NC0004979_Fish Tissue Monitoring_20230123

' DUKE Allen Steam Station
Duke Energy
Ir ENERGY 253 Plant Allen Rd
Belmont,NC 28012
828 478-7600
Jan. 17, 2023
NC DEQ Division of Water Resources NC DEQ Division of Water Resources
WQ Permitting Section—NPDES Water Sciences Section
1617 Mail Service Center 1621 Mail Services Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1617 Raleigh, NC 27699-1621
Attn: Sergei Chernikov Attn: Chris Johnson
RSubject: Duke EnergyCarolinas, LLCEC�IVED
JAN 2 3 2023
Allen Steam Station
NPDES Permit NC0004979 N W
Fish Tissue Monitoring of Lake Wylie Near Allen Steam Station 1"�JL�7
Greetings,
This transmittal includes a copy of the Fish Tissue Monitoring in Lake Wylie Near Allen Steam Station
report for review by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality(NC DEQ) as required by
the Allen Steam Station NPDES Permit NC0004979.
We look forward to your review and comments regarding the enclosed report. If you have any questions
related to this submittal,please contact either Randy Gantt at 704-829-2587 or michael.gantt@duke-
energy.com or Eric Morris at 980-875-3181 or [e-mail].
1 certify, under penalty of law, that this document and all attachments were prepared under my direction of
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. 1 am aware that there are significant penalties for submitting false
information,including the possibility of fines and imprisonment for knowing violations.
Sincerely,
Jeffre lanaga
General Manager III
Allen Steam Station

Fish Tissue Monitoring of Lake Wylie Near
Allen Steam Station (2018-2022)
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ALLEN STEAM STATION
Belmont, North Carolina
NPDES Permit# NC0004979
Duke Energy Environmental Sciences
Huntersville, NC 28078
September 2022
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ENERGY®

Fish Tissue Monitoring of Lake Wylie Near Allen Steam Station(2018-2022)
ALLEN STEAM STATION
Contents
1 Introduction and Background 1
2 Methods 3
2.1 Field Methods 3
2.2 Laboratory Methods 3
3 Results and Discussion 3
3.1 Arsenic 4
3.2 Selenium 4
3.3 Mercury 4
4 Summary 6
5 References 6
Tables
Table 3-1. Numbers and total length ranges(in mm) of different species of fish collected for element
analyses in the three areas of Lake Wylie during 2018-2022. 4
Figures
Figure 1-1. Sampling areas for monitoring trace elements in fish tissue in Lake Wylie. 2
Figure 3-1. Box plots of trace element analysis of fish muscle tissue for sunfish and black bass collected
from three areas of Lake Wylie during 2018-2022. 5
Appendices
Appendix A.Arsenic, selenium, and mercury concentrations (fresh weight) in axial muscle of fish from
Lake Wylie during 2018-2022

Fish Tissue Monitoring of Lake Wylie Near Allen Steam Station(2018-2022)
ALLEN STEAM STATION
1 Introduction and Background
Duke Energy Carolinas (DEC) owns and operates the Allen Steam Station (Allen) located on Lake Wylie in
Gaston County, Belmont, North Carolina.The Allen National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
(NPDES) Permit(No. NC0004979,Section A.23) requires DEC to conduct annual trace elements
(specifically arsenic, selenium, and mercury) monitoring in fish muscle tissue, in accordance with a study
plan approved by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality(NCDEQ).These metals are
commonly associated with coal ash and can have fish and human health impacts.A study plan was
originally submitted and approved in 2013 (Duke Energy 2013),and an updated study plan was
submitted and approved in 2019(Duke Energy 2019).
Target fish were collected from three (2018) or two(2019-2022)areas on Lake Wylie(Figure 1-1)for
trace element analysis of muscle tissue.Area UP was located at least 4.5 km upstream of the Allen ash
basin discharge to serve as a reference to monitor background trace element concentrations in fish
muscle tissue.Area DI was in the vicinity of, and no farther than, 1.0 km downstream from the Allen ash
basin discharge to monitor potential near-field uptake of trace elements in fish muscle tissue.Area DN
was sampled in 2018 and was located between 11 km to 13 km downstream of the discharge to monitor
far-field uptake of trace elements in fish muscle tissue.
1

Fish Tissue Monitoring of Lake Wylie Near Allen Steam Station(2018-2022)
ALLEN STEAM STATION
A
Upper
Lake Wylie
UP
ALLEN STEAM STATION
OUTFALL 002
DI
48s
NORTH CAROLINA
SOUTH CAROLINA —
1 ,\t
DN
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0 2.5 5
Kilometers
Figure 1-1.Sampling areas for monitoring trace elements in fish tissue in Lake Wylie.
2

