NC0025348_Speculative Limits_19980721

RECEIVED J if t 2-8-1998
/2/vc,,-s Aze-
k
State of North Carolina
Department of Environment
and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality
James B. Hunt, Jr., Governor
Wayne McDevitt, Secretary
A. Preston Howard, Jr., P.E., Director
NCDENR
July 21, 1998
Mr. Walter B. Hartman, Jr.
City Manager
City of New Bern
P.O. Box 1129
New Bern, North Carolina 28563-1129
Subject: Correction to
Speculative Limits for City of New Bern WWTP
NPDES Permit No. NCO025348
Craven County
Dear Mr. Hartman:
I am writing once again to correct an error in my June 8 letter to you, which provided speculative effluent
limits for the proposed expansion of New Bern's wastewater treatment plant from 4.7 MGD to 6.5 MGD
capacity.
The phosphorus limits presented on page 2 should have read as follows (correction in bold):
Effluent Limits
Summer Winter
Total Phosphorus (mg/L) 2.0 2.0 Effective l/l/03.
(lb/yr) 39,570 Effective I/l/03.
The revised value is based on 2.0 mg/L total phosphorus (expanded flow, coalition member) and the increased
flow of 6.5 MGD. Please disregard the value given in my letter of July 8.
If you have any additional questions about these limits, please contact Mike Templeton at [phone], ext.
541.
Sincerely, _
David A. Goodrich
Supervisor, NPDES Unit
Water Quality Section
DAG/MET
cc: Roger Thorpe, WaRO
Bobby Blowe, Construction Grants and Loans
Randy Gould, Rivers and Associates, Inc.
David Springer, Rivers and Associates, Inc. ,
Mary Kiesau, Local Government Assistance Unit
Central Files
NPDES Unit Files
P.O. Box 29535, Raleigh, North Carolina 27626-0535
An Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer
Telephone [phone] FAX [phone]
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State of North Carolina
Department of Environment
and Natural Resources
Division of Water Quality
James B. Hunt, Jr., Governor
Wayne McDevitt, Secretary
A. Preston Howard, Jr., P.E., Director
June 8, 1998
Mr. Walter B. Hartman, Jr.
City Manager
City of New Bern
P.O. Box 1129
New Bern, North Carolina 28563-1129
ern
NCDENR
Subject: Speculative Limits for City of New Bern WWTP
NPDES Permit No. NCO025348
Craven County
Dear Mr. Hartman:
This letter is in response to your request for speculative effluent limits for the proposed expansion of New
Bern's wastewater treatment plant from 4.7 MGD to 6.5 MGD capacity. We have reviewed the request
and provide the following response.
The speculative limits presented here are based on our understanding of the proposal and of present
environmental conditions. The Division of Water Quality (DWQ) cannot guarantee that it will issue the
City an NPDES permit to discharge treated wastewater into waters of the State. Nor can we guarantee
that the effluent limitations and other requirements included in any permit will be exactly as presented
here. Final decisions on these matters will be made only after the Division receives and evaluates a
formal permit application for the City's proposed discharge.
Environmental Assessments of New Projects
Please be aware that you will have to evaluate this project for environmental impacts before receiving a
modified permit. Anyone proposing to construct new or expanded waste treatment facilities using public
funds or public (state) lands must first prepare an environmental assessment (EA) when wastewater flows
(1) equal or exceed 0.5 MGD or (2) exceed one-third of the 7Q10 flow of the receiving stream. DWQ
will not accept a permit application for a project requiring an environmental assessment until the Division
has approved the EA and sent a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) to the state Clearinghouse for
review and comment.
An Environmental Assessment should contain a clear justification for the proposed project. It should
provide an analysis of potential alternatives, including a thorough evaluation of non -discharge
alternatives. Nondischarge alternatives or alternatives to expansion, such as spray irrigation, water
conservation, or inflow and infiltration reduction, are considered to be environmentally preferable to a
surface water discharge. In accordance with the North Carolina General Statutes, the preferred alternative
must be the practicable waste treatment and disposal alternative with the least adverse impact on the
environment. If the EA demonstrates that the project may result in a significant adverse effect on the
quality of the environment, you must then prepare an Environmental Impact Statement. Mary Kiesau of
the Water Quality Planning Branch can provide further information regarding the requirements of the
N.C. Environmental Policy Act. You can contact Ms. Kiesau directly at [phone], ext. 567.
