NC0031828_Draft Permit_20230925

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ROY COOPER _
Governor r
ELIZABETH S. BISER
Secretary
RICHARD E. ROGERS,,JR. NORTH CAROLINA
Director Environmental Quality
September 26, 2023
Mr. Chad Braxton
Town of Vanceboro
PO Box 306
Vanceboro, NC 28586-0306
Subject: Draft NPDES Permit NCO031828
Vanceboro WWTP
Grade WW-3 Biological WPCS
Craven County
Dear Permittee:
The Division has reviewed your request to renew the subject permit. Enclosed with this letter is a copy
of the draft permit for your facility. Please review this draft carefully to ensure your thorough
understanding of the information, conditions, and requirements it contains.
The draft permit includes the following significant changes from the existing permit:
➢ A reopener condition for all Neuse River discharge permits has been added at Part I. A. (6.)
➢ Electronic data submission requirements have been updated.
The segment of the Swift Creek to which your facility discharges is listed as an impaired stream on
North Carolina's 303 (d) list. Currently, the stream does not meet all water quality standards. If the
limitations in the current permits for facilities discharging to this segment of the Swift Creek do not
result in improved water quality, removal of discharges may be necessary for the health of the stream.
We will continue to monitor compliance at your facility. If noncompliance with your permit's effluent
limits is shown to be a direct cause of stream degradation to this segment of the Swift Creek, the
Division will recommend removal of your facility's discharge.
The NPDES standard conditions (Parts II, III, and IV) that are a part of the permit are not included in
this draft document (cover, map, and Part I). The conditions are the same as in your current permit
except that agency and division names have been updated. The latest version is available at
https://bit.ty/3k5NFaL and can be viewed online or downloaded as a PDF file.
With this notification, the Division will solicit public comment on this draft permit by publishing a
notice in newspapers having circulation in the general Craven County area, per EPA requirements.
Please provide your comments, if any, to me at the e-mail address below no later than 30 days
after receiving this draft permit.
Following the 30-day public comment period, the Division will review all pertinent comments and take
appropriate action prior to issuing a final permit.
North Carolina Department of in nonmenial Quality I Division of Water Resources
D E Q 512 Noah Salisbwti Street 1 1617 Mail Sen ice Center I Raleigh. North Carolina 27699-1617
arwn rmEm� U,0.,\ /`� 919.7079000

Page 2 of 2
NPDES Permit NCO031828
If you have questions concerning the draft, please contact me at carol ine.robinson(a-deq.nc.gov.
Sincerely,
Environmental Specialist II
NPDES Compliance and Expedited Permitting

Permit NCO031828
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
PERMIT
TO DISCHARGE WASTEWATER UNDER THE
NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM
In compliance with the provisions of North Carolina General Statute 143-215.1, other lawful standards
and regulations promulgated and adopted by the North Carolina Environmental Management
Commission, and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended, the
Town of Vanceboro
is hereby authorized to discharge wastewater from a facility located at the
Vanceboro WWTP
7749 US Highway 17 (South Main Street)
Vanceboro
Craven County
to receiving waters designated as Swift Creek in subbasin 03-04-09 of the Neuse River Basin in
accordance with effluent limitations, monitoring requirements, and other conditions set forth in Parts I, II,
III, and IV hereof.
This permit shall become effective
This permit and authorization to discharge shall expire at midnight on October 31, 2028.
If the permittee intends to continue to discharge at the facility beyond the term of this permit, a renewal
application must be submitted no later than May 4, 2028 (180 days before the expiration of this permit).
Signed this day
Richard E. Rogers, Jr., Director
Division of Water Resources
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
Page 1 of 9

