NC0089699_Draft Permit_20170822

Water Resources
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
August 22, 2017
Mr. Lance Metzler, County Manger
Rockingham County
371 NC Highway 65
Reidsville, North Carolina 27320
ROY COOPER
Gorento,
MICHAEL S REGAN
Sect etas y
S JAY ZIMMERMAN
Du ectot
Subject: Draft NPDES Permit
Permit NCO089699
Reidsville Energy Center
Rockingham County
Class 1 Facility
Dear Mr. Metzler:
Enclosed with this letter is a copy of the Draft NPDES permit for your facility. Please review this
draft carefully to ensure thorough understanding of the requirements and conditions it contains.
The permit includes the following conditions:
• Two outfalls were established on the permit, one internal outfall for low volume wastes
(Outfall 002) and one for the cooling tower blowdown and the low volume wastes
combined (Outfall 001).
• Outfall 001 limits: Federal effluent guideline limits for cooling tower blowdown were
applied at this outfall. Total Suspended Solids (TSS) limits were implemented for this
outfall since the stream is impaired for turbidity.
• Internal Outfall 002 limits: federal effluent limits for low volume wastes were implemented
for this outfall.
• The permit authorizes a mixing zone based on the results of the CORMIX model. [See
Special Condition A(4)]
• Special condition A(7) includes requirements for the Cooling Water Intake Structures
(CWIS) as required by 40 CFR 125 Subpart I.
• Federal regulations require electronic submittal of all discharge monitoring reports
(DMRs) and program reports. The final NPDES Electronic Reporting Rule was adopted
and became effective on December 21, 2015. The requirement to begin reporting
discharge monitoring data electronically using the NC DWR's Electronic Discharge
Monitoring Report (eDMR) internet application has been added to your final NPDES
permit. [See Special Condition A. (9)]
For information on eDMR, registering for eDMR and obtaining an eDMR user account,
please visit the following web page: http://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-
resources/edmr.
State of North Carolina I EnvtronmentalQuality IWater Resources
1617 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
919 807 6300

Page 12
For more information on EPA's final NPDES Electronic Reporting Rule, please visit the
following web site:
h_ptt s://www.federalre ig ster.gov/documents/2015/10/22/2015-24954/national-pollutant-
discharge-elimination-system-npdes-electronic-reporting-rule.
Concurrent with this notification the Division is publishing a notice in a newspaper having
circulation in the general Rockingham County area, soliciting public comments on this draft
permit. Please provide any written comments you may have to the following: NCDEQ/DWR,
NPDES Permitting Branch, 1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1617 no later than 30
days after receipt of this draft permit.
Following the 30-day public comment period, the Division will review all pertinent comments
and take appropriate action prior to issuing a final permit. If you have questions concerning this
draft permit, please call me at [phone]or by email at [e-mail].
Sincerely,
Teresa Rodriguez, Engineer
NPDES Complex Permitting Unit
Hardcopy: NPDES Files
Ecopy: US EPA Region 4
DWR/Ecosystems Branch
DWR/Aquatic Toxicology Branch/Susan Meadows
DWR/Operator Certification Program/Maureen Kinney
DWR/Winston-Salem Regional Office /Water Quality
USFWS/Sarah McRae
NCWRC/Gabriela Gamson

NPDES Permit NCO089699
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
PERMIT
TO DISCHARGE WASTEWATER UNDER THE
NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM
In compliance with the provision of North Carolina General Statute 143-215.1, other lawful standards and
regulations promulgated and adopted by the North Carolina Environmental Management Commission, and the
Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended,
Rockingham County
is hereby authorized to discharge wastewater from a facility located at
Reidsville Energy Center
371 N Highway 65
Reidsville
Rockingham County
to receiving waters designated as the Dan River in the Roanoke River Basin in accordance with effluent limitations,
monitoring requirements, and other conditions set forth in Parts I, II, III, IV, V and VI hereof.
The permit shall become effective XX, XXXX
This permit and the authorization to discharge shall expire at midnight on September 30, 2022.