P.O. Box 29535, Raleigh, North Carolina 27626-0535 Telephone [phone] FAX [phone]
An Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer 50% recycled / 10% post -consumer paper

Speculative Limits for City of New Bern
Permit No. NC0025348
Page 2
Speculative Effluent Limits
Based on the available information, tentative limits for the New Bem WWTP at the expanded flow of 6.5
MGD are as follows:
Effluent Limits
Summer Winter
Flow
(MGD)
6.5 6.5
BOD5
(mg/L)
5 10
NH3-N
(mg/L)
1 2
TSS
(mg/L)
30 .30
Dissolved Oxygen
(mg/L)
5.0 5.0
Fecal Coliform
(#/100 mL)
200 200
pH
(S.U.)
6.5 - 8.5 6.5 - 8.5
Total Residual Chlorine (ug/L)
13.0 13.0
Total Phosphorus
(mg/L)
2.0 2.0
Effective 1/1/03.
(lb/yr)
108
Effective 1/l/03.
Total Nitrogen
(lb/yr)
53,060
Effective 1/1/03, waived
if a trading coalition
member.
Acute Toxicity
Pass/Fail
P/F @ 90%
with fathead minnow
BODS and NH -N. In the "Meuse River Basin Water Quality Management Plan" (3/93), the Division
identified severaT—areas of depressed water quality in the basin and judged that many of these areas were
impacted by point source discharges. It specifically recommended that NPDES permits include more
stringent limits for direct discharges of oxygen -consuming substances into the mainstem of the Neuse
River. As a result, the NPDES Unit is setting discharge limits for new and expanding facilities that
require them to provide advanced treatment of their wastewater. For major municipal facilities, such as
New Bern, we consider advanced treatment for BOD5 and NH3-N to be 5 and 1 mg/L, respectively, for
the summer and 10 and 2 mg/L for the winter.
TSS. The limits for total suspended solids are standard for secondary treatment of municipal wastewater
D.O. The limit for dissolved oxygen is carried forward from the current permit, for which the limit was
Eased upon the Division's 1993 Wasteload Allocation.
Fecal Coliform, pH. The limits for fecal coliform bacteria and pH are derived to protect water quality in
e receiving stream. They are also the same as in the current permit.
Total Residual Chlorine (TRC). The limit for residual chlorine is a daily maximum value and is based on
the Division s p licy for new or expanding discharges to saltwater.
Nutrients: Total Phosphorus, Total Nitrogen. Significant new requirements have been established for the
control of nutrient discharges. In August 1997, the State Assembly passed House Bill 515 to address
water quality problems in Nutrient Sensitive Waters. The bill established standard technology -based mass
limits for both phosphorus and nitrogen, for new and expanding facilities and for existing facilities with
greater than 0.5 MGD treatment capacity. The bill also provides for trading of nutrient limits among
dischargers, under certain conditions. In December 1997, the Environmental Management Commission
adopted a Nutrient Management Strategy for the Neuse River Basin (the Strategy). These rules also set
nutrient limits, as concentrations for phosphorus and as annual mass limits for nitrogen. They provide for
nitrogen trading among dischargers in the basin, to allow flexibility in meeting the overall nitrogen target
in the basin. The rules are scheduled for adoption by the State Assembly in the summer of 1998.

Y
Speculative Limits for City of New Bern
Permit No. NC0025348
Page 3
The City's next permit will include new conditions that reflect these new requirements. The Division is
already placing the same conditions into all new and reissued permits in the basin.
Total Nitrogen. This permit limit is the City's annual allocation for total nitrogen, as defined in the
proposed Strategy (NCAC 2B.0234(7)). The limit will be included in the City's permit upon reissuance
(with or without the proposed expansion) and will become effective on January 1, 2003.
The Strategy also gives dischargers in the basin the option of forming a nitrogen trading coalition and
working collectively to meet the overall nitrogen reduction target. The rule waives the total nitrogen
permit limit for any discharger that joins an approved coalition and transfers the individual allocations to
the coalition, which is responsible for meeting the combined allocation of its members.
