NC0025135_Correspondence_20220923 (2)

PAT MCCRORY
Water Resources
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
Governor
DONALD R. VAN DER VAART
Secretary
S. JAY ZIMMERMAN
Director
February 10, 2016
Mr. Lee Huffman, Manager
Huffman Finishing Company
P.O. Box 170
Granite Falls, North Carolina 28630
Subject: Draft NPDES Permit Renewal
Permit No. NC0025135
Huffman Finishing Company WWTP
Caldwell County
Facility Class II
SIC: 2390
Dear Mr. Huffman -
Enclosed with this letter is a copy of the draft permit for your facility. Please review the draft very
carefully to ensure that you thoroughly understand the conditions and requirements it contains.
The draft permit contains the following significant changes from your current permit:
• The requirement to begin reporting discharge monitoring data electronically using the NC DWR's
Electronic Discharge Monitoring Report (eDMR) internet application has been added to your NPDES
permit. [See Special Condition A.(3.)]
For information on eDMR, registering for eDMR and obtaining an eDMR user account, please visit the
following web page: http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/wq/admin/bog/ipu/edmr.
For information on EPA's proposed NPDES Electronic Reporting Rule, please visit the following web
site: http://www2.epa.gov/compliance/proposed-npdes-electronic-reporting-rule.
• Effluent limitations for BOD5, TSS, COD, total chromium, sulfide, and total phenol have been updated
based on production data for the last five years.
• Sampling type for effluent TSS has been changed to composite. See Section A. (1.).
• Monitoring requirements for BOD5, TSS, COD, fecal coliform, pH and temperature have been reduced
to 2/week. Monitoring requirements for total nitrogen and total phosphorus have been reduced to
quarterly. See Section A. (1.).
• Effluent samples for silver showed 44 samples < 5 ug/L and 1 sample < 50 ug/L. The Huffman
Finishing WWTP's chronic allowable allocation for silver is 6.25 ug/L. In accordance with NC
Administrative Code Section 15A NCAC 02B .0500, all test procedures must produce detection and
reporting levels that are below the permit discharge requirements and all data generated must be
reported to the approved detection level or lower reporting level of the procedure. DWR's Water
Sciences Section has determined that the Practical Quantitation Limit (PQL) for silver is 1 ug/L. Please
see that the certified laboratory performing the facility's metals analysis can measure to the approved
detection level or lower reporting level. A list of PQL's determined by the Division can be found at
State of North Carolina I Environmental Quality I Water Resources
1617 Mail service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
919 707 9000

the following website: http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/wq/lab/ops/inorg. The monitoring requirement for
silver is maintained in the permit renewal with a reduced monitoring frequency of quarterly.
• Effluent samples for total phenolic compounds, nickel, and antimony showed no potential to violate
water quality standards and the maximum predicted concentrations were all less than 50% of the
allowable allocations. Limitations and monitoring requirements for nickel and antimony have been
removed from the permit. Limitations for total phenols are based on EPA technology based effluent
limits (TBEL) for Textile Mills, 40 CFR 410.52 and must be maintained in the permit.
• Some of the wording has changed in Special Condition A. (2.), Chronic Toxicity Permit Limit, please
review each paragraph carefully.
• DWR would also encourage the facility to fix the outfall pipeline cracks and consider extending the
discharge pipeline in order to have better effluent mix. However, prior to performing any work on the
outfall pipe, the permittee shall contact the Asheville Regional Office for assistance and to obtain any
necessary permits.
Concurrent with this transmittal, the Division will solicit public comment on this draft as required by the
EPA by publishing a notice in newspapers having circulation in the general Caldwell County area. Please
review this draft carefully to ensure thorough understanding of the information, conditions, and
requirements contained therein. Should you wish to correct errors or provide comments regarding this
draft please contact the DEQ / DWR / NPDES Program no later than March 18, 2016.
Following the 30-day public comment period, the Division will review all pertinent comments and take
appropriate action prior to issuing a final NPDES permit. If you have questions concerning the draft
permit for your facility, please contact me by e-mail ([e-mail]) or call me at (919) 807-
6479.
Respectfully,
Yang Song
Environmental Engineer, NPDES Wastewater
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
Enclosure: NPDES Permit NC0025135
cc: NPDES Unit
e-copy:
EPA Region IV
Asheville Regional Office / Water Quality Protection Program
Asheville Regional Office / Public Water Supply Program
Susan Meadows, Aquatic Toxicity Branch
Maureen Kinney, Wastewater Operator Certification & Training
Shuford Wise, Huffman Finishing Company ORC