HomeMy WebLinkAboutNC0004987_Draft WW Permit NC0004987 - May 5 2015_20150305 PERMIT NO. NC0004987
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STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
Draft 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,
Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC
is hereby authorized to discharge wastewater from a facility located at
Marshall Steam Station
At the intersection of NC Highway 150 and NCSR 1841
Terrell
Catawba County
to receiving waters designated as the Catawba River (Lake Norman) in the Catawba
River Basin in accordance with effluent limitations, monitoring requirements, and
other applicable conditions set forth in Parts I, II, and III hereof.
This permit shall become effective
This permit and authorization to discharge shall expire at midnight on
Signed this day
DRAFT
________________________________________________ _____
S. Jay Zimmerman, Director
Division of Water Resources
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
PERMIT NO. NC0004987
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SUPPLEMENT TO PERMIT COVER SHEET
All previous NPDES Permits issued to this facility, whether for operation or discharge
are hereby revoked, and as of this 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.
Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC is hereby authorized to:
1. Continue to discharge:
once-through cooling water and intake screen backwash through outfall
001;
treated wastewater (consisting of metal cleaning wastes, coal pile runoff,
ash transport water, domestic wastewater, low volume wastes, and FGD
wet scrubber wastewater) from the ash settling basin through outfall 002
treated FGD wet scrubber wastewater to the ash settling basin through
internal outfall 004
yard sump overflows through outfalls 002A and 002B
non-contact cooling water from the induced draft fan control house
through outfall 003
2 potentially contaminated groundwater seeps (outfall 10).
From a facility located at Duke Energy’s Marshall Steam Station at the
intersection of NC Highway 150 and NCSR 1841 in Terrell, Catawba
County;
2. Discharge from said treatment works at the locations specified on the
attached map into the Catawba River (Lake Norman) which is classified
WS-IV and B CA waters in the Catawba River Basin.
PART I
PERMIT NO. NC0004987
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A. (1.) Effluent Limitations and Monitoring Requirements (Outfall 001)
[15A NCAC 02B .0400 et seq., 02B .0500 et seq.]
During the period beginning on the effective date of this permit and lasting until
expiration, the Permittee is authorized to discharge from Outfall 001 (once-through
cooling water). Such discharges shall be limited and monitored2 by the Permittee as
specified below:
EFFLUENT
CHARACTERISTICS
DISCHARGE LIMITATIONS MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
Monthly
Average
Daily
Maximum
Measurement
Frequency
Sample
Type
Sample
Location
Flow (MGD) Monitor & Report Daily
Pump logs or
similar
readings
Effluent
Temperature
(November 1 - June 30) 33.3 oC Daily Grab Effluent
Temperature
(July 1 - October 31) 34.4 oC Daily Grab Effluent
Free Available
Chlorine1 0.2 mg/L 0.5 mg/L Daily Grab Effluent
NOTES:
1 Once-through cooling water shall not be chlorinated. Should the facility wish to
chlorinate once-through cooling water, a permit modification must be issued prior to
commencement of chlorination. The monitoring requirement and effluent limitations
only apply if chlorination is commenced.
2 No later than 270 days from the effective date of this permit, begin submitting disc harge
monitoring reports electronically using NC DWR’s eDMR application system. See
Special Condition A. (29.).
There shall be no discharge of floating solids or visible foam in other than trace
amounts.
PERMIT NO. NC0004987
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A. (2.) Effluent Limitations and Monitoring Requirements (Outfall 002)
[15A NCAC 02B .0400 et seq., 02B .0500 et seq.]
