NC0025496_Environmental Assessment_19991004

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NPDES Permit:
NC0025496
Lincolnton WWTP
Document Type:
Permit Issuance
Wasteload Allocation
Authorization to Construct (AtC)
Permit Modification
Complete File - Historical
Correspondence
Speculative Limits
Instream Assessment (67b)
Environmental Assessment (EA)
Permit
History
Document Date:
October 4, 1999
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State of North Carolina
Department of Environment
and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality
James B. Hunt, Jr., Governor
Bill Homan, Secretary
Kerr T. Stevens, Director
October 4, 1999
Gerald Pottern
Robert J. Goldstein & Associates, Inc.
Durant Office Park
8480 Garvey Drive
Raleigh, North Carolina 27604
DENR
Re: DENR Project #979, DWQ Project # 12366, SCH # % p�
Environmental Assessment (EA)/ Finding of No Significant I .. cf (FONSI) for
Lincolnton Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion
City of Lincolnton, Lincoln County
Dear Mr. Pottern:
On September 29, 1999 the State Clearinghouse deemed the North Carolina
Environmental Policy Act review on the City of Lincolton's Wastewater Treatment Plan
Expansion in Lincoln County complete (see attached letter from the Clearinghouse). It is
now acceptable to proceed with your permit applications through the Division of Water
Quality for the various components of the proposed project. No further actions on the
Environmental Assessment are required.
If there is anything I can assist you with, please do not hesitate to give me a call at (919)
733-5083, ext. 567.
Sincerely,
Gloria F. Putnam
Environmental Specialist
enclosure (SCH ltr)
cc: Mark McIntire, NPDES Unit (w/ enclosure)
Melba McGee, DENR (w/ enclosure)
Rex Gleason, DWQ-Mooresville Regional Office (w/enclosure)
1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617 Telephone [phone] FAX [phone]
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North Carolina
Department of Administration
James B. Hunt, Jr., Governor Katie G. Dorsett, Secretary
September 29, 1999
Ms. Gloria Putnam
NC Dept of Env & Nat Resources
Division of Water Quality
Archdale Building
Raleigh, NC 27626
Dear Ms. Putnam:
Re: SCH File # 00-E-4300-0095; Environmental Assessment/Finding of No Significant Impact City
of Lincolnton Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion; Upgrade Treatment Process and Increase
Treatment Capacity from 6.0 MGD to 9 MGD
The above referenced environmental impact information has been reviewed through the State
Clearinghouse under the provisions of the North Carolina Environmental Policy Act.
No comments were made by any state/local agencies in the course of this review. Therefore, no further
environmental review action on your part is required for the compliance with the Act.
Best regards.
cc: Region F
435trimi
Ms. Chrys Baggett
Environmental Policy Act Coordinator
116 West Jones Street Raleigh, North Carolina 27603-8003 Telephone [phone]
An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer

FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
Environmental Assessment for the
Lincolnton Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) Expansion
City of Lincolnton, Lincoln County
An environmental assessment (EA) has been prepared, pursuant to the requirements of the North
Carolina Environmental Policy Act, for a proposed wastewater treatment plant expansion for the
Lincolnton Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) in the City of Lincolnton, Lincoln County. The
project is located in central Lincoln County, on the east bank of the South Fork Catawba River 1.4 miles
south of downtown Lincolnton. The WWTP discharges treated wastewater to the South Fork Catawba
River, a class WS-IV waterbody.
The proposed project would involve two phases. The first phase would be upgrading the treatment
process and correcting existing deficiencies. Specifically, it would include building a new laboratory and
road; new flow metering, screening, and grit removal; new biological nutrient removal facilities; new
nitrification and denitrification facilities; new clarifiers and filters; new chlorination and dechlorination
contact chambers; final effluent aeration; and renovation and upgrade of the sludge stabilization, storage,
handling, and disposal facilities. The second phase of the project would be to increase the treatment
capacity of the plant from 6.0 MGD (million gallons per day) to 9 MGD.
As the expanded WWTP will provide tertiary treatment, a better effluent quality will be produced than
what is discharged from the current facility. A net decrease in current pollutant loading rates is expected,
even with the increased treatment capacity. Project construction will require clearing of four to six acres
of vegetated land. All proposed construction areas are to be 100 feet or more from the river bank.
Measures to minimize secondary impacts from the increased growth allowed by the expansion of the
WWTP are discussed on pages 20 and 21 of the EA.
The proposed facilities upgrade is being done in order to meet more stringent effluent requirements that
are anticipated to meet the water quality improvement goals identified in the Catawba River Basinwide
Plan. The proposed expansion is being done to meet future waster water treatment needs in the eastern
portion of Lincoln County.
The "No Action" alternative for this project was not chosen because by not expanding the plant, new
growth would have to depend on septic systems or package plants for waste treatment. The alternative of
a new WWTP was discarded because the existing plant is in an ideal location for collection and
discharge. The non -discharge alternative was dismissed because there was not sufficient land available
within a reasonable distance of the WWTP for land disposal of wastewater.
Based on the findings of the EA and on the impact avoidance/mitigation measures contained therein, it is
concluded that the proposed project will not result in significant impacts to the environment. This EA
and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) are prerequisites for the issuance of an NPDES permit for
the wastewater treatment plan expansion by the Division of Water Quality. Pending approval by the
State Clearinghouse, the environmental review for this project will be concluded. An environmental
impact statement will not be prepared for this project.
North Carolina Division of Water Quality
August 18, 1999

