NC0038377_Protection and Restoration Annual Report_20230120

(' DUKE EHS Environmental Programs
411 Fayetteville Street
ENERGY, Mail Code:NC15
Raleigh,NC 27601
January 17, 2023
Mr. Richard Rogers
Director
North Carolina Division of Water Resources
1617 Mail Services Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1617
Subject: Submittal of 2022 Surface Water
Protection and Restoration Annual Report
Duke Energy Progress, LLC.
Dear Mr. Rogers,
In accordance with North Carolina General Statute 130A-309.212(e), Duke Energy is required to
"...submit an Annual Surface Water Protection Report to the department no later than January
31 of each year." Duke Energy is pleased to submit the attached 2022 Surface Water
Protection and Restoration Annual Reports for Duke Energy Progress, LLC. The attached
report provides information for the following facilities:
Duke Energy Progress, LLC
Asheville Steam Plant, Cape Fear Steam Plant, H.F. Lee Energy Complex, Mayo Steam Plant,
Roxboro Steam Plant, Weatherspoon Steam Plant and L.V. Sutton Energy Complex.
If you have any questions regarding these materials, please contact Randy Hawkins at (864)
356-8257 or randy.hawkins(duke-energy.com.
Sincerely,
•
u,- Lcr (A)► vvafirx-)
RECEIVED
Cynthia Winston JAN 2 0 2023
Senior Manager EHS
Attachment NCDEQ/DWR/NPDES
Cc:
Randy Hawkins—via email w/attachment
Eric Smith —via email w/attachment
John Fischer—via email w/attachment
Kim McDaniel —via email w/attachment
EHS NC water SME's-via email w/attachment
CastPro

lip DUKE
ENERGY®
PROGRESS
2022 North Carolina Surface Water
Protection and Restoration Annual
Report
Duke Energy Progress, LLC
RECEIVED
JAI 2 0 202.,
NCDEOIDWR/NPDES
Submitted: January 2023

Duke Energy Progress,LLC 12022 Surface Water Protection and Restoration Annual Report
Table of Contents
Page
Table of Contents
Section 1 - Introduction 1
Section 2 - Site Descriptions 1
2.1 Asheville Steam Electric Plant 1
2.2 Cape Fear Steam Electric Plant 2
2.3 H.F. Lee Energy Complex 3
2.4 Mayo Steam Electric Plant 3
2.5 Roxboro Steam Electric Plant 4
2.6 L.V. Sutton Energy Complex 4
2.7 Weatherspoon Plant 5
Section 3— Surface Water Sampling Summary 7
Section 4 —Surface Water Protection and Restoration Summary 9
Section 5 — Discharge Identification Status 10
Section 6 — Discharge Assessment Status 10
Table 3-1
Routine Duke Energy Coal-Fired Steam Stations 2022 Surface Water Quality Sampling 7,8
RECEIVE®
JAN202023
NCDEQ/DIN,�i�PpE

Duke Energy Carolinas,LLC 12022 Surface Water Protection and Restoration Annual Report
Section 1 - Introduction
The purpose of this document is to address the requirements of North Carolina General
Statutes (N.C.G.S.) § 130A-309.212(e), Reporting, as established by North Carolina Senate Bill
729, the Coal Ash Management Act of 2014 (CAMA), for multiple ash basin sites operated
under National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits as referenced herein.
The following requirements are contained in N.C.G.S. § 130A-309.212:
(e) Reporting. —In addition to any other reporting required by the Department, the
owner of a coal combustion residuals surface impoundment shall submit an
annual Surface Water Protection and Restoration Report to the Department no
later than January 31 of each year. The Report shall include a summary of all
surface water sampling, protection, and restoration activities related to the
impoundment for the preceding year, including the status of the identification,
assessment, and correction of unpermitted discharges from coal combustion
residuals surface impoundments to the surface waters of the State.
CAMA establishes the submittal date of this report as no later than January 31, 2023. This
report satisfies the requirements of N.C.G.S. § 130A-309.212(e) for activities occurring in 2022
at multiple facilities with ash basin treatment units.
Section 2 - Site Descriptions
2.1 Asheville Steam Electric Plant
The Asheville Steam Electric Plant (Asheville Plant) is located near Asheville, in Buncombe
County, North Carolina. The Asheville Plant began commercial operation in the 1960s, with
additions in the 1990s and around 2000, and consists of two coal-fired units. In addition to the
coal-fired units, the Asheville Plant has two combustion turbines. Coal combustion residuals
have been managed in two on-site ash basins (referred to as the 1964 and 1982 ash basins)
with a combined footprint of approximately 78 acres and used as beneficial fill at the nearby
Asheville Regional Airport (Asheville Airport). Discharge from the ash dewatering process to the
French Broad River is permitted by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
(NCDEQ) Division of Water Resources (DWR) under National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System (NPDES) Permit NC0000396.
Lake Julian was built for cooling water purposes by damming the flow of Powell Creek on the
north side of the Asheville Plant. A large portion of Lake Julian borders the east side of the
Asheville Plant site. Surface water from the French Broad River is also pumped into Lake Julian
as a supplemental water supply. The water from the French Broad River enters a stilling area of
the lake on the north side of the Asheville Plant. Heated water is discharged back into Lake
Julian to the east of the Asheville Plant. The French Broad River borders the west side of the
property and flows south to north. Powell Creek also flows south to north prior to formation of
Page I 1

