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Home My WebLink AboutNC0020443_Permit (Modification) DRAFT Binder_20220712 North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality  Division of Water Resources 512 North Salisbury Street  1617 Mail Service Center  Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617 -- 919.707.3616 ROY COOPER Governor ELIZABETH BISER Secretary RICHAED E RICHARD E. ROGERS, Jr. Director July 12, 2022 Rhett White, Town Manager Town of Columbia P.O. Box 361 Columbia, N.C. 27925 Subject: Issuance of NPDES Permit NC0020443 Columbia WWTP, WPCS Grade WW-2 604 N. Road Street Extension, Columbia Tyrrell County Mr. White: In response to your request to renew the subject NPDES permit, received June 8, 2022, the Division of Water Resources (DWR or the Division) hereby transmits this draft for your review and comment. Please review this document carefully to assure your understanding of the permit limits and monitoring conditions, and to correct errors, if any. Concurrent with this notification, the Division will solicit public comment on this draft by publishing a notice in newspapers having circulation in the general Jackson County area, as required by the NPDES Program. Please provide your written comments, if any, to me via email [joe.corporon@ncdenr.gov], or write to my attention care of NCDEQ / DWR / NPDES Program no later than August 15, 2022, approximately 30 days after receiving this letter. Your written comments are welcome but they are not mandatory. SUMMARY OF RENEWAL CHANGES The Division understands from your application to renew that The Town of Columbia (Columbia) has made no significant alterations to the subject wastewater treatment system since last renew. We have therefore made only minimal changes to your permit including updating permit text and site vicinity map. The NPDES standard conditions (Parts II, III, and IV), are part of this permit but are not included in this draft document (cover, map, and Part I). The latest version of Parts II, III, and IV are available at https://bit.ly/2BZ4xxx and can be viewed online or downloaded as a PDF file. Daniel Davis, Director of Utilities Renewal - Draft Permit Review July 2022 Page 2 Following the mandatory 45-day public comment period, the Division will review all pertinent comments, if any, and take appropriate action prior to issuing an NPDES permit final. If you have questions, please email the undersigned at [joe.corporon@ncdenr.gov]. Much of NC State Government may currently function remotely considering emergency response to Covid 19, therefore correspondence via email is preferred. Respectfully, _______________________________ Joe R. Corporon, P.G. DEQ / DWR / NPDES Enclosure: NPDES Permit NC0020443 (renewal DRAFT) ec: NPDES Program Files / Laserfiche [draft permit and Fact Sheet] WARO/SWPS, Robert Bullock, Robert Tankard, Supervisor OCU, Maureen Kinney Permit NC0020443 Page 1 of 6 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES PERMIT TO DISCHARGE WASTEWATER UNDER THE NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (NPDES) In compliance with the provisions 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, the Town of Columbia is hereby authorized to discharge wastewater from a facility located at the Columbia WWTP 604 N. Road Street Extension (NCSR 1209), Columbia Tyrrell County to receiving waters designated as the Scuppernong River in the Pasquotank 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 _____________, 2022. This permit and authorization to discharge shall expire at midnight on December 31, 2027. Signed this day _______________, 2022. Richard E. Rogers, Jr., Director Division of Water Resources By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission Permit NC0020443 Page 2 of 6 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 described herein. Town of Columbia is hereby authorized to: 1. continue to operate an existing 0.600 MGD wastewater treatment plant utilizing;  influent flow meter  a mechanical bar screen with manual bar screen bypass  aerated grit removal system  two (2) each 375,000-gallon oxidation ditches [w/ return-activated sludge]  four (4) each 65,000 gallon, 30-ft diameter clarifiers  one RAS tank [10,000-gal w/ centrifuge return]  one 200,000-gallon aerated sludge holding tank  one 154,000-gallon aerated sludge holding tank  one 52,000-gallon sludge digester  effluent pump station with chlor/dechlor, dosing and chemical contact o two (2) each 2.5-gph pumps [chemical-feed, diaphragm] o one 12,000-gal wastewater holding tank [disinfection [NaClO] chlorine-contact] o two (2) each 11,500-gal post-aeration basins o one 10,000-gal dechlor tank for dechlor mixing [CaO3S2]  outfall pump station with two (2) each 20-hp effluent pumps [vertical turbine]  effluent flow meter  a 34-ft instream effluent diffuser assembly  standby generator these facilities located at the Columbia WWTP, 604 N. Road Street Extension (NCSR 1209) near Columbia in Tyrrell County; and 2. discharge from said treatment works via Outfall 001, at a location specified on the attached map, into the Scuppernong River [Stream Index 30-14-4-(9)], a waterbody currently classified SC within hydrological