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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNC0081426_Draft Permit_20220906 ROY COOPER . =c Governor \rwAti ELIZABETH S.BISER Secretary RICHARD E.ROGERS,JR. NORTH CAROLINA Director Environmental Quality September 09,2022 Mr.Michael Borchers City of Greensboro PO Box 3136 Greensboro,NC, 27402-3136 Subject: DRAFT NPDES PERMIT NC0081426 N.L. Mitchell WTP Grade I PC WPCS [15A NCAC 08G .0306] Guilford County Dear Mr. Borchers In October of 2021,the Division noticed a draft NPDES permit for your facility. This draft included a proposed addition of monthly monitoring for 1,4 Dioxane. After this notice process the Division has worked to update its strategy for addressing 1,4 Dioxane. The updated strategy will not require monitoring of 1,4 Dioxane for Water Treatment Plants, it instead focuses on areas that are more likely potential sources of this pollutant. With this change, the Division is also moving to update your draft permit to remove the proposed 1,4 Dioxane monitoring and re-notice your permit . All other change proposed in the previous draft remain in place. Enclosed with this letter is a copy of the new draft permit for your facility. Please review the draft very carefully to ensure thorough understanding of the conditions and requirements it contains. This draft contains the following changes from the existing permit: • The facility's classification has been added above the effluent table. • Iron monitoring requirements have been removed from the permit.There are no longer action level standards for this parameter. • Section A. (2)has been updated to include language for electronic submittal of toxicity results • The language of Section A.(4)Electronic Reporting of Monitoring Reports has been updated to be consistent with current federal requirements for electronic reporting. • The monitoring frequency for copper has been corrected to monthly.Metals that have been demonstrated as having reasonable potential for discharge require limits and monthly monitoring. This draft contains the following changes from the previous draft: • Aluminum monitoring requirements have been removed in accordance with a comment received on the draft permit. This facility does not use alum anywhere in its process. • 1,4-Dioxane monitoring requirements have ben removed. Please note that the receiving stream is listed as an impaired waterbody on the North Carolina 303(d) Impaired Waters List. Addressing impaired waters is a high priority with the Division,and instream data will continue to be evaluated. If there is noncompliance with permitted effluent limits and stream impairment can be attributed to your facility, then mitigative measures may be required. D E ..?-0). N512 orthNo Carthrolina DepartmentStreet o1 f Env 1611 ironMailmentalService C Qualityenter I DivisionRalei of WaterNorthCaro Resourclies Salisbury I gh, na 27699-1611 The NPDES standard conditions (Parts II, III, and IV)that are a part of the permit are not included in this draft document (cover, map,and Part I). The conditions are the same as in your current permit. The latest version is available at https://bit.ly/2BZ4xxx and can be viewed online or downloaded as a PDF file. With this notification, the Division will solicit public comment on this draft permit by publishing a notice in newspapers having circulation in the general Guilford County area,per EPA requirements. Please provide your comments, if any,to me no later than 30 days after receiving this draft permit. Following the 30-day public comment period,the Division will review all pertinent comments and take appropriate action prior to issuing a final permit. If you have questions concerning the draft,please contact me via email at [emily.richards@ncdenr.gov]. Sincerely, Emily Richards Environmental Specialist II NPDES Permitting Program ec:NPDES files Winston Salem Regional Office DWR Public Water Supply—Eric Hudson Aquatic Toxicity Branch D—� North Caroepartmnt of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources 512 Notth SalinalisbDury Street e 11611 Mail Service Center I Raleigh,North Carolina 27699-1611 oiiuvm.ew �\ �/ 919.707.9000 Permit NC0081426 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES PERMIT TO DISCHARGE WASTEWATER UNDER THE NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM In compliance with the provision 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 City of Greensboro is hereby authorized to discharge wastewater from a facility located at the N.L. Mitchell WTP 1041 Battleground Avenue Greensboro Guilford County to receiving waters designated as North Buffalo