NC0082520_Draft Permit_20240206

ROY COOPER
Governor
ELIZABETH S. BISER
Secretary
RICHARD E. ROGERS, JR.
Director
Sonny Cuningham
Town of Pine Knoll Shores
100 Municipal Circle
Pine Knoll Shores, NC 28512
Dear Mr. Cunningham:
Wu1`m
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmental Quality
February 6, 2024
Subject: Draft of NPDES Permit NCO082520
Pine Knoll Shores WTP
Carteret County
Class PCNC WPCS
The Division has reviewed your request to renew the subject permit. Please review this draft carefully to ensure a
thorough understanding of the information, conditions, and requirements it contains.
This draft contains the following major changes from the existing permit:
• Section A. (4) been updated regarding electronic submission of effluent data. Federal regulations require
electronic submittal of all discharge monitoring reports (DMRs).
• The turbidity limit has been removed per the Division's 2020 Strategy as this proposed facility would not
discharge into waters impaired for turbidity.
• The footnote language outlining duration requirements has been removed. Duration monitoring has been
added to section A. (1) in its place.
• The Supplement to Permit Cover Sheet has been updated to reflect only the proposed WTP, not any
current infrastructure.
• The parameter codes in section A. (1) have been updated.
• Section A. (2) has been added per 40 CFR 122.21(k)(5)(vi) regarding reporting requirement after
commencement of discharge.
Please note that this portion of Bouge Sound is listed as an impaired waterbody on the North Carolina 303(d)
Impaired Waters List. Addressing impaired waters is a high priority with the Division, and instream data will
continue to be evaluated. If there is noncompliance with permitted effluent limits and stream impairment can be
attributed to your facility, then mitigative measures may be required.
With this notification, the Division will solicit public comment on this draft permit by publishing a notice in
newspapers having circulation in the general Carteret County area, per EPA requirements. Please provide your
comments, if any, to me 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. If you have questions concerning the draft, please contact me via
e-mail at [e-mail] or via phone at 919-707-3600.
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Sincerely,
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Sara Bassett
Environmental Specialist I
NPDES Compliance and Expedited Permitting
cc: NPDES files [Laserfiche]
Wilmington Regional Office [Laserfiche]
Operator Certification Program [Laserfiche]
Aquatic Toxicology Branch
Division of Marine Fisheries -Shellfish Sanitation
NC Wildlife Resources Commission
US Fish and Wildlife Service

Permit NCO082520
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
Ia99 ►�� N
NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM
(NPDES)
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,
Town of Pine Knoll Shores
is hereby authorized to discharge wastewater from a facility located at the
Pine Knoll Shores WTP
Oakleaf Drive, Pine Knoll Shores
Carteret County
to receiving waters designated as the Pine Knoll Shores Canal in the White Oak River Basin in
accordance with effluent limitations, monitoring requirements, and other conditions set forth in
Parts I, II, 1II and IV hereof.
This permit shall become effective
This permit and authorization to discharge shall expire at midnight on December 31, 2028.
Signed this day Is
John E. Hennessy, Section Chief Regional Operations
Division of Water Resources
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
Page 1 of 9

Permit NCO082520
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.
Town of Pine Knoll Shores is hereby authorized to:
1. Upon approval of an Authorization to Construct by the Division of Water Quality for the
necessary treatment components for the 1.2 MGD potable water facility softener backwash/rinse
wastewater, and after submittal of the signed Engineering Certificate,
2. To operate a Water Treatment Plant with discharges of treated water softener backwash/rinse
wastewater to dual outfalls. Currently, the potable facility consists 4 wells with chlorination
and corrosion inhibition addition at each well that pump direct to the potable water
distribution system.•
This Facility is proposed to be located Qn Pine Knoll Shores on Oakleaf Drive n Carteret
County.
3. discharge from said treatment works via Outfalls 001 and 002, at (assumed) locations
specified on the attached map, into Pine Knoll Shores Canal (Bogue Sound) [stream index
20-36-(8.5)], a waterbody currently classified SA; HQW within subbasin 03-05-03 [HUC:
03020301 ] of the White Oak River Basin.
Page 2 of 9

Permit NCO082520
PART I
A. (1.) EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
[15A NCAC 02B .0400 et seq., 02B .0500 et seq.]
Class PCNC Water Pollution Control System [15A NCAC 08G.0302]
During the period beginning on the permit effective date and lasting until expiration, the Permittee
is authorized [but only after receiving an Authorization to Construct (ATC) permit] to discharge
from Outfall 001 and Outfall 002. Such discharges shall be limited, monitored and reported t
[each outfall separately] by the Permittee, as specified below:
EFFLUENT
CHARACTERISTICS
(PARAMETER CODE)
LIMITS
MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
Monthly
Average
Daily
Maximum
:Measurement
Frequency
Sample
Type z
Sample
P
Location 3
Flow (MGD)
50050
Weekly
Instantaneous
E
Duration of Discharge (Hours)
81381
Weekly
Instantaneous
E
Total Residual Chlorine (TRC) 4
50060
13 µg/L
Weekly
Grab
E
Total Suspended Solids
C0530
10 mg/L
15 mg/L
2/Month
Composite
E
pH
00400
Not < 6.8 nor - 8.5 s. u.
2/Month
Grab
E
pH (s.u.)
00400
2/Month
Grab
Sl, S2
Total Dissolved Solids (mg/L)
70295
Monthly
Composite
E
Dissolved Oxygen, mg/L
00300
Effluent not < 6.0 mg/L
Monthly
Grab
E, S1, S2
Temperature, °C
00010
Monthly
Grab
E, S1, S2
Salinity (ppt)
00480
Monthly
Composite
E
Salinity (ppt)
00480
Monthly
Grab
S1, S2
Condu vity (µmohs/cm)
00094
Monthly
Composite
E
Conductivity (µmohs/cm)
00094
j
Monthly
Grab
Sl, S2
Turbidity (ntu)
00070
Monthly
Grab
E
Ammonia [NH3 asN] (mg/L.)
('0610
Monthly
Composite
E
Total Chloride (mg/L)
00940
Monthly
Composite
E
Total Copper (µg/L)
01042
Monthly
Composite
E
Total Lead ( )
01051
Monthly
Composite
E
Total Zinc (µg/L)
01092
Monthly
Composite
E
Fluoride m
00951
Monthly
Composite
E
Total Nitrogen (TN) S (mg/L)
C0600
Quarterly
Composite
E
Total Phosphorus (TP) (mg/L)
C0665
Quarterly
Composite
E
WET Testing, Acute 6
TGE3E
Pass/Fail
Quarterly
Composite
E
See page 4, Table A. (L) Footnotes and Conditions.
Page 3 of 9