NCDENR/DIVISION OF WATER QUALITY
WATER QUALITY SECTION/NPDES UNIT
AUGUST I0, 1999
MEMORANDUM
To:
GLORIA PUTNAM
SEPA COORDINATOR
FROM: MARK MCINTIRE 1'✓II4L
SUBJECT: LINCOLNTON ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS
CITY OF LINCOLNTON - NC0025496
LINCOLN COUNTY
I provided comments for the City of Lincolnton's EA on June I I , 1999. The only comment in need of
resolution at that time related to the alternatives analysis. Goldstein & Associates submitted an EAA to my on
July 21, 1999. I have reviewed that document and it appears to address all of the Division's concerns regarding
alternatives to a surface water discharge. I have communicated such to Goldstein & Associates so that they can
resubmit the EA for approval.
Attached with this memo is a copy of my June 11, 1999 memo foryour reference.
Let me know ifyou have any questions.
Cc:
NPDES Permit File

NCDENR/DIVISION OF WATER QUALITY
WATER QUALITY SECTION/NPDES UNIT
JUNE 11, 1999
MEMORANDUM
To: Gloria
From: Mark McIntire
Subject: Comments on Lincolnton EA Responses
Received June 3, 1999
I have reviewed the attached responses to my comments of May 12, 1999. All responses appear to be adequate with
the exception of response number 4 regarding non -discharge alternatives. North Carolina General Statute requires
non -discharge alternatives to be identified and subsequently compared to a surface water discharge prior to issuance of
an NPDES permit. In the case where SEPA documents are required, it has traditionally been Division policy to require
this so-called alternatives analysis with the Environmental Assessment. As such, the EA should not be considered
complete until such an alternatives analysis has been included.
I have attached the NPDES Unit's most recent version of the Engineering Alternatives Analysis Guidance Document for
the benefit of the consulting engineer preparing the EA.

State of North Carolina
Department of Environment
and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality
James B. Hunt, Jr., Govemor
Wayne McDevitt, Secretary
Kerr T. Stevens, Director
Gerald Pottern
Robert J. Goldstein & Associates, Inc.
Durant Office Park
8480 Garvey Drive
Raleigh, North Carolina 27604
AVAA,
NCDENR
NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL. RESOURCES
June 11, 1999
Re: DENR Project #979, DWQ Project # 12366
Lincolnton Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion
City of Lincolnton, Lincolnton County
Dear Mr. Pottern:
The Division of Water Quality (Division) has reviewed your response to our May 12,
1999 comments on the Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Lincolnton Wastewater
Treatment Plant Expansion dated February 23, 1999. The Division finds your response to be
satisfactory with the exception of response number four relating to non -discharge alternatives
(please refer to the attached comments from Mark McIntire of the Division's NPDES Unit).
When a response to the fourth comment has been addressed to our satisfaction, and the
EA is revised accordingly, nine copies of the document should be forwarded to me for review
through the State Clearinghouse. As stated in our previous letter, concurrence must be received
from the NPDES Unit that their concerns have been adequately addressed prior to moving to this
final review.
Please contact me at [phone], ext. 567 if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Gloria F. Putnam
Environmental Specialist
enclosure
cc: Mark McIntire, NPDES Unit
P.O. Box 29535, Raleigh, North Carolina 27626-0535 Telephone [phone] FAX # [phone]
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