Fish Tissue Monitoring of Lake Wylie Near Allen Steam Station(2018-2022)
ALLEN STEAM STATION
2 Methods
2.1 Field Methods
Fish were collected for trace element fish tissue monitoring following the appropriate Duke Energy
procedures. Fish were collected using boat electrofishing, and only live fish that showed no signs of
deterioration were retained for analysis.Those individuals were identified to species, measured for total
length to the nearest millimeter,weighed to the nearest gram, and marked with a unique tag identifier.
Fish were then placed in a labeled (sample date,sample location,facility, etc.) bag on ice while in the
field. Each day the sealed bags of fish were transferred to a deep freezer.
Species targeted for collection were based on prior sampling experience, likely availability, importance
as fish food, and general trophic level.The species groups identified for collection were black bass
(Micropterus) and sunfish (Lepomis). Duke Energy personnel collected six individuals of each taxa from
each sampling area. Individuals retained for analysis were those considered of sufficient size for human
consumption (>_60 g).As recommended by the US Environmental Protection Agency(USEPA),fish were
retained such that the size of the smallest individual would not be less than 75%of the total length of
the largest fish within each genus group when possible (USEPA 2000).
2.2 Laboratory Methods
Fish were processed for metals analysis at the Duke Energy Trace Element Laboratory located in New
Hill, NC following the appropriate procedures. Fish were thawed and skeletal muscle was fileted off
using a carbon-steel scalpel. Muscle tissue from each individual fish was homogenized,weighed to the
nearest 0.001 g, and dried to a consistent weight in a desiccator.The dried weight was recorded and
used to calculate a dry weight to fresh weight ratio for that fish.A small amount,generally around 0.1 g,
of dried tissue was analyzed for each fish using X-ray fluorescence. Quality control was achieved utilizing
analytical standards, replicates, and certified reference materials.
3 Results and Discussion
During the five year study period (2018-2022), 132 individuals were captured and analyzed from Lake
Wylie. Species collected for analysis included Alabama Bass Micropterus henshalii, Largemouth Bass M.
salmoides, and hybrid black bass M. spp(black bass)and Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus, Green Sunfish L.
cyanellus, and Redear Sunfish L. macrochirus(sunfish).A breakdown of species and total length by area
is shown in Table 3-1. A full depiction of fish collected and trace element concentrations is presented in
Appendix A.
3

Fish Tissue Monitoring of Lake Wylie Near Allen Steam Station(2018-2022)
ALLEN STEAM STATION
Table 3-1. Numbers and total length ranges(in mm)of different species of fish collected for element
analyses in the three areas of Lake Wylie during 2018-2022.
UP DI DN
Total length Total length Total
Number Number Number length
range range
range
1 Alabama Bass 4 279-409 8 258-380 —
Black bass Largemouth 26 255-410 21 301-402 6 310-384
(Micropterus) Bass
Hybrid black
bass — 1 401 —
Bluegill 7 159-200 1 166 —
Sunfish Green Sunfish 2 165-180 — —
(Lepomis) Redear Sunfish 21 183-240 29 158-245 6 191-222
3.1 Ars
enic
All fish collected during 2018-2022 were below the USEPA screening value for recreational anglers of
1.2 µg/g(fresh weight)for arsenic(USEPA 2000; Figure 3-1).
3.2 Selenium
All fish collected during 2018-2022 were below USEPA screening value for recreational anglers of 20
µg/g(fresh weight)for selenium (USEPA 2000; Figure 3-1).
3.3 Mercury
All fish collected during 2018-2022 were below the USEPA screening value for recreational anglers of
0.4 µg/g(fresh weight)for mercury(USEPA 2000; Figure 3-1).
4

Fish Tissue Monitoring of Lake Wylie Near Allen Steam Station(2018-2022)
ALLEN STEAM STATION
Sunfish sack bass
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Arsenic Arsenic
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Figure 3-1. Box plots of trace element analysis of fish muscle tissue for sunfish and black bass collected
from three areas of Lake Wylie during 2018-2022. Plots show the 10th, 25th,50th,75th,and 90th
percentiles. Individual outliers are represented by points.Values under each element are USEPA
screening values for recreational anglers.
5

