NC0084638_Renewal Application_20150724

McGuireWoods LLP
Fifth Third Center
201 North Tryon Street
Suite 3000
Charlotte,NC 28202
Tel [phone]
Fax [phone]
www.mcguirewoods.com
Benne C.Hutsor MCGUIREWOODS bhutson©mcguirewoods.com
Direct:704.343.2060 Fax:[phone]
June 24, 2015
RECEivey Dee
CERTIFIED MAIL/RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED JU ��/R
North Carolina Department of Environment and N 2 6 2015
Natural Resources Per 'lA iity
Division of Water Quality section
NPDES Unit
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh,North Carolina 27699-1617
Re: Solvay USA Inc. (formerly Rhodia Inc.)
NPDES Permit Renewal Application
NPDES Permit No. NC0084638
• Telegraph Drive Site
Gaston County
To Whom It May Concern:
We represent Solvay USA Inc. (which purchased Rhodia Inc. and is the successor to it)
with regard to this NPDES permit. We have enclosed with this letter Solvay's completed and
executed short form C-GW for renewal of this NPDES permit. This renewal application is being
submitted more than 180 days prior to expiration of the current NPDES permit as required by
Part II, Section B. 10. of the permit.
By this letter, Solvay USA also requests that the following revisions be incorporated in
the permit renewal:
1. Deletion of ethylbenzene and/or toluene as a monitored parameter;
2. Deletion of the chronic toxicity requirement;
3. Modification of the sampling frequencies for all monitored parameters to semi-
annually; and
4. Reduction in frequency of site inspections.
Atlanta I Austin I Baltimore I Brussels I Century City I Charlotte I Charlottesville I Chicago I Dallas I Houston I Jacksonville
London I Los Angeles I New York I Norfolk I Pittsburgh I Raleigh I Richmond I Tysons Corner I Washington,D.C.I Wilmington
68141357_1

f
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
June 24, 2015
Page 2
The bases for these requested changes are discussed in the remainder of this letter.
Deletion of Ethylbenzene and/or Toluene as Monitored Parameters
The treated effluent governed by this permit is from the operation of a groundwater
remediation system. The initial NPDES permit was issued in 1995 and Solvay and its
predecessors have been discharging pursuant to it for the last 20 years. The groundwater plume
being remediated includes a portion with chlorinated compounds (primarily 1,1-
dichloroethylene) and a portion with petroleum compounds.
To monitor the effluent for petroleum compounds, the permit over its life has at various
points included oil and grease, benzene, lead, MTBE, xylene, toluene and ethylbenzene. As the
groundwater remediation has effectively removed the contamination from the site, renewal
permits over the last 20 years have eliminated all of the petroleum sampling requirements except
for toluene and ethylbenzene.
Table 1 shows that these two constituents have only been detected since 2011 in one
groundwater extraction well. The groundwater quality standard for both of these constituents is
600 µg/L (15A NCAC 2L.0202(g)(76) and (134)). As can be seen in Table 1, the detected level
for these two constituents has not neared this concentration at any time in the last four years,
which is to be expected from a remediation system that has been effectively cleaning up the site
for the last 20 years. As shown in Table 2, neither of these constituents has been detected in the
effluent in the 15 samples analyzed over the last four years.
In light of all of the foregoing, Solvay requests that ethylbenzene and toluene be
removed from the permit's monitoring requirements. In the event that DENR determines that
some monitoring of the effluent for petroleum constituents needs to be conducted, then Solvay
USA requests that one of these constituents be removed.
Deletion of Chronic Toxicity Requirement
Since the initial permit was issued in 1995, Solvay has been required to conduct chronic
toxicity testing on a quarterly basis. When it sought renewal of the permit in 2010, Solvay USA
requested that this requirement be removed from the permit as there had been no test failure for
well over five years. Now another five years has passed and nearly 20 chronic toxicity tests have
been conducted with no failures.
Indeed, in every chronic toxicity test over the last five years, the ceriodaphnia in Solvay's
effluent have fared better than those in the control group. The chronic toxicity test looks at the
mean number of young produced by the organisms in a control group compared to the mean
number of young produced by the organisms in a solution 90 percent of which is Solvay's
treatment plant effluent. Based on the presumption that the effluent will be to some degree less
hospitable to the organisms than the control solution, the test compares the two means and
calculates the "Percent Reduction" in young produced by the organisms in 90-percent effluent.
If the reduction exceeds 20 percent, there is a test failure. However, over the past 5 years, there
68141357_1