During the period beginning on the effective date of this permit and lasting until
expiration, the Permittee is authorized to discharge from Outfall 002 (ash settling
basin discharge). Such discharges shall be limited and monitored4 by the Permittee
as specified below:
EFFLUENT CHARACTERISTICS
DISCHARGE LIMITATIONS MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
Monthly
Average
Weekly
Average
Daily
Maximum
Measurement
Frequency
Sample
Type
Sample
Location1
Flow (MGD) Monitor & Report Monthly
Pump logs
or similar
readings
Effluent
Oil and Grease 9.0 mg/L 12.0 mg/L Quarterly Grab Effluent
Total Suspended Solids2 20.0 mg/L 65.0 mg/L Monthly Grab Effluent
Total Arsenic Quarterly Grab Effluent
Total Copper 1.0 mg/L 1.0 mg/L See note 3 Grab Effluent
Total Iron 1.0 mg/L 1.0 mg/L See note 3 Grab Effluent
Total Mercury6 47.0 ng/L 47.0 ng/L Quarterly Grab Effluent
Total Selenium Quarterly Grab Effluent
Turbidity5 Monthly Grab Effluent
Nitrate/nitrite as N Quarterly Grab Effluent
Total Nitrogen
(NO2+NO3+TKN) Monitor & Report Quarterly Grab Effluent
Total Phosphorus Monitor & Report Quarterly Grab Effluent
Chronic Toxicity See Part I, Section A. (15.) Quarterly Grab Effluent
pH Between 6.0 and 9.0 Standard
Units Monthly Grab Effluent
NOTES:
1 Effluent sampling shall be conducted at the discharge from the ash settling basin prior to
mixing with any other waste stream(s).
2 A total suspended solids monthly average of 40 mg/L is permitted provided the Permittee
can demonstrate that the difference between the monthly average of 20 mg/L and 40 mg/L
is the result of the concentration of total suspended solids in the intake water.
3 Monitoring shall be per occurrence of chemical metal cleaning and samples shall be from a
representative discharge.
4 No later than 270 days from the effective date of this permit, begin submitting discharge
monitoring reports electronically using NC DWR’s eDMR application system. See Special
Condition A. (29.).
5 The discharge from this facility shall not cause turbidity in the receiving stream to exceed
50 NTU. If the instream turbidity exceeds 50 NTU due to natural background conditions,
the discharge cannot cause turbidity to increase in the receiving stream.
NTU - Nephelometric Turbidity Unit.
6 The facility shall use EPA method 1631E.
There shall be no discharge of floating solids or visible foam in other than trace amounts.
PERMIT NO. NC0004987
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A. (3.) Effluent Limitations and Monitoring Requirements (Outfall 002A)
[15A NCAC 02B .0400 et seq., 02B .0500 et seq.]
During the period beginning on the effective date of this permit and lasting until
expiration, the Permittee is authorized to discharge from Outfall 002A (yard sump #1
overflows). Such discharges shall be limited and monitored3 by the Permittee as
specified below:
EFFLUENT
CHARACTERISTICS
DISCHARGE LIMITATIONS MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
Monthly
Average
Daily
Maximum
Measurement
Frequency
Sample
Type
Sample
Location1
Flow (MGD) Episodic Estimate Effluent
pH Between 6.0 and 9.0 Standard
Units Episodic Grab Effluent
Total Suspended Solids Episodic Grab Effluent
Total Iron See note 2 Grab Effluent
NOTES:
1 Effluent samples shall be collected at a point upstream of the discharge to the Catawba
River.
2 Sampling for iron is required when TSS is reported as greater than 100 mg/L.
3 No later than 270 days from the effective date of this permit, begin submitting discharge
monitoring reports electronically using NC DWR’s eDMR application system. See Special
Condition A. (29.).
There shall be no discharge of floating solids or visible foam in other than trace amounts.
All flows shall be reported on monthly DMRs. Should no flow occur during a given
month, the words "No Flow" shall be clearly written on the front of the DMR. Episodic
sampling is required per sump overflow occurrence lasting longer than one hour. All
samples shall be of a representative discharge.
PERMIT NO. NC0004987
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A. (4.) Effluent Limitations and Monitoring Requirements (Outfall 002B)
[15A NCAC 02B .0400 et seq., 02B .0500 et seq.]
