NC0026557_Draft Permit_20240219

ROY COOPER
Governor
ELIZABETH S. BISER
Secretary
RICHARD E. ROGERS, JR.
Director
NORTH CAROLINA
Environmentd QmW
February 20, 2024
Mr. Nate Bowe, PE
Director of Engineering and Public Works
Town of Bryson City
315 Riverview Road
Bryson City, North Carolina 28713
Subject: Draft NPDES Permit Renewal
Permit NCO026557
Bryson City WWTP
Swain County
Grade III Biological WPCS
SIC Code 4952
Dear Mr. Bowe:
Enclosed 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. There are several changes from the existing permit, including the following:
As expansion of the Bryson City WWTP has been approved by the Division, an
expansion page has been added to the permit for a 0.9 MGD flow tier [See A.(2.)].
Effluent monitoring requirements for the 0.9 MGD flow tier have been added in
accordance with 15A NCAC 02B .0508 [See A.(2.)].
A special condition to monitor effluent PFAS chemicals 2/year has been added to the
permit, to be effective six (6) months after EPA has a wastewater method in 40 CFR136
method published in the Federal Register [See Special Condition A.(3.) PFAS Monitoring
Requirements].
Based on NPDES Permitting Implementation of the Mercury TMDL effluent mercury
monitoring has been added to the permit at the 0.9 MGD flow tier [See A.(2.)].
A notation was made concerning the Electronic Reporting Rule — NPDES Electronic
Reporting Rule — Phase 2 Extension. EPA extended the Phase 2 deadline to December 21,
2025.
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.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
circulation in the general Swain County area, soliciting public comments on this draft permit.
Please provide any written comments you may have to the following: NCDEQ/DWR, NPDES
Permitting Branch, 1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1617 no later than 30 days
after receipt of this draft permit.
DUF QNorth� Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
512 North Salisbury Street 1 1611 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1611
���
919.707.9000

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 call me at [phone] or by email at [e-mail].
Sincerely,
�?;9.DWFBFCA"4FD...
Signed by:
Nick Coco, PE
NPDES Municipal Permitting Unit
Hardcopy: NPDES Files
Ecopy: DWR/Asheville Regional Office/Water Quality/Daniel Boss
DWR/Operator Certification Program/JeffTalbot
DWR/Aquatic Toxicology Branch/Cindy Moore & Molly Nicholson
DWRBasin Planning Branch/Fred Tarver & Nora Deamer
McGill Associates/Mike Dowd, PE
NC Wildlife Resources Commission/Andrea Leslie
US Fish and Wildlife Services/Sara Ward
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality I Division of Water Resources
512 North Salisbury Street 1 1611 Mail Service Center 1 Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1611
919.707.9000
D-Wb- .1 LwY "�

Permit NC0026557
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
PERMIT
TO DISCHARGE WASTEWATER UNDER THE
(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, the
Town of Bryson City
is hereby authorized to discharge wastewater from a facility located at the
Bryson City Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP)
45 Everett Street
Bryson City
Swain County '
to receiving waters designated as the Tuckasegee River in the Little Tennessee River Basin
in accordance with the effluent limitations, monitoring requirements, and other applicable conditions set
forth in Parts I, II, III, and IV hereof.
This permit shall become effective............ Month xx, 2024.
This permit and authorization to discharge shall expire at midnight on .............................. March 31, 2029.
Signed this day ...................Month xx, 2024.
DRAFT
Michael J. Montebello, NPDES Permitting Branch Chief
Division of Water Resources
Page 1 of 8

Permit NC0026557
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 Bryson City
is hereby authorized to:
1. Continue to operate and maintain the Bryson City WWTP, an existing 0.6 MGD facility consisting of
the following components:
• Mechanical bar screen
• Two (2) contact stabilization treatment units consisting of influent pumping, aeration and
reaeration zones, secondary clarifiers and sludge digester
• Belt press and sludge dry storage
• Chlorination
• Dechlorination
2. After receiving an Authorization to Construct from the Division, construct and operate improvements
to increase the average design flow of the wastewater treatment facility to 0.9 MGD; and
Discharge from said treatment works at the location specified on the attached map via Outfall 001
into the Tuckasegee River, classified B waters in the Little Tennessee River Basin and 06010203
HUC.
Page 2 of 8