The City's allocation serves as a long-term limit of its nitrogen discharge. The Strategy provides two
options for the City to increase its nitrogen allocation. First, it can purchase the allocation from existing
dischargers or make payments to the Wetlands Restoration Fund for offsetting nonpoint nutrient
reductions. Payments for expanding discharges are $11/lb/yr, to be paid for a 30-year period in advance.
Second, a more sophisticated model of the river and estuary (termed a "calibrated, nutrient -sensitive
model" under 1-113515) may identify higher (or lower) nutrient levels necessary to protect water quality. In
that case, the City could be assigned a different allocation. The Division is involved in the beginning
stages of a Phase I model project for the Neuse.
Total Phosphorus. The phosphorus concentration limit is also based on the new Neuse rules (para.
.0234(9)(c)) and assumes the City is a coalition member. If this is not the case, the limit will be lowered
to 1.0 mg/L (para..0234(7)(c)). The mass limit for phosphorus is based on the requirements in H13515
and is equivalent to 2.0 mg/L total phosphorus at the projected plant flow.
Toxicity. The 24-hour pass/fail acute toxicity testing requirement at 90%, with quarterly monitoring, will
remain a condition of the NPDES permit. We will perform a complete evaluation of limits and monitoring
requirements for metals and other toxicants when we review the City's formal permit application.
Monitoring Re uirements. Any future permit will include monitoring requirements for the limited
parameters. a permit will also require monitoring for parameters without specified effluent limitations,
such as heavy metals and cyanide, and monitoring of both the effluent and the receiving stream, as does
the current permit. Instream monitoring requirements will be modified to reflect applicable monitoring
agreements with the Division.
I trust this response offers sufficient guidance for the City's proposed treatment plant expansion. If you
have any additional questions about these limits, feel free to contact Mike Templeton (ext. 541) at (919)
733-5083.
Sincerely
David A. Goodri�
0 Supervisor, NPDES Unit
Water Quality Section
DAG/MET
cc: Roger Thorpe, WaRO
Don Safrit, Point Source Branch
Bobby Blowe, Construction Grants and Loans
Randy Gould, Rivers and Associates, Inc.
David Springer, Rivers and Associates, Inc.
Mary Kiesau, Local Government Assistance Unit
Central Files
NPDES Unit Files

SPECULATIVE DISCHARGE LIMITS
--W.
CITY OF NEW BERN WWTP
NPDES PERMIT NO. NCO025348
June 8, 1998
The following table presents speculative limits and associated monitoring requirements for the New Bern VVV�TP .inesp5nseo,the;City s request
.,,
o February 11, 1998. These do not guarantee that the Division will issue an NPDES permit nor that the efflue�iritaionsand, other requirements
included in any permit will be exactly as presented here. Any future permit will likely include additional_moniteq>irements similar to the
current permit; including instream monitoring, which will be modified to reflect applicable monitor ne�agireement"g�A. WfihAe`Division.
,��Ut-k id �-hl .
EFFLUENT CHARACTERISTICS
Flow
EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS �,.
d: -P;LIM ter
i4i,TYMONITORING REQUIREMENTS
Months y
Average
6.5 MGD
Weekly
y
Average
Y ' k
.,Daily
Maximum „
1"
K. MOaSU 4"t
�' Frequency
Sample
Type
Sample
Location (1)
'' v'Continuous.
Recording
I or E
BOD, 5 day, 20°C: Summer {2,3}
Winter (2,3)
5.0 mg1L
10.0 mg/L
t h1g %L�
,•;h
;,,,,f
Daily
Composite
I, E
NH3 as N: Summer (2)
Winter (2) �
1.0
� t2;O�rng/L yf�'
�
Composite
E
Total Suspended Solids(3) tix FR="3�'
w 3001ng/L
45.0 mg/L
Daily
Composite
I, E
Fecal Coliform (geometric mean) 'y,'
..
°s�200/100:mL
200/100 mL
Daily
Grab
E
Dissolved Oxygen . ".: p ; ;�fav
i:,Shall be greater than or equal to 5.0 mg/L
at all times
Daily
Grab
E
pH
''��
�� �..,�.. h ...