Signed this day XX, XXXX
S Jay Zimmerman, P G.
Director, Division of Water Resources
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
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NPDES Permit NCO089699
SUPPLEMENT TO PERMIT COVER SHEET
Rockingham County
is hereby authorized to-
1 Discharge cooling tower blowdown and low volume waste (Internal Outfall 002) through outfall 001;
2 Discharge low volume wastes through internal outfall 002; and
3. Discharge from said outfall into Dan River, a Class WS-IV water is
the attached map.
River Basin, at the locations specified on
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NPDES Permit NCO089699
I1VArl
A (1). EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS (OUTFALL 001)
[15A NCAC 02B 0400 et seq , 02B 0500 et seq ]
Beginning on the effective date of this permit and lasting until expiration, the Permittee is authorized to discharge cooling
tower blowdown and low volume wastes from internal outfall 002 from outfall 001 Such discharges shall be limited and
monitored by the Permittee as specified below
Effluent Characteristics
Effluent Limitations
Monitoring Requirements
Monthly
Average
Daily
Maximum
Measurement
Frequency
Sample Type
Sample
Location'
F1ow2
Continuous
Recorder
Effluent
Temperature
Continuous
Recorder
Effluent
Free Available Chlorine4
0 2 mg/1
0 5 mg/1
Quarterly
See Note 5
See Note 5
Total Residual Chlorine
28 µg/1
Quarterly
See Note 5
See Note 5
Time of TRC4 (min/day/unit)
120 0 nun
Quarterly
Calculations
Effluent
Total Chromium5
0 2 mg/1
0 2 mg/l
Quarterly
Composite
Effluent
Total ZMC5
10 mg/l
10 mg/l
Quarterly
Composite
Effluent
Total Suspended Solids
30 mg/l
45 mg/l
Weekly
Composite
Effluent
pH
6 to 9 S U
Weekly
Grab
Effluent
Turbidity
Quarterly
Grab
Effluent
Total Copper
Quarterly
Composite
Effluent
Total Dissolved Solids
Quarterly
Composite
Effluent
The 126 Priority Pollutants6
Annually
Composite
Effluent
Temperature3
Weekly
Grab
Upstream
Downstream
Temperature increase3
Weekly
Calculation
Upstream
Downstream
Notes.
1 Upstream at least 50 feet from the discharge Downstream at least 20 feet from the discharge and 20 feet away from the
bank of the river
2 Discharge of blowdown from the cooling system shall be limited to the mimmum discharge of recirculating water
necessary for the purpose of discharging materials contained in the water, the further built-up of which would cause
concentrations in amounts exceeding limitations established by best engineering practices
3 Temperature in the receiving stream shall not be increased more than 2 VC The temperature increase is defined as the
difference in temperature between the upstream and downstream sampling locations See Special Condition A (4)
Temperature Mixing Zone
4 Neither free available chlorine nor total residual chlorine may be discharged from any unit for more than two hours in any
one day and not more than one unit in any plant may discharge free available or total residual chlorine at any one time
unless the utility can demonstrate to the Director that the units in question cannot operate at or below this level of
chlorination
5 Samples shall be multiple grabs collected at the approximate beginning of the total residual chlorine discharge and once
every 15 minutes thereafter until the end of the total residual chlorine discharge For the purpose of this permit, daily
average (as it relates to the chlorination period) shall mean the average over any total residual chlorine discharge period
6 These linutations and monitoring requirements apply only if these materials are added for coolmg tower maintenance by
the permittee There shall be no discharge of detectable amounts of the 126 priority pollutants (40 CFR 423 Appendix A)
contained in chemicals added for cooling tower maintenance except for Total Chromium and Total Zinc Compliance with
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NPDES Permit NCO089699
the limitations for the 126 pollutants may be determined by engineering calculations which demonstrate that the regulated
pollutants are not detectable in the discharge by the analytical methods in 40 CFR 136.
There shall be no discharge of floating solids or visible foam in other than trace amounts.
