HomeMy WebLinkAboutNCG020895_COCSTATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
DIVISION OF ENERGY, MINERAL, AND LAND RESOURCES
GENERAL PERMIT NO. NCG020000
CERTIFICATE OF COVERAGE No. NCG020895
STORMWATER AND WASTEWATER DISCHARGES
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,
Iluka Resources (NC) LLC
is hereby authorized to discharge stormwater and wastewater from a facility located at
Aurelian Springs Mine
Aurelian Springs Road
Littleton
Halifax County
to receiving waters designated as Marsh Swamp & Mill Swamp, both class C; Sw, NSW
waters in the Tar -Pamlico River Basin, in accordance with the effluent limitations,
monitoring requirements, and other conditions set forth in Parts I, II, III, IV, V, and VI of
General Permit No. NCG020000 as attached, and as amended in pages 2-5 of this Certificate
of Coverage.
Amended conditions
1. This Certificate of Coverage (pp. 1-5) is an enforceable part of the permit.
2. In accordance with 15A NCAC 0 2 H .0114(b)(1), the monitoring program in Part IV
Section A, Table 1 Analytical Monitoring Requirements for Stormwater
Discharges from Mining Activities, and Section D, Table 7 Monitoring
Requirements for Wastewater Discharges and Table 8 Effluent Limitations For
Wastewater Discharges of this permit are amended as follows:
Page 1 of 5 1 COC No. NCG020895 effective May 31, 2017
Table 1 Analytical Monitoring Requirements for Stormwater Discharges from Mining
Activities
Discharge
Characteristics
Parameter
Code
Measurement
Fre uenc 1
Sample
Type4
Sample
Location5
Benchmark
Units
Settleable Solids
545
Semi-annual2
Grab
SDO
0.1
MI/I
Total Suspended Solids
530
Semi-annual2
Grab
SDO
100
mg/1
Turbidit 6
70
Semi-annual2
Grab
SDO, U & D6
50
NTU
Iron
160
Semi-annual2
Grab
SDO
N/A
mg/1
Nickel, Total Recoverable7
1067
Semi-annual2
Grab
SDO
0.335
m /l
Zinc, Total Recoverable7
1094
Semi-annual2
Grab
SDO
0.126
Mg/1
Antimony, Total Recoverable7
1097
Semi-annual3
Grab
SDO
0.09
Mg/1
Arsenic, Total Recoverable7
1002
Semi-annual3
Grab
SDO
0.34
Mg/1
Beryllium, Total Recoverable7
1012
Semi-annual3
Grab
SDO
0.065
Mg/1
Cadmium, Total Recoverable7
1027
Semi-annual3
Grab
SDO
0.003
mg/1
Copper, Total Recoverable7
1119
Semi-annual3
Grab
SDO
0.010
Mg/1
Lead, Total Recoverable7
1051
Semi-annual3
Grab
SDO
0.075
mg/1
Mercury, Total Recoverable7
71900
Semi-annual3
Grab
SDO
0.000012
mg/1
Selenium, Total Recoverable7
1147
Semi-annual3
Grab
SDO
0.056
mg/1
Silver, Total Recoverable7
1077
Semi-annual3
Grab
SDO
0.0003
mg/1
Total Hardness as CaCO3
900
Semi-annual2
Grab
SDO
N/A
mg/1
Total Rainfall8
--
Semi-annual2
Footnotes:
1. Sampling shall be performed during a measureable storm event, until either another permit is issued
for this facility or until this permit is revoked or rescinded. If the facility is monitoring monthly because
of Tier Two or Three response actions under the previous General Permit, the facility shall continue a
monthly monitoring and reporting schedule in Tier Two or Tier Three status until relieved by the
provisions of this permit or the Division.
2. Measurement Frequency: Twice per year (unless other provisions of this permit require monthly
sampling).
3. Measurement Frequency: Once in the first year for these parameters, and then continue twice per year
(unless other provisions of this permit require monthly sampling) for all subsequent years for any
parameters for which the benchmark was exceeded in the first year.
4. Grab samples shall be collected within the first 30 minutes of discharge. Where physical separation
between outfalls prevents collecting all samples within the first 30 minutes, the permittee shall begin
sampling within the first 30 minutes, and shall continue until completed.
5. Sample Location: Samples shall be collected at each stormwater discharge outfall (SDO) unless
representative outfall status (ROS) has been granted. A copy of the Division's letter granting ROS shall be
kept on site with the SPPP.
6. Turbidity must be monitored at the stormwater discharge outfall (SDO). In addition to the SDO, the
permittee may elect to also monitor turbidity in the receiving water, directly upstream (U) and
downstream (D) of the stormwater discharge outfall or group of outfalls to demonstrate the discharge
has not caused a water quality standard violation of turbidity. If SDO turbidity level exceeds the
benchmark, and the permittee cannot demonstrate the discharge has not caused a violation of the
Page 2 of 5 1 COC No. NCG020895 effective May 31, 2017
instream water quality standard, the Division may require the permittee to monitor turbidity up -
and downstream as part of a Tier 2 or 3 response.
7. Benchmark values apply for these parameters and prompt Tier responses as outlined in the General
Permit. Benchmark values for metals are based on one half the Final Acute Value (1/2 FAV), a threshold
used to protect against acute impacts to aquatic life.
8. For each sampled measureable storm event the total precipitation must be recorded. An on-site rain
gauge or local rain gauge reading must be recorded.