Permit NCO082520
Table A. 0.) Footnotes:
1. Except if monthly reporting is formally waived by the Division, the Permittee shall submit
monthly Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs) using the Division's electronic discharge
monitoring report system (eDMR) as defined in section A. (3.).
2. Grab vs. Composite — Systems with design -flows less than 30,000 gpd may collect grab samples
in lieu of composite samples [15A NCAC 2B .0505 (c)].
3. E = Effluent; S 1 = Instream Sample # 1; S2 = Stream Sample #2 Instream: S 1 = 50 feet north of the
outfalls. S2 = 50 feet south of the outfalls (see site -location Map).
4. TRC limits and monitoring apply only if the facility adds chlorine or a chlorine derivative. 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 North Carolina -certified test
methods (including field certified), even if these values fall below 50 µg/L.
5. Total Nitrogen (TN) = [NO2-N + NO3-N) + TKN], where (NO2-N + NO3-N) is Nitrite/Nitrate
Nitrogen and TKN is Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen.
6. Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) testing; Acute 24-hour Pass/Fail Monitoring: during February,
May, August, and November. Permittee shall use mysid shrimp as the test organism unless
another organism of equal or greater sensitivity is deemed more appropriate based on the
characteristics of the discharge and receiving stream [See Special Condition A. (2.)].
Conditions:
• All samples collected shall accurately represent the physical and chemical
characteristics of the discharge event.
The Permittee shall discharge no floating solids or foam visible in other
than trace amounts.
A. (2.) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AFTER COMMENCEMENT OF DISCHARGE
[40 CFR 122.21(k)(5)(vi)]
No later than 2 years after the commencement of discharge from the proposed facility the applicant
is required to complete and submit items V and VI of NPDES application Form 2C. Please note
that all data generated must be reported to the approved detection level or lower reporting level of
the procedure. Practical Quantitation Limit levels can be found on the DWR website at:
https://deq.nc.gov/abo ut/divisions/water-resources/water-resources-data/water-sciences-home-
page/microbiology-inorganics-branch/methods-pqls-qa. Two copies of items V and VI of NPDES
application Form 2C shall be submitted to:
Attention: North Carolina Division of Water Resources
Wastewater Branch / NPDES
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1621
A. (3.) ACUTE TOXICITY MONITORING (QUARTERLY)
[NCAC 02B.0500 et seq.]
The permittee shall conduct acute toxicity tests QuarLenlx using protocols defined in the North
Carolina Procedure Document entitled "Pass/Fail Methodologyfor Determining Acute Toxicity In
A Single Effluent Concentration" (Revised -December 2010 or subsequent versions). The
Page 4 of 9

Permit NCO082520
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
February, May, August, and November. 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 on the Effluent
Discharge Monitoring Form (MR-1) 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:
Attention: 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, ATForms.ATBna dea.nc.¢ov.
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 and accurate and include all supporting chemical/physical
measurements performed in association with the toxicity tests, as well as all dose/response data.
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 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
Page 5 of 9

Permit NCO082520
based on the characteristics of the discharge and receiving stream. Such documentation would
consist of one of the following:
1. 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 DWQ staff or data collection provided by the permittee and approved by DWQ
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 methodololigs have been developed and
validated. This demonstration should meet guidance provided by EPA in Sectionof EPA-821-R-
02-012, Short Term Methods for Estimating the Acute Toxicity of Effluents and ireceiving Waters
to Freshwater Organisms, Fifth Edition 2002. Requests to use a different test organism and
supporting documentation should be sent to NC DWQ, ESS at the address listed above.
A. (4.) ELECTRONIC REPORTING - 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 Decem 1, 2015.
NOTE: This special condition supplements or supersedes the following sections within Part 11 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.
Page 6 of 9

Permit NC0082520
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:Hdeq.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
Page 7 of 9

Permit NC0082520
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-s sty em-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 Resorting
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:
http://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/edmr
4. Si$!natory Requirements (Supplements Section B. (11.) (b) and Supersedes Section B. (1 u
(d)]
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://deg.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 cert�, 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
Page 8 of 9

Permit NCO082520
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

Town of Pine Knoll Shores
Pine Knoll Shores WTP [Proposed]
Receiving Stream:
Pine Knoll Shores Canal (Bogue Sound)
Sub -Basin:
03-05-03 Stream Segment: 20-36-(8.5)
State Grid/Ouad:
Beaufort Digital HUC: 03020301
Stream Class:
SA; HQW Drainage Basin: White Oak River Basin
Facility
Location A04W
not to scale
NoYth NPDES Permit NC0082520
Carteret County