WQ0044451_Staff Report_20230731

DocuSign Envelope ID: B8CAB3FA-EE1D-4F6B-90F1-AA6833219716
It t, A
Environmental
Quality
July 31, 2023
State of North Carolina
Division of Water Resources
Water Quality Regional Operations Section
Staff Report
To: ❑ NPDES Unit F� Non -Discharge Unit Application No.: WQ0044451
Attn: Zachary Mega Facility name: Town of Beaufort HRIB
From: Chad Coburn, Mike Petrizzo, Trey Baranyai
Wilmington Regional Office
Note: This form has been adapted from the non -discharge facilitv staff report to document the review of both non-
discharize and NPDES hermit annlications and/or renewals. Please complete all sections as thev are annlicable.
I. GENERAL AND SITE VISIT INFORMATION
1. Was a site visit conducted? ® Yes or ❑ No
a. Date of site visit: 7/25/2023
b. Site visit conducted by: Chad Coburn, Mike Petrizzo, Trey Baranyai
c. Inspection report attached? ❑ Yes or ® No
d. Person contacted: Greg Meshaw and their contact information: (252) 528 - 8769 ext.
e. Driving directions: 301 Freedom Park Drive, Beaufort, NC
2. Discharge Point(s):
Latitude: Longitude:
Latitude: Longitude:
3. Receiving stream or affected surface waters:
Classification:
River Basin and Subbasin No.
Describe receiving stream features and pertinent downstream uses:
II. PROPOSED FACILITIES: NEW APPLICATIONS
1. Facility Classification:WW-II. (Please attach completed rating sheet to be attached to issued permit)
Proposed flow: 350,000 GPD
Current permitted flow: This proposal would expand the capacity of the current Town of Beaufort WWTP which
operates under NC0023831. Instead of tertiary treated effluent being discharged at the WWTP's outfall, the
effluent would go to a 2.46 acre infiltration basin on property adjacent to the WWTP.
2. Are the new treatment facilities adequate for the type of waste and disposal system? ® Yes or ❑ No
If no, explain:
3. Are site conditions (soils, depth to water table, etc) consistent with the submitted reports? ❑ Yes ❑ No ❑ N/A
If no, please explain:
4. Do the plans and site map represent the actual site (property lines, wells, etc.)? ® Yes ❑ No ❑ N/A
If no, please explain:
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DocuSign Envelope ID: B8CAB3FA-EE1 D-4F6B-90F1 -AA6833219716
5. Is the proposed residuals management plan adequate? ® Yes ❑ No ❑ N/A
If no, please explain:
6. Are the proposed application rates (e.g., hydraulic, nutrient) acceptable? ❑ Yes ❑ No ® N/A
If no, please explain:
7. Are there any setback conflicts for proposed treatment, storage and disposal sites? ® Yes or ❑ No
If yes, attach a map showing conflict areas. In Section V111.3. of the permit application, the setback for subsurface
groundwater lowering systems requires 50 feet but 33 feet is listed.
8. Is the proposed or existing groundwater monitoring program adequate? ❑ Yes ® No ❑ N/A
If no, explain and recommend any changes to the groundwater monitoring program: The application does not
mention any aroundwater monitoring other than sampling of the groundwater discharged from the lowering
system but no details were provided for what parameters will be analyzed. No monitoring of Proundwater levels
are proposed for the adiacent wetlands either which could be negatively impacted by the lowering system.
9. For residuals, will seasonal or other restrictions be required? ❑ Yes ❑ No ® N/A
If yes, attach list of sites with restrictions (Certification B)
Describe the residuals handling and utilization scheme:
10. Possible toxic impacts to surface waters: Discharge of up to 288,000 GPD of groundwater to Town Creek (SC)
11. Pretreatment Program (POTWs only):
M. EXIST-ING FAU-U-TIES-.-A4,OnnD-111[]Fr,!CATION AND RENEWAL APPLICATIONS
QRC: Oer-t Baakup-�—: Cei4ifieate #:
2 Are the dos ggn, nx-ei$St
systorx? ❑ Year ❑
if no, pleaso mo.\im
Deser-iption of existing faeijities:
Proposed fqaw�
!''.,,-,e t.. . ai#e,7 flee..,•
EryJrain =f'Ahiag obsefved during the site visit that needs to be addressed by the pefmit, or thin zf tilt
feT--fl t to to e-equipmvk e ra;t; r, Amet;--\t, =- .. e . nee, ., eh age f:,eiii ., , ,&. 7��'iip,
3 Areinc a tc ewi ., soils, topography, , d C npr—' 1riat.
moinnilticits the waste? El Yesor- n Isle
iftno, lease-91tp,!L�ri:
1. Mw ., drainage added, new wells inside cmek-"a
boundafy, new development, et,.)? n Yesor- n Isle.
if yes lea n t l\in:
i�w
`. l7 ras}duab nmrxagema-itpi an auaquuto? ❑ "e of ❑ Pde
if se-mp�.irx
6. Are the existing applieation r-4es(dwabo, sut ie ) stilt . o table? n Yes of n ,.r
if no, pleasc-iYoWn:
o? ❑Yaa❑No❑NI-A
If*e�,-mppnrt x
8. Are there any sett aek , .fliers for '1L1Wing traa. mo,,t, ster-a a and this,, l 2j? ❑ V
if yes, atj ttiah a m� showing een-Rigt ayoar.
