NC0025879_Draft Permit_20180403

ROY COOPER
Governor
MICHAEL S. REGAN
Secretary
LINDA CULPEPPER
Interim Director
Water Resources
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
April 3, 2018
Mr. Steve Hooper
Town of Robbinsville
4 Court Street
Robbinsville, NC 28771-0129
Subject: Draft NPDES Permit NC0025879
Robbinsville WWTP
Graham County
Class WW-3
Dear Permittee:
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:
• All references to the previous Long Creek discharge have been removed.
• Section A. (5.) has been added to require electronic submission of effluent data.
reports (DMRs). Federal regulations require electronic submittal of all discharge
monitoring.
• Parameter codes have been added to the effluent characteristic tables.
• Regulatory citations have been added to the permit.
• An updated outfall map has been included.
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.
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 any questions
concerning this permit, please contact Emily Phillips at emily.phillips(a),ncdenr.gov or
[phone].
Si •- .ely, / a / ,
Emily Phillips
Compliance and Expedited Permitting Unit
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/dtvisions/water-resources/water-resources-permits/wastewater-branch/npdes-wastewater-permits

Permit NC0025879
Class WW-3
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, the
Town of Robbinsville
is hereby authorized to discharge wastewater from a facility located at the
Robbinsville WWTP
197 Sandhole Road
Robbinsville
Graham County
to receiving waters designated as the Cheoah River 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
DRAFT
Linda Culpepper
Interim Director, Division of Water Resources
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
Page 1 of 7

Permit NC0025879
Class WW-3
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 an existing 0.63 MGD wastewater treatment facility that
includes the following components:
> flow equalization basin,
> anaerobic zone,
> pre-anoxic zone,
> re-aeration zone,
> clarifier,
> sludge digester,
> disk filter,
> disinfection system,
> ultrasonic flow meter, and
> emergency generator.
This facility is located at the Robbinsville WWTP (Sandhole Rd, Robbinsville) in
Graham County
2. After receiving an Authorization to Construct (AtC) permit from the Division, expand
the wastewater treatment facilities not to exceed 0.85 MGD design flow.
3. Discharge from the treatment works at the location specified on the attached map
into the Cheoah River, currently a class C-Trout stream in subbasin 04-04-04 of
the Little Tennessee River Basin.
Page 2 of 7

Permit NC0025879
Class WW-3
Part I.
A. (1.) EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS -
[0.63 MGD]
[15A NCAC 02B.0400et seq., 02B.0500 et seq.]
During the period beginning on the effective date of this permit and lasting until expansion
above 0.63 MGD or permit expiration, the Permittee is authorized to discharge from Outfall
001. Such discharge shall be limited and monitored' by the Permittee as specified below:
EFFLUENT LIMITS MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
CHARACTERISTICS
[Parameter Code] Monthly Weekly Daily Measurement Sample Sample
Average Average Maximum Frequency Type Location
Flow 0.63 MGD Continuous RecordingInfluent or
[50050] Effluent
BOD,5-day(20°C)2 5.0 mg/L 7.5 mg/L 3/Week Composite Influent&
[00310] Effluent
Total Suspended Solids2 30.0 mg/L 45.0 mg/L 3/Week Composite Influent&
[00530] Effluent
NH3 as N [00610] 2.0 mg/L 6.0 mg/L Weekly Composite Effluent
(April 1 —October 31)
NH3 as N [00610] 4.0 mg/L 12 0 mg/L Weekly Composite Effluent
(November 1 —March 31)
Fecal Coliform [31616] 200/100 mL 400/100 mL 3/Week Grab Effluent
(geometric mean)
Total Nitrogen [00600] 45.2 pounds/day(annual average3) Monthly Composite Effluent
(NO2+NO3+TKN)
Total Phosphorus 3.8 pounds/day(annual average3) Monthly Composite Effluent
[00665]
Total Residual Chlorine
(TRC)4 28 pg/L 3/Week Grab Effluent
[50060]
pH [00400] >6.0 and<9.0 standard units 3/Week Grab Effluent
Total Mercury5 [COMER] Monitor and Report 1 /permit Grab Effluent
Footnotes:
1. The permittee shall submit discharge monitoring reports electronically using NC DWR's eDMR
application system [see A. (3)].
2. The monthly average effluent BOD5 and Total Suspended Solids concentrations shall not exceed
15% of the respective influent value (85 % removal).
3. The annual average shall be the average of composite samples collected monthly during each
calendar year.
4. Limits and monitoring for TRC apply only if chlorine is added to the waste stream during the
treatment process. The Division shall consider all effluent TRC values reported below 50 µg/L to be
compliant with the permit. However, the Permittee shall contmue 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.
5. The test for Total Mercury shall be EPA Method 1631E [see A. (4)].
There shall be no discharge of floating solids or visible foam in other than trace
amounts.
Page 3 of 7