During the period beginning on the effective date of this permit and lasting until
expiration, the Permittee is authorized to discharge from Outfall 002B (yard sump #2
overflows). Such discharges shall be limited and mo nitored3 by the Permittee as
specified below:
EFFLUENT
CHARACTERISTICS
DISCHARGE LIMITATIONS MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
Monthly
Average
Daily
Maximum
Measurement
Frequency
Sample
Type
Sample
Location1
Flow (MGD) Episodic Estimate Effluent
pH Between 6.0 and 9.0 Standard
Units Episodic Grab Effluent
Total Suspended Solids Episodic Grab Effluent
Total Iron See note 2 Grab Effluent
NOTES:
1 Effluent samples shall be collected at a point upstream of the discharge to the Catawba
River.
2 Sampling for iron is required when TSS is reported as greater than 100 mg/L.
3 No later than 270 days from the effective date of this permit, begin submitting discharge
monitoring reports electronically using NC DWR’s eDMR application system. See Special
Condition A. (29.).
There shall be no discharge of floating solids or visible foam in other than trace amounts.
All flows shall be reported on monthly DMRs. Should no flow occur during a given
month, the words "No Flow" shall be clearly written on the front of the DMR. Episodic
sampling is required per sump overflow occurrence lasting longer than one hour. All
samples shall be of a representative discharge.
PERMIT NO. NC0004987
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A. (5.) Effluent Limitations and Monitoring Requirements (Outfall 003)
[15A NCAC 02B .0400 et seq., 02B .0500 et seq.]
During the period beginning on the effective date of this permit and lasting until
expiration, the Permittee is authorized to discharge from Outfall 003 (non-contact
cooling water from the induced draft fan control house). Such discharges shall be
limited and monitored3 by the Permittee as specified below:
EFFLUENT
CHARACTERISTICS
DISCHARGE LIMITATIONS MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
Monthly
Average
Daily
Maximum
Measurement
Frequency
Sample
Type
Sample
Location
Flow (MGD)
Temperature1
Total Residual
Chlorine2
Free Available
Chlorine2 0.2 mg/L 0.5 mg/L
pH Between 6.0 and 9.0 Standard
Units
NOTES:
1 The temperature of the effluent shall be such as not to cause an increase in the
temperature of the receiving stream of more than 2.8oC and in no case cause the ambient
water temperature to exceed 29oC.
2 Monitoring requirements apply only if chlorine is added to the cooling water. Neither free
available chlorine nor total residual chlorine may be discharged from any unit for more than
two hours in any one day and not more than one unit in any plant may discharge free
available chlorine or total residual chlorine at any one time.
3 No later than 270 days from the effective date of this permit, begin submitting discharge
monitoring reports electronically using NC DWR’s eDMR application system. See Special
Condition A. (29.).
There shall be no discharge of floating solids or visible foam in other than trace
amounts.
Limitations shall be met at the discharge point. Monitoring frequencies are not
specified as the discharge is to the intake canal for outfall 001.
PERMIT NO. NC0004987
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A. (6.) Effluent Limitations and Monitoring Requirements (Internal Outfall 004)
[15A NCAC 02B .0400 et seq., 02B .0500 et seq.]
During the period beginning on the effective date of this permit and lasting until
expiration, the Permittee is authorized to discharge from Internal Outfall 004
(treated FGD wet scrubber wastewater to ash settling basin). Such discharges
shall be limited and monitored2 by the Permittee as specified below:
EFFLUENT
CHARACTERISTICS
DISCHARGE LIMITATIONS MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
Monthly
Average
Daily
Maximum
Measurement
Frequency
Sample
Type
Sample
Location1
Flow (MGD) Monitor & Report Monthly
Pump logs or
similar
readings
Effluent
Total Selenium 10.5 µg/L4 14.5 µg/L4 Quarterly Grab Effluent
Total Mercury3 Quarterly Grab Effluent
Total Arsenic 13.6 μg/L4 25.5 μg/L4 Quarterly Grab Effluent
Nitrate/nitrite as N 0.13 mg/L4 0.17 mg/L4 Quarterly Grab Effluent
pH Between 6.0 and 9.0 Standard
Units Quarterly Grab Effluent
NOTES:
1 Sample Location: E - Effluent samples shall be collected from the constructed wetland
prior to discharge to the ash settling basin.
