NC0032115_Draft Permit_20170920

Water Resources ..
Environmental Quality
September 20, 2017
Mr. Rick Owen, Town Manager
Town of Banner Elk
P.O. Box 2049
Banner Elk, NC 28604
ROY COOPER
Governor
MICHAEL S. REGAN
Seci etary
S. JAY ZIMMERMAN
Director
Subject: Draft NPDES Permit NCO032115
Banner Elk WWTP, WW -3
Mill Pond Road, Banner Elk 28604
Avery County
Dear Mr. Owen:
In response to your request to renew the subject NPDES permit, the Division of Water Resources (DWR or
the Division) hereby transmits this draft for your review and comment. Please review this document to assure
your understanding of the permit limits and monitoring conditions, and to correct errors, if any.
The Division understands that you have made no significant changes to your facility since the last permit
renewal. We have made the following updates to your previous permit:
1. The facility map has been updated
2. Regulatory citations have been added.
3. Parameter codes have been added to Section A. (1.).
4. Electronic reporting of discharge monitoring reports (eDMR) has been added in Section A. (3.).
5. Total Mercury must be monitored once during the permit cycle. Mercury monitoring is included
to provide a database for future mercury management and TMDL evaluation. See Special
Condition A. (2).
Concurrent with this notification, the Division will solicit public comment on this draft by publishing a notice
in newspapers having circulation in the general Avery County area, as required by the NPDES Program.
Please provide your comments, if any, to me via email [[e-mail]] or write to my attention
care of DEQ / DWR / NPDES Program no later than October 20, 2017. Your written comments are welcome
but not mandatory.
Following the mandatory 30 -day public comment period, the Division will review all pertinent comments on
your permit draft, and take appropriate action prior to issuing your NPDES permit final. If you have questions
concerning this draft, please e-mail me or call my direct line [phone].
Sincerely,
Derek Denard, Environmental Specialist
Compliance & Expedited Permitting Unit
Division of Water Resources, NCDEQ
Enclosure: NPDES Permit NCO032115 (renewal DRAFT)
he NPDES Program Files
ec• DWR/ARO, Landon Davidson [landon [e-mail]], Tim Heim [[e-mail]]
Wastewater Operator Certification Group / Maureen Kinney [Maureen.Kinney@ncdenr gov]
State of North Carolina I Environmental Quality
1617 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617
919-707-9000

NPDES Permit NCO032115
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
PERMIT
TO DISCHARGE WASTEWATER UNDER THE
NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM
NPDF.S
In compliance with the provisions 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, the
Town of Banner Elk
is hereby authorized to discharge wastewater from a facility located at the
Banner Elk WWTP
Mill Pond Road, Banner Elk 28604
Avery County
to receiving waters designated as the Elk River (Mill Pond) in the Watauga River Basin in accordance
with effluent limitations, monitoring requirements, and other conditions set forth in Parts I, II, III and
IV hereof.
This permit shall become effective , 2017.
This permit and authorization to discharge shall expire at midnight on September 30, 2022.
Signed this day , 2017.
S. Jay Zimmerman, P.G., Director
Division of Water Resources
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
Page 1 of 6

NPDES Permit NCO032115
SUPPLEMENT TO PERMIT COVER SHEET
All previous NPDES Permits issued to this facility, whether for operation or discharge are hereby revoked. As
of this permit issuance, any previously issued permit bearing this number is no longer effective Therefore, the
exclusive authority to operate and discharge from this facility arises under the permit conditions, requirements,
terms, and provisions included herein
Town of Banner Elk
is hereby authorized to:
1. continue to operate an existing 0.600 MGD wastewater treatment system with the following
components:
• influent bar screen
• comminutor
• grit chamber
• flow equalization
• two (2) aeration basins
• clarifier with return sludge
• aerobic digester
• UV disinfection
• flow measuring
• totalizing equipment
• stand-by power
• 0.8 meter Belt filter press
located at the Town of Banner Elk V6-WTP, Mill Pond Road, Banner Elk, Watauga County; and
2. discharge from said treatment works via Outfall 001, at the location specified on the attached map,
into the Elk River (Mill Pond) [stream index 8-22-(3)], currently classified C; Trout waters within
Subbasin 04-02-01 [HUC: 0601010303051 of the Watauga River Basin.
Page 2 of 6