Fish Tissue Monitoring of Lake Wylie Near Allen Steam Station(2018-2022)
ALLEN STEAM STATION
4 Summary
All fish collected during the 2018-2022 study period were below the USEPA screening levels for
recreational anglers.Additionally,concentrations of trace elements were similar across all sampling
areas.These patterns match samples reported from Lake Wylie in 2014(Duke Energy 2014).
5 References
Duke Energy. 2013.Trace elements monitoring in fish tissue study plan. Duke Energy Corporation.
Charlotte, NC.
Duke Energy. 2014. Monitoring of arsenic, selenium,and mercury in fish muscle tissue from upper Lake
Wyle, NC. Duke Energy Corporation. Charlotte, NC.
Duke Energy. 2019. Fish tissue monitoring of Lake Wylie study plan. Duke Energy Corporation. Charlotte,
NC.
USEPA. 2000.Guidance for assessing chemical contaminant data for use in fish advisories.Vol. 1. Fish
sampling and analysis.Third edition. EPA 823-B-00-007. United States Environmental Protection
Agency, Office of Water, Washington, DC.
6

Fish Tissue Monitoring of Lake Wylie Near Allen Steam Station(2018-2022)
ALLEN STEAM STATION
Appendix A
Arsenic, selenium, and mercury concentrations (fresh
weight) in axial muscle of fish from Lake Wylie during
2018-2022
Dry-to-
fresh
Collection Length Weight As Se Hg weight
Fish species Location month (mm) (g) (µg/g) (µg/g) (µg/g) ratio
Redear Sunfish UP April 2018 220 197 0.18 0.50 <0.06 0.20
Redear Sunfish UP April 2018 187 115 0.16 0.49 <0.06 0.19
Redear Sunfish UP April 2018 214 169 0.19 0.41 <0.06 0.20
Redear Sunfish UP April 2018 206 166 0.16 0.55 <0.06 0.21
Redear Sunfish UP April 2018 233 226 0.17 0.53 <0.06 0.20
Redear Sunfish UP April 2018 212 175 0.19 0.45 <0.06 0.21
Largemouth Bass UP April 2018 344 508 0.34 0.35 <0.06 0.21
Largemouth Bass UP April 2018 342 532 0.37 0.35 0.07 0.21
Largemouth Bass UP April 2018 367 688 0.33 0.38 0.07 0.21
Largemouth Bass UP April 2018 350 608 0.40 0.39 <0.06 0.21
Largemouth Bass UP April 2018 351 556 0.25 0.44 0.09 0.20
Largemouth Bass UP April 2018 391 655 0.32 0.31 0.16 0.18
Redear Sunfish DI September 2018 214 155 0.19 0.51 0.06 0.19
Redear Sunfish DI September 2018 207 144 0.24 0.50 <0.06 0.20
Redear Sunfish DI September 2018 210 161 0.23 0.49 0.07 0.20
Redear Sunfish DI September 2018 225 201 0.22 0.53 0.07 0.21
Redear Sunfish DI September 2018 220 186 0.22 0.52 <0.06 0.21
Redear Sunfish DI September 2018 199 148 0.22 0.48 <0.06 0.19
Largemouth Bass DI September 2018 383 681 0.24 0.39 0.12 0.20
Largemouth Bass DI September 2018 342 490 0.23 0.40 0.10 0.20
Largemouth Bass DI September 2018 306 351 0.30 0.40 0.07 0.21
Largemouth Bass DI September 2018 336 521 0.24 0.44 0.12 0.19
Largemouth Bass DI September 2018 366 608 0.25 0.35 0.30 0.21
Largemouth Bass DI September 2018 359 491 0.26 0.35 0.11 0.20
Redear Sunfish DN April 2018 220 166 0.22 0.37 <0.06 0.20
Redear Sunfish DN April 2018 222 191 0.23 0.43 <0.06 0.20
Redear Sunfish DN April 2018 192 115 0.25 0.36 <0.06 0.20
Redear Sunfish DN April 2018 210 154 0.23 0.4 <0.06 0.21
Redear Sunfish DN April 2018 191 105 0.25 0.39 <0.06 0.21
Redear Sunfish DN April 2018 213 156 0.23 0.36 <0.06 0.21
Largemouth Bass DN April 2018 310 400 0.4 0.36 <0.07 0.22
Largemouth Bass DN April 2018 345 569 0.34 0.36 <0.06 0.21
Largemouth Bass DN April 2018 373 711 0.28 0.35 0.10 0.20
Largemouth Bass DN April 2018 379 655 0.39 0.35 0.07 0.22
Largemouth Bass DN April 2018 384 812 0.33 0.34 0.08 0.20
Largemouth Bass DN April 2018 379 686 0.34 0.31 0.09 0.20
Bluegill UP April 2019 200 168 0.20 0.32 <0.03 0.18
Redear Sunfish UP April 2019 240 243 0.18 0.38 <0.05 0.19
Redear Sunfish UP April 2019 220 182 0.18 0.38 <0.04 0.19
A-1