North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
June 24, 2015
Page 3
have been more young produced in Solvay's effluent than in the control group in every single
chronic toxicity test conducted. The average percent reduction is negative 10.8 percent, meaning
there was an almost 11 percent increase on average in young produced in Solvay's effluent
compared to the control group. This is shown on the enclosed table. In short, the ceriodaphnia
thrive in Solvay's effluent relative to a control solution.
Solvay requested this same change with the last permit renewal in 2010. In response,
DENR said that the requirement "cannot be removed nor monitoring frequency reduced as they
are mandated by Division policy." Our review has not identified any such policy. DENR's
information packet entitled "Aquatic Toxicity Testing — Understanding and Implementing Your
Testing Requirement" (updated 2014) does not say that this provision has to be in a permit.
None of the downloadable documents under the title "NC DWR Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET)
Guidance" on DENR's website make any statement that a chronic toxicity test has to be in a
permit.
Based on the test results previously described and with a history of over 40 consecutive
chronic toxicity tests without a failure, it is time to remove this requirement from the permit. We
request that DENR do so.
Modification of Sampling Frequencies for All Monitored Parameters to Annually
The original permit in 1995 required sampling twice each month. As the reliable
performance of the remediation system was established, this requirement was reduced first to
monthly and, in 2010,to quarterly for all constituents.
Last year, DENR approved a change in the frequency of sampling of groundwater
monitoring wells at the site, including the recovery wells that provide influent to the treatment
system, from quarterly to semi-annually. Solvay made this request based on the continually
declining levels of contaminants in the monitoring wells and the absence of any spikes in those
levels. Those same reasons along with the proven ability of the treatment system to meet permit
limits support a change to annual monitoring in this permit.
Reduction in Frequency of Site Visits
Currently Solvay's operator-in-responsible charge goes to the site weekly to check the
condition and operation of the system. Solvay requests that this frequency be changed to
monthly. The remediation system is located within a fenced enclosure with a locked access gate.
The remediation system has a dial-out reporting capability that contacts the operator-in-
responsible charge of any apparent operational problems which are followed up on by a site visit.
Solvay is not aware of any untreated or inadequately treated discharges from the system over at
least the last five years. In light of this, site visits on a weekly basis are not an efficient use of
available resources.
68141357_1

North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
June 24, 2015
Page 4
Thank you for your anticipated consideration of these requests. If you have any
questions or issues associated with this permit renewal application or the requested permit
modifications that you would like to discuss, please call me.
Sincerely,
4fro,e,i11/4
Benne C. Hutson
Enclosures
68141357_1

Mean#of Mean#of
Young Young Percent
Produced- Produced- Reduction
Wet Test Results Control Effluent from Control
Mar-15 29.0 33.3 -14.9
Dec-14 29.8 32.6 -9.2
Sep-14 30.2 34.6 -14.6
Jun-14 30.2 34.0 -12.7
Mar-14 30.1 33.8 -12.2
Dec-13 29.8 33.8 -13.7
Sep-13 29.4 34.4 -17.0
Jun-13 30.9 31.2 -0.8
Mar-13 30.1 33.0 -9.7
Dec-12 31.0 31.6 -1.9
Sep-12 29.6 33.3 -12.4
Jun-12 28.6 29.8 -4.1
Mar-12 27.3 30.7 -12.2
Dec-11 28.4 30.5 -7.3
Sep-11 28.7 31.2 -8.7
Jun-11 29.8 30.3 -2.0
Mar-11 29.4 31.2 -5.9
Dec-10 31.8 34.5 -8.4
' Sep-10 29.6 35.1 -18.6
Jun-10 31.5 36.3 -15.3
Mar-10 29.1 35.1 -20.6
Dec-09 29.8 34.6 -15.9
Average percent reduction from control: -10.8

