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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNC0077143_Draft Permit_20231030ROY COOPER Governor ELIZABETH S. BISER Secretary RICHARD E. ROGERS, JR. Dfrector Lisa Smith -Perri West Carteret Water Corporation 4102 NC Highway 24 Newport, NC 28570 Dear Ms. Smith -Perri: NORTH CAROLINA Environmental Quality October 30, 2023 Subject: Draft NPDES Permit NC0077143 West Carteret Water Corporation WTP Grade I Physical Chemical WPCS Carteret County Attached with this letter is a copy of the Draft NPDES permit renewal for your facility. Please review this draft carefully to ensure thorough understanding of the requirements and conditions it contains. We understand from your renewal application that there have been no treatment system changes. There are a few changes in the draft attached here from the existing permit. These changes are summarized below. Regulatory Citations - Language has been added where necessary in the permit to provide regulatory citations for permit requirements. Electronic Reporting - Permit language has been modified to be consistent with the finalization of federal requirements for electronic reporting. Addition of Permit Limits — Data from the previous permit cycle was evaluated under a Reasonable Potential Analysis (RPA) to determine whether any pollutant has potential to impact instream water quality. The RPA evaluation found that two parameters showed reasonable potential and require the addition of a permit limit to assure no impacts to the receiving waters. Permit limits have been added to your permit for the following parameters: Parameter Monthly Average Daily Maximum Total Copper 1.85 µg/L 2.9 µg/L Total Zinc 42.8 µg/L 47.6 µg/L Implementation of these limits will be postponed until the next permit cycle (2027). A Schedule of Compliance has been added in Section A. (4.) of the permit and is noted in Footnote 8, which has been added to the Effluent Table. You are required to continue monitoring for these parameters at the frequency specified in the permit (monthly) during this permit cycle. This permit still includes the limits for these parameters as an indication of the expectations for the next permit renewal. The Schedule of Compliance includes requirements for annual reports on actions taken in review, assessment and implementation toward meeting these limits down the road. D Q �� North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources 512 North Salisbury Street 1 1617 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617 NQ97H GAfa + w, uwx6nW or en.�.o���.mai a�amq 919.707.9000 Lisa Smith -Perri West Carteret WTP Draft Renewal Page 2 Please note that the practical quantitation limit (PQL) for Total Copper is 2 µg/L and the PQL for Total Zinc is 10 µg/L, and monitoring data should be reportable down to these levels. Limits for water treatment plants are determined by evaluating DMR data submitted to the Division and the maximum monthly average flow reported in the previous 3 years at the time the review is completed. Data reported to the appropriate levels is needed to assure reasonable assessment of the impacts of your discharge. • Flow Reporting — Duration of Flow (eDMR code 81381) should now be reported in the eDMR system. This parameter has been added in the Effluent table and should be reported along with flow in the monthly eDMR. • Total Lead — In the 2017 permit renewal this parameter was removed from the permit because all sampling results had been non -detect. You have continued to report this parameter and the results were the same in the most recent permit cycle (not detected). Please note that Total Lead is no longer included in your permit and you no longer have to monitor for this parameter. • Total Manganese — This parameter was mistakenly left off of the 2017 permit. It has been added back into this draft permit as a monitor and report parameter. • Map Update — The permit map and descriptive information on the permit map have been updated. In your application you requested a waiver of monitoring requirements for certain Table A parameters. Considering the characteristics of this facility (WTP) the Division approves this request for all the parameters requested. 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. The latest version of the standard conditions is available at https://bit.ly/3k5NFaL and can be viewed online or downloaded as a PDF file. Concurrent with this notification the Division is publishing a notice in a newspaper having general circulation in the Carteret County area soliciting public comments on this draft permit. Please provide any written comments you may have to me no later than 30 days after receipt of 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. If you have questions concerning this draft permit, please contact me by email at bradley.bennett@deq.nc.gov. At this time, contact by email is the most effective method. If we need to set up a call to discuss any issues, we can set that up through email. Sincerely, Bradley Bennett Compliance and Expedited Permitting Unit cc: NPDES Files - electronic Wilmington Regional Office / Water Quality — electronic Operator Certification Program/Jeffrey Talbott — electronic Aquatic Toxicology / Cindy Moore and Molly Nicholson - Electronic NC Wildlife Resources Commission / Maria Dunn — electronic US Fish and Wildlife / Sara Ward — electronic