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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNC0044440_Speculative Limits_20000511NPDES DOCUMENT 5CANNINO COVER SHEET NC0044440 Cherryville WWTP NPDES Permit: Document Type: Permit Issuance Wasteload Allocation Authorization to Construct (AtC) Permit Modification Complete File - Historical Engineering Alternatives (EAA) Correspondence Owner Name Change Technical Correction Instream Assessment (67b) Speculative Limits Environmental Assessment (EA) Document Date: May 11, 2000 This document its printed au reuse paper - iguare any content au the resrerse aside :'-'',B-ILL HOLMAN ',_ EGR ETARY ve - illlki kL'r.. i�. .ate •k't•st NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION OF WATER QUALITY May 11, 2000 Ms. Janice Hovis City Manager City of Cherryville 116 South Mountain Street Cherryville, NC 28021 Subject: Speculative Limits Request Town of Cherryville WWTP NPDES Permit No. NC0044440 Gaston County Dear Ms. Hovis: The Division of Water Quality has completed its evaluation of your request for speculative limits for Town of Cherryville's wastewater treatment facility discharging to the Indian Creek. You specifically requested speculative limits for a wasteflow of 4.0 MGD. Based on available information, the tentative effluent limitations are as follows for a 4.0 MGD discharge at this location: BOD5 (mg/L) NH3-N (mg/L) DO (mg/L) TSS (mg/L) Fecal Coliform (#/100 ml) pH (SU) Chlorine (µg/L) (daily max) Copper (µg/L) (daily max) Zinc (µg/L) (daily max) Cadmium (µg/L) (daily max) Nickel (µg/L) (daily max) Lead (µg/L) (daily max) Cyanide (µg/L) (daily max) Chromium (µg/L) (daily max) Summer Winter 30 30 1.8 5.9 5 5 30 30 200 200 6-9 6-9 28 28 Quarterly Monitoring Quarterly Monitoring Quarterly Monitoring Quarterly Monitoring Quarterly Monitoring Quarterly Monitoring Quarterly Monitoring The specified ammonia limits are necessary to protect the Indian Creek from toxic effects. Following current EPA guidance, DWQ is using instream ammonia criteria of 1 mg/L during the summer and 1.8 mg/L during the winter, under 7Q10 flow conditions. The 7Q10 estimate used by the DWQ for this location on the Indian Creek is 6.1 cfs based on flow data from the downstream gage. Flows from this gage include effects from both the current water withdrawal and wastewater discharge. To determine the final effluent limitations the 7Q10 flow may be adjusted to consider the effect of additional water withdrawal by the City of Cherryville from Indian Creek. Please notify the DWQ of any change in water withdrawal from Indian Creek. A C 1 C M = O l a 1 1 1617 MAIL SERVICE CENTER, RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA 27699-1617 website: h2o.enr.state.nc.us PHONE 919-733-5083 FAX 91.9-733-9919 AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY / AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER - SO% RECYCLED/10% POST -CONSUMER PAPER This speculative analysis includes monitoring requirements for metals or other toxicant parameters included in the current permit. If an NDPES permit is requested, a new evaluation of the constituents present in the discharge would be necessary. The instream waste concentration (IWC) at which limits for toxic substances will be calculated is 50% for a 4.0 MGD discharge. The facility will be required to meet a whole effluent toxicity test limit. A chronic (Ceriodaphnia) test must be performed quarterly with a pass/fail limit at a test concentration of 50%. Under current DWQ procedure, dechlorination and chlorine limits are recommended for all new or expanding dischargers proposing the use of chlorine for disinfection. An acceptable level of residual chlorine in the effluent of this plant in order to protect against acute toxicity is 28 µg/L. If the facility utilizes UV disinfection with a backup chlorine system, the chlorine limit will apply only when the backup