decanting to maintain the ash basin in a decanted state until dewatering of the
Active Ash Basin began on July 16, 2019. Dewatering will continue throughout beneficial reuse and
closure. NPDES permit modification approval was received on March 4, 2020 for two new outfalls to
support dewatering activities in the inactive ash basins 1, 2, and 3, once excavations begin.
HF Lee: 3