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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNC0000396_Submittal of 2016 Surface Water Protection_20170124f•� DUKE ENERGY® January 23, 2017 Mr. Jeff Poupart Water Quality Permitting Section Chief North Carolina Division of Water Resources 1617 Mail Services Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1617 Subject: Submittal of 2016 Surface Water Protection and Restoration Annual Report Duke Energy Progress, LLC. Dear Mr. Poupart, Richard E. Baker, Jr. P.E. Director EHS CCP Environmental Programs 526 S. Church Street Mail Code: EC13K Charlotte, NC 28202 (704) 382-7959 JAN 2 4 2017 Water Quality Petmitting Section In accordance with North Carolina General Statute 130A -309.212(e), Duke Energy is required to "...submit an Annual Surface Water Protection Report to the department no later than January 31 of each year." Duke Energy is pleased to submit the attached'2016 Surface Water Protection and Restoration Annual Reports for Duke Energy Progress, LLC. The, attached report provides information for the following facilities: Duke Energy Progress, LLC Asheville Stearn Plant, Cape Fear Steam Plant, H.F. Lee Energy Complex, Mayo Steam Plant, Roxboro Steam Plant, Weatherspoon Steam Plant and L.V. Sutton Energy Complex. If you have any questions regarding these materials, please contact Mr. Shannon Langley at (919) 546-2439 or shannon.Lang leyCc�duke-energy.com. Sincerely, Richard E. Baker, Jr, P.E. Director, EHS CCP Environmental Programs Attachment Cc: Jim Wells, VP, Duke Energy CCP w/attachments E. Shannon Langley — via email w/attachments J'A .s. r ,, ... •EYE � . � � � �.. ��` °°. �r � � ,_ 4 U °�ip Wig' wx° Du"k6ai Energy,Progress, LLC• _°, 2i 1.6- oFtt hA. Carolina :Surfacer UIlater Protech°onand . ° b tboration Annauial Report as reggu�i,red by N 'CL: : �S§ 130A� }�s r d as January2017`s� ;_ < Duke Energy Progress, LLC. 12016 North Carolina Surface Water Protection and Restoration Annual Report Duke Energy Progress Facilities CONTENTS Contents Paae Contents......................................................................................................................................i Section1 - Introduction.............................................................................................................. 2 Section2 - Site Background....................................:.................................................................. 3 2.1 Asheville Steam Electric Plant..............................................................................3 2.2 Cape Fear Steam Electric Plant...........................................................................3 2.3 H.F. Lee Energy Complex....................................................................................4 2.4 Mayo Steam Electric Plant...................................................................................5 2.5 Roxboro Steam Electric Plant..............................................................................5 2.6 L.V. Sutton Energy Complex................................................................................6 2.7 Weatherspoon Plant.............................................................................................6 Section 3 — Surface Water Sampling Summary .......................................................................... 8 Section 4 — Surface Water Protection and Restoration Summary .............................................. 9 Section 5 — Discharge Identification Status...............................................................................10 Section 6 — Discharge Assessment Status..................................................................................11 Table 3-1. Duke Energy Coal -Fired Steam Stations 2016 Surface Water Quality Sampling Duke Energy Progress, LLC. 12016 North Carolina Surface Water Protection and Restoration Annual Report Duke Energy Progress Facilities SECTION 1 - INTRODUCTION Section 1 - Introduction The purpose of this document is to address the requirements of North Carolina General Statutes (N.C.G.S.) § 130A -309.212(e), Reporting, as established by North Carolina Senate Bill 729, the Coal Ash Management Act of 2014 (CAMA), for multiple ash basin sites operated under National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits as referenced herein. The following requirements are contained in N.C.G.S § 130A-309.212: (e) Reporting. — In addition to any other reporting required by the Department, the owner of a coal combustion residuals surface impoundment shall submit an annual Surface Water Protection and Restoration Report to the Department no later than January 31 of each year. The Report shall include a summary of all surface water sampling, protection, and restoration activities related to the impoundment for the preceding year, including the status of the identification, assessment, and correction of unpermitted discharges from coal combustion residuals surface impoundments to the surface waters of the State. CAMA establishes the submittal date of this report as no later than January 31, 