NC0044423_Draft Permit_20221108

ar„STATE 4
ROY COOPER l `y
Governor ,
ELIZABETH S.BISER t 7d
Secretary �a'v"
RICHARD E.ROGERS,JR. NORTH CAROLINA
Director Environmental Quality
November 8,2022
Daniel Gryder
Appalachian State University
Facilities Management
ASU Box 32105
Boone,NC 28608-2105
Subject Draft NPDES Permit NC0044423
Appalachian State University WTP
Grade I Physical Chemical WPCS
Watauga County
Dear Mr.Gryder:. ,
Attached with this letter is a copy of the Draft NPDES permit renewal for your facility. Please review
this draft carefully to ensure thorough understanding of the requirements and conditions it contains. We
understand from your renewal application that there have been no treatment system changes. There are a
few changes in the draft attached here from the existing permit. These changes are discussed below.
In an application modification submitted on October 3, 2022,you indicated your intent to move toward an
option of connecting to the Town of Boone's wastewater treatment system and removing your discharge.
This option was selected over multiple alternatives that you have considered over the last year including
treatment options to better address metals levels and options to relocate your discharge point below the
reservoir or to a new stream (Howards Branch). It is our understanding that you are currently working
with the Town of Boone and your consultant to finalize the process for this connection. The last estimate
we were given indicated that this process could take 12 to 15 months for completion.
The Division has considered your current efforts to remove this discharge to address ongoing issues with
Copper and Zinc levels. With the renewal of your permit the effluent limits for Copper and Zinc will be
placed on a Schedule of Compliance and will not be in effect for the first two years of the permit. This
allows two years from the effective date of the permit to complete the connection to the Town of Boone.
After that time,if the facility is still discharging,you will be expected to comply with the permit limits.
The Schedule of Compliance also requires an annual report on your progress towards connection to the
Town of Boone or meeting the metals limits. Other specific changes in the draft permit are outlined
below.
• Regulatory Citations- Language has been added where necessary in the permit to provide regulatory
citations for permit requirements.
• Electronic Reporting-Permit language has been modified to be consistent with the fmalization of
federal requirements for electronic reporting.
D-. Nort h Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
51Z North Salisbury Street 1617 Mail Service Center Raleigh,North Carolina 27699 1617
..-_, ,.,

Daniel Gryder-ASU WTP
Page 2
• Map Update—Descriptive information on the permit map has been updated.
• The permit language in the Supplement to Permit Cover Sheet has been updated to better describe the
treatment system.
• eDMR Codes for Turbidity and Total Dissolved Solids have been corrected in the Effluent
Limitations table.
• Units of Measurement have been included for all parameters in the Effluent Limitations table. For
parameters with limits the units of measure are found in the Limits column. For parameters without
limits the unit of measurement is found in the Effluent Characteristics column. Please note these
units of measurement and assure that values reported in eDMR are consistent with these. At times in
the last permit cycle your data has been reported in different units of measurement.
• Arsenic monitoring has been removed from the permit. After reviewing the data from the previous
permit cycle in our Reasonable Potential Analysis it was found that the levels reported for arsenic did
not show potential for impact. This parameter has been removed from the permit.
• A new Footnote#5 has been added to address Cu and Zn limits and refer to the Schedule of
Compliance in Section A. (3.).
• Section A.(3.)has been changed to a Schedule of Compliance for Cu and Zn. This Schedule of
Compliance allows two years from the effective date of the rule for connection to the Town of Boone.
After that time the Cu and Zn limits will become effective. This section also requires annual reports
on your progress. Please also note that upon connection to the Town of Boone you should contact the
Division and request rescission of this permit.
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 of the standard conditions is available at https://bit.ly/3k5NFaL and can be viewed online or
downloaded as a PDF file.
Concurrent with this notification the Division is publishing a notice in a newspaper having general
circulation in the Watauga County area soliciting public comments on this draft permit.
Please provide any written comments you may have to me no later than 30 days after receipt of 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 this draft permit,
please contact me by email at [e-mail]. At this time,contact by email is the most
effective method. If we need to set up a call to discuss any issues,we can set that up through email.
Sincerely,
?A ?ail--
Bradley Bennett
Compliance and Expedited Permitting Unit
cc: NPDES Files- electronic
Winston-Salem Regional Office/Water Quality—electronic
Operator Certification Program/Maureen Kinney—electronic
Aquatic Toxicology Branch/Cindy Moore—electronic