Shall be within the range of 6.5 to 8.5
standard units at all times
Daily
Composite
E
Total Re8id6l11Chl'n-n" e � ''
�`�
13.0 ug/L
Daily
Grab
E
,"
Total Nitroge . (NO2 + NO3 + TKN)
NL(4) (mg/L)
Weekly
Composite
E
NL(4) (lb/mo)
Monthly
Calculated
E
53,060 Ib/yr annual mass load (5)
Annually
Calculated
E
Total Phosphorus
2.0 mg/L (quarterly average) (6)
Weekly
Composite
E
108 Ib/yr annual mass load
Monthly
Calculated
E
Acute Toxicity
See Footnote (7)
Quarterly
Composite
E
Page 1 of 2

SPECULATIVE DISCHARGE LIMITS (cont.)
CITY OF NEW BERN WWTP
NPDES PERMIT NO. NCO025348
June 8, 1998
Footnotes:
(1) Sample locations: E = Effluent; I = Influent; U = Upstream; D = Downstream (U
determined based on future permit application and modeling efforts).
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
For the purposes of this permit, summer is defined as the period from,.A' pril,1119
period from November 1 through March 31 of each year. ,ELF
The monthly average BOD5 and Total Suspended Solids- concentrations`sl all,not'E
(85% removal)
— No Limit;
The limit for annual total nitrogen mass loading shall.bedbme* .effective on January
the City's membership in a nutrientarading coalition `�'„<<`�
(6) The quarterly average for
months.
F!,
'� iao: l l,•
regturements to be
d winter is defined as the
respective influent values
1, 2003, unless provisionally waived due to
composite samples collected weekly during the most recent three
(7) Acute Toxicity (FatheadrMinno �24hr) N Significant Mortality at 90 /o, March, June, September, and December.
5• O. gnl ° .
There shall. be no disch.Q6 of floating s'Sohds or visible foam in other than trace amounts.
1� c
-
c{yw
Page 2 of 2 ��

F1
• JNI-28-88 WED 12:24 PM
P. 02
On December I I,1997, the North Carolinn Environmental Management Commission adopted the following
rule to support implementation of the Neuse River Nutrient Sensitive Waters Management Strategy, A _
portion of the rule became effective as a temporary rule on January 22,1998 (see italics text following end of
this rule, page 15). The entire rule vvill become effective August 1,1998 as a permanent rule, pending
approval by the Rules Review Commission and the North Carolina Ceneral Assembly.
15A NCAC 2B .0234 has been adopted with changes as published 12:6 NCR 462-479 as follows:
.0234 NEUSE RIVER BASIN - NUTRIENT SENSITIVE WATERS MANAGEMENT STRATEGY:
WASTEWATER DISCHARGE REQUIREMENTS
The following is the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) wastewater discharge
management strategy for the Neuse River Basin:
(I) All new and expanding dischargers will be required to document that all practical alternatives to surface
water discharge were evaluated pursuant to 15A NCAC 214.0105(c)(2), prior to a submittal of an application for a
discharge. For purposes of this rule, permitted discharges means those Individually permitted and not those covered
under general permits.
(2) All wastewater dischargers greater.than or equal to 0.5 million gallons per day (MGD) permitted flow
regardless of current loading levels are required to evaluate and optimize the operation of their facilities in order to
reduce nutrient loadings. One year after the effective date of this rule, a report shall be submitted to the division by
each wastewater discharger or collectively by an Association, documenting the efforts/level of reductions achieved.
(3) The collective total nitrogen load for all individually permitted wastewater discharges shall, on an annual
mass basis, be no more than 2.8 million pounds per year, unless individual wastewat:r discharges separately or
collectively purchase a portion of the nonpoint source allocation* In accordance with the formula for onset payments
set forth in 15A NCAC 2B .0240. Paragraphs (5), (6) and (7) of this Rule indicate how this load is allocated in the
basin. Compliance witlr the 2.9 million pounds. annual average mass load of total nitrogen shall be required within
five years of the effective date of this rule. If dischargers individually choose to make nutrient offset payments per
rule .0240 of this Section, those offset payments shall be required prior to permit issuance and reissuanee. Nutrient
offset payments made to purchase nitrogen load reductions from nonpoint sources shall not be credited to the
existing nonpoint source's load allocation.