Permit NC0025879
Class WW-3
A. (2.) EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS -
[0.85 MGD]
[15A NCAC 02B.0400et seq., 02B.0500 et seq.]
Upon receipt of an AtC permit from the Division and submittal of an Engineering
Certification for the WWTP expansion (not to exceed 0.85 MGD), the Permittee is authorized
to discharge from Outfall. Such discharges shall be limited and monitored' by the Permittee
as specified below:
EFFLUENT LIMITS MONITORING REQUIREMENTS
CHARACTERISTICS
[Parameter Code] Monthly Weekly Daily Measurement Sample Sample
Average Average Maximum Frequency Type Location
Flow ] 0.85 MGD Continuous Recording Influent Effluent or
50050
BOD,5-day(20°C)2 5.0 mg/L 7.5 mg/L 3/Week Composite Influent&
[00310] Effluent
Total Suspended Solids2 30 0 mg/L 45.0 mg/L 3/Week Composite Influent&
[00530] Effluent
NH3 as N [00610] 10 mg/L 3 0 mg/L Weekly Composite Effluent
(April 1 -October 31)
NH3 as N [00610] 2.0 mg/L 6.0 mg/L Weekly Composite Effluent
(November 1 -March 31)
Fecal Coliform [31616] 200/100 mL 400/100 mL 3/Week Grab Effluent
(geometric mean)
Total Nitrogen [00600] 45.2 pounds/day(annual average3) Monthly Composite Effluent
(NO2+NO3+TKN)
Total Phosphorus 5.8 pounds/day(annual average3) Monthly Composite Effluent
[00665]
Total Residual Chlorine
(TRC)4 28 pg/L 3/Week Grab Effluent
[50060]
pH >6.0 and<9.0 standard units 3/Week Grab Effluent
Total Mercury5 Monitor and Report 1 /permit Grab Effluent
Footnotes:
1. The permittee shall submit discharge monitoring reports electronically using NC DWR's eDMR
application system [see A. (3)].
2. The monthly average effluent BOD5 and Total Suspended Solids concentrations shall not exceed
15% of the respective influent value (85 % removal).
3. The annual average shall be the average of composite samples collected monthly during each
calendar year.
4. Limits and monitormg for TRC apply only if chlorine is added to the waste stream durmg the
treatment process. The Division shall consider all effluent TRC values reported below 50 µg/L to be
compliant 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.
5. The test for Total Mercury shall be EPA Method 1631E [see A. (4)].
There shall be no discharge of floating solids or visible foam in other than trace
amounts.
Page 4 of 7

Permit NC0025879
Class WW-3
A. (3.) ELECTRONIC REPORTING OF DISCHARGE 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.) 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.) (all
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.
Starting on December 21, 2020, the permittee must electronically report the following
compliance monitoring data and reports, when applicable:
Page 5 of 7

Permit NC0025879
Class WW-3
• 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.epa.gov/compliance/final-
national-pollutant-discharge-elimination-system-npdes-electronic-reporting-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:
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.
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
Page 6 of 7

Permit NC0025879
Class WW-3
North Carolina's eDMR system, registering for eDMR and obtaining an eDMR user account,
please visit the following web page:
http://deq.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:
"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. (6.11
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].
A. (4.) EFFLUENT MERCURY ANALYSIS
[NCGS 143-215.66]
The Permittee shall provide one effluent mercury analysis, using EPA Method 1631E, in
conjunction with the next permit renewal application. The analysis should be taken within
12 months prior to the renewal application date. Any additional effluent mercury
measurements conducted from the effective date of this permit and up to the application date
shall also be submitted with the renewal application.
If the result of the mercury analysis is not provided with the application, the application may
be returned as incomplete and the Permittee considered non-compliant.
Page 7 of 7

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Robbinsville WWTP ..Facility
NPDES Permit NC0025879I Location
Latitude: 35° 19' 55" N Sub-Basin: 04-04-04 not to scale
Longitude: 83°48' 34" W Stream Class: C—Trout
Receiving Stream: Long Creek North Graham County