unit 03-01-53 [HUC: 03010205] of the Pasquotank River Basin. Permit NC0020443 Page 3 of 6 PART I A. (1.) EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS [15A NCAC 02B .0400 et seq., 02B .0500 et seq.] Biological WPCS Grade II WWTP [15A NCAC 08G.0302] During the period beginning on the effective date of the permit and lasting until expiration, the Permittee is authorized to discharge 0.600 MGD of treated wastewater from Outfall 001. Such discharges shall be limited, monitored, and reported 1 by the Permittee as specified below: EFFLUENT CHARACTERISTIC [Parameter Codes] LIMITS MONITORING REQUIREMENTS Monthly Average Weekly Average Daily Maximum Measurement Frequency Sample Type Sample Location 2 Flow (MGD) 50050 0.600 MGD Continuous Recording I or E Temperature (°C) 00010 Monitor & Report Daily Grab E Total Residual Chlorine 3 50060 13 µg/L 3/Week Grab E BOD 5-day, 20°C 4 00310 7.0 mg/L 10.5 mg/L 3/Week Composite I, E Total Suspended Solids 4 00530 30.0 mg/L 45.0 mg/L 3/Week Composite I, E Ammonia Nitrogen (NH3 as N) CO610 2.0 mg/L 6.0 mg/L 3/Week Composite E Enterococci 5 61211 35 / 100 mL 276 / 100 mL 3/Week Grab E Dissolved Oxygen (DO) 00300 Daily average > 6.0 mg/L 3/Week Grab E pH 00400 > 6.8 and < 8.5 standard units 3/Week Grab E Total Phosphorus (mg/L) CO665 Monitor & Report Quarterly Composite E TKN (mg/L) 6 NO3-N + NO2-N (mg/L) 6 TN (mg/L) 6 00625 00630 CO600 Monitor & Report Monitor & Report Monitor & Report Quarterly Quarterly Quarterly Composite Composite Calculated E E E Mercury 7 COMER Monitor & Report Once (1) per permit cycle Grab E Notes: 1. The Permittee shall submit monthly Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs) electronically using DWR’s Electronic Discharge Monitoring Report [eDMR] Program, as detailed herein [see Section A. (2)]. 2. I = Influent; E = Effluent 3. Total Residual Chlorine (TRC). The Division shall consider compliant all effluent TRC values re ported below 50 µg/L. However, the Permittee shall continue to record and submit all values reported by North Carolina-certified test methods (including field certified), even if these values fall below 50 µg/L. 4. The monthly average effluent BOD5 and Total Suspended Solids concentrations shall not exceed 15% of the respective influent value (i.e., 85% removal required). 5. Enterococci shall be calculated using the geometric mean in accord with procedure detailed in Part II., Section A. 6. For a given wastewater sample, TN = TKN + NO3-N + NO2-N, where TN is Total Nitrogen, TKN is Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen, and NO3-N and NO2-N are Nitrate and Nitrite Nitrogen, respectively. 7. Low-level mercury sampling and analysis protocols are required using EPA Method 1631E. Sample to be collected within one (1) year of expiration, results to be included with the next Application to Renew. Permit NC0020443 Page 4 of 6 Conditions: Sample effluent downstream of all treatment, prior to mixing with receiving waters. Discharge shall contain no floating solids or foam visible in other than trace amounts. A. (2.) NUTRIENT REOPENER [G.S. 143-215.3(a)(2) or [G.S. 143-215.66] The Division may modify, or revoke and reissue this permit to include revised effluent limitations for nutrients, depending: ➢ on findings of a study by the Division to determine if nutrient control is necessary; ➢ if local actions do not successfully reduce nutrient loading to the receiving waters; ➢ on the onset of problem conditions in the receiving waters. A. (3.) ELECTRONIC REPORTING OF DISCHARGE MONITORING REPORTS [G.S. 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)] 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 Permit NC0020443 Page 5 of 6 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; • Pretreatment Program Annual Reports; and • Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 316(b) Annual Reports. The permittee 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(l)(9), 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. Permit NC0020443 Page 6 of 6 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)] 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 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 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, true, accurate, and complete. I am aware that there are significant penalties for submitting false information, including the possibility of fines and imprisonment for knowing violations." 5. Records Retention [Supplements Section D. (6.)] 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]. Town of Columbia Columbia WWTP 604 N. Road Street Extension (NCSR 1209) North NPDES Permit NC0020443 Tyrrell County Facility Location Scale 1:24,000 Receiving Stream: Scuppernong River Stream Segment: 30-14-4-(9) Drainage Basin: Pasquotank River Basin Sub-Basin: 03-01-53 Latitude: 3555’ 18” Longitude:7615’ 27” Stream Class: SC HUC:03010205 State Grid/USGS Quad:D33NE / Columbia West, NC Outfall 001 (with diffuser) (flows NW) Road Street Ext. NCSR 1209 Scuppernong River [flows NW] Approximate Facility Boundary US Hwy 64 Upstream Sampling Point [US Hwy 64 Bridge] 3555’ 02” N / 7615’ 20” W Downstream Sampling Point [marker #10] 3555’ 23” N / 7615’ 40” W NC Hwy 94