chlorine disinfection system is in operation. Any future permits will include monitoring requirements for the limited parameters. The permit will also require monitoring for parameters without specified effluent limitations, and monitoring of both the effluent and the receiving stream, as does the current permit. Instream monitoring requirements will be modified to reflect applicable monitoring agreements with the Division. Additional Considerations The speculative limits presented here are based on our understanding of the proposal and of present environmental conditions. Over time these conditions may change or additional information may become available. Please be aware that response to this request for speculative limits does not guarantee that the Division of Water Quality will issue an NPDES permit for an expansion to a 4.0 MGD discharge to the location. Nor can we guarantee that the effluent limitations and other requirements included in any permit will be exactly as presented here. Final decisions on these matters will be made only after the Division receives and evaluates a formal permit application for the proposed discharge. Environmental Assessments of New Projects and Expansions The environmental impacts of the proposed discharge must be evaluated prior to the filing of a permit application. Anyone proposing to construct new or expanded waste treatment facilities using public funds or public (state) lands must first prepare an environmental assessment (EA) when wastewater flows (1) equal or exceed 0.5 MGD or (2) exceed one-third of the 7Q10 flow of the receiving stream. The Division will not accept a permit application for a project requiring an environmental assessment until the Division has approved the EA and sent a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) to the state Clearinghouse for review and comment. The Environmental Assessment should contain a clear justification for the flow. It should provide a comprehensive analysis of potential alternatives to relocation, including a thorough evaluation of non -discharge alternatives. 2 Nondischarge alternatives to relocation --such as spray irrigation, water conservation, and inflow and infiltration reduction --are considered to be environmentally preferable to a surface water discharge. In accordance with the North Carolina General Statutes, the preferred alternative must be the practicable waste treatment and disposal alternative with the least adverse impact on the environment is required to be implemented. If the EA demonstrates that the project may result in a significant adverse effect on the quality of the environment, you must then prepare an Environmental Impact Statement. Gloria Putnam of the Water Quality Planning Branch can provide additional information regarding the requirements of the N.C. Environmental Policy Act. You can contact Ms. Putnam directly at (919) 733-5083, ext. 567. The above limits are to assist you in your planning and engineering analyses and are speculative. Please note that prior to any DWQ approval of the expansion, you will need to demonstrate compliance with the speculative limits. Final NDPES effluent limitations will be determined after a formal permit application has been submitted to the Division. If there are any additional questions concerning this matter, please feel free to contact either Adugna Kebede (ext. 515) or me (ext. 517) at (919) 733-5083. Sincerely, David A. Goodrich Supervisor, NPDES Unit Water Quality Section cc: Mooresville Regional Office, Water Quality Section Central Files NPDES Permit Files Adugna Kebede VA NCDENR JAMES B. HUNT. J R: GOVERNOR. BILL HOLMAN SECRETARY NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES December 10, 1999 MEMORANDUM �'� s TO: Recil Wright,Wrightht, Wri & Associates Q, eLe � FROM: Jim Mead, Division of Water Resources ,`\.