Permit NCO031828
SUPPLEMENT TO PERMIT COVER SHEET
All previous NPDES Permits issued to this facility, whether for operation or discharge are hereby revoked. As of
this permit issuance, any previously issued permit bearing this number is no longer effective. Therefore, the
exclusive authority to operate and discharge from this facility arises under the permit conditions, requirements,
terms, and provisions included herein.
The Town of Vanceboro is hereby authorized to:
1. Continue discharging up to 0.3 MGD of treated, municipal wastewater from a treatment system that
includes the following components:
• Manual bar screen
• Grit removal
• Two (2) parallel mechanically operated aerated oxidation ditches
• Three (3) parallel secondary clarifiers
• Tertiary sand filters
• Alum feed for phosphorus removal
• Polymer feed for alum sludge conditioning
• Gas chlorination
• Chlorine contact chamber
• Dechlorination
• Cascade post aeration
• Automatic samplers
• Flow meter
• Aerobic sludge digesters
• Sludge drying beds
• Standby power
The facility is located at the Vanceboro WWTP located at 7749 US Highway 17 (South Main Street)
in Vanceboro in Craven County.
2. Discharge from said wastewater treatment works at the location specified on the attached map via
Outfall 001 into Swift Creek [Stream Index: 27-97-(0.5)], a waterbody currently classified C-Swamp
NSW waters in sub -basin 03-04-09 [HUC: 03020202051 of the Neuse River Basin.
Page 2 of 9

Permit NCO031828
PART I
Grade WW-3 Biological Water Pollution Control System [15A NCAC 08G .0302]
A. (1) EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
[15A NCAC 02B .0400 et seq., 02B .0500 et seq.]
During the period beginning on the effective date of the permit and lasting until expiration, the Permittee is
authorized to discharge from Outfall 001. Such discharges shall be limited and monitored' by the Permittee as
specified below:
EFFLUENT
LIMITS
MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
Monthly
Weekly
Measurement
Sample
Sample
CHARACTERISTICS
Parameter Code
Average
Average
Frequency
Type
Location 2
Flow 50050
0.3 MGD
Continuous
RecordingInfluent
or
Effluent
Total Monthly Flow 82220
Monitor & Report
Monthly
Calculated
Influent or
Effluent
Total Residual Chlorine 3 50060
28 ailv Maximum
2/Week
Grab
Effluent
Temperature °C 00010
Daily
Grab
Effluent
Temperature (°C) 00010
Weekly
Grab
Upstream &
Downstream
pH 00400
Not < 6.0 nor > 9.0
Weekly
Grab
Effluent
Standard Units
Dissolved Oxygen 00300
Daily Average > 5.0 m /l.
Weekly
Grab
Effluent
Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L) 00300
Weekly
Grab
Upstream &
Downstream
BOD, 5-day (20°C) 4 C0310
5.0 mg/L
7.5 mg/L
Weekly
Composite
Influent &
(April I —October 31)
Effluent
BOD, 5-day (20°C) 4 C0310
10.0 mg/L
15.0 mg/L
Weekly
Composite
Influent &
(November 1 — March 31)
Effluent
Total Suspended Solids 4 C0530
30.0 mg/L
45.0 mg/L
Weekly
Composite
Influent &
Effluent
NH3 as N C0610
(April I — October 31
2.0 mg/L
6.0 mg/L
Weekly
Composite
Effluent
NH3 as N C0610
4.0 mg/L
12.0 mg/L
Weekly
Composite
Effluent
November 1 — March 31
Fecal Coliform 31616
200 / 100 ml
400 / 100 ml
Weekly
Grab
Effluent
(geometric mean
TKN m C0625
Monitor & Report
2/Month
Composite
Effluent
NO2-N + NO3-N m 00630
Monitor & Report
2/Month
Composite
Effluent
TN m 5 C0600
Monitor & Report
2/Month
Composite
Effluent
TN Load 6 QM600
Monitor & Report
Monthly
Calculated
Effluent
(pounds/month)
TN Load 6 QY600
Monitor & Report
Annually
Calculated
Effluent
(pound s/ ear
Total Phosphorus C0665
1.0 mg/L I
Monthly
Composite
Effluent
Total Mercury B 71900
Monitor & Report
See Footnote 8
Grab
Effluent
Footnotes are on the following page.
Footnotes:
Page 3 of 9