2017. This report satisfies the requirements of N.C.G.S. § 130A -309.212(e) for activities occurring in 2016 at multiple facilities with ash basin treatment units. Duke Energy Progress, LLC. 12016 North Carolina Surface Water Protection and Restoration Annual Report Duke Energy Progress Facilities SECTION 2 - SITE DESCRIPTIONS Section 2 - Site Descriptions 2.1 Asheville Steam Electric Plant The Asheville Steam Electric Plant (Asheville Plant) is located near Asheville, in Buncombe County, North Carolina. The Asheville Plant began commercial operation in the 1960s, with additions in the 1990s and around 2000, and consists of two coal-fired units that primarily use bituminous coal. In addition to the coal-fired units, the Asheville Plant has two combustion turbines. Coal combustion residuals (CCR) have been managed in the Asheville Plant's on-site ash basins and used as beneficial fill at the nearby Asheville Regional Airport (Asheville Airport). Lake Julian was built for cooling water purposes by damming the flow of Powell Creek on the north side of the Asheville Plant. A large portion of Lake Julian borders the east side of the Asheville Plant site. Surface water from the French Broad River is also pumped into Lake Julian as a supplemental water supply. The water from the French Broad River enters a stilling area of the lake on the north side of the Asheville Plant. Heated water is discharged back into Lake Julian to the east of the Asheville Plant. The French Broad River borders the west side of the property and flows south to north. Powell Creek also flows south to north prior to formation of Lake Julian. Powell Creek flows east to west from the Lake Julian Dam to the French Broad River. The Asheville Plant and ash basins are located on the east side of 1-26 and the French Broad River where the ash management system consists of a series of basins. The original 1964 ash basin, built during. Asheville Plant construction and expanded in the 1970s, is now overlain with wastewater treatment wetlands. The treatment wetlands basins are lined. The 1964 ash basin was replaced in approximately 1982 with a second ash basin, built to the south of the 1964 basin. The 1982 ash basin has now been dewatered, excavated, and all ash from the 1982 basin has been moved off site. New ash, generated daily, is dewatered in concrete -lined basins located on a portion of the 1964 ash basin. The ash basin system is part of the Asheville Plant's wastewater treatment system; receiving inflows from ash transport water, coal pile runoff, storm water runoff, and various low volume wastes. The treated wastewater is permitted to discharge to the French Broad River permitted Outfall 001. A 500 -foot compliance boundary circles the ash management area. 2.2 Cape Fear Steam Electric Plant The Cape Fear Steam Electric Plant (Cape Fear Plant) is located on approximately 900 acres in central North Carolina near Moncure, in Chatham County. The site is along the east bank of the Cape Fear River, southeast of Moncure and west of Corinth Road. Cape Fear Plant operations began in 1923 with additional units added from 1924 to 1969. In the most recent configuration, the Cape Fear Plant employed two coal-fired units along with four oiil-fueled combustion turbine units. Residuals generated from coal combustion were treated and stored on-site in ash basins. Operations were terminated at the Cape Fear Plant in October 2012 and demolition activities are currently underway. Duke Energy Progress, LLC. 12016 North Carolina Surface Water Protection and Restoration Annual Report Duke Energy Progress Facilities SECTION 2 - SITE DESCRIPTIONS Five ash basins have historically been used at the Cape Fear Plant and are referenced using the date of construction: 1956, 1963, 1970, 1978, and 1985. The 1956 ash basin is located north of the former Cape Fear Plant, and the remaining ash basins are located south of the Cape Fear Plant area. The 1963 and 1970 ash basins were constructed on the west side of the Cape Fear Plant property, adjacent to the Cape Fear River. The 1978 ash basin was constructed east of and abutting the 1963 and 1970 ash basins. The 1985 ash basin was constructed east of the existing ash basins between the discharge canal and Corinth Road. The ash basins are impounded by earthen dams. A 500 -foot compliance boundary encircles the ash basins. Currently, the 1956, 1963, and 1970 ash basins are dry and entirely covered with vegetation (hardwood and pine trees). A small area near the southern end of the 1970 ash basin is seasonally wet. The 1978 ash basin is partially vegetation -covered (trees and scrub), and a portion of the southern end of the ash basin retains water. The 1985 ash basin has some grass cover and ponded water in its southwest corner. All wastewater, formerly generated by the site, historically discharged to the effluent channel prior to the combined outfall. The combined outfall now contains all waste stream flows and is located in the effluent channel. Downstream of the effluent channel, the man-made canal becomes an unnamed tributary of the Cape Fear River. 