Duke Energy Progress,LLC 12022 Surface Water Protection and Restoration Annual Report
Lake Julian. Powell Creek flows east to west from the Lake Julian Dam to the French Broad
River.
The Asheville Plant is located on the east side of 1-26 and the French Broad River where the
ash management system consisted of two ash basins. The original 1964 ash basin, built during
Asheville Plant construction and expanded in the 1970s, was overlain with lined wastewater
treatment wetlands. The wastewater treatment wetlands have been removed and the FGD
wastewater they were designed to treat is currently being sent to the municipal sewer under an
industrial pretreatment permit. The 1964 ash basin was supplemented in approximately 1982
with a second ash basin, built to the west of the 1964 basin. Removal of all visible ash from the
1982 ash basin was completed by the end of September 2016, and removal of all visible ash
from the 1964 ash basin was completed in June, 2022. The removal of ash from the basins was
completed consistent with NCDEQ's document titled "CCR Surface Impoundment Closure
Guidelines for Protection of Groundwater" received under cover letter dated November 4, 2016.
A natural gas fired combined cycle generation unit has been constructed within the footprint of
the former 1982 ash basin. This new generation capacity replaces the coal fired units which
have been retired.
2.2 Cape Fear Steam Electric Plant
The Cape Fear Steam Electric Plant (Cape Fear Plant) was located on approximately 900 acres
in central North Carolina near Moncure, in Chatham County. The site is along the east bank of
the Cape Fear River, southeast of Moncure and west of Corinth Road. Cape Fear Plant
operations began in 1923 with additional units added from 1924 to 1969. In the most recent
configuration, the Cape Fear Plant employed two coal-fired units along with four oil-fueled
combustion turbine units. Residuals generated from coal combustion were treated and stored
on-site in ash basins. Operations were terminated at the Cape Fear Plant in October 2012 and
generation plant demolition activities have been completed.
Five ash basins were historically used at the Cape Fear Plant and are referenced using the date
of construction: 1956, 1963, 1970, 1978, and 1985. The 1956 ash basin is located north of the
former Cape Fear Plant, and the remaining ash basins are located south of the Cape Fear Plant
area. The 1963 and 1970 ash basins were constructed on the west side of the Cape Fear Plant
property, adjacent to the Cape Fear River. The 1978 ash basin was constructed east of and
abutting the 1963 and 1970 ash basins. The 1985 ash basin was constructed east of the
existing ash basins between the wastewater discharge canal and Corinth Road. The ash basins
are impounded by earthen dams.
Currently, the 1956, 1963, and 1970 ash basins are dry and entirely covered with vegetation
(hardwood and pine trees). A small area near the southern end of the 1970 ash basin is
seasonally wet.
All wastewater, formerly generated by the site, historically discharged to the discharge canal
outfall 007. A new outfall (Outfall 008) has been permitted to allow for releases associated with
basin closure to be discharged to the Cape Fear River. Discharges from the 1956, 1963, 1970,
PageI2