NPDES Permit NCO032115
PART I
A. (1.) EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
[15A NCAC 02B .0400 et seq., 02B .0500 et seq.]
During the period beginning on the effective date of this permit and lasting until expiration, the
Permittee is authorized to discharge from Outfall 001. Such discharges shall be limited, monitored and
reported' by the Permittee as specified below:
EFFLUENT
LIMITS
MONITORING REQUIREMENTS'
CHARACTERISTIC
Monthly
Weekly
Daily
Measurement
Sample
Sample
[Parameter Codes]
Average
Avera a
Maximum
Frequency
Tye
Location
Flow(MGD)50050
0 600 MGD
Continuous
RecordingInfluent
or
Effluent
BOD, 5 -day (20°C) 2
C0310
m
30 0 L
45 0 L
m
3/Week
Composite
p
went &
Effluent
Total Suspended Solids 2
C0530
30 0 mg/L
45.0 mg/L
3/Week
Composite
Influent &
Effluent
(TSS) (mg/L)
NH3 as N (mg/L)
C0610
4 5 mg/L
13 5 mg/L
3/Week
Composite
Effluent
(April 1 — October 31)
NH3 as N (mg/L)
C0610
12 7 mg/L
35 0 mg/L
3/Week
Composite
Effluent
(Novemberl—March3 l )
Fecal Coliform (#/100ml)3
31616
200/100 ml
400/100 ml
3/Week
Grab
Effluent
geometric mean)
Total Residual Chlorine 4
50060
28 0 µg/L
3/Week
Grab
Effluent
(TRC) ( g/L)
Temperature (°C)
00010
Monitor & Report
Daily
Grab
Effluent
Total Nitrogen (mg/L)
C0600
Monitor & Report
Semi -Annually
Composite
Effluent
(NO2+NO3+TKN)
Total Phosphorus (mg/L)
C0665
Monitor & Report
Semi -Annually
Composite
Effluent
pH (su)
00400
Not < 6 0 nor > 9 0 Standard Units
3/Week
Grab
Effluent
Total Mercury (ng/L)
COMER
Monitor & Report
See Footnote 5
Composite
Effluent
Footnotes.
1 The Permittee shall begin submitting Discharge Monitoring Reports electronically using NC DWR's eDMR
application system. See Condition A. (3.).
2 The monthly average BOD5 and Total Suspended Solids concentrations shall not exceed 15% of the
respective influent values (85% removal).
3. Fecal Coliform shall be calculated using the geometric mean, according to the procedure detailed in Part II
Section A.
4 Total Residual Chlorine limit and monitoring is required only if chlorine is utilized in the treatment process.
The Division shall consider all effluent TRC values reported below 50 ug/L to be in compliance with the
permit However, the Permittee shall continue to record and submit all values reported by a North Carolina
certified laboratory (including field certified), even if these values fall below 50 ug/L.
5 Mercury must be monitored once during the permit cycle See Special Condition A (2).
Conditions:
There shall be no discharge of floating solids or visible foam in other than trace amounts.
Page 3 of 6

NPDES Permit NCO032115
A. (2.) EFFLUENT MERCURY ANALYSIS [G. S. 143-215.1(b)]
The permittee shall provide in the next permit renewal application, at least one effluent mercury analysis using
EPA Method 1631 E This mercury sample must be taken within 12 months prior to the application date. Any
additional effluent mercury samples taken from the effective date of the permit until the application date shall
also be submitted with the renewal application The mercury analysis must be provided with the application, or
the application may be returned as incomplete and the permittee considered non-compliant.
A. (3.) ELECTRONIC REPORTING OF MONITORING REPORTS
[G.S. 143-215.1(b)]
Federal regulations require electronic submit al of all discharge monitoring reports (DMRs) and program
reports. 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 H of this permit
(Standard Conditions for NPDES Permits)
• Section B. (11.) Signatory Requi-ements
• Section D. (2.)
• Section D. (6.)
• Section E. (5.)
Reporting
Records Retention
Monitoring Reports
1. Reporting Requirements [Supersedes Section D. (2.) and Section E. (5.) (a)1
The permittee shall report discharge mcmtonng 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 intemet. 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 DEQ / 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 el--ctromc 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
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.
Page 4 of 6

NPDES Permit NC0032115
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 permittee 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 use the appropriate
electronic reporting tool will be available as well. Information on EPA's NPDES Electronic Reporting
Rule is found at: http://www2.gpa.gov/compliance/final-national-pollutant-discharge-elmmnation-s, s�tem-
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 Renortin
The permittee may seek a temporary electronic reporting waiver from the Division. To obtain an electronic
reporting waiver, a permittee must first submit an electronic 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 ne.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/edmr
Page 5 of 6

NPDES Permit NC0032115
4. Signatory Requirements [Supplements Section B. (11.) (b) and Supersedes Section B. (11.) (d)1
All eDMRs submitted to the permit issuing authority shall be signed by a person described in Part H,
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.
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:
http-Hdeq.nc.gov/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:
U 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 [Supplements Section D. (6.)]
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 ].
Page 6 of 6

_ - /' spa 6-a"=.�; •. �� .->-s.�/ :� ` '��� 'j-�`_-"'_...-- ,. \--. � i
Ij
18
Of
Ir
io-
- t - i' • . .mak% _,' ' ~ " _ :_ y �
Outfall 001'
_
� � •' c �`� �si7 � _.� , �--: . '� tri xlP_I•
y
' jjjLLLTTT
Elk River (Mill Pond)
[flows northwest]77
Mill Pond Rd =i eA MR 2. � �, �-��L�
.3'757 •
i Halston Cam �• + — _ ! 1l
Arbar
ep,
Ir
r 'r4#
,
% - �/' - � i'• _ .= i { yam" -"� ! .__��
w\ ( 00p t'? 2013 National•Geographi
t
Town of Banner Elk - Banner Elk WWTP
NPDES Permit NCO032115
Mill Pond Road, Banner Elk 28604
Receiving Stream: Elk River (Mill Pond) Stream Class: C;Tr
Stream Segment: 8-22-(3) Sub -Basin #: 04-02-01
River Basin: Watauga HUC: 060101030201
County: Avery
N
SCALE
1:24,000
USGS • .dPark,