NC0074268_approval_20020208

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MEMORANDUM
TO: Greg Thorpe
FROM: Bobby Blowe
SUBJECT: Findings and Recommendations
Public Hearing held on August 28, 2001
Re:
Michael F. Easley, Governor
William G. Ross Jr., Secretary
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Gregory J. Thorpe, Ph.D.
February 8, 2002
Renewal of NPDES permits
NC0005274
NC0006190
NC0074268
NC0020184
NC0025496
NC0044440
NC0040797
Yorkshire Americas, Inc.
Delta Apparel, Inc.
City of Gastonia, Crowder's Creek
City of Gastonia, Long Creek
City of Lincolnton
City of Cherryville
City of Hickory, Henry Fork
F E R r _.
SEC; s
As you requested, I served as Hearing Officer for a public hearing to obtain comments
relative to the proposed color removal requirements necessary for the renewal of the above listed
draft NPDES permits. The hearing was held at 7:00 p.m. on August 28, 2001 at the Citizen's
Resource Center in Dallas, NC. The hearing was held in response to numerous complaints about
the colored effluent plumes from some of the above permitted facilities. These plumes are
primarily due to the large number of textile dischargers in the Catawba River Basin.
BACKGROUND
15A NCAC 02B.0211(3)(f) states, in part, that colored wastes are allowed only in " such
amounts as shall not render the waters injurious to public health, secondary recreation or to
aquatic life and wildlife or adversely affect the palatability of fish, aesthetic quality or impair the
waters for any designated uses". Noticeably colored effluent from the above facilities, as well as
others, in the Catawba River Basin has been the subject of an ever increasing number of
complaints over the years. However, there has been no evidence collected by the Division, nor
presented by others, to indicate that these facilities are having anything other than an aesthetic
impact on the receiving stream.
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