NPDES PERMIT APPLICATION - SHORT FORM C - GW
For discharges associated with groundwater treatment facilities.
Mail the complete application to:
•..... _ N. C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality / NPDES Unit
1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1617
NPDES Permit Number NC0084638
If you are completing this form in computer use the TAB key or the up - down arrows to move from one
field to the next. To check the boxes, click your mouse on top of the box. Otherwise,please print or type.
1. Contact Information:
Owner Name Solvay USA Inc
Facility Name Solvay Gastonia Closed Site
Mailing Address 8 Cedar Brook Drive
City Cranbury
State / Zip Code NJ / 08512
Telephone Number [phone]
Fax Number [phone]
e-mail Address [e-mail]
2. Location of facility producing discharge:
Check here if same as above ❑
Street Address or State Road 321 Telegraph Drive
City Gastonia
State / Zip Code NC / 28056
County Gaston
3. Operator Information:
Name of the firm, consultant or other entity that operates the facility. (Note that this is not referring to the
Operator in Responsible Charge or ORC)
Name CH2M HILL North Carolina Inc.
Mailing Address 14120 Ballantyne Corporate Place, Suite 200
City Charlotte
State / Zip Code NC / 28277
Telephone Number [phone]
Fax Number [phone]
4. Ownership Status:
Page 1 of 3 C-GW 03/05

•
NPDES PERMIT APPLICATION - SHORT FORM C - GW
For discharges associated with groundwater treatment facilities.
Federal ❑ State ❑ Private ® Public ❑
5. Products recovered:
Gasoline ® Diesel fuel ❑ Solvents ® Other
6. Number of separate discharge points: 1
Outfall Identification number(s) 001
7. Frequency of discharge: Continuous ❑ Intermittent
If intermittent:
Days per week discharge occurs: 7 Duration: Variable
8. Treatment System Design flow 0.1944 MGD
9. Name of receiving stream(s) (Provide a map showing the exact location of each outfall, including
latitude and longitudes
Unnamed tributary to Crowders Creek
10. Please list all additives to the treatment system, including chemicals or nutrients, that
have the potential to be discharged.
None
11. Is this facility located on Indian country? (check one)
Yes ❑ No
12. Additional Information
All applicants (including renewals):
• A USGS topographical map (or copy of the relevant portion) which shows all outfalls
• A summary of the most recent analytical results (effluent data, if available) containing the
maximum values for each chemical detected
NEW Applicants only:
• Engineering Alternative Analysis
• Description of remediation treatment system components, capacities, and removal
efficiency for detected compounds.
• If the treatment system will discharge to a storm sewer, written approval from the
municipality responsible for the sewer.
• A list of any chemicals found in detectable amounts at the site, with the maximum
observed concentration reported for each chemical (the most recent sample must be
collected less than one year prior to the date of this application)
• For petroleum-contaminated sites-Analyses for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) should
be performed. Analyses forany fuel additives likely to be present at the site and for phenol
and lead should also be performed.
Page 2 of 3 C-GW 03/05

NPDES PERMIT APPLICATION - SHORT FORM C - GW
For discharges associated with groundwater treatment facilities.
For sites contaminated with solvents or other contaminants - EPA Method 624/625
analysis should be performed.-
13.
erformed.13. Applicant Certification
I certify that I am familiar with the information contained in the application and that to the
best of my knowledge and belief such information is true, complete, and accurate.
tvi l c 14, I Sl, Nsk�' �e me)g 44)0d P�J P /IIg.viyL
Printed name of Person SigrWrig Title
ditteZdA04
Signature of Applicant Date
North Carolina General Statute 143-215.6 (b)(2) provides that: Any person who knowingly makes any false
statement representation, or certification in any application, record, report, plan, or other document files or
required to be maintained under Article 21 or regulations of the Environmental Management Commission
implementing that Article, or who falsifies, tampers with, or knowingly renders inaccurate any recording or
monitoring device or method required to be operated or maintained under Article 21 or regulations of the
Environmental Management Commission implementing that Article, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable
by a fine not to exceed $25,000, or by imprisonment not to exceed six months, or by both. (18 U.S.C. Section
1001 provides a punishment by a fine of not more than $25,000 or imprisonment not more than 5 years, or both,
for a similar offense.)
Page 3 of 3 C-GW 03/05