A (2). EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS (Internal OUTFALL 002)
[15A NCAC 02B 0400 et seq , 02B .0500 et seq.]
Beginning on the effective date of this permit and lasting until expiration, the Pernuttee is authorized to discharge low volume
wastes from internal outfall 002. Such discharges shall be limited and monitored by the Permittee as specified below:
Effluent Characteristics
Effluent Limitations
Monitoring Requirements
Monthly
Average
Daily Maximum
Measurement
Frequency
Sample Type
Sample
Location'
Total Suspended Solids
30 mg/l
100 mgn %
Quarterly `
Grab
Effluent
Oil & Grease
15 mg/l
20 mg/l
Quarterly
Grab
Effluent
1. Effluent prior to mixing with any other waste stream
r ~`•~ � '� ��' fit,,,!
A (3). CHRONIC TOXICITY PERMIT LIMIT-(QU'ARTERLY) [15AANCAC 02B .0200 et seq.]
The effluent discharge shall at no time -exhibit obse able 'i b ontof r6prod coon or significant mortality to Ceriodaphnia
dubia at an effluent concentration of 16.10/d,
The permit holder shall perform at a minimum, quarterly monitoring using test procedures outlined in the "North Carolina
Ceriodaphnia Chronic Effluent Bioassay Procedure," Revised December 2010, or subsequent versions or "North Carolina
Phase H Chronic Whole Effluent Toxicity Test�Procedure" (Revised- December 2010) or subsequent versions. The tests will be
performed during the months of January, April, July and October,. These months signify the first month of each three-
month toxicity testing quarter' assigned to the facility:, -.Effluent sampling for this testing must be obtained during
representative effluent discliarge and,shalt be performed at the NPDES`permitted final effluent discharge below all treatment
f
processes. a _
If the test procedure performed as theffrst test of any single quarter results in a failure or ChV below the permit limit,
then multiple -concentration testing shall be performed at a minimum, in each of the two following months as described
in "North Carolina Phase II Chronic W lexEffluent Toxicity Test Procedure" (Revised -December 2010) or subsequent
versions.
All toxicity testing results required`as part of this permit condition will be entered on the Effluent Discharge Monitoring Form
(MR-1) for the months in which testswere performed, using the parameter code TGP3B for the pass/fail results and THP3B
for the Chronic Value Additionally, DWR Form AT-3 (original) is to be sent to the following address:
Attention: North Carolina Division of Water Resources
Water Sciences Section/Aquatic Toxicology Branch
1623 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1623
Completed Aquatic Toxicity Test Forms shall be filed with the Water Sciences Section no later than 30 days after the end of
the reporting period for which the report is made.
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NPDES Permit NCO089699
Test data shall be complete, accurate, include all supporting chemical/physical measurements and all concentration/response
data, and be certified by laboratory supervisor and ORC or approved designate signature Total residual chlorine of the
effluent toxicity sample must be measured and reported if chlorine is employed for disinfection of the waste stream.
Should there be no discharge of flow from the facility during a month in which toxicity monitoring is required, the permittee
will complete the information located at the top of the aquatic toxicity (AT) test form indicating the facility name, permit
number, pipe number, county, and the month/year of the report with the notation of "No Flow" in the comment area of the
form The report shall be submitted to the Water Sciences Section at the address cited above.