Duke Energy Progress,LLD 12022 Surface Water Protection and Restoration Annual Report
1978, and 1985 ash basins are permitted by the NCDEQ DWR under NPDES Permit
NC0003433.
In 2021, an ash beneficiation facility became commercially operational to produce flyash
material suitable for use as a replacement for Portland Cement in the production of concrete.
2.3 H.F. Lee Energy Complex
The H. F. Lee Energy Complex (Lee Plant) is in central eastern North Carolina near Goldsboro,
North Carolina. The Lee Plant began operations in 1951, adding coal-fired units in the early
1950s and 1960s. The Lee Plant employed various combinations of three coal-fired units along
with four oil-fueled combustion turbine units to produce energy. The three coal-fired units were
retired in September 2012 followed by the four oil-fueled combustion turbine units in October
2012. In December 2012, the H.F. Lee Combined Cycle Plant was brought online.
The property encompasses approximately 2,100 acres, including the ash basins, a cooling pond
(located to the east of the Lee Plant operations area),p and the Neuse River.
Four ash basins have been used to manage sluiced coal ash generated at the Lee Plant and
are referenced using the date of construction. Three inactive ash basins were built in
approximately the late 1950s and early 1960s and are located west of the power production
area. The newest ash basin was constructed in the late 1970s and is located northeast of the
power production area. Combined, the active and inactive ash basins encompass approximately
314 acres (171 acres for the inactive ash basins and 143 acres for the active ash basin). The
ash basins are impounded by earthen dikes. Discharge from the ash basins to the Neuse River
is permitted and regulated under NPDES Permit NC0003417.
The Lee Plant also includes an ash beneficiation facility to produce flyash material suitable for
use as a replacement for Portland Cement in the production of concrete.
2.4 Mayo Steam Electric Plant
The Mayo Steam Electric Plant (Mayo Plant) is a single-unit, coal-fired electric generating facility
located in Person County, North Carolina, near the city of Roxboro. The Mayo Plant became
fully operational in June 1983.
The Mayo Plant is located on Boston Road (US Highway 501) north of Roxboro. The northern
property line extends to the North CarolinaNirginia state line. The overall topography of the
Mayo Plant generally slopes toward the east (Mayo Reservoir) and northeast.
The Mayo Plant ash basin is approximately 140 acres in size with an earthen dike. The ash
basin is located north of the Mayo Plant operational area and west of Mayo Lake. CCR was
transported via hydraulic sluicing to the ash basin until 2013, when the Mayo Plant converted to
a dry ash system. Final system upgrades were completed in October 2016; all CCR collection is
collected dry. Dry fly ash was hauled and disposed in the landfill located at the nearby Roxboro
Steam Electric Plant (Roxboro Plant) from August 2012 until November 2014. Beginning in
Page 13