•
Table 1
Summary of Groundwater Extraction Well Analytical Data(Influent)2011-2014
NPDES Permit No.NC0084638
1,1-Dlchloro-1,1-Dichloro- 1,1,1-Trichloro- Trichloro- Tetrachloro- cis-1,2-Dichloro- trans-l,2-Dichloro- methyl-tert
Extraction Date of Dilution ethene ethane ethane 1,2-Dichloro- ethylene ethylene ethene ethene Carbon Chloro- Ethyl- Xylenes butyl ether Isopropyl-
Well Sampling Factor (1,1-DCE) (1,1-OCA) (1,1,1-TCA) propane (TCE) (PCE) (cis-1.2-DCE) (trans-l,2-DCE) Tetrachloride Chloroform Benzene benzene benzene Toluene (total) (MTBE) ether(IPE)
pg/L µ8/L µg/L pg/L pg/L µ8/L µg/L pg/L pg/L pg/L pg/L µ8/L ug/I. pg/L µg/L pg/L pg/L
9/30/2011 10 720 <10 <10 <10 14 <10 22 <10 <10 <10 <5 <10 <10 <10 <30 <504 <50
3/27/2012 10 330 <10 <10 <10 14 <10 24 <10 <10 <10 <5 <10 <10 <10 <30 <50 <50
9/28/2012 1/20 440 0.781 <1 <1 13 <1 19 <1 <1 <1 <0.5 <1 <1 <1 <3 <5; <5
CP-1 4/10/2013 1/20 310 0.97J <1 <1 12 <1 19 <1 <1 c1 <0.5 <1 <1 <1 <3 <54 <5
9/18/2013 1/10 270 0.951 <1 <1 11 <1 18 <1 <1 <1 <0.5 <1 <1 <1 <3 <5 <5
6/20/2014 1/20 270 0.771 <1 <1 10 <1 14 <1 <1 <1 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
10/2/2014 1/10 190 0.701 <1 <1 6.6 <1 13 <1 <1 <1 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
9/30/2011 1/100 1,000 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 0.61 J <0.5 <1 <1 <1 <3 <5 <5
3/27/2012 1/100 1,300 <1 <1 <1 0.521 <1 0.591 <1 <1 0.701 <0.5 <1 <1 <1 <3 0.311 <5
9/24/2012 1/20 910 <1 <1 <1 0.62 J <1 0.71 J <1 <1 0.54 J <0.5 <1 <1 <1 <3 <5 <5
EW-2 4/9/2013 1/50 680 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 0.531 <1 <1 0.751 <0.5 <1 <1 <1 <3 <5 <5
9/18/2013 1/20 680 <1 <1 <1 0.65 J <1 0.72 J <1 <1 0.66 J <0.5 <1 <1 <1 <3 <5. <5
6/20/2014 1/20 530 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 0.75 J NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
10/2/2014 1/20 530 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 0.61 J NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
9/30/2011 1 88 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 1 <0.5 <1 <1 <1 <3 <5 <5
3/27/2012 1 66 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 0.99 J <0.5 <1 <1 <1 <3 <5 <5
EW-3 9/24/2012 1 35 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 0.76 J <0.5 <1 <1 <1 <3 <5 <5
9/18/2013 1 17 <1 c1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 0.58J c0.5 <1 c1 <1 <3 <5 <5
6/20/2014 1 15 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 0.601 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
10/2/2014 1 16 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA
9/30/2011 1 7.5 0.59 J c1 <1 3.1 <1 4.7 <1 <1 0.69 J 4.7 <1 <1 <1 <3 5.3 <5
3/27/2012 1 6.8 0.52 J <1 <1 3.1 <1 4.1 <1 <1 0.65 J 6.2 <1 <1 <1 <3 6.0 <5
9/27/2012 1 4.2 <1 c1 <1 2.4 <1 2.8 <1 <1 0.601 4.8 <1 <1 <1 <3 5.6 <5
EW-4 4/10/2013 1 3.6 <1 <1 <1 1.8 <1 1.8 <1 <1 0.571 5.5 <1 <1 <1 <3 5.5 <5
9/19/2013 1 <1 <1 <1 <1 0.691 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <3 <5 <5
6/20/2014 1 <1 <1 <1 <1 0.841 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <0.5 <1 <1 <1 <3 <5 <5
10/2/2014 1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <0.5 <1 <1 <1 <3 <5' <5
9/30/2011 1/10 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 4.8 <1 100 3.6 42 <5' <5
3/27/2012 1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 5.8 <1 89 4.8 45 <5' <5
EW
-5 <5
9/28/2012 1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 3.0 <1 100 2.6 32 f <5
4/10/2013 1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 3.6 <1 94 3.8 34 <5-4 <5
9/19/2013 1/10 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 c1 <1 <1 <1 <1 2.4 <1 100 2.8 39 <5': <5
10/2/2014 1/10 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 2.2 <0.5 220 5.2 74 <5; <5
0