Should the permittee fail to momtor during a month in which toxicity monitoring is required, monitoring will be required
during the following month Assessment of toxicity compliance is based on the toxicity testing quarter, which is the three
month tune interval that begins on the first day of the month in which toxicity testing is required by this permit and continues
until the final day of the third month 11 ,
Should any test data from this monitoring requirement or tests performed by the North Carolina Division of Water Resources
indicate potential impacts to the receiving stream, this permit may be re -opened and modified to include alternate monitoring
requirements or limits
NOTE Failure to achieve test conditions as specified in the cited document, such as,mimmum control orgamsm survival,
minimum control organism reproduction, and appropriate environmental controls, shall,constitute an invalid test and will
require immediate follow-up testing to be completed no later than the last day of the month,followmg the month of the initial
monitoring
A. (4) TEMPERATURE MIXING ZONE [15A NCAC 02B .0200 et seq.] ,
a) The temperature mixing zone is defined as an area -encompassing 8 square meters (85 square feet) downstream of the
discharge, extending 2 meters parallel to the bank and'4 meters perpendncular�to the point of discharge
b) The temperature standard of 32°C (89 6°F) and themaximumtemperature increase above natural temperature of 2 8°C
(5 04°F) shall be met at the end of the mixing zone The natural water temperature shalt be the temperature measured at the
upstream sampling location The mcfease_in temperature is,defined as the difference in temperature between the upstream and
downstream sampling locations IN
c) Instream monitoring for temperature shall be performed during times of full loading whenever possible The results of all
temperature monitoring shall be reported in the monthly DMRs
A. (5) POLLUTANT ANALYSIS [G.S. 1'43-215 1(b)] '
No later than one year after the commencement of the dischargethe permittee shall submit Items V and VI of NPDES
application Form 2C for Outfall 001 `
A. (6) BIOCIDES [G.S 143-215, 143-215 1]
The permittee shall not use any biocides except those approved in conjunction with the permit application. The permittee shall
notify the Director in writing not later than ninety (90) days prior to instituting use of any additional biocide used in cooling
systems which may be toxic to aquatic life other than those previously reported to the Division of Water Resources. Such
notification shall include completion of Biocide Worksheet Form 101 and a map locating the discharge point and receiving
stream Completion of Biocide Worksheet Form 101 is not necessary for those outfalls containing toxicity testing. Division
approval is not necessary for the introduction of new biocides into outfalls currently tested for whole effluent toxicity
A. (6) CLEAN WATER ACT SECTION 316 (b) [G S. 143-215 1(b)]
a) The permittee shall comply with Track I requirements for facilities withdrawing greater than 2 MGD and less than 10 MGD
and all applicable provisions of the Cooling Water Intake Structure (CWIS) Rule per 40 CFR 125 84
b) Definitions -
Annual Mean Flow means the average of daily flows over a calendar year
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NPDES Permit NCO089699
Closed -cycle recirculating system means a system designed, using mmimized makeup and blowdown flows, to withdraw
water from a natural or other water source to support contact and/or non contact cooling uses with a facility The water is
usually sent to a cooling canal or channel, lake, pond or tower to allow waste heat to be dissipated to the atmosphere and then
is returned to the system New source water (make-up water) is added to the system to replenish the losses that have occur due
to blowdown, drift, and evaporation.
Cooling Water means water used for contact or noncontact cooling, including water used for equipment cooling, evaporative
cooling tower makeup, and dilution of effluent heat content The intended use of the cooling water is to absorb waste heat
rejected from the process or processes used, or from auxiliary operations on the facility's premises
Cooling Water Intake Structure (CWIS) means the total physical structure and any associated constructed waterways used
to withdraw cooling water from waters of the U S. The cooling water intake structure extends from the point the water is
withdrawn from the surface water up to, and mclud:ng, the intake pumps.
Design Intake Flow means the value assigned (during the facility design) to the total volume of water withdrawn from a
source water body over a specific time period.
Design Intake Velocity means the value assigned (during the design of a CWIS)'to the average speed at which intake water
passes through the open area of the intake screen (or other device) against which organisms might be impinged or through
which they might be entrained.
Entrainment means the incorporation of all life stages of fi h,and shellfish with intake water flow and passing through a
CWIS and into a cooling water system
Impingement means the entrapment of all life stages of fish and shellfish on the outer parts of the an intake structure or against
a screening device during periods of intake water`",ithdrawal.
