NC0024244_SOC (Application)_20241022

n Engineering
Landscape Architecture
Surveying
September 16, 2024
RECEIVED/NCDEO/DWR
Mr. Joe Corporon
NC Dept of Environmental Quality, Division of Water Resources OCT 1 8 2024
610 East Center Ave, Suite 301
Mooresville, NC 28115 WQROS
MOORESVILLE REGIONA FiFLEI\/ED
Re: Special Order by Consent WQ S19-007
Amendment Request OCT 2 2 2024
Dear Mr. Corporon: NCDEQ/DWR/NPDES
On behalf of the City of Albemarle, enclosed with this letter is an Application for an
Amendment to a Special Order by Consent signed by Albemarle requesting modifications to the
due dates. This letter provides a detailed explanation for the request.
SOC WQ S19-007 was issued to address known deficiencies in both the City's sewer collection
system and the wastewater treatment plant. On a positive note, the Phase 3 sanitary sewer
improvements described in the SOC were completed in May of 2024, one month ahead of
schedule.
In contrast, the efforts at the wastewater treatment plant have experienced delays and
Albemarle is requesting an adjustment to the due dates at the bottom of the table of Page 2 of
the SOC. Albemarle received the Letter of Intent to Fund for CS370522-08 in March of 2021.
Design efforts on this project commenced in September of 2022. The project is a significant
investment for Albemarle, and proper review and planning was needed for Albemarle staff and
elected officials to be comfortable with the additional debt service.
The project features a major rehabilitation to the treatment process, including transitioning the
aeration process for the current surface aerators to a new subsurface, fine bubble diffused
aeration process. In addition, almost one third of the construction cost is for major electrical
system improvements to prevent a power failure like the plant experienced in 2013. The
project design progressed smoothly for the first six months, and all major process items are
sized and oriented on the site. The ARPA deadlines for many projects across the state created
resource challenges and delays in the Albemarle design in late 2023 and early 2024, and as of
the date of this letter the project design is approximately 50%complete.
In the Spring 2023 funding cycle Albemarle received an additional $14,650,000 in CWSRF loan
funds at 0.1% interest rate to be used for rehabilitative efforts at the WWTP. These funds will
enable Albemarle to implement additional improvements at the WWTP beyond the scope of
LKC Engineering,PLLC,140 Aqua Shed Court,Aberdeen,North Carolina 28315
PH:910/420-1437*License No.P-1095

CS370522-08 to strengthen the plant's ability to maintain compliance. Albemarle is currently
considering the best use of the new funds, with the following scope items under consideration:
1. A new sludge dewatering facility to enable sludge management onsite rather than
hauling wet sludge to an outside vendor.
2. A new sodium hypochlorite bulk storage and feed system to replace the gas chlorine
system.
3. Replacing as many as four aging screw pumps at the WWTP's influent stations.
4. Reclaiming real estate currently encumbered by old (pre-1974) treatment units by
demolishing the old structures.
Albemarle would like to utilize the additional $14,650,000 to implement additional
improvements at the plant, with the preference to implement project CS370522-08 and the
newly awarded $14,650,000 as part of a single project. As such Albemarle will need additional
time to plan, design, and permit the new scope items.
Lastly, this project in either its current or its augmented form will require an Authorization to
Construct to be issued by the Division of Water Resources. Feedback from DWR staff indicates
the review time for an Authorization to Construct should be budgeted at 9-12 months from
date of submission to approval.
The schedule on Page 2 of the SOC, bottom of the table, indicates that the construction of
WWTP improvements should begin by July 31, 2024, be completed by February 28, 2026, and
attain compliance by May 31, 2026. Based on current progress, none of these dates will be
met.
The purpose of this Amendment to the SOC is to request that the schedule be modified as
follows:
For Collection System Permit WQCS00016:
Scheduled Activity Due Date in Requested Due
Approved SOC Date
Begin Construction for Phase 3 January 31,2023 Met
Complete construction on Phase 3 June 30,2024 Met
Review infrastructure improvements for maintaining compliance November 30,2024 No change
Attain Compliance with the Collection System Permit November 30,2024 No change
For NPDES Permit NC0024244:
Begin implementation or construction of WWTP improvements July 31,2024 February 1,2027
items in Attachment B.
Complete construction of all WWTP improvements February 28,2026 August 25,2028
Attain Compliance with NPDES permit limits May 31,2026 November 30,2028
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Attached to this letter is an updated schedule for CS370522-08 adjusted for the planned
additional scope items.
Also attached to this letter is a list of all violations incurred by the Long Creek WWTP dating
back to October of 2022, when the original SOC was executed.
Thank you for your consideration of the SOC Amendment and modified schedule. If you have
any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at (910) 420-1437 or by email at
[e-mail].
Very Best,
LKC Engineering, PLLC
Adam P. Kiker, P.E.