Permit NCO031828
l . The permittee shall submit discharge monitoring reports electronically using the NC DWR's eDMR
application system [see Section A. (7)].
2. Upstream = at NCSR 1440. Downstream = approximately 2 miles downstream from the outfall.
3. The Division shall consider all effluent TRC values reported below 50 µg/L to be in compliance with the
permit. However, the Permittee shall continue to record and submit all values reported by a North Carolina
certified laboratory (including field certified), even if these values fall below 50 µg/L.
4. The monthly average effluent BOD5 and TSS concentrations shall not exceed 15% of the respective influent
value (85% removal).
5. For a given wastewater sample, TN = TKN + NO2-N + NO3-N, where TN is Total Nitrogen and TKN is Total
Kjeldahl Nitrogen.
6. TN Load is the mass load of Total Nitrogen discharged in a given period of time. See Section A. (2)
Calculation of Total Nitrogen Loads.
7. The monthly average for total phosphorus shall be the average of composite samples collected monthly.
8. Mercury must be monitored once during the permit cycle. See Section A. (5) Effluent Mercury Analysis.
ALL SAMPLES SHALL BE FROM A REPRESENATIVE DISCHARGE EVENT.
THERE SHALL BE NO DISCHARGE OF FLOATING SOLIDS OR VISIBLE FOAM IN OTHER THAN
TRACE AMOUNTS.
A. (2) CALCULATION OF TOTAL NITROGEN LOADS
[G. S. 143-215.1(b)]
The Permittee shall calculate monthly and annual TN Loads as follows:
i. Monthly TN Load (pounds/month) = TN x TMF x 8.34
Where:
IN = average Total Nitrogen concentration (mg/L) of the composite samples
collected during the month
TMF = Total Monthly Flow of wastewater discharged during the month
(MG/month)
8.34 = conversion factor, from (mg/L x MG) to pounds
ii. Annual TN Load (pounds/year) = Sum of the twelve Monthly TN Loads for the calendar
year
The Permittee shall report monthly Total Nitrogen results (mg/L and pounds/month) in the discharge
monitoring report for each month and shall report each year's results (pounds/year) with the December
report for that year.
A. (3) ANNUAL LIMITS FOR TOTAL NITROGEN
[G.S. 143-215.1(b)]
a. Total Nitrogen (TN) allocations and TN Load limits for NPDES dischargers in the Neuse
River basin are annual limits and are applied for the calendar year.
Page 4 of 9

Permit NCO031828
b. For any given calendar year, the Permittee shall be in compliance with the annual TN Load
limit in this Permit if:
i. the Permittee's annual TN Load is less than or equal to said limit, or
ii. the Permittee is a Co-Permittee Member of a compliance association.
c. If the Permittee is not a co-permittee member of a compliance association and the Permittee's
cumulative annual TN discharge exceeds the effective TN Load limit in this permit at any
point during the calendar year, the Permittee is in violation of its TN Load limit, and each
day of a continuing violation shall constitute a separate violation.
d. The TN Load limit in this Permit (if any) may be modified as the result of allowable changes
in the Permittee's TN allocation.
i. Allowable changes include those resulting from purchase of TN allocation from
the Wetlands Restoration Fund; purchase, sale, trade, or lease of allocation
between the Permittee and other dischargers; regionalization; and other
transactions approved by the Division.
ii. The Permittee may request a modification of the TN Load limit in this Permit to
reflect allowable changes in its TN allocation. Upon receipt of timely and proper
application, the Division will modify the permit as appropriate and in accordance
with state and federal program requirements.
iii. Changes in TN limits become effective on January 1 of the year following permit
modification. The Division must receive application no later than August 31 for
changes proposed for the following calendar year.
iv. Application shall be sent to:
NC DENR / DWR / NPDES Programs
Attn: Neuse River Basin Coordinator
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1617
e. If the Permittee is a member and co-permittee of an approved compliance association, its TN
discharge during that year is governed by that association's group NPDES permit and the TN
limits therein.
i. The Permittee shall be considered a Co-Permittee Member for any given calendar
year in which it is identified as such in Appendix A of the association's group
NPDES permit.
ii. Association roster(s) and members TN allocations will be updated annually and in
accordance with state and federal program requirements.
iii. If the Permittee intends to join or leave a compliance association, the Division
must be notified of the proposed action in accordance with the procedures defined
in the association's NPDES permit.
1. Upon receipt of timely and proper notification, the Division will modify
the permit as appropriate and in accordance with state and federal program
requirements.
Page 5 of 9