Fish Tissue Monitoring of Lake Wylie Near Allen Steam Station(2018-2022)
ALLEN STEAM STATION
Dry-to-
fresh
Length Weight As Se Hg weight
Fish species Location Sample date (mm) (g) (µg/g) (µg/g) (µg/g) ratio
Redear Sunfish UP April 2019 214 156 0.19 0.49 <0.05 0.18
Redear Sunfish UP April 2019 205 149 0.18 0.32 <0.05 0.18
Redear Sunfish UP April 2019 193 123 0.19 0.33 <0.05 0.20
Largemouth Bass UP April 2019 363 698 0.35 0.29 0.09 0.20
Largemouth Bass UP April 2019 402 920 0.19 0.34 0.16 0.20
Largemouth Bass UP April 2019 320 402 0.21 0.32 0.07 0.20
Largemouth Bass UP April 2019 410 1086 0.20 0.27 0.12 0.18
Largemouth Bass UP April 2019 332 490 0.25 0.28 0.09 0.18
Largemouth Bass UP April 2019 307 356 0.21 0.24 0.08 0.17
Redear Sunfish DI October 2019 227 199 0.22 0.53 <0.04 0.21
Redear Sunfish DI October 2019 219 174 0.21 0.47 <0.04 0.21
Redear Sunfish DI October 2019 214 183 0.20 0.43 <0.05 0.20
Redear Sunfish DI October 2019 168 84 0.23 0.44 <0.03 0.20
Redear Sunfish DI October 2019 158 60 0.19 0.54 <0.04 0.20
Redear Sunfish DI October 2019 168 74 0.20 0.46 <0.03 0.20
Alabama Bass DI October 2019 380 624 0.24 0.33 0.08 0.20
Largemouth Bass DI October 2019 364 597 0.30 0.34 0.07 0.21
Largemouth Bass DI October 2019 315 371 0.26 0.42 <0.05 0.21
Largemouth Bass DI October 2019 402 827 0.21 0.38 0.11 0.20
Largemouth Bass DI October 2019 309 404 0.21 0.39 0.07 0.20
Largemouth Bass DI October 2019 381 667 0.21 0.41 0.18 0.21
Bluegill UP May 2020 159 81 0.19 0.40 <0.06 0.19
Bluegill UP May 2020 175 100 0.17 0.38 0.07 0.18
Bluegill UP May 2020 171 103 0.21 0.41 <0.06 0.20
Green Sunfish UP May 2020 180 118 0.15 0.30 <0.06 0.19
Green Sunfish UP May 2020 165 96 0.16 0.36 <0.06 0.19
Redear Sunfish UP May 2020 183 119 0.16 0.47 <0.06 0.19
Alabama Bass UP May 2020 304 306 0.20 0.31 0.08 0.18
Alabama Bass UP May 2020 295 262 0.28 0.35 0.07 0.20
Alabama Bass UP May 2020 279 244 0.23 0.34 0.06 0.19
Largemouth Bass UP May 2020 263 192 0.26 0.34 <0.06 0.19
Largemouth Bass UP May 2020 255 242 0.31 0.32 <0.06 0.21
Largemouth Bass UP May 2020 260 201 0.19 0.36 0.07 0.20
Redear Sunfish DI May 2020 244 260 0.21 0.43 <0.05 0.18
Redear Sunfish DI May 2020 222 188 0.21 0.56 <0.06 0.20
Redear Sunfish DI May 2020 220 211 0.20 0.55 <0.06 0.20
Redear Sunfish DI May 2020 233 212 0.24 0.48 <0.06 0.20
Redear Sunfish DI May 2020 245 205 0.18 0.54 0.08 0.20
Redear Sunfish DI May 2020 240 245 0.21 0.43 0.06 0.19
Alabama Bass DI May 2020 368 529 0.32 0.33 0.11 0.20
Alabama Bass DI May 2020 374 524 0.25 0.32 0.08 0.20
Alabama Bass DI May 2020 315 373 0.22 0.34 0.07 0.20
Largemouth Bass DI May 2020 362 537 0.18 0.36 0.20 0.16
Largemouth Bass DI May 2020 343 468 0.31 0.35 0.10 0.19
Largemouth Bass DI May 2020 355 546 0.34 0.34 0.11 0.19
Bluegill UP April 2021 170 86 0.23 0.40 <0.06 0.19
Bluegill UP April 2021 167 80 0.25 0.36 <0.06 0.19
Bluegill UP April 2021 167 76 0.20 0.36 <0.06 0.19
Redear Sunfish UP November 2021 236 218 0.18 0.58 <0.06 0.20
A-2