A. (7) MONITORING, RECORDKEEPING AND REPORTING (COOLINGWATER INTAKE) [G.S. 143-215 1(b)]
a) Biological monitoring
The permittee shall perform monitoring for both ixr-pmgement,and entrainment of the commercial, recreational, and forage base
fish species identified inthe Source Water Baseline Biological Charactenzation submitted with the permit application
i. Impingement -Sampling: The permittee shall collect samples to monitor impingement rates (simple enumeration) for
each species once pei month when the coaling water -intake is in operation The sample shall be collected over a 24-
houi penod
ii. Entraifi ment Sampling. The permittee shall collect bi-weekly samples to monitor entrainment rates (simple
enumeration) for each species.'The'samples shall be collected over a 24-hour period during the primary period of
reproduction, larval recruitment, and peak abundance identified during the Source Water Baseline Biological
Characterization Samples shall be collected when the cooling water intake structure is in operation.
b) Velocity Monitoring
The permittee shall monitor head loss across the intake screen and correlate the measured value with the design intake velocity
The head loss across the intake screen must be measured at the minimum ambient source water surface elevation Head loss
shall be monitored monthly. The maximum head lass across the intake screen must be used to determine compliance with the
maximum through -screen design intake velocity requirement of 0.5 feet per second.
c) Visual Inspections
The pernuttee shall conduct visual inspections or employ remote monitoring devices to ensure proper operation of the CWIS
during the period the CWIS is in operation. If visual inspection are performed they shall be conducted once a week.
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NPDES Permit NCO089699
d) Recordkeepmg
The permittee must keep records of all the data used to complete the permit application and show compliance with the
requirements, any supplemental information developed under 40 CFR Section 125 86, and any compliance monitoring data
submitted under A.(7), for a period of at least three years from the date of permit issuance
e) Reporting
The permittee shall submit an annual status report to the Division The report shall include biological monitoring results,
velocity head loss monitoring records, and records of visual or remote inspections. The report shall be sent to the following
address
DWR/DEQ
NPDES Complex Permitting Branch`s
1617 Mail Service Center /
Raleigh, North Carolina
A. (8) ENDANGERED SPECIES [G S 143-215 1(b)]
Nothing in this permit authorizes take for the purpose of a facility's compliance with the Endangered Species Act
A. (9) ELECTRONIC REPORTING OF DISCHARGE MONITORING REPORTS' [G'S. 143-215.1(b)]
Federal regulations require electronic submittal of all discharge monitoring reports (DMRs) and program reports and specify
that, if a state does not establish a system to receive such submittals; then permittees must submit monitoring data and reports
electronically to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) The final NPDES Electronic Reporting Rule was adopted and
became effective on December 21, 2015.
NOTE This special condition supplements or supersedes the following sections within Part II of this permit (Standard
Conditions for NPDES Permits)
• Section B (11) Signatory"Requirements,
• Section D. (2) Reporting
• Section D (6) Records Retention
• Section E. (5) Monitoring Reports
1. Reporting Requirements [Supersedes Section D. (2.) and Section E. (5.) (a)1
Effective December 21, 2016, the permittee shall report discharge monitoring data electronically using the NC DWR's
Electronic Discharge Monitoring Report (eDMR) internet application
Monitoring results obtained during the previous month(s) shall be summarized for each month and submitted
electronically using eDMR The eDMR system allows permitted facilities to enter monitoring data and submit DMRs
electronically using the internet Until such time that the state's eDMR application is compliant with EPA's Cross -Media
Electronic Reporting Regulation (CROMERR), permittees will be required to submit all discharge monitoring data to the
state electronically using eDMR and will be required to complete the eDMR submission by printing, signing, and
submitting one signed original and a copy of the computer printed eDMR to the following address.
NC DENR / Division of Water Resources / Water Quality Permitting Section
ATTENTION Central Files
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
If a permittee is unable to use the eDMR system due to a demonstrated hardship or due to the facility being physically
located in an area where less than 10 percent of the households have broadband access, then a temporary waiver from the
NPDES electronic reporting requirements may be granted and discharge monitoring data may be submitted on paper DMR
forms (MR 1, 1. 1, 2, 3) or alternative forms approved by the Director Duplicate signed copies shall be submitted to the
mailing address above See "How to Request a Waiver from Electronic Reporting" section below
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NPDES Permit NC0089699
Regardless of the submission method, the first DMR is due on the last day of the month following the issuance of the
permit or in the case of a new facility, on the last day of the month following the commencement of discharge.