Permit NCO031828
2. Membership changes in a compliance association become effective on
January 1 of the year following modification of the association's permit.
f. The TN monitoring and reporting requirements in this Permit remain in effect until
expiration of this Permit and are not affected by the Permittee's membership in a compliance
association.
A. (4) TOTAL NITROGEN ALLOCATIONS
[G.S. 143-215.1(b)]
The following table lists the Total Nitrogen (TN) allocation(s) assigned to, acquired by, or transferred to
the Permittee in accordance with the Neuse River nutrient management rule (T15A NCAC 02B .0713)
and the status of each as of permit issuance. For compliance purposes, this table does not supersede any
TN limit(s) established elsewhere in this permit or in the NPDES permit of a compliance association of
which the Permittee is a Co-Permittee Member.
Allocation Amount'
Allocation
Source
Date
Status
Estuary
Discharge
Type
lb/ r
lb/ r
Assigned by Rule
12/7/97;
Base
(T15A NCAC 02B
4/1/03
6,066
6,066
Active
.0713
TOTAL
6,066
6,066
Active
Footnote:
1. Transport Factor = 100%
Any addition, deletion, or modification of the listed allocation(s) (other than to correct typographical
errors) or any change in status of any of the listed allocations shall be considered a major modification
of this permit and shall be subject to the public review process afforded such modifications under state
and federal rules.
A. (5) EFFLUENT MERCURY ANALYSIS
[G.S. 143-215.661
The Permittee shall provide one effluent mercury analysis, using EPA Method 1631E, in conjunction
with the next permit renewal application. The analysis should be taken within 12 months prior to the
application date. Any additional effluent mercury measurements conducted from the effective date of
this permit and up to the application date shall also be submitted with the renewal application.
If the result of the mercury analysis is not provided with the application, the application may be returned
as incomplete and the Permittee considered non -compliant.
A. (6.) PERMIT RE -OPENER: NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT
[NCGS 143-215.1 (b)]
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Permit NCO031828
a) Pursuant to N.C. General Statues Section 143-215.1 and implementing rules found in Title 15A of North
Carolina Administrative Code, Subchapter 02H, specifically, 15A NCAC 02H.0I 12(b)(1) and 021-1.0114(a),
and Part II, Sections B.12 and B.13. of this Permit, the Director of DWR may reopen this permit to require
nutrient management measures for the discharge. The results of water quality monitoring, modelling or other
evaluations may require that conditions for total nitrogen and total phosphorus control be imposed on this
permit.
b) The Division may, upon written notification to the permittee, re -open this permit in order to incorporate or
modify effluent limits, monitoring and reporting requirements, and other permit conditions when it deems
such action is necessary to implement TMDL(s) approved by the USEPA.
A. (7) ELECTRONIC REPORTING OF MONITORING REPORTS
[NCGS 143-215.1 (b)]
Federal regulations require electronic submittal of all discharge monitoring reports (DMRs) and program
reports. The final NPDES Electronic Reporting Rule was adopted and became effective on December
21, 2015.
NOTE: This special condition supplements or supersedes the following sections within Part II of this
permit (Standard Conditions for NPDES Permits):
• Section B. (11.)
• Section D. (2.)
• Section D. (6.)
• Section E. (5.)
Signatory Requirements
Reporting
Records Retention
Monitoring Reports
1. Reporting Requirements [Supersedes Section D. (2.) and Section E. (5.) (a)1
The permittee shall report discharge monitoring data electronically using the NC DWR's Electronic
Discharge Monitoring Report (eDMR) internet application.
Monitoring results obtained during the previous month(s) shall be summarized for each month and
submitted electronically using eDMR. The eDMR system allows permitted facilities to enter
monitoring data and submit DMRs electronically using the internet. The eDMR system may be
accessed at: https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/edmr.
If a permittee is unable to use the eDMR system due to a demonstrated hardship or due to the facility
being physically located in an area where less than 10 percent of the households have broadband
access, then a temporary waiver from the NPDES electronic reporting requirements may be granted
and discharge monitoring data may be submitted on paper DMR forms (MR 1, 1. 1, 2, 3) or
alternative forms approved by the Director. Duplicate signed copies shall be submitted to the
following address:
NC DEQ / Division of Water Resources / Water Quality Permitting Section
ATTENTION: Central Files
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
See "How to Request a Waiver from Electronic Reporting" section below.
Page 7 of 9