FACT SHEET
EXPEDITED - PERMIT RENEWAL
NC0025879 — Class WW-3
Basic Information for Expedited Permit Renewals
Permit Writer/Date Emily Phillips/ NPDES/March 20, 2018
Permit Number-Class NC0025879—Class WW-3
Flow 0.63 MGD
Owner Town of Robbinsville
Facility Name Robbinsville WWTP
Type of Waste 100%domestic
Basin Name/Sub-basin number Little Tennessee River Basin/04-04-04
Receiving Stream Long [segment 2-190-4-(5)]
Stream Classification in Permit C;Tr
Does permit need Daily Max NH3 limits? No
Does permit need TRC limits/language? No
Does permit have toxicity testing? No
Does permit have Special Conditions? Yes—Mercury test
Does permit have instream monitoring? No
Is the stream impaired (on 303(d) list)? No
Any obvious compliance concerns? No
Any permit MODS since last permit? No
Requests for Renewal Received October 16, 2017
New expiration date November 30, 2022
Changes to current permit? Updated map, added eDMR language, &added regulatory
citations
Data Review-- Reviewed BIMS data from 2012 through present. Numerous violations for monthly average
exceeded for flow,weekly/monthly average exceeded for total suspended solids& Nitrogen; inspection
violation for effluent sampling,effluent pipe, UV disinfection, operations& maintenance, and aeration basins;
annual load exceeded for Phosphorus; Numerous monitoring violations for frequency violation of flow; and,
permit conditions violation for monitoring and reporting. All proceeded to NOVs.

FACT SHEET
EXPEDITED - PERMIT RENEWAL
NC0025879 — Class WW-3
Basic Information for Expedited Permit Renewals
Permit Writer/Date Emily Phillips/NPDES/March 20, 2018
Permit Number-Class NC0025879—Class WW-3
Flow 0.63 MGD
Owner Town of Robbinsville
Facility Name Robbinsville WWTP
Type of Waste 100%domestic
Basin Name/Sub-basin number Little Tennessee River Basin/04-04-04
Receiving Stream Long [segment 2-190-4-(5)]
Stream Classification in Permit C;Tr
Does permit need Daily Max NH3 limits? No
Does permit need TRC limits/language? No
Does permit have toxicity testing? No
Does permit have Special Conditions? Yes—Mercury test
Does permit have instream monitoring? No
Is the stream impaired (on 303(d) list)? No
Any obvious compliance concerns? No
Any permit MODS since last permit? No
Requests for Renewal Received October 16, 2017
New expiration date November 30, 2022
Changes to current permit? Updated map, added eDMR language, &added regulatory
citations
Data Review-- Reviewed BIMS data from 2012 through present. Numerous violations for monthly average
exceeded for flow, weekly/monthly average exceeded for total suspended solids& Nitrogen; inspection
violation for effluent sampling, effluent pipe, UV disinfection, operations& maintenance, and aeration basins;
annual load exceeded for Phosphorus; Numerous monitoring violations for frequency violation of flow; and,
permit conditions violation for monitoring and reporting. All proceeded to NOVs.

FACT SHEET
EXPEDITED - PERMIT RENEWAL
NC0025879 — Class WW-3
Basic Information for Expedited Permit Renewals
Permit Writer/Date Emily Phillips/ NPDES/March 20, 2018
Permit Number-Class NC0025879—Class WW-3
Flow 0.63 MGD
Owner Town of Robbinsville
Facility Name Robbinsville WWTP
Type of Waste 100%domestic
Basin Name/Sub-basin number Little Tennessee River Basin/04-04-04
Receiving Stream Long [segment 2-190-4-(5)]
Stream Classification in Permit C;Tr
Does permit need Daily Max NH3 limits? No
Does permit need TRC limits/language? No
Does permit have toxicity testing? No
Does permit have Special Conditions? Yes—Mercury test
Does permit have instream monitoring? No
Is the stream impaired (on 303(d) list)? No
Any obvious compliance concerns? No
Any permit MODS since last permit? No
Requests for Renewal Received October 16, 2017
New expiration date November 30, 2022
Changes to current permit? Updated map, added eDMR language, &added regulatory
citations
Data Review-- Reviewed BIMS data from 2012 through present. Numerous violations for monthly average
exceeded for flow,weekly/monthly average exceeded for total suspended solids& Nitrogen; inspection
violation for effluent sampling, effluent pipe, UV disinfection, operations& maintenance, and aeration basins;
annual load exceeded for Phosphorus; Numerous monitoring violations for frequency violation of flow; and,
permit conditions violation for monitoring and reporting. All proceeded to NOVs.