Starting on December 21, 2020, the permittee must electronically report the following compliance monitoring data and
reports, when applicable.
Sewer Overflow/Bypass Event Reports,
Pretreatment Program Annual Reports; and
Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 316(b) Annual Reports
The permittee may seek an electronic reporting waiver from the Division (see "How to Request a Waiver from Electronic
Reporting" section below)
2. Electronic Submissions
In accordance with 40 CFR 122 41(1)(9), the permmttee must identify the initial recipient at the time of each electronic
submission The permittee should use the EPA's website resources to identify the initial recipient for the electronic
submission
Initial recipient of electronic NPDES information from NPDES-regulated facilities means,the entity (EPA or the state
authorized by EPA to implement the NPDES program) that is the designated entity for receiving electronic NPDES data
[see 40 CFR 127 2(b)]
EPA plans to establish a website that will also link to the appropriate electronic reporting tool for each type of electronic
submission and for each state Instructions on how to access and us6 the appropriate electronic reporting tool will be
available as well Information on EPA's NPDES Electronic Reporting Rule is found at-
httt)s://www.federalregister gov/documents/2015/10/22/2015-24954/national-pollutant-discharge-elimination-system-
npdes-electronic-reportmg-rule
Electronic submissions must start by -the dates listed in the "Reporting Requirements" section above
3. How to Reauest a Waiver from Electronic Reportn
The permittee may seek a temporary, electronic reporting waiver from the Division. To obtain an electronic reporting
waiver, a permittee must first submit an electro_c reporting waiver request to the Division. Requests for temporary
electronic reporting waivers must be submitted in writing to the Division for written approval at least sixty (60) days prior
to the date the facility would be required under this permit to begin submitting monitoring data and reports The duration
of a temporary waiver shall not exceed 5 years'and shall thereupon expire At such time, monitoring data and reports shall
be submitted electronically to the Division unless the permittee re -applies for and is granted a new temporary electronic
reporting waiver by the Division. Approved electronic reporting waivers are not transferrable Only permittees with an
approved reporting waiver request may submit monitoring data and reports on paper to the Division for the period that the
approved reporting waiver request is effective
Information on eDMR and the application for a temporary electronic reporting waiver are found on the following web
page
http //deq nc gov/about/divisions/water-resources/edmr
4. Signatory Requirements [Supplements Section B. (11.) (b) and Supersedes Section B. (11.) (d)l
All eDMRs submitted to the permit issuing authority shall be signed by a person described in Part II, Section B (11 )(a) or
by a duly authorized representative of that person as described in Part II, Section B (11 )(b) A person, and not a position,
must be delegated signatory authority for eDMR reporting purposes.
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NPDES Permit NC0089699
For eDMR submissions, the person signing and submitting the DMR must obtain an eDMR user account and login
credentials to access the eDMR system. For more information on North Carolina's eDMR system, registering for eDMR
and obtaining an eDMR user account, please visit the following web page:
htt[):Hdeu.nc. eov/about/divisions/water-resources/edmr
Certification. Any person submitting an electronic DMR using the state's eDMR system shall make the following
certification [40 CFR 122.22]. NO OTHER STATEMENTS OF CERTIFICATION WILL BE ACCEPTED:
"I certify, under penalty of law, that this document and all attachments were prepared under my direction or supervision
in accordance with a system designed to assure that qualified personnel properly gather and evaluate the information
submitted. Based on my inquiry of the person or persons who manage the system, or those persons directly responsible for
gathering the information, the information submitted is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, true, accurate, and
complete. I am aware that there are significant penalties for submitting false information, including the possibility of fines
and imprisonment for knowing violations. "
5. Records Retention 1Suuulements Section D. W)l
The permittee shall retain records of all Discharge Monitoring Reports, including eDMR submissions. These records or
copies shall be maintained for a period of at least 3 years from the date of the report. This period may be extended by
request of the Director at any time [40 CFR 122.41 ].
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