(4) Any existing individual discharger or collective group of wastewater dischargers that accepts wastewater
from another wastewater treatment facility in the Neuse River Basin and that results in the elimination of the
discharge from that wastewater treatment facility shall be allowed to increase the annual mass load of total nitrogen
discharged by the annual mass load of total nitrogen allocated to the wastewater treatment facility that is eliminated.
If the wastewater treatment system that is to he eliminated has a permitted flow of less than 0.5 MGD, the annual
mass load of total nitrogen shall be calculated from the most recent available data on that facility. (5) The
individually permitted wastewater discharges to the Neuse River basin with permitted flows of less than 0.5 MGD in
1995 shall be allocated an annual average mass load of 280,000 pounds of total nitrogen. All existing facilities
above Falls Lake Dam with permitted flows greater than or equal to 0.05 MGD will be required to meet a quarterly
average total phosphorus limit of 2 mg/I. More stringent limits may apply to protect water quality standards in
localized areas.
(6) The .following Item specifies the nutrient allocations for disclharges above Falls Lake with permitted flows
greater than or equal to 0.5 MGD in 1995.
(a) The individually permiitted discharges above Falls Lake Dam with permitted flows of greater than or
equal to 0.5 MGD in 1995 shall be allocated an annual average mass load of 444,000 pounds of total
nitrogen. The estimate of the total nitrogen load discharged through the Falls Lake barn to the lower
Neuse River shall be fifteen (15) percent, or 66,600 pounds annual average total nitrogen discharged to
the lower Neuse River. The load shall be allocated to the individual facilities based upon the ratio of their
1995 permitted flow to the total permitted flow of those dischargers greater than or equal to 0.5 MGD
above the Falls Lake Dam.
(b) All existing facilities above Falls Lake Dam with permitted flows greater than or equal to 0.05 MGD will
13

-AA-28-98 WED 12:24 PH
P. 03
be required to meet a quarterly average total phosphorus limit of 2 mgA. More stringent limits may apply
to protect water quality standards in localized areas.
(7) The following Item specifies the nutrient allocations for discharges below Falls Lake with permitted flows
greater than or equal to 0.5 MGD in 1995.
(a) Wastewater treatment plants below Falls Lake Darn that have a permitted Dow greater than or equal to 0.5
MOD shall be assigned an annual mass loading limit for total nitrogen based upon the ratio of their flow
to the sutra of the Individual flows as set forth in Paragraph (7)(b) of this rule multiplied by 2.45 million
pounds within five years of the effective date of this rule.
(b) For purposes of the above calculation the flows shall be:
Central Johnston County 4.99 MGD, Raleigh 60 MGD, Clayton 1. 9 MGD, Burlington industries S
MGD, Cary-Northside 12 MGD, Wake Forest 6 MGD, Cary-Southside 16 MGD, Apex 3.6 MGD,
Fuquay-Varina 6 hiGD, Benson 3 MGD, Goldsboro 16.8 MGD, Kinston -Peachtree 6.75 MGD, )LaGrange
0.75 MGD, Kinston-Nortliside 4.5 MGD, Dupont -Kinston 3.6 MGD, Keniy 0.63 MGD, Wilson 14 MGD,
Contentnca Sewerage District 2.85, Farmville 3.5 MGD, Zebulon 1.85 MGD, Weyerhaeuser 32 MGD,
New Bern 4.7 MGD, Havelock 1.9 MGD, US Marine Corps Cherry Point 3.5 MGD, CWS Inc. NE
Craven Utilities I MGD, and Snow Hill 0.5 MOD.
(c) All existing facilities below Falls Lake Dam with permitted flows greater than or equal to 0.5 MGD will
be required to meet a quarterly average total phosphorus limit of 2 mg/1. Upon expansion, these facilities
must meet a monthly average total phosphorous limit of 1 mg/l. More stringent limits may apply to
protect water quality standards in localized areas.