CITY OF ALBEMARLE
WWTP COMPREHENSIVE REHABILITATION,Project No.CS370522-08
PROJECT SCHEDULE-FOR AMENDMENT TO SOC WQ S19-007
in O 5 LL ¢ f 5 i, ¢ ‘n O Z O A LL 2 ¢ -+ -, ¢
Design Phase
1. Design-including additional items With additional scope
2. SOC Amendment process
Permitting
3. NCDEQ Authorization to Construct
4. Erosion Control
5. Funding Agency Review
Construction
6. Bidding,Award,and Execution
7 Pre-Construction/Submittal Review
8.Construction
9. System Startup and Commissioning

CITY OF ALBEMARLE, LONG CREEK WWTP
List of Violations since Approval of SOC WQ S19-007
Year-Month Exceedences
22-Oct 2 weekly NPDES&SOC TSS, 1 weekly NPDES only TSS, 1 monthly NPDES&SOC TSS,future Copper
22-Nov 3 weekly NPDES&SOC TSS, 1 monthly NPDES&SOC TSS, 2 weekly NPDES only TSS, future Copper
22-Dec 1 weekly NPDES&SOC TSS, 1 monthly NPDES&SOC TSS,future Copper
23-Jan 1 monthly NPDES&SOC TSS, 1 weekly NPDES&SOC TSS
23-Feb 3 weekly NPDES only NH3, 1 monthly NPDES only NH3
23-Mar 1 monthly NPDES&SOC NH3
23-Apr 1 monthly NPDES&SOC NH3
23-Jul Future Copper
23-Aug 1 monthly NPDES only TSS, future Copper
23-Sep 1 monthly NPDES& SOC TSS,4 weekly NPDES&SOC TSS,future Copper
23-Oct 1 monthly NPDES&SOC TSS,4 weekly NPDES&SOC TSS,future Copper
23-Nov 1 monthly NPDES&SOC TSS,4 weekly NPDES&SOC TSS, future Copper
23-Dec 1 monthly NPDES&SOC TSS, 3 weekly NPDES&SOC TSS, future Copper
24-Jan 1 monthly NPDES&SOC TSS, 2 weekly NPDES& SOC TSS, 1 weekly NPDES only TSS,future Copper
24-Jun Future Copper

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
APPLICATION FOR AN AMENDMENT TO A SPECIAL ORDER BY CONSENT
I. GENERAL INFORMATION:
1. Applicant (corporation, individual, or other): City of Albemarle, NC
2. Owner Phone: [phone] (or) RECEIVED
OCT 2 2 2024
3. Owner Email: [e-mail]
NCDEQ/DWR/NPDES
4. Facility Name(must be the same as name on the original SOC):
Long Creek WWTP (NC0024244)and Collection System(WQCS00016)
5. Original SOC No. /Issuance Date: SOC WQ S19-007, August 31, 2022
6. NPDES Permit No. (if applicable): NC0024244
5. Application Date: March 30, 2022
H. SOC COMPLIANCE HISTORY:
Please attach a listing of all violations this facility has had under this Order. Include y
violation of interim dates, relaxed permit parameters, and existing permit limits.
M. ADDITIONAL FLOW OR REALLOCATION OF EXISTING FLOW:
Only facilities owned by a unit of government may request to add additional flow to the
treatment system as part of this SOC Amendment in accordance with NCGS 143-215.67(b).
Additional flow may be allowed under an SOC amendment only in specific circumstances.
These circumstances may include eliminating discharges that are not compliant with an NPDES
or Non-discharge permit as specified in the original SOC. These circumstances do not include
failure to perform proper maintenance on treatment systems, collection systems or disposal
systems. When requesting additional flow, the facility must include its justification and
supporting documentation. If the requested additional flow is non-domestic,the facility must be
able to demonstrate the ability to effectively treat the waste and dispose of residuals. The
applicant must provide a detailed analysis of all constituents in the proposed non-domestic
wastewater.