\ 03L''(\l°0;w1/4,k° SUBJECT: City of Cherryville Gaston County Proposed Water Withdrawal Expansion from Indian Creek P P This memo summarizes the background information and Division of Water Resources' concerns regarding the City of Cherryville's proposal to increase their existing withdrawal from Indian Creek. The habitat rating developed for Indian Creek by the Division of Water Resources (DWR) and the Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC) is also described, along with how it applies to minimum flow requirements downstream of the intake. The City of Cherryville ("the City") has an existing intake on Indian Creek at a drainage area of 39 square miles. The intake is located at a low weir, with • minimal on -stream storage. The existing water supply withdrawal is presently limited to a capacity of 3.2 million gallons per day (mgd). According to the 1997 Local Water Supply Plan information, the'City's average water use is 1.6 mgd, with a maximum daily use of 2.485 mgd. The City is exploring the possibility of expanding their withdrawal from Indian Creek to between 4.8 and 5.0 mgd. The 7-day, 10-year low flow (7Q10) at the water supply intake is estimated to be between 5.0 and 6.8 cubic feet per second (cfs) , or between 3.2 and 4.4 mgd. This means that the existing withdrawal capacity of 3.2 mgd is approximately 73% to 100% of the 7Q10. A new withdrawal of this size relative to the 7Q10 flow would not be permitted without an environmental study to evaluate instream flow concerns. Minimum criteria subject to 15A NCAC 1 C.0504(3)(b) require this level of environmental documentation for any withdrawal greater than or equal to 20% of the 7Q10 low flow. In other words, if there was no existing intake on Indian Creek and this was a proposal for a new withdrawal, its size would be limited to between 0.64 and 0.88 mgd in the absence of additional environmental studies and review. 1 2 • - 0 I •-a0,-a:3 MAILING ADDRESS: 1611 MAIL SERVICE CENTER, RALEIGH. NC 27699-161 1 PHYSICAL ADDRESS: 512 N. SALISBURY STREET, RALEIGH, NC 27604 PHONE 919-733-40F,4 FAX L 19-733-3559 AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY / AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER - 5O% RECYCLED/1O% POST -CONSUMER PAP,' Memorandum from Jim Mead to Recil Wright, 12/10/99 City of Cherryville Intake, Page 2 The proposed expansion to between 4.8 and 5.0 mgd amounts to 109% to 155% of the 7Q10 (depending on the water supply amount and the range of 7Q10 estimates). DWR has informed the City that this will not be permitted without additional study and review to address instream flow concerns. The first step in this process was to see if a desktop approach could be applied to determine a minimum flow to maintain aquatic habitat downstream of the intake. WRC and DWR staff conducted a site visit on October 14, 1999 to evaluate habitat quality according to procedures described in 15A NCAC 2K O501. Based on field data collected during that visit, instream cover was rated "moderate" and substrate was rated "poor." Existing data on stream macroinvertebrates is available for Indian Creek from the Division of Water Quality's Biological Monitoring Ambient Network that indicates the macroinvertebrate rating is "good." Therefore the overall habitat rating for the section of Indian Creek affected by the withdrawal is "moderate." Since this site is located in the piedmont region and has a moderate habitat rating, the regression formula described in 15A NCAC 2K 0502 (c) (2) (C) can be applied to determine the minimum flow to maintain aquatic habitat. Using flow statistics from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) gaging station on Indian Creek (station 02143500) ratioed by drainage area to the intake site, the minimum flow determined by the regression formula is 15.4 cubic feet per second, or about 10 mgd. Because the existing 3.2 mgd capacity is existing infrastructure in which the City has invested and planned