Permit NC0044423
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,
Appalachian State University
is hereby authorized to discharge wastewater from a facility located at the
Appalachian State University WTP
800 Rainbow Trail Road, Boone
Watauga County
to receiving waters designated as Norris Branch Reservoir(aka, Appalachian State Reservoir)within
the New 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 March 31, 2026.
If the permittee intends to continue discharging at the facility beyond the term of this permit,a renewal
application must be submitted no later than October 2,2025(180 days before the expiration of this permit)
Signed this day
Richard E Rogers, Jr.,Director
Division of Water Resources
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
Page 1 of 8

Permit NC0044423
SUPPLEMENT TO PERMIT COVER SHEET
All previous NPDES Permits issued to this facility, whether for operation or discharge are hereby
revoked. As of this permit 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.
Appalachian State University
is hereby authorized to:
1. Continue to operate a Water Treatment Plant with a discharge of backwash wastewater from a low-
pressure membrane technology generated by a US Filter Memcor potable-water generating
system. This water treatment system currently has a design potable water flow rate of 2 MGD and
a maximum monthly average wastewater discharge of 0.217 MGD. Water and wastewater
treatment consists of:
• Raw water pre-chlorinated
• Low pressure membrane filtration
• Small portion of water is backwashed
• Backwash treated with Sodium Thiosulfate
• Stored until suitable for discharge
Treatment-System additives include
• Sodium Hypochlorite
• Sodium Hydroxide
This facility is located at the Appalachian State University WTP, 800 Rainbow Trail Road, Boone,
Watauga County.
2. Discharge from said treatment works,via Outfall 001,at the location specified on the attached
map, into Norris Branch Reservoir(aka,Appalachian State Reservoir), [Stream Segment 10-9-7-
(1)], a waterbody currently classified WS-II; Trout; HQW; CA within subbasin 05-07-01 [HUC:
050500010202] of the New River Basin.
Page 2 of8

Permit NC0044423
PART I
A. (1.) EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
[NCAC 02B.0400 et seq., 02B.0500 et seq.]
Grade I Physical Chemical Water Pollution Control System [15A NCAC 08G.0302]
During the period beginning on the effective date of this permit and lasting until expiration,the Permittee is
authorized to discharge from Outfall 001. Such discharges shall be limited,monitored,and reported 1 by the
Permittee as specified below:
EFFLUENT LIMITS MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
CHARACTERISTICS
Monthly Daily Measurement Sample Sample
[eDMR CODES) Average Maximum Frequency Type Location 2
Flow 50050 2/Month Instantaneous 2 E
Total Residual Chlorine 3 50060 28 µg/L 2/Month Grab E
pH 00400 Not<6.0 or>9.0 s.u. 2/Month Grab E
Turbidity 4 00070 Not> 10 NTU 2/Month Grab E
Dissolved Oxygen 00300 Not<6.0 mg/L Monthly Grab E,U
Salinity(mg/L) 00480 Monitor and Report Monthly Grab E
Temperature(°C) 00010 Monitor and Report Monthly Grab E,U
m Monitor and Report MonthlyE
Conductivity
(umhos/c ) 00094 p Grab
Total Dissolved Solids(mg/L) 70295 Monitor and Report Monthly Grab E
Total Copper 01042 4.0 µg/L5 5.2 µg/L5 Monthly Grab E
Total Zinc 01092 63 µg/L5 63 µg/L5 Monthly Grab E
Hardness(mg/L) 00900 Monitor and Report Quarterly Grab E,U
[as Ca+Mg or CaCO3]
Acute WET-testing6 TGE6C Quarterly Grab E
Footnotes:
1. The permittee shall submit discharge monitoring reports electronically using the Division's eDMR system[see
A.(4)].
2. U=Upstream 200 ft from the outfall[lake];E=Effluent;the duration of each discharge shall be noted in log books.
3. Total Residual Chlorine(TRC)-The Division shall consider compliant all effluent TRC values reported 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. Turbidity—Effluent turbidity shall not cause receiving-stream turbidity to exceed 10 ntu.If background turbidity
naturally exceeds 10 ntu,the effluent shall not cause background to increase. Exceeding this permit limit will
require sufficient instream sampling(upstream and/or downstream)to verify compliance(effluent vs.
background)[NCAC 02B.0211(21)].
5. Conner and Zinc Limits will not be effective for the first two years from the effective date of this permit,
but monthly monitoring for these parameters will continue beginning on the effective date of the permit. Refer
to the Compliance Schedule in Section A.(3)for more information on these parameters.
6. Whole Effluent Toxicity(WET)-testing;Acute 24-hour pass/fail using fathead minnow(Pimephales promelas)
at effluent concentration of 90%;during the months of January,April,July,and October;refer to Section A.
(2.).
Conditions:
• The discharge shall contain no floating solids or foam visible in other than trace amounts.
• All samples shall accurately represent the physical and chemical character of the effluent.
Page 3 of 8

