NC0000752_Permit (Issuance)_20230120 (2)

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 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,
WestRock Paper, LLC
is hereby authorized to discharge wastewater from a facility located at the
Roanoke Rapids Mill WWTP
100 Gaston Road
Roanoke Rapids
Halifax County
to receiving waters designated as the Roanoke River in the Roanoke River Basin
in accordance with effluent limitations, monitoring requirements, and other
applicable conditions set forth in Parts I, II, III and IV hereof.
This permit shall become effective March 1, 2023.
This permit and authorization to discharge shall expire at midnight on February 28, 2028.
Signed this day January 20, 2023.
Signed by Doug Dowden
Richard E. Rogers Jr., Director
Division of Water Resources
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
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Permit NC0000752
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.
WestRock Paper, LLC is hereby authorized to:
1. Continue to operate an existing 28.0 MGD wastewater treatment facility (outfall
001) consisting of the following:
♦ Mechanical bar screen
♦ Primary clarifier
♦ Emergency holding pond
♦ Sludge lagoon
♦ Aeration basin
♦ Three stabilization ponds
2. Continue to discharge non -contact cooling water from the B 8s C evaporator (outfall
002), and
3. Discharge from said treatment works, located at the Roanoke Rapids Mill
Wastewater Treatment Plant, North Roanoke Avenue, Roanoke Rapids, Halifax
County, at the locations specified on the attached map into the Roanoke River
which is classified C waters in the Roanoke River Basin.
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Permit NC0000752
Part I
A. (1.) EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
[15A NCAC 02B .0400 et seq., 02B .0500 et seq.]
During the period beginning on the effective date of the permit and lasting until expiration, the
Permittee is authorized to discharge from outfall serial number 001 - process water and
stormwater. Such discharges shall be limited and monitored6 by the Permittee as specified below:
EFFLUENT
CHARACTERISTICS
LIMITS
MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
Monthly
Average
Daily
Maximum
Measurement
Frequency
Sample
Type
Sample
Locations
Flow
28.0 MGD
Continuous
Recorder
I or E
BOD, 5 day, 20°C
9,145.0
lbs/day
18,289.0
lbs/day
Daily5
Composite
E
Total Suspended Solids
19,596.0
lbs/day
39,191.0
lbs/day
Daily5
Composite
E
Dissolved Oxygen, mg/L
Weekly
Grab
E, U, D
Temperature8, 0C
Weekly
Grab
E, U, D
Conductivity, µmho/cm
Weekly
Grab
E, U, D
NH3 as N, mg/L
Monthly
Composite
E
Total Nitrogen
(NO2+NO3+TKN), mg/L
Monthly
Composite
E
Total Phosphorus, mg/L
Monthly
Composite
E
Chronic Toxicity2'3
Quarterly
Composite
E
Total Copper3, µg/L
Quarterly
Composite
E
pH
6.0 - 9.0 standard units
Daily5
Grab
E
Pentachlorophenol4
1.89 lbs/day
Weekly
Grab
E
Trichlorophenol4
1.73 lbs/day
Weekly
Grab
E
Total Hardness, mg/L
Monthly
Composite
E, U
PFAS7
Annually
Grab
Effluent
Footnotes:
1. Sample locations: E - Effluent, I - Influent, U - Upstream at NC Highway 48 Bridge, D -
Downstream at NC Highway 158. All upstream and downstream samples shall be collected as
grab samples.
2. Chronic Toxicity (Ceriodaphnia) P/F at 3.7%; March, June, September and December; see A. (3.),
Chronic Toxicity Pass/Fail Permit Limit.
3. Monitoring for metals and the whole effluent toxicity test shall be conducted at the same time.
4. Monitoring for pentachlorophenol and trichlorophenol is not required unless chlorophenolic
containing biocides are used at the facility. If chlorophenolic-containing biocides are used at the
facility, monitoring for pentachlorophenol and trichlorophenol shall commence immediately for
the duration of the use of the biocides and for a period of not less than two months after
discontinuing use of the biocides.
5. Daily shall mean every day except Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays.
6. The permittee shall submit Discharge Monitoring Reports electronically using NC DWR's eDMR
application system. Please See Special Condition A. (6.).
7. Please see special condition A. (7).
8. The facility shall conduct a temperature modeling within next 2 years to determine the boundaries
of the thermal plume. The facility shall meet the state temperature standard of 320C at the edge of
the plume. The modeling report shall be submitted to DWR.
There shall be no discharge of floating solids or visible foam in other than trace amounts.
The facility shall use method 1631E for Mercury analysis.
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Permit NC0000752
A. (2.) EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
[15A NCAC 02B .0400 et seq., 02B .0500 et seq.]
During the period beginning on the effective date of the permit and lasting until expiration, the
Permittee is authorized to discharge from outfall(s) serial number 002 - non -contact cooling water.