(8)All new wastewater discharge flows, flows not permitted prior to December 31, 1995, shall document efforts
to obtain allocation from the load established in paragraph (3) of this section from existing wastewater
discharges. If allocation can not be obtained from the existing dischargers, ner%v dischargers may purchase a
portion of the nonpoint source load allocation at a rate of 200 percent of the cost as set in 15A NCAC 213
.0240 of this Section to implement practices designed to reduce that same loading created by the new
discharge. Payment for the portion of the nonpoint source load allocation purchased shall be made prior to
permit issuance and reissuance. The now discharge shall at a minimum comply with an annual mass load of
total nitrogen based on a concentration of 3.5 mg/l and their permitted flow. These facilities must meet a
monthly average total phosphorous limit of 1 m_PA. More stringent limits may be given to protect water
duality standards in localized areas.
(9) The following Item describes the option for dischargers to join an Association to collectively meet nutrient
load allocations.
(a) All dischargers within the basin will have the option of forming an Association to meet their allocated
total nitrogen load collectively. For dischargers.that join the Association, an agreement will be drafted
between the Division and the Association that includes annual loading targets. The total nitrogen load
allocated to the Association shall be calculated by the sum of the individual allocated loads developed in
Paragraphs (5), (6) and (7) of this rule. The membership of the Association shall be established no later
than March 1, 1998. All facilities who apply for membership in the Association prior to March 1,1998
shall be accepted. Thereafter, additions of facilities existing as of the effective date of this rule to the
membership in the Association may be considered every five years.
(b) This annual total nitrogen loading target shall be met within five years of the effective date of this rule.
The agreement may also require stepwise decreases in total nitrogen loads for the 5 years following the
effective date of this rule. When developing a final agreement, the Commission shall acknowledge the
differences in transport percentages between dischargers above and below Falls Lake Dam. The
Association shall also be required to document reduction in total nitrogen loadings for any member
facilities located in Craven, Jones, Pamlico and Carteret Counties as a result of their immediate proximity
to the estuary. If the Association does not meet its annual total nitrogen loading target in any given year,
the Association shall make payments for nonpoint source controls at a ;ate as set In 15A NCAC 28..0240
of this section. No Association exists, for the purposes of this Rule, until the Agreement is formally
approved by the Commission.
(c) All existing Association dischargers below Falls Lake Dam that have a p8rmitted flow greater than or
14

i c.v Vu MA/ 1L I L:) f 11
P. 04
equal to 0.5 MGD will receive a quarterly average total phosphorus limit of 2 mg/l in their NPDF..S
permits. All existing Association dischargers above Falls Lake Dam that have a permitted flow greater
than or equal to 0.05 MOD will receive a quarterly average total phosphorus limit of 2 mg/l in their
NPDES permits. New and expanding Association dischargers will receive a quarterly average total
phosphorus -limit of 2 rngA in their NPDF.S pcnnits. More stringent phosphorous limits may apply to
protect water quality standards in localized areas.
History Note: Authority G. S. 143-214.1; 143-215; 143-215.1; 143 215.3(a)(1): Chapter 572. 1995 Session
Laws.
Eff. Augusr 1, 1998.
Temporary rule effective January 22,1998.
.0234 MUSE RIVER BASIN - NUTRIENT SENSITIVE WATERS MANAGEMENTSTRATEGY:
APPLICATION DEADLINE FOUR MEMBERSHIP IN THE ASSOCZAT ION OPTION
FOR WASTEWATER DISCHARGERS
The membership of the Association shall be established no later than March 1, 1998. All facllitles who apply to the
D&I.-don of Water Quality for membership In the Association prior to March 1, 1998 shall be accepted. Thereafter,
additions of fectlittes existing ai of the effective date of this Rule, to the membership In the Association maybe '
considered every five years.
Nistory Note: Authority G. S. 143-214.1: 14.3-215; 1 43-215. l; 143-215.3(a) (1); Chapter 572, 1995 Session
Laws.
Temporary Adoption Ef. .. January 22, 1998.
