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Home My WebLink AboutNC0027332_Compliance Evaluation Inspection_20220620 SENT VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL ONLY: NO HARD COPY WILL BE MAILED. June 20, 2022 Adam Deimling Tennessee Valley Authority Email: ardeimling@tva.gov SUBJECT: Compliance Inspection Report Chatuge Hydro Plant NPDES WW Permit No. NC0027332 Clay County Dear Permittee: The North Carolina Division of Water Resources conducted an inspection of the Chatuge Hydro Plant on 6/09/2022. This inspection was conducted to verify that the facility is operating in compliance with the conditions and limitations specified in NPDES WW Permit No. NC0027332. The findings and comments noted during this inspection are provided in the enclosed copy of the inspection report entitled "Compliance Inspection Report". There were no significant issues or findings noted during the inspection and therefore, a response to this inspection report is not required. If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at 828-296-4667 or via email at lauren.armeni@ncdenr.gov. Sincerely, Lauren Armeni, Environmental Specialist Water Quality Regional Operations Section Asheville Regional Office Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ ATTACHMENTS: Inspection Report Ec: Laserfiche DocuSign Envelope ID: 9F6E6C29-4F67-4447-A266-B6778E1C103E EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency Washington, D.C. 20460 Water Compliance Inspection Report Form Approved. OMB No. 2040-0057 Approval expires 8-31-98 Section A: National Data System Coding (i.e., PCS) Transaction Code NPDES yr/mo/day Inspection Type Inspector Fac Type 1 N 52 NC0027332 22/06/09 C S31112171819 20 21 66 Inspection Work Days Facility Self-Monitoring Evaluation Rating B1 QA ----------------------Reserved------------------- N67707172 73 74 75 80 Section B: Facility Data Name and Location of Facility Inspected (For Industrial Users discharging to POTW, also include POTW name and NPDES permit Number) Chatuge Hydro Plant Chatuge Dam Rd Hayesville NC 28904 Entry Time/Date Permit Effective Date Exit Time/Date Permit Expiration Date 10:00AM 22/06/09 18/09/01 Name(s) of Onsite Representative(s)/Titles(s)/Phone and Fax Number(s) /// Other Facility Data 11:45PM 22/06/09 23/08/31 Name, Address of Responsible Official/Title/Phone and Fax Number Adam Deimling, ///Contacted No Section C: Areas Evaluated During Inspection (Check only those areas evaluated) Permit Operations & Maintenance Records/Reports Self-Monitoring Program Facility Site Review Effluent/Receiving Waters Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) (See attachment summary) Name(s) and Signature(s) of Inspector(s)Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date Lauren E Armeni DWR/ARO WQ/828-296-4500/ Signature of Management Q A Reviewer Agency/Office/Phone and Fax Numbers Date EPA Form 3560-3 (Rev 9-94) Previous editions are obsolete. Page#1 DocuSign Envelope ID: 9F6E6C29-4F67-4447-A266-B6778E1C103E 6/20/2022 6/20/2022 NPDES yr/mo/day 22/06/09 Inspection Type C3111218 1 Section D: Summary of Finding/Comments (Attach additional sheets of narrative and checklists as necessary) Lauren Armeni, with the Asheville Regional Office, conducted a Compliance Evaluation Inspection of the Chatuge Hydroelectric Plant on June 9, 2022. The inspection was conducted to determine if the system is being operated and maintained in compliance with NPDES Permit No. NC0027332. Adam Deimling (Environmental Scientist) and Daniel Phillips (Hydro Technician) were present during the inspection. No deficiencies were noted during the inspection. Permit: A minor permit modification was made on October 1, 2019 that updated the outfall and sampling information. The outfalls listed in the modification are as follows: Outfall 001: a station sump, which receives flow from wheel pit leakage, penstock envelope leakage, and power house floor drains Outfall 002: sump water from draft tube unwatering operations Outfall 003A: generator air-cooling water Outfall 003B: generator thrust bearing cooling water Outfall 003 was split into two separate outfalls because the generator air-cooling water and generator thrust bearing cooling water combine within the dam structure at an inaccessible location for sampling. Sampling taps were