Such discharges shall be limited and monitored4 by the Permittee as specified below:
EFFLUENT
CHARACTERISTICS
LIMITS
MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
Monthly
Average
Daily
Maximum
Measurement
Frequency
Sample
Type
Sample
Location
Flow
Semi
annually
Estimate
Effluent
Temperature °C
See note 1
See note 1
Semi -Grab
annually
Effluent
pH
6.0 - 9.0 standard units2
Semi -Grab
annually
Effluent,
Upstream,
Downstream3
Footnotes:
1. The temperature of the effluent will be regulated so that the temperature of the receiving
stream does not increase more than 2.8°C (5.05°F) above the natural water temperature and
does not exceed a maximum of 29°C (84.2°F).
2. The pH shall not be less than 6.0 standard units nor more than 9.0 standard units. In the
event that effluent pH shall be recorded outside this range, any value that falls within the
range of pH measured at the upstream and downstream points shall be considered compliant.
Effluent pH shall be sampled on the same days that stream samples for pH are taken. See
Condition A. (5.), pH Re -opener.
3. Upstream at NC Highway 48 Bridge, Downstream at NC Highway 158.
4. The permittee shall submit Discharge Monitoring Reports electronically using NC DWR's
eDMR application system. Please See Special Condition A. (6.).
There shall be no chromium, zinc or copper added to the treatment system except as pre -
approved additives to biocidal compounds. The permittee shall obtain authorization from the
Division prior to any use of biocide in the cooling water (See A. (4), Biocide Condition).
There shall be no discharge of floating solids or visible foam in other than trace amounts.
Page 4 of 8

Permit NC0000752
A. (3.) CHRONIC TOXICITY PERMIT LIMIT (QRTRLY)
[15A NCAC 02B .0200 et seq.]
The effluent discharge shall at no time exhibit observable inhibition of reproduction or significant
mortality to Ceriodaphnia dubia at an effluent concentration of 3.7%.
The permit holder shall perform at a minimum, quarterly monitoring using test procedures outlined
in the "North Carolina Ceriodaphnia Chronic Effluent Bioassay Procedure," Revised February 1998,
or subsequent versions or "North Carolina Phase II Chronic Whole Effluent Toxicity Test Procedure"
(Revised -February 1998) or subsequent versions. The tests will be performed during the months of
March, June, September, and December. Effluent sampling for this testing shall be performed at
the NPDES permitted final effluent discharge below all treatment processes.
If the quarterly test procedure results in a failure or ChV below the permit limit, then
multiple -concentration testing shall be performed at a minimum, in each of the two following
months as described in "North Carolina Phase II Chronic Whole Effluent Toxicity Test
Procedure" (Revised -December 2010) or subsequent versions.
All toxicity testing results required as part of this permit condition will be entered on the Effluent
Discharge Monitoring Form (MR-1) for the months in which tests were performed, using the
parameter code TGP3B for the pass/fail results and THP3B for the Chronic Value. Additionally,
DWR Form AT-3 (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, accurate, include all supporting chemical/physical measurements and
all concentration/response data, and be certified by laboratory supervisor and ORC or approved
designate signature. 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,
monitoring will be required during the following month. Assessment of toxicity compliance is based
on the toxicity testing month.
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.
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.
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Permit NC0000752
A. (4.) BIOCIDE CONDITION
[G.S. 143-215.1(b)]
The permitted shall not use any biocides except those approved in conjunction with the permit
application. The permitted shall notify the Director in writing at least ninety (90) days prior to
instituting use of any additional biocide in the treatment system, which may be toxic to aquatic life
(other than biocides previously reported to the Division). Such notification shall include completion of
Biocide Worksheet Form 101 and a map indicating the discharge point and receiving stream.
A. (5.) pH REOPENER
[G.S. 143-215.1(b)]
The Division may re -open this permit to remove pH limitation footnotes at Outfall 002, should new
information indicate water quality problems due to declining pH in this portion of the river.
A. (6.) ELECTRONIC REPORTING OF DISCHARGE 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)]
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. Until such time that the
state's eDMR application is compliant with EPA's Cross -Media Electronic Reporting Regulation
(CROMERR), permittees will be required to submit all discharge monitoring data to the state
electronically using eDMR and will be required to complete the eDMR submission by printing,
signing, and submitting one signed original and a copy of the computer printed eDMR 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
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
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Permit NC0000752
submitted to the mailing address above. See "How to Request a Waiver from Electronic
Reporting" section below.
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 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
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Permit NC0000752
4. Signatory Requirements [Supplements Section B. (11.) (b) and Supersedes Section B. (11.)
Lill
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].
A. (7.) PFAS MONITORING IN THE EFFLUENT
[G.S. 143-215.1(b)]
Upon EPA approval of method 1633 the facility shall employ this analysis for PFAS compounds
covered under this method. The analysis shall be conducted annually. If method 1633 is not
approved the facility shall employ EPA 537 Modified method for PFAS analysis.
Results of the PFAS analysis shall be submitted to the DEQ on the DMR, including electronic
reporting.
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