HomeMy WebLinkAboutNCG020922_Shellfish Sanitation Memo_20180109January 9, 2018
MEMORANDUM
TO:
From:
Through:
SUBJECT:
Applicant:
Project Location:
ROY COOPER
Governor
MICHAEL S. REGAN
Ser, rrary
STEPHEN W. MURPHEY
Dfrec for
Bethany Georgoulias, Environmental Engineer
Division of Energy, Mineral and Land Resources
Andrew Haines
Environmental Program Supervisor
Shannon Jenkins, Section Chief
Shellfish Sanitation & Recreational Water Quality
NPDES General Permit Application
North River Club
North River Club Mine
Carteret County
Proposed Project: Proposed Discharge From Dewatering Of Borrow Pit
Water quality in the vicinity of Wading Creek has historically been high, and a number of
shellfish leases have been sited in the nearby area to take advantage of the shallow waters and
easy access to shore. Since the beginning of 2014, however, we have begun seeing problems
arise with the bacteriological water quality in the area, and in March of 2016 an expanded
shellfishing closure around Wading Creek was made due to the exceedance of fecal coliform
standards at a sampling station near the mouth of the creek. While it is difficult to connect these
water quality problems to any one source, it is notable that these issues began to arise at the
same time that dewatering from an adjacent borrow pit began.
Because of these ongoing water quality issues, it is recommended that strict fecal coliform limits
be included in the permit conditions for this discharge. Currently, the fecal coliform limit for
shellfishing waters is 14 fecal coliform/100 mL. It is also requested that a copy of the results
from the quarterly fecal coliform sampling be sent to the Division of Marine Fisheries Shellfish
Sanitation and Recreational Water Quality Section as they are received. Finally, it is requested
that the mitigation requirements that will result from exceedances of the fecal coliform limits be
included in the permit conditions as well.
State of North Carolina I Division of Marine Fisheries
3441 Arendell Street f P.O. Box 769 1 Morehead City, North Carolina 28557
252-726-7021