NC0083071_Draft Permit_20171101

Water Resources
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
ROY COOPER
Gove, not
MICHAEL S REGAN
Seci elmy
S JAY ZIMMERMAN
Du ectoi
November 1, 2017
Mayor Steve Hooper
Town of Robbinsville
PO Box 126
Robbinsville, NC 28771-0126
Subject: Draft NPDES Permit NCO083071
Robbinsville WTP
Class PC -1
Graham County
Dear Mayor Hooper:
The Division has reviewed your request to renew the subject permit. Please review this draft
carefully to ensure your thorough understanding of the information, conditions, and requirements
it contains.
The draft permit includes the following significant changes from the existing permit:
➢ Section A. (3) has been added to require electronic submission of effluent data, and a
footnote has been added in Section A. (1). Federal regulations require electronic
submittal of all discharge monitoring reports (DMRs).
➢ Regulatory citations have been added to the permit.
➢ Outfall map has been updated.
➢ The facility address has been updated on the cover sheet and Supplement to Permit Cover
Sheet.
➢ Language has been updated on the Supplement to Permit Cover Sheet.
➢ Parameter codes have been added to the effluent table in Section A. (1).
➢ Monitoring for pH, total copper, and total hardness have been added in Section A. (1) per
the current water treatment plant strategy.
➢ Monitoring for total iron has been removed as there is no longer a water quality standard
for total iron.
➢ The sample location for turbidity monitoring in Section A. (1) has been changed to the
effluent per the current water treatment plant strategy, and the associated footnote has
been removed as there is not a turbidity limit for this permit renewal.
➢ The footnote for total residual chlorine has been updated in Section A. (1).
➢ The language in Section A. (2) has been updated.
With this notification, the Division will solicit public comment on this draft permit by publishing
a notice in newspapers having circulation in the general Graham County area, per EPA
requirements. Please provide your comments, if any, to me no later than 30 days after
receiving this draft permit.
State of North Carolina I Environmental Quality I Water Resources
1617 Mail Service Center I Raleigh, NC 27699-1617
919 807 6300 919-807-6389 FAX
https //deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/water-resources-permits/wastewater-branch/npdes-wastewater-permits

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 the
draft, please contact me at 919-807-6333, or via e-mail [[e-mail]].
Sincerely,
�,W� �
Brianna Young
Compliance and Expedited Permitting Unit
cc: NPDES Files
ec: Asheville Regional Office
WSS/Aquatic Toxicology Branch
Kyle Seaman, Project Engineer, McGill Associates [[e-mail]]

Permit NCO083071
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
PF.RMTT
TO DISCHARGE WASTEWATER UNDER THE
NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM
(NPDES)
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, the
Town of Robbinsville
is hereby authorized to discharge wastewater from a facility located at the
Robbinsville WTP
2457 Long Creek Road
Robbinsville
Graham County
to receiving waters designated as Rock Creek in the Little Tennessee 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.
This permit and authorization to discharge shall expire at midnight on November 30, 2022.
Signed this day.
S. Jay Zimmerman, P.G.
Director, Division of Water Resources
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
Page 1 of 7

Permit NC0083071
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.
The Town of Robbinsville is hereby authorized to:
1. Continue to operate a Conventional Water Treatment Plant with a discharge of filter -backwash
wastewater. This Water Treatment Plant currently has a design potable flowrate of 0.5 MGD and a
maximum, monthly average wastewater discharge of 0.0179 MGD. This facility is located 3.4 miles
South of the Town of Robbinsville at 2457 Long Creek Road in Graham County. Wastewater
treatment consists of:
• Alum sludge lagoon
• Decanting to receiving stream
2. Discharge from said treatment works at the location specified on the attached map into the Rock
Creek [Stream Segment: 2-190-4-4-(2)], a waterbody currently classified C -Trout, HQW waters in
subbasin 04-04-04 [HUC: 0601020401 ] in the Little Tennessee River Basin.
Page 2 of 7