Table 2
Summary of Effluent Monitoring Data(Outfall 001)2011-2015 • - - ,• .
NPDES Permit No.NC0084638
1,1-Dichloroethylene Toluene Ethylbenzene Trichloroethylene Chronic
Date
WA) ( JL) (Pe) (µg/L) Toxicity
09/01/11 <1.0 <1.0 <1.0 <1.0 PASS
12/08/11 <1.0 <1.0 <1.0 <1.0 PASS
03/09/12 <1.0 <1.0 <1.0 <1.0 PASS
06/07/12 <1.0 <1.0 <1.0 <1.0 PASS
09/11/12 <1.0 <1.0 <1.0 <1.0 PASS
12/06/12 <1.0 <1.0 <1.0 <1.0 PASS
03/14/13 <1.0 <1.0 <1.0 <1.0 PASS
06/13/13 <1.0 <1.0 <1.0 <1.0 PASS
09/18/13 <1.0 <1.0 <1.0 <1.0 PASS
12/05/13 <1.0 <1.0 <1.0 <1.0 PASS
03/13/14 <1.0 <1.0 <1.0 <1.0 PASS
06/20/14 <1.0 <1.0 <1.0 <1.0 PASS
09/16/14 <1.0 <1.0 <1.0 <1.0 PASS
12/02/14 <1.0 <1.0 <1.0 <0.5 PASS
03/03/15 <1.0 <1.0 <1.0 <1.0 PASS

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USGS 7.5-minute Quadrangle G14NW South Gastonia,NC Figure 1
Outfall I Facility Outfall Location
Latitude:35.200765° 0 1,000 2,000 NPDES Permit No.NC0084638
Longitude:-81.206875° APPS
ximate scale in feet
Stream Class:C A
Subbasin:03-08-37 HUG:03050101
Receiving Stream UT to Crowders Creek ,) amg21711Ilt L—

NCDENR
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Pat McCrory Donald R. van der Vaart
Governor Secretary
July 08,2015
Michael Shatynski •
Solvay USA, Inc.
8 Cedar Brook Drive
Cranbury,NC 08512
Subject: Acknowledgement of Permit Renewal
Permit NC0084638
Gaston County
Dear Permittee:
The NPDES Unit received your permit renewal application on June 26, 2015. A member of the
NPDES Unit will review your application. They will contact you if additional information is required to
complete your permit renewal. You should expect to receive a draft permit approximately 30-45 days
before your existing permit expires.
If you have any additional questions concerning renewal of the subject permit, please Yang Song
contact at(919) 807-6479.
Sincerely,
W
reArti Tke f o-ro(,
Wren Thedford
Wastewater Branch
cc: Central Files
Mooresville Regional Office
NPDES Unit
1617 Mail Service Center,Raleigh,North Carolina 27699-1617 •
Location:512 N.Salisbury St.Raleigh,North Carolina 27604
Phone:[phone] Fax:[phone]/Customer Service:1-877-623-6748
Internet::www.ncwater.orq
An Equal OpportunitylAffirmative Action Employer