Fish Tissue Monitoring of Lake Wylie Near Allen Steam Station(2018-2022)
ALLEN STEAM STATION
Dry-to-
fresh
Length Weight As Se Hg weight
Fish species Location Sample date (mm) (g) (µg/g) (µg/g) (µg/g) ratio
Redear Sunfish UP April 2021 188 116 0.18 0.38 <0.06 0.20
Redear Sunfish UP November 2021 195 128 0.19 0.48 <0.06 0.20
Alabama Bass UP November 2021 409 828 0.17 0.38 0.09 0.21
Largemouth Bass UP April 2021 403 903 0.24 0.52 0.24 0.21
Largemouth Bass UP April 2021 397 932 0.26 0.30 0.08 0.20
Largemouth Bass UP April 2021 306 393 0.25 0.34 0.11 0.20
Largemouth Bass UP November 2021 374 794 0.19 0.32 0.11 0.21
Largemouth Bass UP November 2021 410 820 0.17 0.29 0.21 0.21
Bluegill DI November 2021 166 78 0.20 0.46 <0.06 0.20
Redear Sunfish DI November 2021 193 113 0.23 0.48 <0.06 0.21
Redear Sunfish DI November 2021 235 217 0.16 0.60 0.06 0.20
Redear Sunfish DI November 2021 175 85 0.21 0.53 <0.06 0.21
Redear Sunfish DI November 2021 232 173 0.21 0.48 0.09 0.19
Redear Sunfish DI November 2021 222 203 0.22 0.44 <0.06 0.20
Alabama Bass DI November 2021 310 297 0.19 0.38 <0.06 0.21
Alabama Bass DI November 2021 258 195 0.24 0.40 0.08 0.22
Largemouth Bass DI November 2021 390 778 0.20 0.40 0.13 0.20
Largemouth Bass DI November 2021 350 538 0.25 0.36 0.08 0.21
Largemouth Bass DI November 2021 315 353 0.23 0.32 <0.06 0.21
Largemouth Bass DI November 2021 309 331 0.18 0.38 0.07 0.20
Redear Sunfish UP March 2022 195 124 0.21 0.38 <0.06 0.21
Redear Sunfish UP March 2022 197 147 0.17 0.42 <0.06 0.21
Redear Sunfish UP March 2022 191 122 0.19 0.38 <0.06 0.21
Redear Sunfish UP March 2022 198 130 0.19 0.40 <0.06 0.21
Redear Sunfish UP March 2022 183 106 0.19 0.44 <0.06 0.21
Redear Sunfish UP March 2022 200 135 0.23 0.36 <0.06 0.21
Largemouth Bass UP March 2022 348 442 0.25 0.34 0.08 0.21
Largemouth Bass UP March 2022 328 468 0.18 0.34 0.07 0.20
Largemouth Bass UP March 2022 330 559 0.23 0.32 0.07 0.19
Largemouth Bass UP March 2022 326 449 0.24 0.36 0.12 0.20
Largemouth Bass UP March 2022 290 291 0.27 0.29 <0.06 0.19
Largemouth Bass UP March 2022 311 411 0.22 0.31 0.07 0.18
Redear Sunfish DI March 2022 210 161 0.17 0.5 <0.06 0.21
Redear Sunfish DI March 2022 215 189 0.19 0.46 <0.06 0.21
Redear Sunfish DI March 2022 215 170 0.16 0.54 <0.06 0.20
Redear Sunfish DI March 2022 190 111 0.19 0.46 <0.06 0.21
Redear Sunfish DI March 2022 197 126 0.16 0.48 <0.06 0.20
Redear Sunfish DI March 2022 199 139 0.16 0.46 <0.06 0.20
Alabama Bass DI March 2022 331 404 0.24 0.3 0.08 0.20
Alabama Bass DI March 2022 347 551 0.16 0.42 0.07 0.20
Hybrid Black Bass DI March 2022 401 942 0.27 0.32 0.12 0.19
Largemouth Bass DI March 2022 358 638 0.32 0.32 <0.06 0.20
Largemouth Bass DI March 2022 301 405 0.24 0.36 0.17 0.20
Largemouth Bass DI March 2022 351 573 0.26 0.29 0.11 0.17
A-3