for, this amount of withdrawal will not be subject to any new instream flow requirements; even though it greatly exceeds 20% of the 7Q10 flow. However, any increase above 3.2 mgd would only be permitted. when a minimum flow requirement can be met downstream of the intake. For example, suppose the City chose to expand the withdrawal capacity to 4.8 mgd and water demand reached 3.5 mgd. A withdrawal of 3.2 mgd could continue without restrictions, but the remaining 0.3 mgd of the total demand would only be available from Indian Creek when a flow of 15.4 cfs could be maintained downstream of the intake. In other words, inflows upstream of the intake would have to be at or above 13.5 mgd (3.5 mgd withdrawal plus 10 mgd minimum flow -by). During times when flows in Indian Creek could not satisfy both an expanded water supply withdrawal and the instream flow requirement, the withdrawal would be restricted. Some portion of the new increment of water withdrawal would have to be met by other means, including: water conservation measures; supplemental withdrawals from offstream storage; an additional source of water, such as well(s) or another surface water source; purchase of water through an interconnection with another water system; or some combination of the preceding alternatives. Memorandum from Jim Mead to Recil Wright, 12/10/99 City of Cherryville Intake, Page 3 Nearly half of the City's water use is industrial, with a large percentage going to a single textile plant. If there are ways for this plant to use less water, this would greatly extend the City's water supply. The Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance offers free consulting services to see if such savings are possible. They can be contacted at 800/763-0136, or visit their Internet site at http://www.p2pays.ore/. The City could also evaluate the amount of unaccounted for water in its system to see if a significant portion is being lost. Reducing such losses is another approach to extending the life span of a given amount of water supply. DWR's Water Supply Planning Section can offer assistance in this kind of effort. Using the minimum flow determination of 15.4 cfs, the City should have sufficient information to evaluate the flow available for water supply use in Indian Creek and the viability of various water supply options. For example, by using the USGS stream gage record a drought analysis could be performed to determine how much water might need to be stored offstream to satisfy water demands during a period when withdrawals from the creek would be restricted. The Wooten Company recently performed a similar analysis and we have attached a page of their spreadsheet as an example. Another option available at this point is a more complex field study to determine if the desktop minimum flow of 15.4 cfs can be reduced. This would require use of the Instream Flow Incremental Methodology (IFIM) to evaluate the relationship between instream flows and habitat for selected aquatic species in Indian Creek. Such a study would be performed by a consultant with IFIM training and would require at least three field visits to collect data at flows ranging from low to the higher side of moderate. Obtaining suitable flow conditions in an unregulated stream depends on precipitation, and can result in such a study taking a year or more to complete. DWR can provide a list of consultants with IFIM training upon request. Lastly, the City should be aware that there are other concerns associated with this proposed intake expansion beyond maintaining downstream physical habitat. The Division of Environmental Health's Public Water Supply Section (PWS) will consider whether the available source(s) of water are sufficient to meet the demand of any expanded capacity. The Environmental Assessment required for a water supply expansion project is submitted for review through that agency. 