Permit NCO026557
PART
A.(1.) EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS [0.6 MGD]
[15A NCAC 02B .0400 et seq., 15A NCACO2B .0500 et seq.] Grade III
Biological Water Pollution Control System [15A NCAC 08G .0302]
(a.) During the period beginning on the effective date of the permit and lasting until expansion to 0.9
MGD or permit expiration, whichever is sooner, the permittee is authorized to discharge treated
municipal wastewater from Outfal1001. Such discharges shall be limited and monitored' by the
permittee as specified below:
PARAMETER
Parameter Code
EFFLUENT LIMITS
MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
Monthly
Average
Weekly
Average
Daily
Maximum
Measurement
Frequency
Sample
Type
Sample
Location'
Flow 50050
0.6 MGD
Continuous
Recording
I or E
BOD, 5 day, 20°C 3 C0310
30.0 mg/L
45.0 mg/L
Weekly
Composite
I and E
Total Suspended Solids' C0530
30.0 mg/L
45.0 mg/I.
Weekly
Composite
I and E
NHS as N (mg/L) C0610
Monitor and Report
2/month
Composite
E
Fecal Coliform 31616
(geometric mean)
200/100 mL
400/100 mL
Weekly
Grab
E
pH 00400
Between 6.0 and 9.0 Standard Units
Weekly
Grab
E
Temperature (°C) 00010
Ah, Monitor and Report
Weekly
Grab
E
Total Residual Chlorine ° 50060
1111ftb, 1 28 µg/l.
Weekly
Grab
E
Total Phosphorus (mg/L) C0665
Monitor and Report
Monthly
Composite
E
TKN (mg/L) 00625
Monitor and Report
Monthly
Composite
E
NO3-N + NO2-N (mg/L.) 00630
Monitor and Report
Monthly
Composite
E
Total Nitrogen s (mg/L) C0600
Monitor and Report
Monthly
Calculated
E
PFAS6 (ng/L) various
1W Footnote 6
Footnote 6
Grab
E
Total Phosphorus (mg/L) C0665
Monitor and Report
Monthly
Grab
U and D
TKN (mg/L) 00625
Monitor and Report
Monthly
Grab
U and D
NO3-N + NO2-N (mg/L) 00630
Monitor and Report
Monthly
Grab
U and D
Total Nitrogen 5 (mg/L) C0600
Monitor and Report
Monthly
Calculated
U and D
Footnotes:
1. The permittee shall submit Discharge Monitoring Reports electronically using NC DWR's eDMR application
system. See Special Condition A.(4.).
2. Sample locations I -Influent, E-Effluent, U-Upstream = at least 100 feet above discharge, D-Downstream = at
least 300 feet below discharge.
3. The monthly average effluent BOD5 and Total Suspended Solids concentrations shall not exceed 15% of the
respective influent value (85% removal).
4. The facility shall monitor TRC when using chlorination for disinfection. The Division shall consider all effluent
total residual chlorine values reported below 50 µg/1 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.
5. For a given wastewater sample, TN = TKN + NO3-N + NO2-N, where TN is Total Nitrogen, TKN is Total
Kjeldahl Nitrogen, and NO3-N and NO2-N are Nitrate and Nitrite Nitrogen, respectively.
6. See Special Condition A.(3.).
There shall be no discharge of floating solids or visible foam in other than trace amounts.
Page 3 of 8