2 No later than 270 days from the effective date of this permit, begin submitting discharge
monitoring reports electronically using NC DWR’s eDMR application system. See
Special Condition A. (29.).
3 The facility shall use EPA method 1631E.
4 Facility is allowed 4.5 years from the effective date of the permit to comply with the
TBELs. This time period is provided in order for the facility to budget, design, and
construct the treatment system. Permit might be re-opened to implement the final EPA
Effluent Guidelines and more stringent limits might be added.
All flows shall be reported on monthly DMRs. Should no flow occur during a given
month, the words "No Flow" shall be clearly written on the front of the DMR. Al l
samples shall be of a representative discharge.
PERMIT NO. NC0004987
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A. (7.) Effluent Limitations and Monitoring Requirements (Outfall 010)
[15A NCAC 02B .0400 et seq., 02B .0500 et seq.]
During the period beginning on the effective date of this permit and l asting until
expiration, the Permittee is authorized to discharge from Outfall 010 (combined seep
outfall). Such discharges shall be limited and monitored1 by the Permittee as
specified below:
EFFLUENT
CHARACTERISTICS
DISCHARGE LIMITATIONS MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
Monthly
Average
Weekly
Average
Daily
Maximum
Measurement
Frequency2
Sample
Type
Sample
Location
Total Suspended Solids 20.0 mg/L 65.0 mg/L Monthly Grab Effluent
Total Arsenic 10.5 µg/L4 14.5 µg/L4 Monthly Grab Effluent
Total Mercury3 47.0 ng/L4 47.0 ng/L4 Monthly Grab Effluent
Total Selenium 13.6 μg/L4 25.5 μg/L4 Monthly Grab Effluent
Nitrate/nitrite as N 0.13 mg/L4 0.17 mg/L4 Monthly Grab Effluent
Flow Monitor & Report Monthly Grab Effluent
TDS Monitor & Report Monthly Grab Effluent
Chlorides Monitor & Report Monthly Grab Effluent
Fluoride Monitor & Report Monthly Grab Effluent
Total Barium Monitor & Report Monthly Grab Effluent
Total Iron Monitor & Report Monthly Grab Effluent
Total Manganese Monitor & Report Monthly Grab Effluent
Total Zinc Monitor & Report Monthly Grab Effluent
Total Cadmium Monitor & Report Monthly Grab Effluent
Total Chromium Monitor & Report Monthly Grab Effluent
Total Copper Monitor & Report Monthly Grab Effluent
Total Lead Monitor & Report Monthly Grab Effluent
Total Nickel Monitor & Report Monthly Grab Effluent
Temperature Monitor & Report Monthly Grab Effluent
Specific Conductance Monitor & Report Monthly Grab Effluent
pH Between 6.0 and 9.0 Standard
Units Monthly Grab Effluent
NOTES:
1 No later than 270 days from the effective date of this permit, begin submitting discharge
monitoring reports electronically using NC DWR’s eDMR application system. See Special
Condition A. (29.).
2 After the first year, the monitoring frequency will be reduced to the semi-annual
basis.
3 The facility shall use EPA method 1631E.
4 The limits can be met by installation of the treatment system, re -routing the discharge to
the existing treatment system, or discontinuing the discharge.
There shall be no discharge of floating solids or visible foam in other than trace amounts.
PERMIT NO. NC0004987
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A. (8.) DEFINITIONS
The term "low volume waste sources" means, taken collectively as if from one source,
wastewater from all sources except those for which specific limitations are otherwise
established in this part. Low volume wastes sources include, but are not limited to:
Wastewater from wet scrubber air pollution control systems, ion exchange water
treatment system, water treatment evaporator blowdown, laboratory and sampling
streams, boiler blowdown, floor drains, and recirculating house service water systems.
Sanitary and air conditioning wastes are not considered low volume wastes.
The term "metal cleaning waste" means any wastewater resulting from cleaning (with
or without chemical cleaning compounds) any metal process equipment including, but
not limited to, boiler tube cleaning, boiler fireside cleaning, and air preheater cleaning.
The term, "chemical metal cleaning waste" means any wastewater resulting from the
cleaning of any metal process equipment with chemical compounds, including, but not
limited to, boiler tube cleaning. Chemical metal cleaning will be conducted according
to approved Duke Energy equivalency demonstration.
The term "FGD wet scrubber wastewater" means wastewater resulting from the use of
the flue-gas desulfurization wet scrubber.
A. (9.) TOXICITY RE-OPENER CONDITION
This permit shall be modified, or revoked and reissued to incorporate toxicity
limitations and monitoring requirements in the event toxicity testing or other studies
conducted on the effluent or receiving stream indicate that detrimental effects may be
expected in the receiving stream as a result of this discharge.
A. (10.) MONITORING FREQUENCIES
If the Permittee, after monitoring for at least twelve sampling events, determines that
effluent limits contained herein are consistently being met, it may be requested of the
Director that the monitoring requirements be reduced to a lesser frequency.
A. (11.) POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYL COMPOUNDS
There shall be no discharge of polychlorinated biphenyl compounds such as those
commonly used for transformer fluid.
A. (12.) BIOCIDE CONDITION
The permittee shall not use any biocides except those approved in conjunction with
the permit application. The permittee shall notify the Director in writing not later than
ninety (90) days prior to instituting use of any additional biocide used in cooling
systems which may be toxic to aquatic life other than those previously reported to the
Division of Water Resources. Such notification shall include completion of Biocide
Worksheet Form 101 and a map locating the discharge point and receiving stream.
Completion of Biocide Worksheet Form 101 is not necessary for those outfalls
containing toxicity testing. Division approval is not necessary for the introduction of
new biocides into outfalls currently tested for whole effluent toxicity.
A. (13.) INTAKE SCREEN BACKWASH
Continued intake screen backwash discharge and overflow from the settling basin are
permitted without limitations or monitoring requirements.
PERMIT NO. NC0004987
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A. (14.) BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
It has been determined from information submitted that the plans and procedures in
place at Marshall Steam Station are equivalent to that of a Best Management Practice
(BMP).
A. (15.) CHRONIC TOXICITY PASS/FAIL PERMIT LIMIT (QUARTERLY) – OUTFALL 002
[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 18.0%.
The permit holder shall perform at a minimum, quarterly monitoring using test
procedures outlined in the “North Carolina Ceriodaphnia Chronic Effluent Bioassay
Procedure,” Revised December 2010, or subsequent versions or “North Carolina Phase
II Chronic Whole Effluent Toxicity Test Procedure” (Revised- December 2010) or
subsequent versions. The tests will be performed during the months of February,
May, August, and November. 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.
If the test procedure performed as the first test of any single quarter 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
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 repo rt 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.
PERMIT NO. NC0004987
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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 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 final day of the third 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.
A. (16.) ASH SETTLING BASIN
Beginning on the effective date of this permit and lasting until expiration, there shall
be no discharge of plant wastes to the ash pond unless the permittee provides and
maintains at all times a minimum free water volume equivalent to the sum of the
maximum 24-hour plant discharges plus all direct rainfall and all runoff flows to the
pond resulting from a 10-year, 24-hour rainfall event, when using a runoff coefficient
of 1.0.
During the term of the permit, the permittee shall remove settled material from the
ponds or otherwise enlarge the available storage capacities in order to maintain the
required minimum volumes at all times. Annually the permittee shall determine and
report to the permit issuing authority: (1) the actual free water volume of the ash
pond, (2) physical measurements of the dimensions of the free water volume in
sufficient detail to allow validation of the calculated volume, and (3) a certification that
the required volume is available with adequate safety factor to include all solids
expected to be deposited in the ponds for the following year. Any changes to plant
operations affecting such certification shall be reported to the Director within five
days.
NOTE: In the event that adequate volume has been certified to exist for the term of
the permit, periodic certification is not needed.
A. (17.) CHEMICAL METAL CLEANING WASTES
It has been demonstrated that under certain conditions it is possible to reduce the
concentration of metals in boiler cleaning wastes in the range of 92 to 99+ percent by
PERMIT NO. NC0004987
Page 13 of 19
treatment in ash ponds. Because of dilution problems, and the existence of boundary
interface layers at the extremities of the plume, it is difficult to prove beyond doubt
that the quantity of iron and copper discharged will always be less than one milligram
per liter times the flow of metal cleaning when treated in this manner.
The application of physical/chemical methods of treating wastes has also been
demonstrated to be effective in the treatment of metal cleaning wastes. However, the
effectiveness of ash pond treatment should be considered in relation to the small
differences in effluent quality realized between the two methods.
It has been demonstrated that the presence of ions of copper, iron, nickel, and zinc in
the ash pond waters was not measurably increased during the ash pond equivalency
demonstration at the Duke Energy’s Marshall Steam Station. Therefore, when the
following conditions are implemented during metal cleaning procedures, effective
treatment for metals can be obtained at this facility:
(1) Large ash basin providing potential reaction volumes.
(2) Well-defined shallow ash delta near the ash basin influent.
(3) Ash pond pH of no less than 6.5 prior to metal cleaning waste addition.
(4) Four days retention time in ash pond with effluent virtually stopped.
(5) Boiler volume less than 86,000 gallons.
(6) Chemicals for cleaning to include only one or more of the following:
(a) Copper removal step- sodium bromate, NaBrO3; ammonium carbonate,
(NH4)2CO3; and ammonium hydroxide, NH4OH.
(b) Iron removal step-hydrochloric acid, HCl; and ammonium bifluoride, (NH 4)BF2
and proprietary inhibitors.
(7) Maximum dilution of wastes before entering ash pond 6 to 1.
(8) After treatment of metal cleaning wastes, if monitoring of basin effluents as
required by the permit reveals discharges outside the limits of the permit, the
permittee will re-close the basin discharge, conduct such in-basin sampling as
necessary to determine the cause of nonconformance, will take appropriate
corrective actions, and will file a report with EPA including all pertinent data.
A. (18.) FLOATING MATERIALS
The Permittee shall report all visible discharges of floating materials, such as an oil
sheen, to the Director when submitting DMRs.
A. (19.) CHEMICAL DISCHARGES
Discharge of any product registered under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and
Rodenticide Act to any waste stream which may ultimately be released to lakes, rivers,
streams or other waters of the United States is prohibited unless specifically
authorized elsewhere in this permit. Discharge of chlorine from the use of chlorine
gas, sodium hypochlorite, or other similar chlorination compounds for disinfection in
plant potable and service water systems and in sewage treatment is authorized. Use
of restricted use pesticides for lake management purposes by applicators licensed by
the N.C. Pesticide Board is allowed.
PERMIT NO. NC0004987
Page 14 of 19
A. (20.) PRIORITY POLLUTANT ANALYSIS – OUTFALL 002
The Permittee shall conduct a priority pollutant analysis (in accordance with 40 CFR
Part 136) once per permit cycle at outfall 002 and submit the results with the
application for permit renewal.
A. (21.) WAIVERS
Nothing contained in this permit shall be construed as a waiver by permittee or any
right to a hearing it may have pursuant to State or Federal laws or regulations.
A. (22.) GROUNDWATER MONITORING WELL CONSTRUCTION AND SAMPLING
The permittee shall conduct groundwater monitoring to determine the compliance of
this NPDES permitted facility with the current groundwater standards found under
15A NCAC 2L .0200. The monitoring shall be conducted in accordance with the
Sampling Plan approved by the Division.
A. (23.) STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY INSPECTIONS OF ASH POND DAM
The facility shall meet the dam design and dam safety requirements per 15A NCAC
2K.
A. (24.) CLEAN WATER ACT SECTION 316(a) THERMAL VARIANCE
The thermal variance granted under Section 316(a) terminates on expiration of the
NPDES permit. Should the permittee request a continuation of its 316(a) thermal
variance beyond the term of this permit, reapplication for such continuation shall be
submitted in accordance with 40 CFR Part 125, Subpart H and Section 122.21(1)(6)
not later than 180 days prior to permit expiration. Reapplication shall include a basis
for continuation such as a) plant operating conditions and load factors are unchanged
and are expected to remain so for the term of the reissued permit; b) there are no
changes to plant discharges or other discharges in the plant site area which could
interact with the thermal discharges; and c) there are no changes to the biotic
community of the receiving water body which woul d impact the previous variance
determination. The next 316 (a) studies shall be performed in accordance with the
Division of Water Resources approved plan. The temperature analysis and the
balanced and indigenous population (BIP) study plan shall conform to the
specifications outlined in 40 CFR 125 Subpart H and the EPA’s Draft 316a Guidance
Manual, dated 1977. The EPA shall be provided an opportunity to review the plan
prior to the commencement of the study.
A. (25.) CLEAN WATER ACT SECTION 316 (B)
The permittee shall comply with the Cooling Water Intake Structure Rule per 40 CFR
125.95. The permittee shall submit all the materials required by the Rule with the
next renewal application.
A. (26.) FISH TISSUE MONITORING NEAR ASH POND DISCHARGE – OUTFALL 002
The facility shall conduct fish tissue monitoring once during the permit term and
submit the results with the NPDES permit renewal application. The objective of the
monitoring is to evaluate potential uptake of pollutants by fish tissue near the Ash
Pond discharge. The parameters analyzed in fish tissue shall be arsenic, selenium,
and mercury. The monitoring shall be conducted in accordance with the Sampling
Plan approved by the Division.
PERMIT NO. NC0004987
Page 15 of 19
A. (27.) INSTREAM MONITORING
The facility shall conduct semiannual instream monitoring (one upstream and one
downstream of the ash pond discharge) for arsenic, selenium, mercury (method
1631E), chromium, lead, cadmium, copper, zinc, and total dissolved solids
(TDS). Instream monitoring should be conducted at the statio ns that have already
been established through the BIP monitoring program. The monitoring results shall be
submitted with the NPDES permit renewal application.
A. (28.) SEEP POLLUTANT ANALYSIS
Seeps with locations identified in Appendix A are classified collectively as Outfall 010.
The facility shall continue to implement the Plan for Identification of New Discharges
(see Appendix B) to determine if new seeps have emerged.
Seeps are ephemeral in nature and enter the river at various changing locations.
Seeps entering the river from the upstream edge of permittee’s property to the
downstream property boundary shall be calculated as if entering at one location.
Permittee shall conduct seep identification survey semi-annually to determine if new
seeps have started or that previously identified seeps have significantly changed in
size or flow. New seeps identified through the seep survey or otherwise discovered or
reported to the permittee shall have their flow calculated, be sampled for parameters
indicated with results and location(s) reported to Division of Water Resources within 5
days of detection (location only, sampling results shall be submitted within 30 days of
sampling) for administrative inclusion in Appendix A.
Newly identified seeps or seeps whose flow increases will not be considered as new
outfalls or wastestream requiring modification of the permit as long as total flow of all
seeps does not exceed 0.5 million gallons per day (MGD) and pollutant
characterization is similar to previously identified seeps identified in Table 1 and
formation of seep(s) or increase in flow was not caused by change in operations by
permittee. If the pollutant sampling concentration of a new seep exceeds the
concentrations in Table 1 the Division will calculate reasonable potential and
determine if either administrative inclusion of the seep or formal modification of the
permit is necessary. Permittee will be notified by the Division within 30 days of
receiving the sampling results if permit modification is necessary.
The maximum allowable parameter concentration in Table 1 is determined by
multiplying the highest baseline seep concentration levels by 10.
