HomeMy WebLinkAboutMay 2024 WQC Agenda1
NORTH CAROLINA ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COMMISSION
WATER QUALITY COMMITTEE
Steve Keen, Chair Presiding
MAY 8, 2024 MEETING AGENDA
Meeting Location and Time
Archdale Building
Ground Floor Hearing Room
512 N. Salisbury Street
Raleigh, NC 27604
TIME
How to Attend
Members of the public may attend in person or online via
the web conference link posted online at:
https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-
resources/water-resources-commissions/environmental-
management-commission/meeting-information
I. Preliminary Matters
1. Call to Order and Notice of NCGS 138A-15………………….…………..…….Chair Keen
North Carolina General Statute 138A-15 mandates that at the beginning of any
meeting of a board, the chair shall remind all members of their duty to avoid
conflicts of interest under this Subchapter. The chair also shall inquire as to
whether there is any known conflict of interest with respect to any matters
coming before the board at the time.
2. Approval of draft March 13, 2024 and draft April 9, 2024 meeting minutes
II. Action Items
1. Request Approval to Proceed with Proposed Reclassification of Portions of the
Yadkin River, South Yadkin River, and Associated Tributaries to WS-IV Critical
Area (CA) and WS-IV Protected Area (PA) (Yadkin Pee-Dee River Basin)
(Elizabeth Liebig, Division of Water Resources)
Salisbury-Rowan Utilities (SRU) is requesting the Environmental Management
Commission (EMC) reclassify portions of the Yadkin River, South Yadkin River,
and associated tributaries in Rowan, Davie, and Davidson Counties (Yadkin Pee-
Dee River Basin) to water supply waters. SRU plans to relocate the existing pump
station and raw water intakes approximately 2,100 ft downstream of the current
intake. The reclassification is being proposed under 15A NCAC 02B .0202 items
(20)(c) and (48)(c). DWR staff will be requesting Water Quality Committee (WQC)
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approval to proceed to the EMC for public notice and hearing of the proposed
reclassification.
ATTACHMENTS
PowerPoint
Attachment A – 15A NCAC 02B .0309 Draft
Attachment B – Draft Regulatory Impact Analysis
Attachment C – Use Attainability Study
III. Information Items
1. Update on the Tar-Pamlico Nutrient Strategy Wastewater Rule (John Huisman,
Division of Water Resources)
The Tar-Pamlico Nutrient Strategy was adopted by the EMC in 2001 and consists
of a comprehensive set of rules designed to remedy nutrient over-enrichment of
the estuary by equitably regulating nutrient pollution from both wastewater,
stormwater, and agricultural nutrient sources. Under an Agreement initiated in
1990 among the Division, EMC and an association of point source dischargers,
the Tar-Pamlico Basin Association (TPBA), TPBA receives collective annual end-
of-pipe nitrogen and phosphorus loading caps based on the nutrient strategy
reduction goals. A separate wastewater rule (15A NCAC 02B .0733) was adopted
in 1997 to address requirements for non-association new and expanding
dischargers. The .0733 rule was readopted with revisions in 2020 at which time
its applicability was expanded to address all new and expanding facilities in the
basin. The current iteration of the Agreement expires in 2025. DWR staff will
provide an update on efforts to continue the point source reduction objectives
of the Agreement while providing a clear regulatory path through revisions to
15A NCAC 02B .0733.
ATTACHMENT
Presentation
2. Update on the 2023-2025 Surface Water Quality Standards Triennial Review
(Paul Wojoski, Division of Water Resources)
The Division of Water Resources introduced the 2023-2025 Surface Water
Quality Standards Triennial Review to the Water Quality Committee at the July
2023 meeting and has presented subsequent information items at the November
2023, January 2024, and March 2024 meetings. Staff will present an update on
the regulatory impact analysis for the rulemaking package.
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ATTACHMENT
Presentation
3. Update on the Study of Narrative Standards per SL 2023-137(8) (Karen Higgins,
Division of Water Resources)
Session Law 2023-137(8) directed the EMC to review 15A NCAC 02B .0208
Standards for Toxic Substances and Temperature to determine if the standards
and methodologies for establishment of water quality criteria for specific
pollutants included therein are scientifically sound, protective of human health
and the environment, and result in water quality criteria that are technologically
achievable without placing undue economic burdens on publicly owned
treatment works and their ratepayers. DWR staff will provide an update in
response to WQC comments.
ATTACHMENTS
PowerPoint Presentation
Attachment A: Proposed Study of Narrative Standards per SL 2023-137(8)
4. Update on the PFAS Surface Water Quality Standards Rulemaking (Stephanie
Bolyard, Department of Environmental Quality)
ATTACHMENTS
PowerPoint Presentation
IV. Future Committee Interests…………………………………. Chair Keen
V. Director’s Remarks……………………………….……………...Richard Rogers, DWR
VI. Closing Remarks……………………………………………...…. Chair Keen