Shellfish Sanitation / Andrew Haines; Erin Bryan-Millush; Jeremy Humphrey — electronic Draft Permit NCO077143 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES PERMIT TO DISCHARGE WASTEWATER UNDER THE NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (NEDES) 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 West Carteret Water Corporation is hereby authorized to discharge wastewater from a facility located at the West Carteret WTP 4104 NC Highway 24, Newport Carteret County to receiving waters designated as the East Prong Sanders Creek in the White Oak River Basin in accordance with effluent limitations, monitoring requirements, and other conditions set forth in Parts I, II, and III hereof. This permit shall become effective This permit and authorization to discharge shall expire at midnight on July 31, 2027. If the permittee intends to continue discharging at the facility beyond the term of this permit, a renewal application must be submitted no later than February], 2027 (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 10 Draft Permit NCO077143 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. West Carteret Water Corporation is hereby authorized to: 1. Continue to operate a Wastewater Treatment System in support of potable water production [design flow capacity of 2.0 MGD] utilizing water -softeners, greensand (iron) filters, and ionic color filters (sodium cycle IE) with intermittent discharges [maximum monthly average discharge - 0.0995MGD] generated as filter backwash, regeneration and rinse wastewater, this system is comprised of • four (4) greensand filters (iron removal) [flow capacity 400-gpm each] with shared flow -meter system [optional feed potassium permanganate (KMn04) - disinfection] • eight (8) water -softeners with brine regeneration and two (2) flow -meters (each utilized by four (4) water softeners [flow capacity 240 gpm each] • six (6) ionic color filters with brine regeneration and shared flow -meter [flow capacity 320 gpm each] • settling lagoon [70 ft. x 36 ft.] for ionic color filters; with pump station • settling lagoon [52 ft. x 52 ft.] for water -softeners w/ pump station (active but currently bypassed to lift station) • twelve (12) drying beds [each 50 ft. x 20 ft.] receiving green -sand filter backwash • appurtenant piping, pumps, and system operational controls chemical additives: o ammonium hydroxide (NH4 OH) [disinfection] o chlorine gas (C12) [disinfection] 0 ortho-polyphosphate (04P 3) [scale inhibitor] The facility is located at the West Carteret WTP, 4104 NC Hwy 24, Newport in Carteret County. 2. Discharge from said treatment works via Outfall 001, at the location specified on the attached map, into the East Prong Sanders Creek [steam index 20-36-6-1], a waterbody currently classified SA HQW within the subbasin 03-05-03 [HUC: 030203010303] of the White Oak River Basin. Page 2 of 10 Draft Permit NCO077143 PART I A. (1.) EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS [NCAC 02B 0400 et seq. and 0213.0500 et seq.] Grade I Physical / Chemical WPCS [15A NCAC 08G .0306] During the period beginning on the effective date of this permit and lasting until expiration, the Permittee is authorized to discharge backwash/rinse wastewater from Outfall 001. Such discharges shall be limited, monitored and reported 1 by the Permittee as specified below: EFFLUENT CHARACTERISTICS (eDMR Code) LIMITS MONITORING REQUIREMENTS Monthly Average Daily Maximum Measurement Frequency Sample Type Sample Location 2 Flow (MGD) 50050 2/Month Instantaneous E Duration of Flow (Hours) 81381 2/Month Instantaneous E Total Residual Chlorine (TRC) 3 50060 13 µg/L 2/Month Grab E Total Suspended Solids 4 C0530 20.0 mg/L 30.0 mg/L 2/Month Composite E pH 00400 Not < 6.8 or > 8.5 s.u. 2/Month Grab E pH 00400 Monitor & Report Monthly Grab U & D Salinity, ppt 4 00480 Monitor & Report Monthly Composite E Salinity, ppt 00480 Monitor & Report Monthly Grab U & D Conductivity, µmohs/cm 4 00094 Monitor & Report Monthly Composite E Conductivity, µmohs/cm 00094 Monitor & Report Monthly Grab U & D Turbidity, NTU 00070 Monitor & Report Monthly Grab E Total Dissolved Solids, mg/L 4 70295 Monitor & Report Monthly Composite E Ammonia [NH3 as N] mg/L 4 C0610 Monitor & Report Monthly Composite E Total Manganese, mg/L 4 01055 Monitor Quarterly Composite E Total Copper, µg/L 4,6 01042 1.85 L&Report 2.9 Quarterly Composite E Total Zinc, µg/L 4,601092 42.847.6 Quarterly Composite E Acute Toxicity 4,5 TGE3E I Monitor & Report Quarterly Composite E Footnotes: 1. The Permittee shall report monthly discharge monitoring data electronically using the Division's Electronic Discharge Monitoring Report (eDMR) system [See Section A. (5.)]. 2. E = Effluent; U = Upstream; D = Downstream (Sanders Creek at Hwy 24). 3. Because the Permittee uses finished water containing chlorine, the Permittee shall collect TRC samples. The Division shall consider compliant all effluent TRC values reported below 50 µg/L. However, the Permittee shall continue to record and submit all values reported by a North Carolina -certified test method (including field certified), even if these values fall below 50 µg/L. 4. This sample shall be collected in accord with Composite Sampling Requirements, section A. (3.). 5. Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) testing, Acute 24-hour Pass/Fail Monitoring: (January, April, July and October). WET testing shall use mysid shrimp or another approved organism [see A. (2.)]