Permit NC0031828
Monitoring results obtained during the previous month(s) shall be summarized for each month and
reported via the eDMR system no later than the last calendar day of the month following the
completed reporting period. Regardless of the submission method, the first DMR is due on the last
day of the month following the issuance of the permit or in the case of a new facility, on the last day
of the month following the commencement of discharge.
Starting on December 21, 2025, the penmittee must electronically report the following compliance
monitoring data and reports, when applicable:
Sewer Overflow/Bypass Event Reports;
Pretreatment Program Annual Reports; and
Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 316 (b) Annual Reports.
The permittee may seek an electronic reporting waiver from the Division (see "How to Request a
Waiver from Electronic Reporting" section below).
2. Electronic Submissions
In accordance with 40 CFR 122.41(1)(9), the permittee must identify the initial recipient at the time
of each electronic submission. The permittee should use the EPA's website resources to identify the
initial recipient for the electronic submission.
Initial recipient of electronic NPDES information from NPDES-regulated facilities means the entity
(EPA or the state authorized by EPA to implement the NPDES program) that is the designated entity
for receiving electronic NPDES data [see 40 CFR 127.2 (b)].
EPA plans to establish a website that will also link to the appropriate electronic reporting tool for
each type of electronic submission and for each state. Instructions on how to access and use the
appropriate electronic reporting tool will be available as well. Information on EPA's NPDES
Electronic Reporting Rule is found at: https://www.federalre ig ster.gov/documents/2015/10/22/2015-
24954/national-pollutant-discharge-elimination-system-nodes-electronic-reporting-rule
Electronic submissions must start by the dates listed in the "Reporting Requirements" section above.
3. How to Request a Waiver from Electronic Reaortine
The permittee may seek a temporary electronic reporting waiver from the Division. To obtain an
electronic reporting waiver, a permittee must first submit an electronic reporting waiver request to
the Division. Requests for temporary electronic reporting waivers must be submitted in writing to
the Division for written approval at least sixty (60) days prior to the date the facility would be
required under this permit to begin submitting monitoring data and reports. The duration of a
temporary waiver shall not exceed 5 years and shall thereupon expire. At such time, monitoring data
and reports shall be submitted electronically to the Division unless the permittee re -applies for and is
granted a new temporary electronic reporting waiver by the Division. Approved electronic reporting
waivers are not transferrable. Only permittees with an approved reporting waiver request may
submit monitoring data and reports on paper to the Division for the period that the approved
reporting waiver request is effective.
Page 8 of 9

Permit NC0031828
Information on eDMR and the application for a temporary electronic reporting waiver are found on
the following web page:
http://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/edmr
4. Sianatory Requirements [Supplements Section B. (11.) (b) and Supersedes Section B. (11.) (d)1
All eDMRs submitted to the permit issuing authority shall be signed by a person described in Part II,
Section B. (11.) (a) or by a duly authorized representative of that person as described in Part II,
Section B. (11.) (b). A person, and not a position, must be delegated signatory authority for eDMR
reporting purposes.
For eDMR submissions, the person signing and submitting the DMR must obtain an eDMR user
account and login credentials to access the eDMR system. For more information on North
Carolina's eDMR system, registering for eDMR and obtaining an eDMR user account, please visit
the following web page:
http://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/edmr
Certification. Any person submitting an electronic DMR using the state's eDMR system shall make
the following certification [40 CFR 122.22]. NO OTHER STATEMENTS OF CERTIFICATION
WILL BE ACCEPTED:
"I certify, under penalty of law, that this document and all attachments were prepared under my
direction or supervision in accordance with a system designed to assure that qualified personnel
properly gather and evaluate the information submitted. Based on my inquiry of the person or
persons who manage the system, or those persons directly responsible for gathering the information,
the information submitted is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, true, accurate, and complete. I
am aware that there are significant penalties for submitting false information, including the
possibility of fines and imprisonment for knowing violations. "
5. Records Retention [Supplements Section D. (6.)]
The permittee shall retain records of all Discharge Monitoring Reports, including eDMR
submissions. These records or copies shall be maintained for a period of at least 3 years from the
date of the report. This period may be extended by request of the Director at any time [40 CFR
122.41].
Page 9 of 9

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NCO031828 - Vanceboro WWTP
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Receiving Stream: Swift Creek Stream Class: C; Sw, NSW
Stream Segment: 27-97-(O.S) Sub -Basin #: 03-04-09
River Basin: Neuse HUC: 030202020E
County: Craven
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