Duke Energy Progress,LLC 12022 Surface Water Protection and Restoration Annual Report
November 2014, CCR from the Mayo Plant has been managed in a newly constructed on-site
landfill located west of the ash basin. All wastewater inflows to the ash basin have ceased with
the recent completion of construction of new wastewater treatment facilities. Decanting of the
ash basin has been completed and the station is currently in the dewatering phase. Discharge
from the ash basin to Mayo Lake is permitted and regulated by the NCDEQ DWR under NPDES
Permit NC0038377. Conditional Approval of the Groundwater Corrective Action Plan was
received in 2021.
2.5 Roxboro Steam Electric Plant
The Roxboro Steam Electric Plant (Roxboro Plant) is located near Semora, in Person County,
North Carolina. A large part of the Roxboro Plant property encompasses Hyco Reservoir. The
Hyco Reservoir was constructed to provide a source of cooling water for the Roxboro plant.
The coal-fired electric generating facility began operations in the 1960s and continued to add
capacity through the 1980s.
historically been managed in two on-site ash basins, with an approximate
CCR's have sto y gpp
combined area of approximately 495 acres, and a lined landfill located south-southwest of Hyco
Reservoir and Hyco River.
Discharge from the West Ash Basin is permitted and regulated by the NCDEQ DWR under
NPDES Permit NC0003425.
CCR generated from coal combustion has been stored in on-site ash basins and a lined landfill.
Ash has been sluiced to the ash basins or conveyed in its dry form to the lined landfill. Two ash
basins have been used at the Roxboro Plant and are referenced using the date of construction
and relative location: the 1966 East Ash Basin and the 1973 West Ash Basin. The East Ash
Basin is located southeast of the Roxboro Plant, and the West Ash Basin is located south of the
Roxboro Plant. An unlined landfill was constructed on the East Ash Basin in the late 1980s. A
lined landfill was subsequently constructed over the unlined landfill around 2004. The ash
basins are impounded by permitted earthen dams.
Currently, the East Ash Basin and lined landfill are largely covered with vegetation (grasses and
shrubs) where the landfill is not active. Wet ash and runoff from the East Ash Basin landfill is
directed to the West Ash Basin for settling. Inflows of wastewater to the west ash basin at
Roxboro have ceased with the completion of a new lined retention basin for wastewater
treatment. The West Ash Basin encompasses approximately 200 acres and discharges to a
permitted internal outfall (outfall 002) and then by a permitted outfall into Hyco Reservoir (outfall
003). Decanting of the West Ash Basin has been completed and the station is currently in the
dewatering phase. Conditional Approval of the Groundwater Corrective Action Plan was
received in 2021.
2.6 L.V. Sutton Energy Complex
The L.V. Sutton Energy Complex (Sutton Plant) is a former coal-fired electric generating facility
located near Wilmington in New Hanover County, North Carolina. The facility is located north of
Page I 4

Duke Energy Progress,LLC 12022 Surface Water Protection and Restoration Annual Report
Wilmington on the west side of U.S. Highway 421. The topography around the property is
relatively gentle, generally sloping downward toward the Cape Fear River. The Sutton Plant
utilizes an approximately 1,100-acre cooling pond located adjacent to the Cape Fear River. The
ash management area is located adjacent to the cooling pond, north of the Sutton Plant. The
Sutton Plant started operations in 1954 and consisted of three coal-fired boilers to produce
steam. The Sutton Plant coal fired generation units were retired in 2013. A natural gas fired
combined cycle generation unit was constructed on the site to replace the coal fired units.
The Sutton Plant, cooling pond, and ash basin areas are located on the east side of the Cape
Fear River. The ash basins consisted of:
• The 1971 ash basin is an unlined ash basin built in approximately 1971. The basin
received fly ash, bottom ash, boiler slag, storm water, ash sluice water, coal pile runoff,
and low-volume wastewater. Excavation of CCR material from this basin is complete.
• The 1984 ash basin has a 12-inch clay liner and was built in approximately 1984. This
basin is located toward the northern portion of the ash management area and was
operated from 1984 to 2013. The basin received fly ash, bottom ash, boiler slag, storm
water, ash sluice water, coal pile runoff, and low volume wastewater. Excavation of
CCR material from this basin is complete.
The ash basins were impounded by an earthen dike. CCR removal from the ash basins and
placement in the Brickhaven structural fill was on-going during 2016 and through June 2017
when shipments of ash to Brickhaven were ceased. Duke Energy then began disposing of ash
into the on-site landfill as Cell 3 received its permit to operate on July 6, 2017; Cell 4 received its
permit to operate on August 25, 2017; and Cell 5 received its permit to operate on December 7,
2017. Wastewater discharge from the Sutton Plant to the Cape Fear River is permitted and
regulated by the NCDEQ DWR under the NPDES Permit NC0001422. Conditional Approval of
the Groundwater Corrective Action Plan was received in 2021.
2.7 W.H. Weatherspoon Plant
The W.H. Weatherspoon Plant (Weatherspoon Plant) is a former coal-fired electric generating
facility located in Robeson County, North Carolina, near the city of Lumberton. The
Weatherspoon Plant started operations in 1949. Two additional units were added in the 1950s.
Four oil- and natural gas-fueled combustion turbines were added in the 1970s. As of October
2011, all the coal-fired units were retired. The four oil- and natural gas-fueled units continue to
operate as needed to meet peak demand. The facility is located southeast of Lumberton on the
east side of North Carolina Highway 72. The topography around the property generally slopes
downward toward the Lumber River.
The Weatherspoon Plant, cooling pond, and ash basin are located on the east side of the
Lumber River. The Weatherspoon Plant cooling pond covers an area of approximately 225-
acres and is located adjacent to the Lumber River. The ash basin is located north of the cooling
pond and northeast of the former Weatherspoon Plant coal-fired generation units. The ash basin
covers an area of approximately 65 acres. The ash basin is impounded by an earthen dike. Ash
Page 15