. The Permittee shall apply WET tests only to composite samples, as approved by the Division. 6. Permit Limits for Copper and Zinc will not be effective for this permit cycle, but monitoring will continue to be required. Permittee shall meet the Schedule of Compliance outlined in Section A.(4). Conditions: - All samples shall accurately represent the physical and chemical character of a discharge event. - The Permittee shall discharge no floating solids or foam visible in other than trace amounts. - All practical quantitation limits (PQL) must be sufficiently sensitive considering the respective water quality standard for each parameter [see Part II. Section D. (4)]. Page 3 of 10 Draft Permit NCO077143 A. (2.) ACUTE TOXICITY PASS/FAIL MONITORING (QUARTERLY) [NCAC 02B .0200 et seq.] [NCAC 02B .0500 et seq.] The permittee shall conduct acute toxicity tests on a quarterly basis using protocols defined in the North Carolina Procedure Document entitled "Pass/Fail Methodology for Determining Acute Toxicity In A Single Effluent Concentration" (Revised -December 2010, or subsequent versions). The monitoring shall be performed as a Mysid Shrimp (Mysidopsis bahia) 24-hour static test. The effluent concentration at which there may be at no time significant acute mortality is 90% (defined as treatment two in the procedure document). The tests will be performed during the months of January, April, July and October. These months signify the first month of each three-month toxicity testing quarter assigned to the facility. Effluent sampling for this testing must be obtained during representative effluent discharge and shall be performed at the NPDES permitted final effluent discharge below all treatment processes. All toxicity testing results required as part of this permit condition will be entered electronically using the Division's eDMR system for the month in which it was performed, using the parameter code TGE3E. Additionally, DWR Form AT-2 (original) is to be sent to the following address: North Carolina Division of Water Resources Water Sciences Section/Aquatic Toxicology Branch 1621 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1621 Or, results can be sent to the email, ATFonns.ATB(adeg.nc.9ov. Completed Aquatic Toxicity Test Forms shall be filed with the Water Sciences Section no later than 30 days after the end of the reporting period for which the report is made. Test data shall be complete, accurate, include all supporting chemical/physical measurements and all concentration/response data, and be certified by laboratory supervisor and ORC or approved designate signature. Total residual chlorine of the effluent toxicity sample must be measured and reported if chlorine is employed for disinfection of the waste stream. Should there be no discharge of flow from the facility during a month in which toxicity monitoring is required, the permittee will complete the information located at the top of the aquatic toxicity (AT) test form indicating the facility name, permit number, pipe number, county, and the month/year of the report with the notation of "No Flow" in the comment area of the form. The report shall be submitted to the Water Sciences Section at the address cited above. Should the permittee fail to monitor during a month in which toxicity monitoring is required, then monthly monitoring will begin immediately. Upon submission of a valid test, this monthly test requirement will revert to quarterly in the months specified above. Should any test data from either these monitoring requirements or tests performed by the North Carolina Division of Water Resources indicate potential impacts to the receiving stream, this permit may be re -opened and modified to include alternate monitoring requirements or limits. NOTE: Failure to achieve test conditions as specified in the cited document, such as minimum control organism survival and appropriate environmental controls, shall constitute an invalid test and will Page 4 of 10 Draft Permit NCO077143 require immediate follow-up testing to be completed no later than the last day of the month following the month of the initial monitoring. USE OF A DIFFERENT TEST ORGANISM The permittee may request the use of a different test organism upon documentation that the alternate test organism would provide an equal or greater level of protection and is appropriate based on the characteristics of the discharge and receiving stream. Such documentation would consist of one of the following: For saltwater classified streams, a fathead minnow may be assigned as the acute testing species if the salinity of the receiving stream at the point of discharge is < 5 ppt throughout the tidally influenced cycle. This determination may be based on the best professional judgment of DWR staff or data collection provided by the permittee and approved by DWR staff. This evaluation should include vertical profiles of salinity/conductivity measurements at both high tide and low tide over several 24-hr cycles. 