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Home My WebLink AboutWV0700175_Variance Request_20240312ROY COOPER Governor ELIZABETH S. BISER Secretary RICHARD E. ROGERS, JR. Director NORTH CAROLINA Environmental Quality March 12, 2024 Mr. Kevin Howard, County Manager Chowan County Post Office Box 1030 Edenton, North Carolina 27932 SUBJECT: Permit No. WV0700175 Variance Request to Rule 15A NCAC 2C .0222(e)(5)(C) and (E) Closed -Loop Geothermal Injection Wells John A. Holmes High School 600 N. Broad Street Edenton, Chowan County, North Carolina Dear Mr. Howard: On March 5, 2024, the Washington Regional Office received your request for a variance to Rule 15A NCAC 2C .0222(e)(5)(C) and (E) which requires geothermal loops to be located at least fifteen (15) feet from industrial or municipal sewage or liquid waste collection or transmission sewer mains constructed to water main standards as stated in the American Water Works Association (AWWA) Standards C600 and/or C900 and twenty five (25) feet from other industrial or municipal sewage or liquid waste collection or transmission sewer mains, respectively. The variance request is for the construction of closed -loop geothermal injection wells to serve the John A. Holmes High School complex on property owned by Chowan County at 600 North Broad Street, Edenton, Chowan County, North Carolina (Pin No. 780519714506). In your request and associated additional information, you indicate that the closed -loop geothermal injection wells should be constructed at less than fifteen (15) feet from sewer lines constructed to water main standards or less than twenty-five (25) feet to sewer lines due to the site constraints and limited size of the property. You also stated that the wells will be grouted their entire depth. Based upon the information that you have submitted, and a site visit performed by personnel from the Washington Regional Office on February 13, 2024, a variance to the above cited rules is granted. The variance will be effective from the date issued until March 12, 2025. It is my finding that the factors specified above are sufficient to satisfy the conditions for approval of a variance as defined in 15A NCAC 2C.0241. A copy of this variance should be attached to the required Well Construction Records (GW-1). North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources Washington Regional Office - 943 Washington Square Mall - Washington, North Carolina, 27889 NORTHCARCUNA JPI/ 252-946-6481 Mr. Howard March 12, 2024 Page 2 of 2 The granting of this variance is for the location of the well(s) only, and in no way relieves the owner or agent from other requirements of the North Carolina Well Construction Standards, or any other applicable law, rule or regulation that may be regulated by other agencies. If you are dissatisfied with this decision, you may commence a contested case by filing a petition under G.S. 150-23 within sixty (60) days after receipt of the decision. If additional information or clarification is required, please contact me at (252) 948-3939. Sincerely, Via " David May, L.G., Supervisor Water Quality Regional Operations Section Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ Washington Regional Office cc: Toano Well and Pump Services, Inc. (electronic copy) Albemarle Regional Health Services (electronic copy) Laserfiche North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources D � Washington Regional Office - 943 Washington Square Mall - Washington, North Carolina, 27889 NORTH CARCLINA 252-946-6481 gaparMeM of EmironmanW quay NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES — WATER QUALITY REGIONAL OPERATIONS SECTION PERMIT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A WELL OR WELL SYSTEM In accordance with the provisions of Article 7, Chapter 87, North Carolina General Statutes, and other applicable Laws, Rules and Regulations: PERMISSION IS HEREBY GRANTED TO Chowan County FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF a closed -loop geothermal injection well field owned by Chowan County at 600 N. Broad Street, Edenton, Chowan County, North Carolina (Pin No. 780519714506) to serve the John A. Holmes High School complex. This Permit is issued in accordance with the application received on January 26, 2024 and the additional information received on March 5, 2024, in conformity with specifications and supporting data, all of which are filed with the Department of Environmental Quality and are considered integral parts of this Permit. This Permit is for well construction only and does not waive any provision or requirement or any other applicable law or regulation. Construction of any well under this Permit shall be in strict compliance with the North Carolina Well Construction Regulations and Standards, and other State and Local Laws and regulations pertaining to water supply well construction. If any requirements or limitations specified in this Permit are unacceptable, you have a right to an adjudicatory hearing upon written request within 30 days of receipt of this Permit. The request must be in the form of a written petition conforming to Chapter 150B of the North Carolina General Statutes and filed with the Office of Administrative Hearings, 6714 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-6714. Unless such a demand is made, this Permit is final and binding. This Permit will be effective for one year from the date of its issuance and shall be subject to other specified conditions, limitations, or exceptions as follows: North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources D � Washington Regional Office - 943 Washington Square Mall - Washington, North Carolina, 27889 NORTH CARCLINA 252-946-6481 gaparMeM of EmironmanW quay 1. The closed -loop geothermal injection wells shall be grouted completely for the complete length of the borehole. 2. The closed -loop geothermal injection wells shall be located so as to maximize horizontal separation distances between all nearby sewer lines and related sewer system components. 3. All identification (including Permit Number and well identification) and completion requirements of the well standards shall apply. 4. Well construction records (GW-1) for each well shall be submitted to the Division of Water Resources' Information Processing Unit within 30 days of the well completion. 5. Any well, the use of which has been discontinued, it shall be properly abandoned in accordance with 15A NCAC 02C .0240 and a well abandonment record (GW-30) shall be submitted to the Division of Water Resources' Information Processing Unit within 30 days of the well abandonment. 6. Notification shall be provided to the Washington Regional Office at least 48 hours in advance of initiating well construction activities. Notification shall be provided to David May; 252-948-3939; david.maygdeq.nc.gov. . Permit issued this the 12th day of March 2024. FOR THE NORTH CAROLINA ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION vAva " David May, Regional Supervisor Division of Water Resources Water Quality Regional Operations Section Washington Regional Office By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission Permit No. # WV0700175 North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources D � Washington Regional Office - 943 Washington Square Mall - Washington, North Carolina, 27889 NORTH CARCLINA 252-946-6481 gaparMeM of EmironmanW quay