• 15

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t• Its tti� NmT, a
NOuse,' -
v =tore: atEocafton based u en aa`jZBO.00Opounds for those d[schargers with permitted Pows �< Mti 0.5 l,. '
aibCalln (he disc "'� -`�"" •"'�» . � ..-------- ,. --- --- .---
2___ha ers above Falls take Oam at 5_ti mgll at their 19Js permtttvd tlov�, and aitocating 1he '
re�rr>al�ndtr b• onThe eKenta of the 4imittedditow the were at the total erm;ttecf flow In 1098.
.ad % o! I atal ad Alfoc Coma 05 Avg • 95 Avq_ITfan!po Transcorted Load
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--- 1.BS -• 0.65'ZEBU LON TOWN OF _ » .._.-.
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1.9: t.18 HAVELOCK WWTP CITY 30410 0, - .--•• .__ ....�
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New Bern Wastewater Treatment Plant
The New Bem trickling filter, wastewater treatment plant, constructed in the late 1960's, was
originally rated and permitted for a 4.0 MGD discharge into the Neuse River. However, the
hydraulic rating of the treatment units were subsequently reduced to 2.35 MGD to meet new federal
removal criteria (85% BOD/TSS reduction). In 1979, New Bem began an evaluation of developing
a regional wastewater treatment and disposal system, with the discharge to the Neuse River.
The Division issued the requested permit in 1982 with limits reflective of secondary levels of
treatment.
In 1987, New Bem initiated updating of the 201 Facilities Plan for wastewater treatment and
disposal, requesting information on the potential limits on nutrients from the Division.
Simultaneously, the Division was also completing studies and recommendations to the
Environmental Management Commission on designating the entire Neuse River Basin as nutrient
sensitive and developing nutrient management strategies. The Nutrient Sensitive Waters (NSW)
designation was completed in 1988 and incorporated requirements for major dischargers to comply
with total phosphorous limits of 2 mg/1 by 1993. During the renewal of the NPDES permit for the
wastewater treatment plant discharge in 1988, New Bem was advised that upon expansion of the
permitted flow above 4.0 MGD or by May 1993, the total phosphorous limit would become
effective.
A meeting was held between the City of New Bern and the Division in 1990 to discuss future limits
for an expansion request for a 4.7 MGD permit for discharge to the Neuse River (doubling the
treatment train at the facility). Based on the 1987 discussions, at which the City was advised
that nitrification would not likely be required, and the City's subsequent updating of their future
wastewater treatment 201 Facilities Plan, the Division concurred that permitting of the expansion
at the existing secondary levels of treatment with phosphorous removal was appropriate.
However, the permit would require the more intensive instream monitoring to evaluate the effect
of the discharge. Publication of the notice of intent to issue the expanded permit did result in the
request for a hearing from the Neuse River Foundation. However, based on an evaluation of the
comments, no public hearing was held. The concerns raised included compliance history,
phosphorous removal, toxic affect of discharge, interaction issues and alternatives to the
discharge.
The phosphorous limit became effective in 1993 and the NPDES permit was subsequently reissued
in 1994 in accordance with the Neuse River Basinwide permitting schedule.
In February 1995, the Division received a request from the City of New Bern for a proposed sewer
extension. The application requested permitting of a pump station, forcemain and gravity
sanitary sewer extension to service a proposed subdivision being developed by Weyerhaeuser.
During the review process the Division received numerous letters form letters and letters from the
Neuse River Foundation requesting that the permit not be granted without first requiring the City
to complete an Environmental Assessment and an alternatives analysis of the "nondischarge"
options. Additionally, the letters requested that a public hearing be held on the proposed permit
issuance. A determination that the permit application was not subject to the Environmental Policy
Act requirements, as it did not qualify as a major activity, and a determination that the
wastewater treatment facilities had sufficient aneees capacity to treat the wastewater to be _
generated by the project, resulted in the decision not to require an Environmental Assessment or a
public hearing. The permit was subsequently issued in May 1995.
Petitions challenging the issuance of the Sewer Extension permit were filed in the Office of
Administrative Hearings by the Neuse River Foundation and the River Keeper in June 1995. The
case is pending in the Office of Administrative Hearings.
The City of New Bem met with staff from the Division in July 1995 to discuss possible future
options to address the removal of the discharge from the Neuse River (this is confidential per
New Bern).