2. Three consecutive "side -by -side" tests with results indicating that the alternate test organism is as or more sensitive to the facility's effluent. Each test series would consist of two separate toxicity tests conducted on the same sample of effluent with the length of exposure specified by the permit, the only difference between the tests being the organism used. 3. An alternate plan developed by the permittee and approved by the Aquatic Toxicology Unit that demonstrates an equal level of protection is offered by the test organism. For items 2 and 3, it must also be demonstrated that viable and standardized culture techniques are available for that organism and standardized testing methodologies have been developed and validated. This demonstration should meet guidance provided by EPA in Section 6 of EPA-821-R-02-012, "Short Term Methods for Estimating the Acute Toxicity of Effluents and Receiving Waters to Freshwater Organisms, Fifth Edition 2002". Requests to use a different test organism and supporting documentation should be sent to North Carolina Division of Water Resources, Environmental Sciences Section at the address listed above. A. (3.) COMPOSITE SAMPLING REQUIREMENTS [G.S. 143-215.66] Considering the complexities of the existing treatment systems and their operation, the Permittee shall implement two (2) separate composite sampling protocols (see 1 and 2 below). The Permittee shall compile 24-hour composites by combining flow -proportional grab -samples specific to given discharge events. To ensure that each composite sample accurately represents a 24-hour discharge period, the Permittee may collect more than one grab sample of each event. The Permittee shall compile two (2) different composite samples per month, in accord with the following instructions: 1. One 24-hour composite shall combine each of. a. color -filter discharge (flow -proportional grabs), and b. softener discharge (flow -proportional grabs). 2. Another 24-hour composite shall combine flow -proportional grabs of each softener -regeneration step. Page 5 of 10 Draft Permit NCO077143 3. WET -test analyses shall alternate between the color -filter composite samples and the softener composite samples. 4. Records and descriptions of all manual composites shall be kept on file and onsite, available for review by the Wilmington Regional Office. A. (4.) SCHEDULE OF COMPLIANCE FOR COPPER AND ZINC [G.S. 143-215.1(b)] During this permit cycle, from the effective date of the permit until permit renewal (2027) the applicable limits for Total Copper and Total Zinc will not be imposed. During this time the permittee will undertake reviews and actions to move toward compliance with these limits in the next permit cycle. Actions taken by the permittee and data collected during this permit cycle may result in evaluations that adjust the required limits for the parameters of concern in future permits. (a.) No later than one year from the effective date of this permit the permittee shall submit a report summarizing the actions taken toward compliance with the permit limits. (b.) No later than two years from the effective date of this permit the permittee shall submit a report summarizing the actions taken toward compliance with the permit limits. (c.) No later than three years from the effective date of this permit the permittee shall submit a report summarizing the actions taken toward compliance with the permit limits. This report may be combined with the permittee's submittal of the renewal application for this permit and should include information that the Division should consider in evaluating limits for Total Copper and Total Zinc in the renewal process. The reports shall include the owner's name, NPDES permit number and Permittee contact person, and shall be submitted to: (1) NCDEQ / Division of Water Resources NPDES Compliance and Expedited Permitting 1617 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1617 (2) NCDEQ / Division of Water Resources Wilmington Regional Office 127 Cardinal Drive Wilmington, NC 28405 A. (5.) ELECTRONIC REPORTING OF DISCHARGE MONITORING REPORTS [G. S. 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.) Signatory Requirements • Section D. (2.) Reporting • Section D. (6.) Records Retention • Section E. (5.) Monitoring Reports Page 6 of 10 Draft Permit NC0077143 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. 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 permittee 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 Page 7 of 10 Draft Permit NC0077143 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-npdes-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 Reporting 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. Information on eDMR and the application for a temporary electronic reporting waiver are found on the following web page: hqp:Hdeq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/edmr 4. Signatory Requirements [Supplements Section B. (11.) (b) and Supersedes Section B. (11.) 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. (I 1.)(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:Hdeq.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: 7 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 Page 8 of 10 Draft Permit NCO077143 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 10 Outfall4lk 77 ~. , — W. Carteret ' WTP eL 4 f 1 :7 RL �TF s West Carteret Water Corporation West Carteret WTP Receiving Stream: E. Prong Sanders Creek Stream Class: SA; HOW River Basin: White Oak Sub -Basin: 03-05-03 Outfall Latitude: 34' 42' 58" Outfall Longitude: 76' 58' 35" Stream Segment 20-36-6-1 HUC#: 030203010303 Grid/Quad: 131NW / Salter Path County: Carteret Facility =T Location (not to scale) 7TH NPDES Permit NCO077143 Page 10 of 10