2.3 H.F. Lee Energy Complex The H.F. Lee Energy Complex (Lee Plant) was a coal-fired electricity generating facility located west of Goldsboro in Wayne County, North Carolina. The Lee Plant began commercial operation in 1951. Additional coal units were added in the late 1950s and early 1960s, and four oil -fueled combustion turbine units were added in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The three coal-fired units were retired in September 2012 followed by the four oil -fueled combustion turbine units in October 2012. In December 2012, the H.F. Lee Combined Cycle Plant was brought on-line. The combined cycle plant applies two sources of energy, combustion and steam turbines, to convert natural gas to electricity. The property encompasses approximately 2,100 acres, including the ash basins, a cooling pond (located to the east of the Lee Plant operations area), and the Neuse River. Ash generated from coal combustion was conveyed to the ash basins, which include the inactive and active basins. Combined, the active and inactive ash basins encompass approximately 314 acres (171 acres for the inactive ash basins and 143 acres for the active ash basin). The inactive ash basins were built as three cells in approximately the late 1950s and early 1960s. The active ash basin was constructed in the late 1970s. Sluicing fly ash and bottom ash at the active basin was discontinued in late 2012 to early 2013 as the Lee Plant ended production of coal combustion residuals. The active basin discharges treated wastewater to the Neuse River through an NPDES permitted outfall. 4 Duke Energy Progress, LLC. 12016 North Carolina Surface Water Protection and Restoration Annual Report Duke Energy Progress Facilities SECTION 2 - SITE DESCRIPTIONS 2.4 Mayo Steam Electric Plant The Mayo Steam Electric Plant (Mayo Plant) is a single -unit, coal-fired electric generating facility located in Person County, North Carolina, near the city of Roxboro. The Mayo Plant became fully operational in June 1983. The Mayo Plant is located on Boston Road (US Highway 501) north of Roxboro. The northern property line extends to the North CarolinaNirginia state line. The overall topography of the Mayo Plant generally slopes toward the east (Mayo Reservoir) and northeast. The Mayo Plant ash basin is approximately 153 acres in size with an earthen dike. Ash generated from the Mayo Plant's coal combustion is contained in the ash basin. The ash basin was constructed and began receiving ash in 1983. The ash basin is located north of the Mayo Plant operational area and west of Mayo Lake. A former permitted landfill is located on the east side of the ash basin. The Mayo Plant NPDES permit (NC0038377) authorizes two discharges to Mayo Lake. Outfall 001 discharges cooling tower water and circulating water system discharge water. Outfall 002 is comprised of a number of streams, including internal Outfall 008 (cooling tower blowdown), internal Outfall 009 (FGD blowdown), ash transport water, coal pile runoff, and other sources, including water from wastewater treatment processes. Stormwater outfalls are also authorized for the Mayo Plant. 2.5 Roxboro Steam Electric Plant The Roxboro Steam Electric Plant (Roxboro Plant) is located in northcentral North Carolina near Semora. A large part of the Roxboro Plant property encompasses Hyco Reservoir. The Roxboro Plant is located in Person County along the east bank of Hyco Reservoir north of Roxboro, North Carolina, and west of McGhees Mill Road. The Roxboro Plant began operations in 1966. Additional units were added in 1968, 1973, and 1980. Throughout its operational history, the Roxboro Plant has used coal-fired units to produce steam. Ash generated from coal combustion is stored on-site in ash basins. Ash generated from coal combustion has been stored in on-site ash basins and a lined landfill. Ash has been sluiced to the ash basins or conveyed in its dry form to the lined landfill. Two ash basin areas have been used at the Roxboro Plant and are referenced using the date of construction and relative location: the 1966 semi -active East Ash Basin and the 1973 active West Ash Basin. The East Ash Basin is located southeast of the Roxboro Plant, and the West Ash Basin is located south of the Roxboro Plant. An unlined landfill was constructed on the East Ash Basin in the late 1980s. A lined landfill was subsequently constructed over the unlined landfill around 2004. The ash basins are impounded by earthen dams. Currently, the East Ash Basin and lined landfill are largely covered with vegetation (grasses and shrubs) where the landfill is not active. The West Ash Basin has some grass cover and ponded water, mostly along the southern and eastern edges of the basin. Wet ash and runoff from the East Ash Basin landfill is directed to the West Ash Basin for settling. The West Ash Basin 5 Duke Energy Progress, LLC. 12016 North Carolina Surface Water Protection and Restoration Annual Report Duke Energy Progress Facilities SECTION 2 - SITE DESCRIPTIONS encompasses approximately 200 acres and discharges to an internal outfall and then by a permitted outfall into Hyco Reservoir. 