installed on each of these cooling water systems to sample them separately. The station sump (Outfall 001) contains a high water alarm. Booms are kept in the sump and changed out every 1-2 months. This sump is on a float/level actuated switch and pumps out daily. The Draft Tube Unwatering Sump (Outfall 002) is not accessible unless the pump is pulled or divers are sent in. This tube is typically drained once a year or every few years for maintenance and inspections. Mr. Deimling informed Ms. Armeni that the flow from these sumps converges and discharges out of one outfall, not two as indicated in the permit. This permit is up for renewal next year, and these outfall discrepancies should be addressed. The use of biocides is a special condition in the permit; however, biocides are not used at the Chatuge Hydro Plant. NC0027332 17 (Cont.) Page#2 DocuSign Envelope ID: 9F6E6C29-4F67-4447-A266-B6778E1C103E Permit:NC0027332 Inspection Date:06/09/2022 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Chatuge Hydro Plant Compliance Evaluation Permit Yes No NA NE (If the present permit expires in 6 months or less). Has the permittee submitted a new application? Is the facility as described in the permit? # Are there any special conditions for the permit? Is access to the plant site restricted to the general public? Is the inspector granted access to all areas for inspection? Since the last inspection in 2016, the outfalls have been clarified per the permit modification in 2019; however, the outfalls may need to be modified again because the sump discharges converge at one outfall. The Integrated Pollution Prevention (IPP) Plan and Spill Response Plan was provided, which includes BMPs for monitoring oil and grease. See summary for details. Comment: Operations & Maintenance Yes No NA NE Is the plant generally clean with acceptable housekeeping? Does the facility analyze process control parameters, for ex: MLSS, MCRT, Settleable Solids, pH, DO, Sludge Judge, and other that are applicable? The facility was well-maintained.Comment: Record Keeping Yes No NA NE Are records kept and maintained as required by the permit? Is all required information readily available, complete and current? Are all records maintained for 3 years (lab. reg. required 5 years)? Are analytical results consistent with data reported on DMRs? Is the chain-of-custody complete? Dates, times and location of sampling Name of individual performing the sampling Results of analysis and calibration Dates of analysis Name of person performing analyses Transported COCs Are DMRs complete: do they include all permit parameters? Has the facility submitted its annual compliance report to users and DWQ? (If the facility is = or > 5 MGD permitted flow) Do they operate 24/7 with a certified operator on each shift? Is the ORC visitation log available and current? Page#3 DocuSign Envelope ID: 9F6E6C29-4F67-4447-A266-B6778E1C103E Permit:NC0027332 Inspection Date:06/09/2022 Owner - Facility: Inspection Type: Chatuge Hydro Plant Compliance Evaluation Record Keeping Yes No NA NE Is the ORC certified at grade equal to or higher than the facility classification? Is the backup operator certified at one grade less or greater than the facility classification? Is a copy of the current NPDES permit available on site? Facility has copy of previous year's Annual Report on file for review? The environmental inspection and preventative maintenance checklist is filled out weekly. Mr. Deimling provided these checklists for the past three years and they were thorough and organized. Comment: Effluent Sampling Yes No NA NE Is composite sampling flow proportional? Is sample collected below all treatment units? Is proper volume collected? Is the tubing clean? # Is proper temperature set for sample storage (kept at less than or equal to 6.0 degrees Celsius)? Is the facility sampling performed as required by the permit (frequency, sampling type representative)? Comment: Effluent Pipe Yes No NA NE Is right of way to the outfall properly maintained? Are the receiving water free of foam other than trace amounts and other debris? If effluent (diffuser pipes are required) are they operating properly? At the time of the inspection, the outfalls were not discharging.Comment: Page#4 DocuSign Envelope ID: 9F6E6C29-4F67-4447-A266-B6778E1C103E