WQ0004563_Authorization to Construct_20230706

ROY COOPER
Governor
MICHAEL S. REGAN
Secretary
S. DANIEL SMITH
Director
Mr. Warren Wood
City Manager
City of Hickory
76 North Center Street
Hickory, North Carolina 28601
Dear Mr. Wood:
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
December 29, 2020
SUBJECT:
Authorization to Construct
A to C No. 040797A01
City of Hickory
Henry Fork WWTP
NPDES Permit No.
A Permit Application package for an Authorization to Construct (ATC) Permit was
received December 4, 2020, by the Division of Water Resources (Division). Additional
information was received on December 29, 2020.
This Authorization to Construct Permit is issued based solely upon the North
Carolina Licensed Professional Engineer's certification and the Applicant's certification of
the ATC Permit Application package. The Division has waived the technical review of the
plans, specifications, calculations and other supporting documentation included in the
subject ATC Permit Application package. Note that the ATC Permit Application package
may be subject to a Division audit.
This ATC results in no increase in design or permitted capacity of the existing 9.0 MGD
Henry Fork WWTP and is hereby issued for the construction of the following specific
modifications:
Rehabilitation of three (3) existing sludge holding basins; installation of two (2) 500 GPM
self -riming centrifugal pumps, two (2) 300 GPM rotary lobe pumps, two (2) 50 GPM rotary
lobe pumps, two (2) 140 GPM rotary lobe pumps, two (2) 70 GPM rotary lobe pumps, one
(1) 20 GPM progressive cavity pump, two (2) 3 HP grinders, two (2) primary sludge
submersible mixers, two (2) centrifugal fan blowers for odor control [one (1) blower as
backup], one (1) odor control two -stage chemical scrubber, one (1) gravity belt thickener,
two (2) belt filter press, one (1) belt dryer system, three (3) polymer blending units, three
(3) screw conveyors, 6,115-gallon sodium hypochlorite storage, 1,550-gallons caustic soda
storage, four (4) boilers, one (1) 52 cubic yard cake storage bin, 330-gallons sulfuric acid
D Qi� North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
512 North Salisbury Street 11611 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1611
NOIi'H �',A'iC;�,.IN?. �
o.Me�e m e,wro����i aunty 919.707.9000

Mr. Warren Wood, City Manager
December 29, 2020
Page 2 of 3
storage, dried product storage, one (1) 300 GPM septage receiving station; in conformity
with the project plans, specifications, and other supporting documentation comprising the
ATC Permit Application package submitted to the Department of Environmental Quality.
This ATC is issued in accordance with Part III, Paragraph A of NPDES Permit No.
NC0040797 issued effective September 1, 2018, and shall be subject to revocation unless the
wastewater treatment facilities are constructed in accordance with the conditions and limitations
specified in Permit No. NC0040797.
It is the Owner's responsibility to ensure that the as -constructed project meets the
requirements of all applicable regulations and statutes, the ATC Permit Application package, and
all of the requirements contained herein. Failure to comply may result in penalties in accordance
with North Carolina General Statute § 143-215.6A through § 143-215.6C.
The sludge generated from these treatment facilities must be disposed of in accordance
with G.S. 143-215.1 and in a manner approved by the Division.
In the event that the facilities fail to perform satisfactorily, including the creation of
nuisance conditions, the Permittee shall take immediate corrective action, including those as may
be required by the Division, such as the construction of additional or replacement wastewater
treatment or disposal facilities.
The Mooresville Regional Office, telephone number 704-663-1699, shall be notified at
least forty-eight (48) hours in advance of operation of the installed facilities so that an on -site
inspection can be made. Such notification to the regional supervisor shall be made during the
normal office hours from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Monday through Friday, excluding State
Holidays.
Upon completion of construction and prior to operation of this permitted facility, a
certification must be received from a Professional Engineer certifying that the permitted facility
has been installed in accordance with the NPDES Permit and the ATC Permit Application package.
Mail the Certification to: Division of Water Resources, WQ Permitting — NPDES, 1617 Mail
Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1617.
Upon classification of the facility by the Certification Commission, the Permittee shall
employ a certified wastewater treatment plant operator to be in responsible charge (ORC) of the
wastewater treatment facilities. The operator must hold a certificate of the type and grade at least
equivalent to or greater than the classification assigned to the wastewater treatment facilities by
the Certification Commission.
The Permittee must also employ a certified back-up operator of the appropriate type and
grade to comply with the conditions of T15A:8G.0202. The ORC of the facility must visit each
Class I facility at least weekly and each Class II, III and IV facility at least daily, excluding
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Mr. Warren Wood, City Manager
December 29, 2020
Page 3 of 3
weekends and holidays, must properly manage the facility, must document daily operation and
maintenance of the facility, and must comply with all other conditions of T I 5A: 8G.0202.
A copy of the project plans and specifications shall be maintained on file by the
Permittee for the life of the facility.
During the construction of the proposed additions/modifications, the Permittee shall
continue to properly maintain and operate the existing wastewater treatment facilities at all times,
and in such a manner, as necessary to comply with the effluent limits specified in the NPDES
Permit.
You are reminded that it is mandatory for the project to be constructed in accordance with
the North Carolina Sedimentation Pollution Control Act, and when applicable, the North Carolina
Dam Safety Act. In addition, the specifications must clearly state what the contractor's
responsibilities shall be in complying with these Acts.
Prior to entering into any contract(s) for construction, the recipient must have obtained all
applicable permits from the State.
The issuance of this ATC does not preclude the Permittee from complying with any and
all statutes, rules, regulations, or ordinances which may be imposed by other government agencies
(local, state, and federal) which have jurisdiction.
If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Min Xiao at
telephone number [phone].
Sincerely,
A-
S. Daniel Smith
Director, Division of Water Resources
With Engineer's Certificate attached:
cc: Central Files
NPDES File
ecopy: Wesley Oehmig, P.E.
HDR Engineering, Inc
Email: [e-mail]
DWR Mooresville Regional Office, Water Quality Programs
Without Engineer's Certificate attached:
cc: Catawba County Health
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