2.6 L.V. Sutton Energy Complex The L.V. Sutton Energy Complex (Sutton Plant) is a former coal-fired electric generating facility located in New Hanover County, North Carolina, near the city of Wilmington. The Sutton Plant started operations in 1954. As of November 2013, all of the coal-fired units were retired when a, new, natural gas-fired combined -cycle unit began operation. The facility is located north of Wilmington on the west side of Highway 421. The topography around the property is relatively gentle, generally sloping downward toward the Cape Fear River. The Sutton Plant utilizes an approximately 1,100 -acre cooling pond located adjacent to the Cape Fear River. The ash management area is located adjacent to the cooling pond, north of the Sutton Plant. The Sutton Plant, cooling pond, and ash management area are located on the east side of the Cape Fear River. The ash management area is located adjacent to the cooling pond, north of the Sutton Plant. The ash management area consists of: • A former ash disposal area located south of the ash basins, on the south side of the canal; An ash basin built in approximately 1971 (old ash basin); and A clay -lined ash basin built in approximately 1984 (new ash basin) and located toward the northern portion of the ash management area. The ash basins are impounded by an earthen dike. The ash basin system was an integral part of the Sutton Plant's wastewater treatment system, which received inflows from the ash removal system, Sutton Plant yard drain sump, and stormwater flows. During coal-fired electric generation, inflows to the ash basins were highly variable due to the cyclical nature of operations. The Sutton Plant NPDES permit authorizes the discharge of cooling pond blowdown, recirculation cooling water, non -contact cooling water, and treated wastewater from internal Outfalls 002, 003, 004 via Outfall 001 from the cooling pond to the Cape Fear River. The 500 -foot compliance boundary circles the ash basins and former ash disposal area. 2.7 Weatherspoon Plant The Weatherspoon Plant is a former coal-fired electric generating facility located in Robeson County, North Carolina, near the city of Lumberton. The Weatherspoon Plant started operations in 1949. Two additional units were added in the 1950s.. Four oil- and natural gas -fueled combustion turbines were added in the 1970s. As of October 2011, all of the coal-fired units were retired. The four oil- and natural gas -fueled units continue to operate to meet peak demand. The facility is located southeast of Lumberton on the east side of North Carolina Highway 72. The topography around the property generally slopes downward toward the Lumber River. The Weatherspoon Plant utilizes an approximately 225 -acre cooling pond located adjacent to the Lumber River. The ash basin is located north of the cooling pond, northeast of the Weatherspoon Plant. The Weatherspoon Plant NPDES permit (NC005363) authorizes the discharge of recirculated cooling water, ash sluice water, domestic wastewater, chemical metal Duke Energy Progress, LLC. 12016 North Carolina Surface Water Protection and Restoration Annual Report Duke Energy Progress Facilities SECTION 2 - SITE DESCRIPTIONS cleaning water, and low volume wastewater, including reject water from a reverse osmosis water treatment unit from the cooling pond via Outfall 001 to the Lumber River under severe weather conditions and cooling pond maintenance. The Weatherspoon Plant, cooling pond, and ash basin are located on the east side of the Lumber River. The ash basin is located north of the cooling pond, northeast of the Weatherspoon Plant. The ash basin consists of approximately 65 acres. The 500 -foot compliance boundary circles the ash basin. The ash basin is impounded by an earthen dike. Ash generated from coal combustion was stored on-site in the ash basin. Overflow from the ash basin drains to the northeast corner of the cooling pond. Duke Energy Progress, LLC, 12016 North Carolina Surface Water Protection and Restoration Annual Report -Duke Energy Progress Facilities SECTION 3 — SURFACE WATER SAMPLING SUMMARY Section 3 — Surface Water Sampling Summary The NPDES program regulates wastewater discharges from ash basins to surface waters to assure that surface water quality standards are maintained. Surface water discharges are identified and evaluated to locate potential outfalls for inclusion in the permit. The NPDES permitting program requires that permits be renewed at least every five years. Routine surface water monitoring was performed in 2016 in accordance with each site's NPDES permit conditions and CAMA. Table 3-1 below summarizes the 2016 routine surface water quality sampling conducted at the seven Duke Energy Progress, LLC coal-fired steam stations described in Section 2. Table 3-1. Duke Energy Coal -Fired Steam Stations 2016 Surface !Nater Quality Sampling Station Water Quality' Water Chemistry Trace Elements Asheville Steam Electric Plantz X X Fish tissues Cape Fear Steam Electric Plant X X Fish tissues H. F. Lee Energy Complex X X Fish tissues