Creek in subbasin 03-06-02 of the Cape Fear 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. This permit and authorization to discharge shall expire at midnight on June 30,2021. Signed this day. DRAFT Richard E.Rogers,Jr,Director Division of Water Resources By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission Page 1 of 9 Permit NC0081426 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 included herein. The City of Greensboro is hereby authorized to: 1. Continue to operate a conventional water treatment plant with a discharge of filter backwash wastewaters. This water treatment plant facility currently has a design potable flowrate of 24 MGD and a current maximum, monthly average wastewater discharge of 0 MGD. The facility is located at the N.L. Mitchell WTP at 1041 Battleground Avenue, in Greensboro, in Guilford County. 2. Discharge from said treatment works via Outfall 001,at the location specified on the attached map into North Buffalo Creek [stream ID: 16-11-14-1] currently classified WS-V;NSW waters in subbasin 03-06-02 [HUC: 0303000201] of the Cape Fear River Basin. Page 2 of 9 Permit NC0081426 Part I A. (1) EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS [15A NCAC 02B.0400 et seq., 15A NCAC 02B.0500 et seq.] Grade 1 Physical Chemical Water Pollution Control System [15A NCAC 08G .0306] Beginning with the effective date of this permit and lasting until expiration,the Permittee is authorized to discharge treated wastewater from Outfall 001. Such discharges shall be limited and monitored` by the Permittee as specified below: EFFLUENT MONITORING REQUIREMENTS EFFLUENT CHARACTERISTICS LIMITATIONS Parameter Code Monthly Daily Measurement Sample Sample Average Maximum Frequency Type Location Flow 50050 Monitor&Report Continuous Recording Effluent Total Suspended Solids C0530 30.0 mg/L 45.0 mg/L 2/Month Grab Effluent pH 00400 >6.0 and<9.0 standard units 2/Month Grab Effluent Total Residual Chlorine 2 50060 17 pg/L 2/Month Grab Effluent Turbidity 00070 Monitor&Report 2/Month Grab Effluent Total Copper 01042 16.72 pg/L 22.90 pg/L Monthly Grab Effluent Fluoride 4 00951 Monitor&Report Quarterly Grab Effluent Total Zinc 5 01092 Monitor&Report Quarterly Grab Effluent Hardness—Total as[as CaCO3 or 00900 Monitor&Report Quarterly Grab Effluent (Ca+Mg)]6(mg/l) Hardness—Total as[as CaCO3 or 00900 Monitor&Report Quarterly Grab Upstream (Ca+Mg)](mg/I) Ammonia Nitrogen 7 C0610 Monitor&Report Quarterly Grab Effluent Total Nitrogen C0600 Monitor&Report Quarterly Grab Effluent Total Phosphorus C0665 Monitor&Report Quarterly Grab Effluent Whole Effluent Toxicity Monitoring TGP3B Monitor&Report Quarterly Grab Effluent 8 Footnotes: 1. The permittee shall submit discharge monitoring reports electronically using the NC DWR's eDMR system[see A.(4)]. 2. The Division shall consider all effluent TRC values reported below 50 µg/I to be in compliance with the permit.However,the Permittee shall continue to record and submit all values reported by a North Carolina certified laboratory(including field certified),even if these values fall below 50 µg/I. 3. EPA Method 624.1 is the required method for wastewater.After a minimum of 12 samples have been taken over a 12 month period,the permittee may request the Division reevaluate the monitoring frequency for 1,4-dioxane. 4. Fluoride should be monitored if the Permittee backwashes with fluoridated finished water. 5. Zinc should be monitored if the Permittee adds zinc orthophosphate as a corrosion inhibitor prior to backwashing. Page 3 of 9 Permit NC0081426 6. Effluent hardness sampling should be performed in conjunction with testing for hardness dependent metals(cadmium,copper,lead, nickel,silver,and zinc). 7. Ammonia Nitrogen should be monitored if the Permittee uses chloramines (adds ammonia to chlorinated water) for secondary disinfection prior to backwashing. 8. Ceriodaphnia dubia 7-day pass/fail test @ 90%concentration. See Condition A.(2.)for toxicity testing requirements.Toxicity testing should be performed during the months of March,June,September and December. THERE SHALL BE NO DISCHARGE OF FLOATING SOLIDS OR VISIBLE FOAM IN OTHER THAN TRACE AMOUNTS. A. (2) CHRONIC TOXICITY MONITORING (QUARTERLY) [15A NCAC 02B.0500 et seq.] The permittee shall conduct quarterly chronic toxicity tests using test procedures outlined in the "North Carolina Ceriodaphnia Chronic Effluent Bioassay Procedure,"Revised December 2010,or subsequent versions. The effluent concentration defined as treatment two in the procedure document is 90%. The testing shall be performed as a Ceriodaphnia dubia 7-day pass/fail test. The tests will be performed