NC0025453_Static Testing Notification_20240229 (3)

Baker, Caroline D
From:
Amaya, Celina M
Sent:
Thursday, February 22, 2024 9:05 AM
To:
Thomas, Zachary T
Cc:
Morales, Kristina; Myers, Joseph M
Subject:
RE: Neuse River: Water Use and Discharge Request
Sorry for the late response but I just wanted to say thank you to all of you for the information! I passed this information
along, and the project has already completed for the Water Withdrawal and Transfer Registration. I advised them to
reach out to you to discuss project specifics to ensure there are no other requirements/concerns beyond meeting the
water quality standards and discharging the water in a manner that is compliant with our programs.
Kindly,
Celina Amaya
ARPA Environmental Specialist 11
Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources — Land Quality Section
Department of Environmental Quality
Office: [phone] ext. 4211
[e-mail]
Physical Address: 3800 Barrett Drive, Raleigh, NC 27609
Mailing Address: 1628 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC, 27699
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Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed
to third parties.
From: Thomas, Zachary T <[e-mail]>
Sent: Monday, February 12, 2024 4:26 PM
To: Amaya, Celina M <[e-mail]>
Cc: Morales, Kristina <[e-mail]>; Myers, Joseph M <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: Neuse River: Water Use and Discharge Request
Hi Celina,
Thanks for reaching out on this topic. Without knowing many of the specifics (amount of water/time of year/plans) of
what they are proposing, please see our thoughts below:
These items are select statues and rules that are potentialIV relevant to this activitV
o 15A NCAC 02H.0106 FILING APPLICATIONS

(f) The following discharges are deemed to be permitted pursuant to G.S. 143-215.1(c) provided
that no water quality standards are contravened, or expected to be contravened, and it shall not
be necessary for the Division to issue separate permits for these activities:
0 (5) flushing and hydrostatic testing water associated with utility distribution systems;
Note: If water has contact with waste, it shall remain subject to NPDES permit requirements until
the waste or residuals of concern are disposed in accordance with applicable standards:
15A NCAC 02H .0106 (g) A wastewater treatmentfacility or treatment unit that is taken out of
service but contains waste or residuals that could be discharged to surface waters or otherwise
present an environmental or public health risk under foreseeable circumstances, including severe
weather events, shall remain subject to NPDES permit requirements until the waste or residuals
of concern are disposed in accordance with applicable standards and the permit is rescinded by
the Director.
o 15A NCAC 0213.0200 — Water Quality Standards
Surface water quality standards require that conditions of waters be suitable for all best uses
provided for in state rule and that activities must not cause water pollution that precludes any
best use on a short-term or long-term basis. Ensuring that in -stream structures are installed
properly will ensure that conditions of waters are suitable for all best uses provided for in state
rule.
Activities should not cause negative impacts on fish propagation, eggs/larval survival. Excessive
silt and sediment loads can have numerous detrimental effects on aquatic resources including
destruction of spawning habitat, suffocation of eggs, and clogging of gills of aquatic species.
o DEMLR/Stormwater Permits
One acre or greater of land disturbance requires and erosion and sediment control plan from
DEMLR and compliance with the NDPES construction stormwater permit for construction
(NCG010000.) Your clewatering efforts will need to be complaint/consistent with these
requisites as well. (if you have question regarding land disturbance you should contact DEMLR at
[phone].)
o Water Withdrawal Information/Registration
(WWATR) - Water Withdrawal and Transfer Registration, John Barr (919.707.9021)
https://www.ncwater.org/WUDC/apP/WWATR/page
North Carolina General Statute § 143-215.22H (15A NCAC 02E .0301) requires surface water and
ground water withdrawers who meet conditions established by the General Assembly to register
their water withdrawals and surface water transfers with the State and update those
registrations at least every five years. Agricultural water users that withdraw one million gallons
of water a day or more and non-agricultural water users that withdraw one hundred thousand
gallons of water a day are required to register. Administrative rules that became effective in
March 2007 (15A NCAC 02E.0600) stipulate that registrants must also report their water usage
annually to the Department of Environmental Quality.
https://www.ncleg.net/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BVSection/Chapter 143/GS 143-
?1 ';-??H-html
* These items are heloful information on dewatering and recommendations for the facilitv to consider to avoid
causing potential standard violations:
o Dewatering:
• Dewatering at high flow rates and at concentrated locations can cause severe stream bed scour
causing water quality impacts, turbidity, and sediment impacts.
• It is recommended that Dewatering hydrostatic test waters should be accomplished such that
water diffuse flows overland on soils that house well developed structure (not earthen fill), with
well -established thick vegetation cover. Water should be clewatered in such a manner as to
avoid concentrated flow, thereby avoiding velocities or sheer stresses that erodes, forms gullies
or rills. These efforts are intended to avoid clewatering in a manner that may result in turbidity

violations and/or sediment impacts to stream. Avoiding the high velocities and concentrated
flow, will also avoid streamside vegetation impacts and possible Neuse Riparian Buffer
violations.
o Duration and Timing of activity:
• Care should be taken with respect to water use volumes during low flow conditions. Large water
volume use could result in impacts to the stream, especially during extreme low flow conditions
(consider this especially during the hot growing season)
• Consideration should be given as to whether water to be clewatered (discharged back into the
stream channel) could cause a thermal pollution concern. (e.g. Is the water sitting in piping or
confined open basins that are heating up in the sun which may cause impacts to aquatic life if
released.)
Thank you,
Zach Thomas
Environmental Program Consultant, Division of Water Resources
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
Office: [phone]
[e-mail]
Raleigh Regional Office
1628 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1628
Email correspondence to andfrom this address is subject to the North Carolina Public Records Low
and may be disclosed to third parties.
From: Amaya, Celina M <[e-mail]>
Sent: Friday, February 9, 2024 11:17 AM
To: Thomas, Zachary T <[e-mail]>; Morales, Kristina <[e-mail]>; Myers, Joseph
M <*[e-mail]>
Subject: Neuse River: Water Use and Discharge Request
Good afternoon,
One of my ARPA project sites in Johnston County is constructing the Neuse River Water Reclamation Facility.
They need to pump water into the tanks for pressure testing and asked me if it was permissible to pump water in from
the Neuse River and discharge it back into the river once the testing is complete. The testing process was described as
essentially keeping the water in the tanks for 4-6 hours to test for leaks and that no sediment or other contaminants are
involved in the process prior to discharging back into the Neuse River.
I explained that if this was permissible, there would likely be requirements for the methods of pumping water in and
discharging water from the Neuse River but that I would get back to them once I discussed with DWR.
I thought I would reach out to your team to see if you had any experience with similar requests or guidance on the
subject. Let me know if you need any additional information!

Kindly,
Celina Amaya
ARPA Environmental Specialist 11
Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources — Land Quality Section
Department of Environmental Quality
Office: [phone] ext. 4211
[e-mail]
Physical Address: 3800 Barrett Drive, Raleigh, NC 27609
Mailing Address: 1628 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC, 27699
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N QR T 1 1 r-tA Q
Email correspondence to and from this address is subject to the North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed
to third parties.
Email correspondence to and from this address may be subject to the North Carolina Public Records Law and may be disclosed to third parties by an authorized
state official.