Duke Energy Progress,LLC 12022 Surface Water Protection and Restoration Annual Report
generated from historic coal combustion is stored on-site in the ash basin. Treated water flows
from the ash basin to the cooling pond through an engineered pathway from the ash basin into
the northeast corner of the cooling pond. The Weatherspoon Plant NPDES permit (NC005363)
authorizes and regulates the discharges at the site.
RECEIVED
JAN ` 2011,
NCDEQIDWRINPDES
Page 16

Duke Energy Progress,LLC 12022 Surface Water Protection and Restoration Annual Report
Section 3 — Surface Water Sampling Summary
The NPDES program regulates wastewater discharges from ash basins to surface waters to
assure that surface water quality standards are maintained. Surface water discharges are
identified and evaluated to locate potential outfalls for inclusion in the permit. The NPDES
permitting program requires that permits be renewed at least every five years.
Routine surface water monitoring was performed in 2022 in accordance with each site's NPDES
permit conditions and CAMA. Table 3-1 below summarizes the 2022 routine surface water
quality sampling conducted at the seven Duke Energy Progress, LLC coal-fired steam stations
described in Section 2. Sample results are submitted to the Department of Environmental
Quality in accordance with timelines and procedures identified in each site's respective NPDES
permit. Some additional site-specific sampling events were undertaken associated with the
requirements of various consent orders and groundwater to surface water interaction
demonstrations. Those results were also submitted to the Department in accordance with the
requirement timeframes and protocols.
Table 3-1. Routine Duke Energy Coal-Fired Steam Stations 2022 Surface Water Quality
Sampling
p g
Station Water Quality' Water Chemistry2 Trace Elements3
Asheville Plant X X Fish muscle tissue
Cape Fear Plant X X Fish muscle tissue
H. F. Lee Energy Complex X X Fish muscle tissue
Mayo Plant X X Fish muscle tissue,
sediments
Roxboro Plant X X Fish muscle tissue,
sediments
Fish muscle tissue,
L.V. Sutton Energy Complex X X sediments
Weatherspoon Plant X X Fish muscle tissue
'Temperature, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, pH, and secchi disk transparency depth (at lake
stations only).
2 Water Chemistry constituents analyzed
Page 17

Duke Energy Progress,LLC 12022 Surface Water Protection and Restoration Annual Report
cn
7
0
U N c
-0 2 a)
0)
> U N E 7 c Q) a) O
7
o N ` 7 Q) O co Z
• >' a) = c s- = R ` c Cl) Cl) a) E coui s = Z •c
0 a �_ c 0 Q c • m co cn �_ c a Z a) o coo
` ca E E E o o o a v Er) ca >. WI 0 v co co F2 E a
SITE o -2 E = o co o o co .c O ai m o 0 o _c c o 0 0 ' E a)
I— l— C.) (n co Q Q I— m U U U F- I— IV 2 I— 1— Z Q Y
Asheville X X X X X X X X X X X XXXXXXX j
Cape X X X X X X X X XXXX X
Fear
H.F. Lee X X X X XXXX X XXXXXXX X
Mayo X X X XXXXXXX X X X X X X
Roxboro X X X X X X XXXXX X X X X X X X X
Sutton X X X X X X X X X XXXX
Weathers X X X X X XXXX X XXXXXXX X
poon
E
c
a) cn
_0 c o
>, a) c
E a) o u) 0 co
2 L E a) M a
La V a) X L12 Q
To
SITE m E z u/ I° I° m co l— z l°
Asheville X X X X X X X
Cape X X
Fear
H.F. Lee X
Mayo X X X X X X
Roxboro X X X X X X X
Sutton X X X
Weathers X X X X
poon
Page 18

