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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMarshall Steam Station (9)or f, z,-, P-- EneFgy -0 May 1, 2012 Mr Matt Matthews Section Chief Surface Water Protection Section North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources 1617 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1617 Subject Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC Stormwater Permitting Proposal Dear Mr. Matthews 526 South Church St Charlotte, NC 28202 Mailing Address PO Sox 1006 Mail Code EC13K Charlotte, NC 28201-1006 704 382 6240 fax J DENR - WATER OUALIly SURFACE WATER PROTECTION SECTIOPJ As a follow up to our recent discussions and meetings regarding draft DWQ stormwater permits, Duke Energy proposes the following stormwater permitting protocol for our steam electric facilities located in North Carolina a Duke Energy supports permit requirements for semi-annual quantitative monitoring for TSS and pH for any stormwater outfalls that discharge runoff from coal storage piles directly into waters of the state as required under effluent guidelines. At the present time, Duke has no such outfalls at our facilities All stormwater runoff from our coal storage piles is directed into coal ash ponds that have NPDES discharge permits that include appropriate monitoring requirements b As a general indicator for our system of coal-fired power plants, Duke supports semi- annual quantitative monitoring for TSS and pH from representative outfalls at Plant Allen and Riverbend Representative outfalls to be monitored are SW005, SW008, SW011 and SW015 (Plant Allen), and are SWO02 and SWO03 (Riverbend) c Duke Energy supports permit requirements for semi-annual quantitative monitoring at representative outfalls for any parameter associated with our operations if there is an in - stream impairment for that parameter Monitoring will be discontinued following two consecutive non -detect results d Duke Energy cannot support monitoring for mercury at our stormwater outfalls based on a 303(d) listing that has been established without supporting fish tissue data Duke has submitted comments on this issue previously The DWQ/DAQ point effort to establish a TMDL for mercury has shown that the mercury in fish tissue is not a result of water discharges, and has shown that air emissions from NC utilities are responsible for much less than half of the mercury in NC surface waters This point effort has also shown that, with the scheduled retirements and upgrades to our facilities, utility air emissions in NC are appropriately controlled www duke -energy com Duke Energy supports semi-annual qualitative monitoring at representative outfalls for all of our coal-fired power plants that have active NPDES ash basin discharge permits This monitoring will involve characterizing collected samples for color, odor, clarity, presence of floating solids, settled solids, suspended solids, foam, oil sheen, or other indications of stormwater pollution Representative outfalls to be monitored are SW005, SW008, SW011 and SW015 (Plant Allen), SWO02 and SWO03 (Riverbend), SWO03 and SWO07 (Marshall), and SW002, SWO05 and SW073 (Buck). g Duke Energy supports development and implementation of stormwater pollution prevention plans as drafted by DWQ with certain exceptions Duke Energy does not support the requirement for a feasibility study, and does not support the requirement for a written rationale for installation and implementation of BMPs Duke Energy believes that stormwater permits with these conditions are consistent with general permits for steam electric facilities in other states, and are appropriate and reasonable given the substantial data available on the health of receiving waters and the biological conditions where our facilities have operated for decades Such terms as proposed by Duke Energy are sufficient to meet regulatory requirements Duke Energy would also support DWQ development of a NPDES General Permit for steam electric facilities provided that it adheres to the conditions expressed above Duke Energy believes that this approach could be efficient and cost effective for both DWQ and permittees, especially during the permit renewal process Please contact Mark McGary@duke-energy com or at 704-634-7098 if you have any questions or need any additional information Sincerely, ZI� 2 -/-- C,�.y Mark McGary, P E Environmental, Health & Safety