Permit NCO083071
PART I.
A. (L) 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 filter backwash from outfall 001. Such discharges shall be limited
and monitored' by the Permittee as specified below:
Effluent Characteristics
Parameter Codes
Limits
Monitoring Re uirements
Monthly Daily
Average Maximum
Measurement
Frequency
Sample Type
Sample
Location
Flow z 50050
2/Month
Instantaneous
Effluent
Total Suspended Solids C0530
30.0 m /L 45 0 m /L
2/Month
Grab
Effluent
H
6 0 s.u. to 9.0 s u
2/Month
Grab
Effluent
Total Residual Chlorine 3 50060
17 /L
2/Month
Grab
Effluent
Turbidity 00070
2/Month
Grab
Effluent
Total Aluminum 01105
Quarterly
Grab
Effluent
Total Copper 01042
Quarterly
Grab
Effluent
Hardness — Total as a 00900
[CaCO3 or (Ca + Mg)]
Monitor & Report
Quarterly
Grab
Effluent
Hardness — Total as 6 00900
[CaCO3 or (Ca + Mg)]
Monitor & Report
Quarterly
Grab
Upstream
Chronic Toxicit 6 TGP38
I Monitor & Report
Quarterly
I Grab
I Effluent
Footnotes.
1 The permittee shall submit discharge monitoring reports electronically using the NC DWR's eDMR
application system [see A. (3)].
2. Duration of the discharge shall be noted in log books and a Total daily discharge reported in the DMR.
3. Limit and monitor only if the facility adds chlorine or chlorine derivatives to water that is eventually
discharged The Division shall consider all effluent TRC values reported below 50 µg/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 µg/L.
4. Effluent hardness sampling should be performed in conjunction with testing for hardness dependent metals
(cadmium, copper, lead, nickel, silver, and zinc).
5 The Permittee shall sample instream hardness, upstream of the facility's discharge. The sample shall be
representative of the hardness in the receiving stream If the Permittee is a member of the Monitoring Coalition
Program, sampling for mstream hardness may be waived as long as the Monitoring coalition agrees to sample
hardness at the nearest upstream location, at a minimum frequency of quarterly, and the Permittee has obtained
approval from DWR-NPDES Permitting Unit that the upstream station being monitored by the Coalition is
representative of the receiving stream for this discharge. The Permittee is responsible for submitting instream
hardness test results with its permit renewal application package If Coalition membership is cancelled or the
Coalition terminates instream hardness sampling at the approved station, the Permittee will immediately notify
the Division and resume sampling for mstream hardness, upstream of its discharge
6. Whole Effluent Toxicity shall be monitored by chronic toxicity (Cenodaphma) P/F at 10.0% Tests shall be
conducted in February, May, August and November (Refer to Section A. (2 ) for details)
All samples collected should be from a representative discharge event.
There shall be no discharge of floating solids or visible foam in other than trace amounts
Page 3 of 7

Permit NCO083071
A. (2.) CHRONIC TOXICITY PASS/FAIL MONITORING ONLY (QUARTERLY)
[15A NCAC 02B .0500 et seq.]
The permittee shall conduct quarterly chronic toxicity tests using test procedures outlined in the "North
Carolina Ceriodaphnia Chronic Effluent Bioassay Procedure," Revised December 2010, or subsequent
versions.
The effluent concentration defined as treatment two in the procedure document is 10.0 %. The testing
shall be performed as a Ceriodaphnia dubia 7 -day pass/fail test. The tests will be performed during the
months of February, May, August, and November. 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 discharge and shall be performed at the NPDES permitted final
effluent discharge below all treatment processes.
All toxicity testing results required as part of this permit condition will be entered on the Effluent
Discharge Monitoring Form (MR -1) for the month in which it was performed, using the parameter code
TGP3B. Additionally, DWR Form AT -1 (original) is, to be sent to the following address:
Attention: North Carolina Division of Water Resources
Water Sciences Section/Aquatic Toxicology Branch
1621 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1621
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.
Test data shall be complete and accurate and include all supporting chemical/physical measurements
performed in association with the toxicity tests, as well as all dose/response data. 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 monitor during a month in which toxicity monitoring is required, then
monthly monitoring will begin immediately. Upon submission of a valid test, this monthly test
requirement will revert to quarterly in the months specified above.
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 minimum control
organism survival, minimum control organism reproduction, and appropnate environmental controls,
Page 4 of 7

Permit NCO083071
shall constitute an invalid test and will require immediate follow-up testing to be completed no later
than the last day of the month following the month of the initial monitoring.
A. (3.) ELECTRONIC REPORTING OF MONITORING REPORTS
[NCGS 143-215.1 (b)]
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.
NOTE: This special condition supplements or supersedes the following sections within Part II of this
permit (Standard Conditions for NPDES Permits):
• Section B. (11.)
• Section D. (2.)
• Section D. (6.)
• Section E. (5.)
Signatory Requirements
Reporting
Records Retention
Monitoring Reports
1. Reporting Requirements [Supersedes Section D. (2.) and Section E. (5.) (a)1
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 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 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.
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 5 of 7

Permit NC0083071
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: https://www.federalre� igister.gov/documents/2015/10/22/2015-24954/national-
pollutant-discharge-elimination-system-npdes-electronic-rgportin -rule.
Electronic submissions must start by the dates listed in the "Reporting Requirements" section above.
3. How to Request a Waiver from Electronic Reporting
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:
ht!p://deq.ne.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/edmr
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 II,
Section B. (I 1.)(a) or by a duly authorized representative of that person as described in Part II, Section
B. (I 1.)(b). A person, and not a position, must be delegated signatory authority for eDMR reporting
purposes.
Page 6 of 7

Permit NC0083071
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://deq.ne.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 122.221. 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 [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 7 of 7

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Town of Robbinsville
Robbinsville WTP
NPDES Permit NCO083071
Receiving Stream: Rock Creek Stream Class: C; Tr, HQW
Stream Segment: 2-190-4-4-(2) Sub -Basin #: 04-04-04
River Basin: Little Tennessee HUC: 0601020401
County: Graham
N
SCALE
1:24,000
Facility Location
scale not shown
USGS Quad: Robbinsville
35.279440, -83.818060
a
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