Table 7 Monitoring Requirements for Wastewater Discharges in Section D - 1., 2., 3., and 4.
Discharge
Characteristics
Parameter
Code
Units
Measurement
Frequency
Sample
Type
Sample
Location
Receiving
Waters
pH
545
S.U.
Quarterlyl
Grab
E
All
Total Suspended Solids
530
mg/l
Quarterlyl
Grab
E
All
Turbidit 2
70
NTU
Quarterlyl
Grab
E, U & D2
All
Settleable Solids3
545
ml/l
Quarterlyl
Grab
E
HQW,
ORW
Iron
160
mg/1
Quarterlyl
Grab
E
All
Nickel, Total Recoverables
1067
mg/1
Quarterlyl
Grab
E
All
Zinc, Total Recoverable5
1094
mg/l
Quarterlyl
Grab
E
All
Antimony, Total Recoverable5
1097
mg/l
Semi-annual6
Grab
E
All
Arsenic, Total Recoverable5 1002
mg/l
Semi-annual6
Grab
E
All
Beryllium, Total Recoverable5
1012
mg/l
Semi-annual6
Grab
E
All
Cadmium, Total Recoverable5
1027
mg/l
Semi-annual6
Grab
E
All
Copper, Total Recoverable5
1119
mg/l
Semi-annual6
Grab
E
All
Lead, Total Recoverables
1051
mg/l
Semi-annual6
Grab
E
All
Mercury, Total Recoverable5
71900
mg/l
Semi-annual6
Grab
E
All
Selenium, Total Recoverables
1147
mg/l
Semi-annual6
Grab
E
All
Silver, Total Recoverable5
1077
mg/l
Semi-annual6
Grab
E
All
Total Hardness as CaCO3 5
900
1 mg/1
I Quarterlyl
Grab
I E
All
Daily Flow Rate4
-
I cfs
I Quarterlyl
-
I E
All
Footnotes:
1. The monitoring frequency is quarterly for the first year (see Table 9), and then semi-annually. If a
sample concentration exceeds any effluent limit in Table 8, monitoring frequency (all parameters)
shall return to (or remain) quarterly, until four (4) consecutive quarterly samples all meet or are below
the limit for all parameters, allowing the permittee to resume/reduce to semi-annual monitoring.
2. Sample Location: E - Effluent, U - Upstream, D - Downstream. Turbidity must be monitored at the
effluent (E). If effluent levels exceed the Water Quality Standard of the receiving water, the permittee
must begin sampling turbidity directly upstream (U) and downstream (D) of the effluent outfall or group
of outfalls, in addition to the effluent, upon the next monitoring period. The permittee may contact the
DEMLR Regional Office for assistance in determining the best instream sample points. The RO may also
advise the permittee to relocate self -established instream sample points if appropriate.
Page 3 of 5 1 COC No. NCG020895 effective May 31, 2017
3. Only facilities discharging to waters classified as HQW or ORW are required to monitor for settleable
solids.
4. Daily flow rate shall be recorded by a continuous flow measurement instrument. Alternatively, pump
curves and pump logs may be used as a means to calculate the daily flow rate.
5. No effluent limitation applies to these parameters.
6. Measurement Frequency: Once in the first year for these parameters, and then continue twice per year
(unless other provisions of this permit require monthly sampling) for all subsequent years for any
parameters for which the benchmark in Table 1 was exceeded in the first year.
Table 8 Effluent Limitations For Wastewater Discharges
Discharge Characteristics
Effluent Limitations
Monthl Avera e1
Dail Maximuml
Total Suspended Solids
20 mg/1
30 mg/1
Iron
1.0 mg/1
2.0 mg/1
H Ran e2 freshwaters
6.0-9.1
6.0-9.1
Turbidi 3
--------
N/A See Below
Settleable Solids HQW, ORW, SA, SB, PNA, & all Tr waters
0.1 mg/1
0.2 mg/1
Daily Flow Rate (HQW/ORW)4
--------
50% of 7Q106
Footnotes:
1. Note that for a semi-annual or quarterly sampling schedule, the sample result counts as both the Daily
Maximum and Monthly Average value. More frequent samples may be conducted to calculate averages
but must all be reported to NC DEQ.
2. Designated swamp waters can have a pH as low as 4.3 because of natural conditions. In such cases,
Federal Effluent Guidelines (40 CFR §436) allow the lower range of the pH limitations to be adjusted
downward to no lower than 5.0. The permittee must sample instream to demonstrate a lower limit is
appropriate.
3. No limit in the effluent discharge applies, but turbidity in the receiving waters shall not exceed levels
described below as a result of wastewater discharges.
4. The total daily flow rate of wastewater for all discharges combined (that discharge to the same receiving
waters) shall not exceed 50 percent of the total in -stream flow rate of the receiving waters under 7Q10
conditions in HQW/ORW waters, including HQW/ORW trout and PNA waters.
The discharge shall not cause the turbidity of the receiving water to exceed Water Quality
Standards:
25 NTU (all lakes and reservoirs, and all salt waters);
50 NTU (all other streams and surface waters).
Page 4 of 5 1 COC No. NCG020895 effective May 31, 2017
This certificate of coverage shall become effective May 31, 2017.
This Certificate of Coverage shall remain in effect for the duration of the General Permit.
Signed this day May 31, 2017.
Original Signed by Robert D. Patterson
for Tracy E. Davis, P.E., Director
Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources
By the Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
Page 5 of 5 1 COC No. NCG020895 effective May 31, 2017