9. is the coviytkion o the permit -co Yrcst?-Yes or ❑ Mo
if „e, please-inr)yain:
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DocuSign Envelope ID: B8CAB3FA-EE1D-4F6B-90F1-AA6833219716
If w, r)aase-oxpnx: Are the n;te fi well ,,,-din.tes eeffeet i BrMS? n Yoo ❑ ❑ N,'LA
a r n
4-0. ILva, view of all self monitering da4a been eeadUEted{t &R, NDM , NPA GAL)? E Yes of E N
PUaso vaivjrq� .., uty findings
n,.,,yide input t ''sly- tka yo,.m t writer- evaluate any requests for redueed monitoring, ;4'.,pplie l.lo
if yes, cxy&.\in:
12. Cheek all that apply-
n N fiee(s) fyi ola4i
Please mr,��-n an ., NOV, NOD,
if the f4eility has had eemplianee problems dtir-ing the peffait eyele, please explain c actu. Zu the Dien
working with the Pefmittee? is a autiron underNey or in yha e?
14ye all eomplianee d tes/,,,.nd tions i the existing pornit i-cans is fie ? n Yes D N n AhW A
if no, e-wr)a�r.:
crc icyacrg this peffnit?
El YeoFl NE) El N/A
if yew plea xp awix:
1E. Pretreatmen4 Program (POTWs only):
IV. REGIONAL OFFICE RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Do you foresee any problems with issuance/renewal of this permit? ® Yes or ❑ No
If yes, please explain: See items 11.8. - 10. above and narrative below.
2. List any items that you would like the NPDES Unit or Non -Discharge Unit Central Office to obtain through an
additional information request:
Item
See narrative below in Part V.
Reason
3. List specific permit conditions recommended to be removed from the permit when issued:
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DocuSign Envelope ID: B8CAB3FA-EE1D-4F6B-90F1-AA6833219716
Condition
Reason
4. List specific special conditions or compliance schedules recommended to be included in the permit when issued:
Condition
Reason
5. Recommendation: ® Hold, pending receipt and review of additional information by regional office
❑ Hold, pending review of draft permit by regional office
❑ Issue upon receipt of needed additional information
❑ Issue
❑ Y� 'g�,���,ir State *oasi-fined by:
6. Signature of report prepare j5&r&VWbld
8237FC6A3�D660BDE4ECA74CD...
Signature of regional supervisor: EDFCC$� ocditned by:
Date: v
7/31/2023 �To4,,-N&min. -
7F141E73B6F3456...
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DocuSign Envelope ID: B8CAB3FA-EE1D-4F6B-90F1-AA6833219716
V. ADDITIONAL REGIONAL STAFF REVIEW ITEMS
This review was conducted for a permit application by Blue Treasure, LLC for a new high -rate infiltration basin
facility to serve The Town of Beaufort.
A site visit to the proposed infiltration basin and existing wastewater treatment plant was performed on July 25,
2023. The soils and proposed infiltration basin area generally appear to be a good receiver site but an extensive
groundwater lowering system will be required with a 0.288 MGD discharge to Town Creek (Class SC). In
addition, the maps included with the application show several wetlands within close proximity to the
groundwater lowering system. In Section VIII.3. of the permit application, the setback for subsurface
groundwater lowering systems requires 50 feet but 33 feet is listed.
Additional information and modifications to the proposed system are necessary, see comments below:
A previous permit was issued (WQ0032262) to Blue Treasure, LLC in 2008 for construction and
operation of a similar high -rate infiltration system on this site. Under WQ0032262, a groundwater
lowering system was authorized to be constructed where groundwater would be stored in 2 ponds to
be used for either irrigation or to be discharged to the adjacent wetlands via level spreaders. Under
the current proposal, a 0.288 MGD groundwater lowering system will discharge to Turner Creek
which is classified as saltwater, SC. The groundwater discharge is proposed to be sampled but no
frequency or types of constituent analysis is mentioned. The proposed groundwater discharge could
potentially violate 15A NCAC 02B .0201 Antidegradation Policy.
2. The application does not propose any groundwater or wetlands monitoring program. The maps
included in the application which show wetlands appear to be from the late 2000's. An updated
Jurisdictional Determination should be obtained from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers before
operating the groundwater lowering system.
3. In Section VIII.3. of the permit application, the setback for subsurface groundwater lowering
systems requires 50 feet but 33 feet is listed.
4. The facility (permittee or the Town) may need to register and also report groundwater usage under
the Central Coastal Plain Capacity Use Area Rules. Rule 15A NCAC 02E .0505 requires any ground
or surface water user of more than 10,000 gallons per day within the CCPCUA to register with the
Division.
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