The total domestic additional flow requested: N/A gallons per day.
The total non-domestic additional flow requested: N/A gallons per day.
The total additional flow(sum of the above): N/A gallons per day.
If a reallocation of existing additional flow is needed the facility must provide justification as to
why this reallocation is needed.
Any additional flow that may be allowed will be determined by an analysis of projected adverse
impacts on the wastewater treatment facility and/or surface waters.
IV. WHY AN SOC AMENDMENT IS NEEDED:
Please provide a detailed explanation as to why the SOC amendment is being requested. Include
actions already taken to avoid noncompliance with the existing SOC. Also provide details on
activities that were delayed.
Detailed explanation provided as an attachment
THE DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES WILL NOT ACCEPT THIS APPLICATION
PACKAGE UNLESS ALL OF THE APPLICABLE ITEMS ARE INCLUDED WITH THE
SUBMITTAL.
Required Items:
a. One original and two copies of the completed and appropriately executed application
form, along with all required attachments.
• If the SOC Amendment is for a City/Town, theperson signing the SOC must be
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a ranking elected official or other duly authorized employee.
• If the SOC Amendment is for a Corporation / Company / Industry /Other, the
person signing the SOC must be a principal executive officer of at least the level
of vice-president, or his duly authorized representative.
• If the SOC Amendment is for a School District, the person signing the SOC must
be the Superintendent of Schools or other duly authorized employee.
Note: Reference to signatory requirements in SOCs may be found in the North
Carolina Administrative Code [T15A NCAC 2H .1206(ax3)].
b. The non-refundable Special Order by Consent (SOC) processing fee of$400.00. A
check must be made payable to The Department of Environment Quality.
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APPLICANT'S CERTIFICATION:
(NO MODIFICATION TO THIS CERTIFICATION IS ACCEPTABLE)
1, E . Todd CI a r K , attest this application for a Special Order by
Consent (SOC) amendment has been reviewed by me and is accurate and complete to the best of
my knowledge. I understand if all required parts of this application are not completed and if all
required supporting information and attachments are not included, this application package may
be returned as incomplete. (Please be advised that the return of this application does not prevent
DWR from collecting all outstanding penalties upon request). Furthermore, I attest by my
signature that I fully understand that an upfront penalty, which may satisfy as a full
settlement for past violations, may be imposed. {Note: Reference to upfront penalties in
Special Orders by Consent may be found in the North Carolina Administrative Code [T15A
NCAC 2. .120 c) 3)
Date
/ ggnature of Si fficial
Gcd aie-‘-rk
Printed Name of Signing Official
THE COMPLETED AMENDMENT APPLICATION PACKAGE,INCLUDING ALL
SUPPORTING INFORMATION, SHOULD BE SENT TO THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS:
NORTH CAROLINA DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
POINT SOURCE BRANCH
1617 MAIL SERVICE CENTER
RALEIGH,NORTH CAROLINA 27699-1617
IF THIS APPLICATION IS FOR A NON-DISCHARGING SYSTEM, THEN SEND TO:
NORTH CAROLINA DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
AQUIFER PROTECTION SECTION
1636 MAIL SERVICE CENTER
RALEIGH,NORTH CAROLINA 27699-1636
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