during the months of March, June, September and December. These months signify the first month of each three-month toxicity testing quarter assigned to the facility.Effluent sampling for this testing must be obtained during representative effluent discharge and shall be performed at the NPDES permitted final effluent discharge below all treatment processes. All toxicity testing results required as part of this permit condition will be entered electronically using the Divisions eDMR system for the months in which tests were performed,using the parameter code TGP3B. Additionally,DWR Form AT-1 (original)is to be sent to the following address: Attention: North Carolina Division of Water Resources Water Sciences Section/Aquatic Toxicology Branch 1621 Mail Service Center Raleigh,NC 27699-1621 Or,results can be sent to the email,ATForms.ATB@ncdenr.gov. Completed Aquatic Toxicity Test Forms shall be filed with the Water Sciences Section no later than 30 days after the end of the reporting period for which the report is made. Test data shall be complete and accurate and include all supporting chemical/physical measurements performed in association with the toxicity tests,as well as all dose/response data. Total residual chlorine of the effluent toxicity sample must be measured and reported if chlorine is employed for disinfection of the waste stream. Should there be no discharge of flow from the facility during a month in which toxicity monitoring is required,the permittee will complete the information located at the top of the aquatic toxicity (AT) test form indicating the facility name,permit number,pipe number,county,and the month/year of the report with the notation of"No Flow" in the comment area of the form. The report shall be submitted to the Water Sciences Section at the address cited above. Should the permittee fail to monitor during a month in which toxicity monitoring is required, then monthly monitoring will begin immediately. Upon submission of a valid test, this monthly test requirement will revert to quarterly in the months specified above. Should any test data from this monitoring requirement or tests performed by the North Carolina Division of Water Resources indicate potential impacts to the receiving stream,this permit may be re-opened and modified to include alternate monitoring requirements or limits. Page 4 of 9 Permit NC0081426 NOTE: Failure to achieve test conditions as specified in the cited document, such as minimum control organism survival, minimum control organism reproduction, and appropriate environmental controls, shall constitute an invalid test and will require immediate follow-up testing to be completed no later than the last day of the month following the month of the initial monitoring. A. (3) PERMIT RE-OPENER: WHOLE EFFLUENT TOXICITY [NCGS 143-215.1(b)] Whole Effluent Toxicity monitoring results indicating aquatic toxicity may result in the Division of Water Resources re-opening this permit or requesting by letter that further action be taken. Additional metals testing, a toxicity identification evaluation,a toxicity reduction evaluation,and/or an assessment of discharge treatment alternatives may be requested. A. (4) ELECTRONIC REPORTING OF MONITORING REPORTS [NCGS 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)l 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 Page 5 of 9 Permit NC0081426 Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617 See "How to Request a Waiver from Electronic Reporting" section below. Monitoring results obtained during the previous month(s) shall be summarized for each month and reported via the eDMR system no later than the last calendar day of the month following the completed reporting period. 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(1)(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 Page 6 of 9 Permit NC0081426 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. 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)1 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. (6.11 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]. 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I i ,,i fr 1 c ° - 'it°a _I,- f I , fir_ — . 1 -f--l1- r 4 1'ri+4. _ A - li 1 -= - I. I �_ P to ' -I Y ` - ip t . , { r ii City of Greensboro t*;irti.Rmin ow w� N.L. Mitchell WTP i� /�L.�it NPDES Permit NC0081426 A, Faca,ty t_ocaton 411114 4111„.,� Recelvurg otrtdrri.riur ur oundru ueen xrednr u Z_dSS:WS-V;NSW sceir nut sPuwn l Stream Segment:16.11 14-1 Sub Basin#:03.06 02 River Basin:Cape Fear HUC:0303000201 SCALF 36 081389°, -79.803333° County.Guilford 1.24,000 USGS Quad:Greensborc Page 9 of 9