Permit NC0044423
A. (2.) ACUTE TOXICITY 24-HOUR PASS/FAIL - MONITOR ONLY
[15A NCAC 02B .0200 et seq.]
The permittee shall conduct acute toxicity tests on a quarterly basis using protocols defined in the North
Carolina Procedure Document entitled"Pass/Fail Methodology for Determining Acute Toxicity in A Single
Effluent Concentration"(Revised December 2010 or subsequent versions). The monitoring shall be performed
as a Fathead Minnow(Pimephales promelas)24-hour static test. The effluent concentration at which there may
be at no time significant acute mortality is 90%(defined as treatment two in the procedure document). The
tests will be performed during the months of January,April,July, and October. 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.
Should any single quarterly monitoring indicate a failure to meet specified limits,then monthly
monitoring shall begin immediately until such time that a single test is passed.Upon passing,this
monthly test requirement will revert to quarterly in the months specified above.
All toxicity testing results required as part of this permit condition will be entered on the Effluent Discharge
Monitoring Form(MR-1)for the month in which it was performed,using the parameter code TGE6C.
Additionally,DWR Form AT-2(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,North Carolina 27699-1621
Or,results can be sent to the email,[e-mail].
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 until such time that a single test is passed.Upon passing,this monthly test
requirement will revert to quarterly in the months specified above.Assessment of toxicity compliance is based
on the toxicity testing quarter,which is the three-month time interval that begins on the first day of the month in
which toxicity testing is required by this permit and continues until the fmal day of the third month.
Should any test data from either these monitoring requirements 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.
NOTE: Failure to achieve test conditions as specified in the cited document, such as minimum control
organism survival 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.
Page 4 of 8

Permit NC0044423
A. (3.) SCHEDULE OF COMPLIANCE FOR COPPER AND ZINC LIMITS
[G.S. 143-215.1(b)]
During the first two years of the permit cycle, beginning from the effective date of the permit,the
applicable limits for Copper and Zinc will not be imposed. Monitoring for these parameters is still
required. During this time the permittee will undertake actions to move toward connection of the
discharge to the Town of Boone's WWTP.
(a.) No later than one year from the effective date of this permit the permittee shall submit a
report summarizing the actions taken toward removal of the discharge or compliance with
the permit limits.
(b.) No later than two years from the effective date of this permit the permittee shall submit a
report summarizing the actions taken toward removal of the discharge or compliance with
the permit limits.
(c.) Two years from the effective date of this permit the indicated limits for Copper and Zinc
will become effective and the permittee will be expected to comply with the limits.
(d.) At any point during the permit cycle if the permittee ceases to discharge by connecting to
the Town of Boone,the permittee shall contact the Division and request rescission of this
permit.
The reports created in response to this section shall include the owner's name,NPDES permit number
and Permittee contact person, and shall be submitted to:
(1)NCDEQ/Division of Water Resources (2)NCDEQ/Division of Water Resources
NPDES Compliance and Expedited Permitting Winston-Salem Regional Office
1617 Mail Service Center 450 West Hanes Mill Rd.; Suite 300
Raleigh,NC 27699-1617 Winston-Salem,NC 27105
A. (4.) ELECTRONIC REPORTING OF 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)1
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.
Page 5 of 8

Permit NC0044423
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
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
Page 6 of 8

Permit NC0044423
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.
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. (l l.)
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.)1
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].
Page 7 of 8

Draft Permit NC0044423
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Appalachian State University Facility _
Appalachian State WTP Location , h
Receiving Stream:Norris Branch(reservoir) River Basin: New River (not to scale)
Stream Class: WS-II;Tr:HQW;CA Stream Segment: 19-9-7-(1)
Sub-Basin: 05-07-01 County: Watauga -
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Latitude: 36 14' 19" Longitude: 81°40' 19" NPDESNC0044423
HUC: 050500010202 Grid/Quad: C12NW/Boone NORTH Permit: