NC0023876_Correspondence_19890907

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State of North Carolina
Department of Natural Resources and Community Development
Division of Environmental Management
512 North Salisbury Street • Raleigh, North Carolina 27611
James G. Martin, Governor
William W. Cobey, Jr., Secretary
Mr. Walter Taft
Olsen Associates, Inc.
P.O. Box 31388
Raleigh, NC 27622-1388
Dear Mr. Taft:
September 7, 1.989
R. Paul Wilms
Director
This is in reference to the proposed expansion of the City
of Burlington's South Wastewater Treatment Plant. It is
understood that the City has applied for a discharge permit for
the plant expansion but that its application has been returned
because neither an environmental assessment (EA) nor
environmental impact statement (EIS) had been prepared. The EA
prepared by, your firm for the phosphorus removal facilities being
funded through the Division's Construction Grants Program is
considered insufficient for the permit application because it
does not address the impacts associated with expanding the
existing 9.5 mgd plant to 12.0 mgd.
An EA for the expansion of the plant should address a number
of subjects not addressed or covered sufficiently in the existing
EA and should include project maps that depict the expanded
service area of the plant. The EA needs to address both the
direct and indirect impacts of the plant expansion. Direct
impacts would include those resulting from construction
activities at the plant and along any new interceptor lines that
would be required in consonance with the plant expansion. Of
particular concern are impacts to wetlands and archeological
resources. In addition, direct impacts should address water
quality and hydrological impacts resulting from the increased
effluent discharge.
Indirect impacts would include those associated with new
development stimulated by the plant expansion. The main
secondary impact of concern is the increase in nonpoint source
pollution associated with this new development. What type(s) of
development is the plant intended to serve? What is the acreage
of each type and what will be the loading rate of nutrients from
this development?
P.O. Box 27687, Raleigh, North Carolina 27611-7687 Telephone [phone]
An Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer

The EA should also discuss sludge management. How much
sludge will be generated annually by the expanded plant, and if
the sludge will be land applied, what acreage of land is
estimated to be needed? Will the City have any difficulties in
obtaining the land area needed to apply the sludge?
Attachment A, a 1987 memo from Ms. Chrys Baggett, outlines
the State Clearinghouse requirements for an EA (pp EA-1 to EA-3).
The memo provides guidance on the length, format and general
content of an EA. Note the categories that need be addressed in
item (4) on page EA-2 in addition to any of those mentioned
above. Attachments B and C are examples of actual wastewater
treatment plant EA's. The Durham Northside WWTP EA (Attachment
A) is for an expanding plant and the Fuquay-Varina EA (Attachment
B) is for a new plant. These two attachments should provide some
guidance on the depth" of information required for the various
issues that need to addressed.
I hope you find this information useful. Please feel free to
contact either me or my supervisor, Mr. Boyd DeVane, if you
should have any questions.
Sincerely,
Alan R. Clark
Attachments
cc: Mr. Dale Overcash
Mr. Alan Wahab
Mr. Boyd DeVane
Mr. Trevor Clements
Mr. A. Randall Kornegay