NC0041696_Use of Method 1631 Mercury Analysis_20160720

Wa ier R esources
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
July 20, 2016
Christopher Bortnick
Pretreatment Coordinator
Town of Valdese
PO Box 339, 2100 Lake Rhodhiss
Valdese, NC 28690
Subject: Use of Method 1631 for Mercury Analysis
Program: Town of Valdese
NPDES Number: NCO041696
WWTP: Lake Rhodhiss
Burke County
Dear Mr. Bortnick,
11
PAT MCCRORY
Gorenyor
DONALD R. VAN DER VAART
Secretary
S. JAY ZIMMERMAN
Director
As you may know, in 2012 North Carolina adopted an EPA approved statewide mercury -total
maximum daily load (TMDL). To demonstrate compliance with the TMDL Permittees must be
able to quantify the amount of mercury being discharged from point sources to the lower
reporting level of the procedure.
In order to gather the appropriate data, all effluent mercury analysis must be conducted using
the low level Method 1631 E. This could be accomplished through the NPDES permit as a
monitoring requirement, but that may require more frequent sampling than what is required by
the Pretreatment monitoring plan. Therefore, if you are not already doing so, please beginning
as soon as possible° any effluent analysis for mercury must'be done using EPA test Method 1631
E. You do not have to update your monitoring plan at this time; a copy of this letter in the file
will document this requirement.
Thank you for your continued cooperation with the Pretreatment Program. If you have any
questions please contact me at [phone] or via email [Debora [e-mail]].
Sincerely,
@Awll
Deborah Gore
PERCS Unit Supervisor
Cc: Central Files
NPDES permit file
Linda Wiggs, Asheville Regional Office Pretreatment file
PERCS
State of North Carolina I Environmental Quality I Water Resources
1617 Mail service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
919 707 9000