3 Memorandum from Jim Mead to ReciI Wright, 12/10/99 City of Cherryville Intake, Page 4 There are also potential concerns regarding how the proposed expansion of the withdrawal from Indian Creek would affect the proper assimilation of treated effluent discharged farther downstream by the City. The intake is located at a drainage area of 39 square miles and the outfall is at 46.4 square miles. The 7Q10 flow used by the Division of Water Quality (DWQ) to set effluent limits for the City's wastewater treatment plant' is 6.1 cfs. It is possible that this assumed dilution flow did not account for the City's existing withdrawal capacity of 3.2 mgd upstream. Expanding the withdrawal and reducing the assimilative flow could result in more stringent limits on effluent quality and the associated increase in wastewater treatment costs. This would also depend on whether the City's present level of wastewater treatment has a "cushion" that would allow technological improvements in effluent quality. We encourage you to contact DWQ regarding this water quality issue before proceeding too far with plans and studies for any withdrawal expansion from Indian Creek. The modeler for the Catawba basin is Michelle Woolfolk, who can be reached at 919/733-5083. We are pleased that the City is considering its future water supply options before a crisis level has been reached. The current average demand is about 50% of the capacity and the maximum daily demand is about 78% of capacity. Now is a good time to plan for future water needs so that there is time to identify and develop the best alternative. Contact me at 919/715-5428 if you have questions regarding instream flow concerns. Ken Ashe in DWR's Water Supply Planning Section (919/715-5443) can address questions regarding water supply yields and drought analysis. attachment cc: Tony Young, Ken Ashe, and John Sutherland - DWR Doug Besler and Ron Linville - WRC Michelle Woolfolk and Ruth Swanek - DWQ Jessica Miles - PWS Britt Setzer - Mooresville Regional Office, PWS Janice Hovis - Cherryville City Manager 4 -Inn 1, 1954 • Sool 25. 11958 r-t./ems • r•'cit_•ra'. - VMnno of Resenuk Is 22 m9. gel- - Maximum withdrawal from creek le 2.4 mgd when minimum release of 4.9 rood befog met. • WLnn mkdnnrm wt./rd.-All Is mot, additional wafer can be used to rolW resarv0k. • 5Vlmn mkdmrm w'Ordr00l Is nod met and demand Is len Than 1.6 mgd, additional walor can be used to relit resorvok. • When 'Milkmen retort, of 4.9 rogd carrot bo mol and Resorvok Is greater Ilan half full- 1.6 mgd Is maximum wklxlrawal, • Minn minimum retea:.n o14.9 mgd carrot be mel and lleservok Is less Man hall lull but gassier than 0, 2.0 mg) Is maximum withdrawal. - When minimum rnloa^•e of 4.9 mod cannot be mol and Reservoir empty, 2.4 mod Is maximum withdrawal. - 30 Day low Flow M Sept 10, 1054 • October 10, 1054 w411 hove a daily demand d 2.4 mod. - Demand Includes .tin 1, 1997 8w Dec 31, 1997 and Sopl 1, 1998 • Aug 31, 1999 • fn a closer a its n' the derivation u1 Tom's Crook Flow sae 61e AVERAGE.XLS. (J) _ Dale of Flow fom's Creek Flow In mgd' WII Minimum Relents be Mel7 Dale o1 Demand Waler Demand M mod Withdrawal 8 Reservoirs 1 1 Withdrawal 6 Reservoir .0 Withdrawal' , 8 Reservoir . 0 Withdrawal Dom Crook. Withdrawal from Creek to Reservoir Wi drawal:ran Creek to Oomard Withdrawal Iran Reservoir to Demand Amami Available l01111 Reservoir Amami Noricum 10 1111 Reservoir A.naau In Reservoir 1•Jon•51 7.00 yos I-Jen97 _ _ b ^h .