Permit NCO026557
A.(2.) EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS [0.9 MGD]
[15A NCAC 02B .0400 et seq., ISA NCACO2B .0500 et seq.] Grade III
Biological Water Pollution Control System [15A NCAC 08G .0302]
(a.) During the period beginning upon expansion to 0.9 MGD and lasting until permit expiration, the
permittee is authorized to discharge treated municipal wastewater from Outfall 001. Such
discharges shall be limited and monitored' by the permittee as specified below:
PARAMETER
Parameter Code
EFFLUENT LIMITS
MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
Monthly
Average
Weekly
Average
Daily
Maximum
Measurement
Frequency
Sample
Type
Sample
Location'
Flow 50050
0.9 MGD
Continuous
Recording
I or E
BOD, 5 day, 200C 3 C0310
30.0 mg/L
45.0 mg/L
3/Week
Composite
I and E
Total Suspended Solids' C0530
30.0 mg/L
45.0 mg/L
3/Week
Composite
I and E
NH3 as N (mg/L) C0610
Monitor and Report
Weekly
Composite
E
Fecal Coliform 31616
(geometric mean)
200/100 mL
400/100 mL
3/Week
Grab
E
pH 00400
Between 6.0 and 9.0 Standard Units
3/Week
Grab
E
Temperature (°C) 00010
Monitor and Report
3/Week
Grab
E
Total Residual Chlorine ° 50060
1 1 g/L
3/Week
Grab
E
Total Phosphorus (mg/L) C0665
Monitor and Report
Monthly
Composite
E
TKN (mg/L.) 00625
Monitor and Report
Monthly
Composite
E
NO3-N + NO2-N (mg/L) 00630
Monitor and Report
Monthly
Composite
E
Total Nitrogen i (mg/L) C0600
Monitor and Report
Monthly
Calculated
E
Total Mercury6 (ng/L) 39100
Monitor and Report
115 years
Grab
E
PFAS7 various
Footnote 7
Footnote 7
Grab
E
Total Phosphorus (mg/L) C0665
Monitor and Report
Monthly
Grab
U and D
TKN (mg/L) 00625
Monitor and Report
Monthly
Grab
U and D
NO3-N + NO2-N (mg/L) 00630
Monitor and Report
Monthly
Grab
U and D
Total Nitrogen 5 (mg/L) C0600
Monitor and Report
Monthly
Calculated
U and D
Footnotes:
1. The permittee shall submit Discharge Monitoring Reports electronically using NC DWR's eDMR application
system. See Special Condition A.(4.). —
2. Sample locations I -Influent, E-Effluent, U-Upstream = at least 100 feet above discharge, D-Downstream = at
least 300 feet below discharge.
3. The monthly average effluent BOD5 and Total Suspended Solids concentrations shall not exceed 15% of the
respective influent value (85% removal).
4. The facility shall monitor TRC when using chlorination for disinfection. The Division shall consider all effluent
total residual chlorine 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.
5. For a given wastewater sample, TN = TKN + NO3-N + NO2-N, where TN is Total Nitrogen, TKN is Total
Kjeldahl Nitrogen, and NO3-N and NO2-N are Nitrate and Nitrite Nitrogen, respectively.
6. Total mercury monitoring shall be conducted once per permit cycle using EPA Method 1631E.
7. See Special Condition A.(3.).
There shall be no discharge of floating solids or visible foam in other than trace amounts.
Page 4 of 8

Permit NCO026557
A.(3.) PFAS MONITORING REQUIREMENT
[G.S. 143-215.1(b.)]
This reporting requirement for the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) parameters listed under
Table 1 of EPA Method 1633 takes effect the first full calendar quarter following six (6) months after EPA
publishes the method under 40 CFR Part 136 in the Federal Register. Monitoring will be at a 2/year
frequency.
Find the current parameters listed under Table 1 of the Method 1633 Analysis of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl
Substances (PFAS) in Aqueous, Solid, Biosolids, and Tissue Samples by LC-MS/MS (EPA, January 2024)
at:
hiips://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2024-01 /method-1633-final-for-web-postingpdf
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 December 21,
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.) Signatory Requirements
• Section D. (2.)
• Section D. (6.)
• Section E. (5.)
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 monthly 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 5 of 8

Permit NC0026557
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; and
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.federalregister.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:
Page 6 of 8

Permit NC0026557
http://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/edmr
4. Signatory 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. (I 1.)(a) or by a duly authorized representative of that person as described in Part 11,
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 STATEMEIV OF CERTIFICATION
WILL BE ACCEPTED:
7 certi ,under penalty o law, that this document and all attachments were ed under m
iY P ty f y
direction or supervision in accordance with a system designed to assure that q personnel
properly gather and evaluate the information submitted. Based on my inquiry of th erson 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. 1
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.)1
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 7 of 8

Permit NCO026557
_ - C
., Ss Fontana Lake rs ` C xra�kli �� u\ �� �i, • \ `
`.
Tuckasegee River
[flows west]
r Trs� :.. „Luq,n,n[•,ee.ti,.,ss3-. � � `�`� C ((11 C r
Outfa11001 v
[flows west) �-
1� �-, (7 9, ■t `illy` -
r
Town of Bryson City WWTP
NPDES Permit NCO026577
315 Riverview Road, Bryson City 28713
Receiving Stream: Tuckasegee River Stream Class: B
Stream Segment: 2-79440.5) Sub -Basin #: 04-04-02
River Basin: Little Tennessee HUC: 06010203WS
Page 8 of 8
N
'115 D00➢W
35.4222° N,-83.4617° W
NC (arid FSNW
SCALE USGS Quad: Bryson City, NC
1:24,000 County: Swain