Table 1. Seep Monitoring Parameters and Screening Values
Parameter Maximum allowable
parameter
concentration
Maximum allowable
total flow for all
existing and future
seeps
Chlorides 51.0 mg/L 0.5 MGD
Fluoride 5.0 mg/L 0.5 MGD
Total Mercury1 47.0 ng/L 0.5 MGD
PERMIT NO. NC0004987
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(Method 1631E)
Total Barium 0.98 mg/L 0.5 MGD
Total Iron 44.1 mg/L 0.5 MGD
Total Manganese 9.36 mg/L 0.5 MGD
Total Zinc 50.0 µg/L 0.5 MGD
Arsenic1 14.5 µg/L 0.5 MGD
Total Cadmium 10.0 µg/L 0.5 MGD
Total Chromium 14.7 µg/L 0.5 MGD
Total Copper 10.0 µg/L 0.5 MGD
Total Lead 25.0 µg/L 0.5 MGD
Total Nickel 25.0 µg/L 0.5 MGD
Selenium1 25.5 µg/L 0.5 MGD
Nitrate/Nitrite as N1 0.17 mg/L 0.5 MGD
pH 6.0 – 9.0 0.5 MGD
TDS 500.0 mg/L 0.5 MGD
TSS 65.0 mg/L 0.5 MGD
Temperature monitor 0.5 MGD
Specific
Conductance
monitor 0.5 MGD
Notes:
1. Technology Based Effluent Limits. The limits can be met by installation of the
treatment system, re-routing the discharge to the existing treatment system, or
discontinuing the discharge.
A. (29.) ELECTRONIC REPORTING OF DISCHARGE MONITORING REPORTS (STATE
ENFORCEABLE ONLY) [G.S. 143-215.1(b)]
Proposed federal regulations require electronic submittal of all discharge monitoring
reports (DMRs) and specify that, if a state does not establish a system to receive such
submittals, then permittees must submit DMRs electronically to the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA). The Division anticipates that these regulations will be
adopted and is beginning implementation in late 2013.
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 [Supersedes Section D. (2.) and Section E. (5.) (a)]
Beginning no later than 270 days from the effective date of this permit, the
permittee shall begin reporting discharge monitoring data electronically using the
NC DWR’s Electronic Discharge Monitoring Report (eDMR) internet application.
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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 DENR / DWR / Information Processing Unit
ATTENTION: Central Files / eDMR
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
submitted to the mailing address above.
Requests for temporary waivers from the NPDES electronic reporting requirements
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
using eDMR. Temporary waivers shall be valid for twelve (12) months and shall
thereupon expire. At such time, DMRs shall be submitted electronically to the
Division unless the permittee re-applies for and is granted a new temporary waiver
by the Division.
Information on eDMR and application for a temporary waiver from the NPDES
electronic reporting requirements is found on the following web page:
http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/wq/admin/bog/ipu/edmr
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.
2. Signatory Requirements [Supplements Section B. (11.) (b) and supersedes
Section B. (11.) (d)]
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.
PERMIT NO. NC0004987
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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://portal.ncdenr.org/web/wq/admin/bog/ipu/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, th at 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."
3. Records Retention [Supplements Section D. (6.)]
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. (30.) APPLICABLE STATE LAW (STATE ENFORCEABLE ONLY)
This facility shall meet the requirements of Senate Bill 729 (Coal Ash Management
Act). This permit may be reopened to include new requirements imposed by Senate
Bill 729.
PERMIT NO. NC0004987
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Appendix A
The permittee has identified 2 potentially contaminated seeps in the areas adjacent to
the Lake Norman. The locations of the seeps are identified on the map attached to the
permit. Existing and newly identified seeps shall be sampled on a monthly basis for
the first 12 months. After the first year the monitoring frequency will be reduced to a
semi-annual basis.
Seep Coordinates and Assigned Outfall Numbers
Seep ID Latitude Longitude Outfall number
S-1 35o36’71” 80o57’62” 101
S-2 35o42’56” 80o21’56’ 102
Appendix B
Plan for Identification of New Discharges.