HomeMy WebLinkAboutWQ0044451_Hydrogeologic Review_20230804DWR
Division of Water Resources
State of North Carolina
Department of Environmental Quality
Division of Water Resources
Non -Discharge Branch
Hvdrogeological Investigation Report Review Form
WQ0044451
Blue Treasure, LLC
Town of Beaufort HRIS
Lennoxville Road
Beaufort, NC 28516
Primary Permit Reviewer: Zachary Mega
Date submitted for Review: June 2, 2023
Hydrogeological Investigation Report Reviewer: Leah Parente
Date of review completion: August 4, 2023
1. Are the following elements included in the hydrogeological investigation report?
a. Report signed and sealed by a PE, LG, or LSS
b. Cursory examination of nearby properties and wells within 500 feet
c. Field observations
d. Maps (topographic, overview, and site detail)
e. Published reports
f. Sufficient number of bore holes with drilling/sampling logs in the area
of system operation
g. Sufficient number of wells with drilling/sampling logs in the area of
system operation
h. Shallow aquifer tests with detailed supporting data and appropriate
analyses
i. Groundwater modeling results with supporting test data and reasonable
assumptions
List any missing elements, including others not mentioned above:
*No site -specific topographic map was provided.
yes
no
yes
*See below
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
WQ0044451
Town of Beaufort HRIS
Page 2 of 4
2. Was a field visit conducted? Yes
a. Was the physical information contained in the hydrogeological investigation report
verified by the field observations? Yes. If no, List any discrepancies: n/a
3. Aquifer parameters were determined by pumping tests and slug tests.
4. Was a mounding analysis submitted? No
a. Please provide commentary on necessity of a mounding analysis: Due to the
proposed use of a groundwater lowering system at this site, a mounding analysis is
not needed at this time.
5. Was the methodology used for analysis adequate? Yes
6. Approximate depth to groundwater mound at steady state: n/a
7. Site conditions to be maintained as assumed in the analysis (e.g., drainage features): This site
will be undergoing construction, so site conditions will be changing. New site
conditions should match what was used in the presented analysis.
8. Was a contaminate transport analysis submitted? No
Please provide commentary on the necessity of a contaminate transport analysis: A
contaminant transport analysis is not necessary at this time.
9. Effluent quality used in analysis demonstrating protection of 2L standards: Not included
10. Are there concerns with protection of 2L standards at the Compliance Boundary? Yes
List the areas of concern: There are concerns that discharge from the 0.288 MGD
groundwater lowering system into Turner Creek could potentially violate 15A
NCAC 02B .0201 Antidegradation Policy (see item 15).
11. Are monitoring wells needed at this facility? Not at this time
No groundwater monitoring network is proposed at this time. Groundwater quality
will be protected by nutrient reduction during wastewater treatment and the
discharge from the groundwater lowering drain will be sampled regularly.
WQ0044451
Town of Beaufort HRIS
Page 3 of 4
12. The hydrogeologic report should meet the following standards described in the Aquifer
Protection Section's Hydrogeologic and Reporting Policy and Groundwater Modeling
Policy of May 31, 2007. Does the hydrogeologic report:
a. Focus on the waste application area?
Yes
b. Include borings advanced to a depth of 20 feet or more? Yes
c. Include enough borings in appropriate locations to create a reasonable
hydrogeologic conceptualization of the waste application area? Yes
d. Include a sufficient number of slug tests or pumping tests that were
properly performed and analyzed for basic hydrogeologic parameters? Yes
e. Utilize appropriate calculations or computer software to assess the
potential for mounding beneath the application area and/or
contaminant transport beyond the Compliance Boundary? Yes
f. Use recognized assessment methods that are consistent with standard
scientific practices and interpretations? Yes
g. Have analyses and/or conclusions which include "safety factors" such as
conservative assumptions to compensate for gaps in the field data or
questionable test results? Yes
13. List in detail any additional information or items that are needed to evaluate the site:
a) Under the current proposal, a 0.288 MGD groundwater lowering system will
discharge to Turner Creek which is classified as a saltwater SC. The groundwater
discharge is proposed to be sampled but no frequency or type of constituent analysis
is mentioned. Please provide this information as well as evidence showing that the
proposed groundwater discharge will not violate 15A NCAC 02B .0201
Antidegradation Policy.
b) No monitoring of groundwater levels is proposed for the adjacent wetlands which
have the potential to be negatively impacted by the operation of the proposed
system. Please provide further comments on this matter.
c) The Hydro Report references a Soil Scientist Evaluation that was conducted by
David Meyer, NC LSS. This document was not provided as a part of the application
package. Please provide a copy of this report for review.
WQ0044451
Town of Beaufort HRIS
Page 4 of 4
d) Figure 3 shows what appears to be a well (PW2) located to the northwest of the
HRIB. This well is not mentioned anywhere in the report. Please provide more
information regarding this well.
e) In Table 2, no water level information is given for GP-1 on 6/30/2020. Please provide
an explanation for why this information was omitted.
14. List in detail any special conditions related to groundwater monitoring or hydrogeological
issues that should be included in the permit: N/A
15. Other areas of concern or importance:
Under the current proposal, a 0.288 MGD groundwater lowering system will
discharge to Turner Creek which is classified as a saltwater SC. The groundwater
discharge is proposed to be sampled but no frequency or type of constituent
analysis is mentioned. The proposed groundwater discharge could potentially
violate 15A NCAC 02B .0201 Antidegradation Policy.
16. Recommendation on permit issuance based on hydrogeological investigation report:
Request additional information based on above comments.