� m m = a x: m= : �, o oO m g m m .! : n a ti N N u ti < b h q 0 0 0 C O N^ N^^ O G CI ^ 0 0^ N N 0 0 N N IV ^ 0 0 • 0 0^ ^ 0 0 0^^ FALSE FALSE - FALSE o O O v NN oo O O^ G ee z 0--.N 8 N + 0 0-D^ N^^ O § qqpp 00000 mm g T a P p i b+ m m 13 S u 0 a U ti 3 b O N 8 D O g E U N N N 9 b+ O N N m 0 NI 0.000 0.605 0.000 0.000 0000 22000 22.000 2•Ja0-54 6.92 yos 2•Jan97 FALSE FALSE • ' FALSE 0.000 0.658 0.000 1,158 0.000 22.000 3•Jor1.54 692 yos 3-Jan-97 FALSE FALSE FALSE 0.000 0.918 0.000 1.090 0.000 22 G00 4 .fare 54 6.85 yes 4-Jar1'97 FALSE FALSE FALSE 0.000 0 962 0.000 0992 0 000 22.00) 5•171n•S1 6.77 yos 542n.97 FALSE FALSE FALSE 0.000 0.762 0.000 1.10.1 0.000 21.460 8 1am54 6.77 no 8•Jan-97 1.600 FALSE FALSE 0.000 1 600 0.520 0.000 0.000 21 511 7•-tan54 6.60 yes 7•Jan-97 FALSE FALSE FALSE 0054 1.643 0.000 0.054 0.520 0.466 21 058 ian•6.1 6.57 no 9Jan-97 1.600 FALSE FALSE 0.000 1000 0.475 0.000 21 379 o• an•54 6.72 yos 9.Jan-97 FALSE FALSE FALSE 0.320 1.501 0.000 0.320 0.942 10.Ian51 6.08 yos 10•Jan-97 FALSE FALSE FALSE 0.184 1.774 0.000 0.184 0.621 '0.437 21563 22 000 11!an.54 19.10 yes II-Jan-97 FALSE FALSE FALSE • 0.437 0.901 0.000 1.499 0.000 22000 12-Jan-54 12.20 yes 12-Jan-97 FALSE FALSE FALSE 0.000 0.415 0.000 1.925 0.000 22.000 13-Jan 94 8.12 yes 13.Jan-97 FALSE FALSE FALSE 0.000 1.875 0.000 0.525 0000 22.000 14..Inn-54 10.78 yes 14-Jan-97 FALSE FALSE FALSE 0.000 1.675 0.000 0.725 0.000 22000 15.•lan 54 11.14 yos 15•Jan-97 FALSE FALSE FALSE 0.000 2.101 0.000 0.299 •�'-' 0.000 22 000 16•Jarr 54 59.55 yes 10-Jan•97 FALSE FALSE FALSE 0.000 1.875 0.000 0.i5 0.000 22000 17•Jan.64 26.12 yos 17-.Ian-97 FALSE FALSE FALSE 0.000 1.600 0.000 0.800 0.000 22000 18.Ian54 15.93 yes 18•Jen•97 FALSE FALSE FALSE 0.000 0 701 0.000 1.699 0.000 22 000 19.lan-E4 13.29 yes 19-Jan'97 FALSE FALSE FALSE 0 000 0.450 0.000 1.950 0.000 22.000 20Jan-54 12,19 yes 20•Jan•97 FALSE FALSE FALSE 0.000 1.574 0.000 0.828 0.000 22.000 21-Jan'54 17.60 yos 21•Jan-97 FALSE FALSE FALSE 0.000 2.000 0.000 0.400 0.000 22 000 22-Jan 54 169.94 yes 22-Jan•97 FALSE FALSE FALSE 0-000 2.029 0.000 0.371 0584 0.000 22.000 23Jan•51 85.91 yos 23•Jen97 FALSE FALSE FALSE 0.000 1.816 0.000 0.694 0.000 22.000 24Jan-54 3288 yes 24-Jan-97 FALSE FALSE FALSE 0.000 1.708 0.000 1.611 0.000 22000 25-Jar1.54 23.91 yos 25-Jan-97 FALSE FALSE, • FALSE 0.000 0.789 19.000 0.000 1.603 0.000 22.000 26•Jon.54 20.44 yes 26-Jan•97 FALSE FALSE FALSE 0.000 0.797 0.643 0.000 22 000 27.Jen.54 19.12 yes 27-Jen.97 FALSE FALSE FALSE 0.000 1.757 0.000 0.385 0.000 22 000 28-Jarl•54 15 35 yes 20•Jan-97 FALSE FALSE FALSE 0.000 2.035 0.000 0.306 0.000 22000 29•Jon 51 14.13 yos 29Jan•97 FALSE FALSE FALSE 0.000 2.094 0.000 0.360 0.000 22.000 30-Jan-54 13.06 yos 30•Jan•97 FALSE FALSE FALSE 0.000 2.040 0.000 0.595 0.000 22.000 11•-larl 5.1 12.33 yes 31•Jan-97 FALSE FALSE FALSE 0.000 1,805 0.000 0.000 1.600 0.000 22.000 1•Fa6•54 11,68 yes I •Fe5•97 FALSE FALSE • FALSE 0.000 0800 0.000 7.451 0.000 22.000 2•Fel, 54 11.15 yes 2•Fob-97 FALSE FALSE FALSE 0.000 0.949 0000 0.734 0.000 22.000 3-Feb.5.1 10.93 yes 3.Feb•97 FALSE FALSE FALSE 0.000 1.660 0.566 0.000 22.000 4-1•al1•51 10.54 yes 4.Fob•97 FALSE FALSE FALSE 0.000 1.834 0.000 0000 0,402 0.000 22.000 5 Feb•5.1 10.63 yea 5-Feb-97 FALSE FALSE FALSE 0.000 1.998 0.000 0.691 0.000 22000 6•fob-54 10.18 yes 11Feb-97 FALSE FALSE FALSE 0.000 1.709 0.000 0.946 • 0000 22 000 74'.1r 54 9.50 yes 7-Feb.97 FALSE FALSE FALSE 0.000 1.454 0.000 1.672 0.000 22.00L' 0Fnb.54 9.08 yos' A.Feb•97 FALSE FALSE FALSE 0 000 0728 1.548 0.000 22,000 9Feb•54 9.32 yes 9.Feb-97 FALSE FALSE FALSE 0.000 0854 0.000 0.000 0 669 0.000 22.000 10 F01154 8.99 yes ' I0.Feb-97 FALSE FALSE FALSE 0.000 1.731 0.000 0 974 0.000 22.000 11 Foh.54 8.89 yes 11-Feb-97 FALSE FALSE FALSE 0.000 1.426 0.000 1.104 0.000 22.000 12 F•'tr 54 8.74 yes 12-Feb-97 FALSE FALSE FALSE 0.000 1.216 0.000 0.779 0.000 22.000 13 eel• 54 941 yos 13.Feb 97- FALSE FALSE FALSE 0.000 1.621 1.656 0.000 22.000 14 Felt 54 8.50 yea 14-Fob-97 FALSE FALSE FALSE 0,000 0.744 0.000 1.824 0.000 22000 15.Fnit.54 8.50 yea 15'Fo0-07 FALSE FALSE FALSE 0.000 0.576 0.000 1.696 0.000 22.000 16. Fe1, 5.1 8.65 yos 18.Fob•97 FALSE FALSE FALSE 0.000 0.702 0000 0.950 0.000 22.000 17 F••1,54 10.34 yos 17•Fob'97 FALSE FALSE FALSE 0.000 1.450 0.000 0.000 0.403 0.000 22.000 I01'e'7.54 9.10 yos 16.Feb-97 FALSE FALSE FALSE 0.000 1.997