Duke Energy Progress,LLC 12022 Surface Water Protection and Restoration Annual Report
Section 4 — Surface Water Protection and
Restoration Summary
In 2022, Duke Energy identified and submitted several documents and undertook a number of
actions to comply with the CAMA and other regulatory requirements. Documents submitted and
additional activities of note undertaken in 2022 are listed below:
• Asheville
o Conducted weekly and annual dam inspections.
o The Special Order of Consent related to seepage was terminated on May 8,
2022.
o Received approval of the Seep Management Plan Amendment.
o Submitted the Corrective Action Plan on November 18, 2022.
o Continued and completed transport of coal ash from the 1964 basin at the
Asheville Plant and disposal in the onsite landfill.
o Received NPDES Wastewater Modification on Outfall 101 to allow for underdrain
flows on February 11, 2022.
o Over 8.4M tons of ash have been excavated from Asheville Plant as of October
31, 2022.
• H.F.Lee
o Conducted weekly and annual dam inspections.
o Received NPDES Wastewater Modification to increase flow from Inactive Basins
effective January 1, 2022.
o Aproximately 712k tons of ash have been sent to the H.F. Lee STAR
beneficiation facility as of October 31, 2022.
• Mayo
o Conducted weekly and annual dam inspections.
o Received NPDES Wastewater Modification to increase flow, revise ELG's, and
bottom ash flows effective January 1, 2022.
o Over 529k tons of ash have been excavated as of October 31, 2022
• Roxboro
o Ash excavation began in June, 2021 and over 1.1M tons of ash have been
excavated as of October 31, 2022.
• Sutton
o Conducted weekly and annual dam inspections.
o Received NPDES Wastewater permit renewal June 6, 2022.
o Approximately 7.6M tons of ash has been excavated as of October 31, 2022.
• Weatherspoon
o Continued ash transport from Weatherspoon for reuse activities.
o As of October 31, 2022, total ash excated at Weatherspoon is 1.28M tons.
Page 19

Duke Energy Progress,LLC 12022 Surface Water Protection and Restoration Annual Report
Upcoming commitments related to the CAMA include:
• Close basins as required by CAMA and in accordance with performance standards set
out in the federal coal combustion residuals rule to the extent of its applicability to a
particular station.
• Continue to implement Special Order by Consent related to seepage for Mayo, H.F Lee,
Cape Fear, Weatherspoon plants.
• Renew Monofill Stormwater permit for Mayo in 2022.
Section 5 — Discharge Identification Status
The Discharge Identification Plans submitted in September 2014 for all seven (7) DEP sites
addressed the requirements of N.C.G.S § 130A-309.212(d), Identification and assessment of
discharges; correction of unpermitted discharges. Inspection procedures developed to satisfy
the requirements of N.C.G.S. § 130A-309.212(d) were presented in these plans and used as the
basis for developing the topographic map required by N.C.G.S. § 130A-309.212(a)(2). These
documents were submitted to DEQ on September 30, 2014 for all seven (7) DEP plants
described in Section 2. In 2020, Duke Energy implemented the procedures outlined in the
previously submitted Discharge Identification Plans.
With the termination of seep management consent orders and removal of seep-related NPDES
requirements for sites with closed ash basins, NCDEQ approved seep management
amendments to site specific groundwater Corrective Action Plans now govern required activities
for future identification and assessment of discharges.
Section 6 — Discharge Assessment Status
Duke Energy submitted the required Topographic Map and Discharge Assessment Plans to
DEQ on December 30, 2014. The plan addressed the requirements of N.C.G.S. § 130A-
309.212(a)(2), topographic map, and (b), Assessment of Discharges from Coal Combustion
Residuals Surface Impoundments to the Surface Waters of the State. The elements required in
N.C.G.S. § 130A-309.212(a) were incorporated into the plan. These documents were submitted
to DEQ on December 30, 2014 for all seven (7) DEP stations described in Section 2. During
2019, Duke Energy provided sampling data to DEQ of potential discharges from coal
combustion residual surface impoundments. Duke Energy participated in numerous meetings
and site visits with DEQ staff in evaluating such potential discharges.
With the termination of seep management consent orders and removal of seep-related NPDES
requirements for sites with closed ash basins, NCDEQ approved seep management
amendments to site specific groundwater Corrective Action Plans now govern required activities
for future identification and assessment of discharges.
Page 110