20070812 Ver 2_Sampling Plan Review_20080731

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July 31, 2008
Mr. Gene Ellis
Alcoa Power Generating, Inc.
Yadkin Division
P.O. Box 576
Badin, NC 28009-0576
Dear Mr. Ellis:
Michael F. Easley, Governor
William G. Ross Jr., Secretary
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Coleen H. Sullins,Director
Division of Water Quality
RE: Division of Water Quality staff review of proposed sampling plans for 1) discharge from Badin
Lake (Narrows dam) and 2) lake sediments from Badin Lake
DWQ # 2007-0812 Version 2
Stanly County
DWQ staff have reviewed the abovementioned sampling plans prepared in response to our May 23,
2008 letter and received by DWQ on June 20, 2008. The proposed sampling plan for the discharge from Badin
Lake is hereby approved by DWQ. Please submit the data from the analysis once it has been collected and
analyzed.
With respect to the sediment sampling plan, we are concerned that compositing all the five samples
within a particular transect has the potential to dilute any high levels of toxicants below detection limits and
thereby mask identification of any "hot spots" in the transect. Also based on conversations from the July 18,
2008 meeting with DHHS, it is likely that certain locations along the transects will have more sediment. In
order to address this concern, we suggest that the sample with the finest grained sediment from each transect
be analyzed separately from the composite of the other samples in the transect. In addition, your study plan
will need to make an explicit statement that if concentrations of concern for these toxicants are found, then
additional sampling will need to be done in future years to determine if these toxicants are moving toward the
dam discharge.
Please address the concerns expressed above regarding the sediment sampling plan and submit a
revised sediment sampling plan for our written approval. As noted above, the discharge sampling plan is
acceptable to the Division as written. If you have any additional questions, I can be reached at 919-733-9646.
Cc:

Stratford Kay
Tom Griffin III, Three Wachovia Center, Suite 300, 401 South Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28202-1935
File copy
Central files
Don Laton, NC Attorney General's Office
Rob Krebs, DWQ Mooresville Regional Office
Sandy Mort, DHHS, Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch
Randy Tinsley, Brooks, Pierce, Humphrey and Leonard, LLP. P.O. Box 26000, Greensboro, NC 27420
Wetlands and Stormwater Branch 1617 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-1617 Phone [phone]
Internet: h2o.enr.state.nc.us 512 N. Salisbury St. Raleigh, NC 27604 FAX [phone]
N?om?1, Carolina
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