Mayo Steam Electric Plant2 X X Fish tissues, sediments Roxboro Steam Electric Plant X X Fish tissues, sediments Sutton Steam Electric Plant X X Fish tissues, sediments WeatZ erspoon Steam Electric Plant X X Fish tissues 'Temperature, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, pH, secchi disk transparency depth (at lake stations only) 2Total alkalinity, total dissolved solids, and turbidity. Ions included chloride, sulfate, calcium, magnesium, and sodium. Trace elements (total) included arsenic, boron (Asheville and Mayo), copper, lead (Asheville), mercury (Asheville and Mayo), and selenium. Nutrients included total phosphorus, total nitrogen, nitrate -nitrite, ammonia, and total organic carbon. Duke Energy Progress, LLC. 12016 North Carolina Surface Water Protection and Restoration Annual Report Duke Energy Progress Facilities SECTION 4—SURFACE WATER PROTECTION AND RESTORATION SUMMARY Section 4 — Surface Water Protection and Restoration Summary In 2016, Duke Energy identified and submitted a number of documents and undertook a number of actions to comply with the CAMA requirements. Documents submitted and additional activities of note undertaken in 2016 are listed below: • Submitted updated applications to pending NPDES applications for Roxboro Plant, Mayo Plant, H.F. Lee Energy Comples, L.V. Sutton Energy Complex, Asheville Plant and Cape Fear Plant. • Submitted numerous responses to requests for additional information relate to NPDES permit applications. • Obtained DRAFT NPDES wastewater permits Roxboro Plant, Mayo Plant, Cape Fear Plant, H.F. Lee Energy Complex and Weatherspoon Plant. • Obtained final NPDES stormwater permits for Cape Fear Plant and Asheville Plant. • Obtained DRAFT NPDES stormwater permits for Weatherspoon Plant, Roxboro Plant and Mayo Plant. • Announced Beneficiation of ash project at H.F. Lee Energy Complex. • Conducted weekly and annual dam inspections. • Undertook action to sample and provide water quality analysis of drinking water supply wells. • Continued transport of coal ash from basins at L.V. Sutton Energy Complex and Asheville Plant. • Identified additional potential areas of wetness in proximity to ash basins and provided information on these areas to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). • In accordance with authorization received from DEQ, undertook decanting activities at L.V. Sutton Energy Complex. • Installed seep collection systems at H.F. Lee Energy Complex and Mayo Plant. Upcoming commitments related to the CAMA include: • End stormwater discharge to impoundments at retired plants consistent with the requirements of N.C.G.S. § 130A -309.210(c). • Close impoundments at Asheville Plant and L.V. Sutton Energy Complex. • End stormwater and wastewater discharge to impoundments at active plants consistent with the requirements of N.C.G.S. § 130A -309.210(c). • Develop and install new ash handling methods as ash basins are closed. • Close basins as required by CAMA and in accordance with performance standards set out in the federal coal combustion residuals rule to the extent of its applicability to a particular station. Duke Energy Progress, LLC. 12016 North Carolina Surface Water Protection and Restoration Annual Report Duke Energy Progress Facilities SECTION 5 — DISCHARGE IDENTIFICATION STATUS Section 5 — Discharge Identification Status The Discharge Identification Plans submitted in September 2014 for all seven (7) DEP sites addressed the requirements of N.C.G.S § 130A -309.212(d), Identification and assessment of discharges; correction of unpermitted discharges. Inspection procedures developed to satisfy the requirements of N.C.G.S. § 130A -309.212(d) were presented in these plans and used as the basis for developing the topographic map required by N.C.G.S. § 130A -309.212(a)(2). These documents were submitted to DEQ on September 30, 2014 for all seven (7) DEP plants described in Section 2. In 2016, Duke Energy implemented the procedures outlined in the previously submitted Discharge Identification Plans and worked with DEQ to address requested revisions based on • i'•�7"Tu'L�ii�i�:lii1�JG� 10 Duke Energy Progress, LLC. 12015 North Carolina Surface Water Protection and Restoration Annual Report Duke Energy Progress Facilities SECTION 6 — DISCHARGE ASSESSMENT STATUS Section 6 — Discharge Assessment Status Duke Energy submitted the required Topographic Map and Discharge Assessment Plans to DEQ on December 30, 2014. The plan addressed the requirements of N.C.G.S. § 130A -309.212(a)(2), topographic map, and (b), Assessment of Discharges from Coal Combustion Residuals Surface Impoundments to the Surface Waters of the State. The elements required in N.C.G.S. § 130A -309.212(a) were incorporated into the plan. These documents were submitted to DEQ on December 30, 2014 for all seven (7) DEP stations described in Section 2. During 2016, Duke Energy provided sampling data to DEQ of potential discharges from coal combustion residual surface impoundments. Duke Energy participated in numerous meetings and site visits with DEQ staff in evaluating such potential discharges.