NC0027332_Draft Permit_20180502

11W ROY COOPER
Governor
MICHAEL S. REGAN
Secretary
Water Resources LINDA CULPEPPER
Environmental Quality Interim Director
May 2,2018
Mr.David Sorrick, Senior Vice President
Tennessee Valley Authority
1101 Market Street,BR4A
Chattanooga,TN 37402
Subject: Draft NPDES Permit NC0027332
Chatuge Hydro Plant(PCNC)
Clay County
Dear Mr. Sorrick:
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. Electronic reporting of discharge monitoring reports (eDMR)has been added in Section A. (5.).
4. The sample types for Oil&Grease,pH and Temperature have been indicated as grab.
5. A new parameter Free Oil Visual Sheen [51689] has been added to the effluent tables for Outfalls
001 and 002 to record visual inspection of the tailrace.Monitoring for this parameter is at least
once per quarter by estimate. See footnote 3 in the permit for more information.
6. For Outfalls 001 &002,Footnote 4 has been added as a new requirement: If oil sheen or visible
foam(other than trace amounts)are present,monitoring of the following parameters is required
until presence of oil or foam is abated:pH and O&G.
7. For Outfalls 001 &002,Footnote 5 has been added indicating that BMPs can be employed in lieu
of monitoring.
8. For Outfall 003, semi-annual monitoring has been indicated for Temperature and pH.
9. Special Condition A. (4.)for Use of Biocides has been added.
Concurrent with this notification,the Division will solicit public comment on this draft by publishing a notice
in newspapers having circulation in the general Clay 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 June 1,2018. Your written comments are welcome but not
mandatory.
State of North Carolina I Environmental Quality
1617 Mail Service Center I Raleigh,North Carolina 27699-1617
919-707-9000

Mr Sorrick
May 2, 2018
Page 2 of 2
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(919) 807-6307.
Sincerely,
etifAtA62-7:11-144,11/4-------
Derek Denard,Environmental Specialist
Compliance&Expedited Permitting Unit
Division of Water Resources,NCDEQ
Enclosure:NPDES Permit NC0027332(renewal DRAFT)
ec DWR/ARO,Landon Davidson[Landon Davidson@ncdenr gov],Tim Heim[Tim Heim@ncdenr gov]
Wastewater Operator Certification Group/Maureen Kinney[Maureen Kinney@ncdenr gov]
Mike Stiefel[mbstiefel@tva gov]
David W Somck[[e-mail]]

NPDES Permit NC0027332
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES
PERMIT
TO DISCHARGE WASTEWATER UNDER THE
NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM
(NPDES)
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
Tennessee Valley Authority
is hereby authorized to discharge wastewater from a facility located at
Chatuge Hydro Plant
Chatuge Dam Road, Hayesville 28904
Clay County
to receiving waters designated as the Hiwassee River in the Hiwassee 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 , 2018.
This permit and authorization to discharge shall expire at midnight on , 2023.
Signed this day , 2018.
Linda Culpepper, Interim Director
Division of Water Resources
By Authority of the Environmental Management Commission
Page 1 of 8

NPDES Permit NC0027332
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.
Tennessee Valley Authority
is hereby authorized to:
1. continue to discharge water from a station sump which receives flow from wheel pit leakage,
penstock envelope leakage, and power house floor drains (Outfall 001), discharge unwatering
sump water(Outfall 002), and discharge non-contact cooling water(Outfall 003);
located at Chatuge Hydro Plant, Chatuge Dam Road, Hayesville, Clay County; and
2. discharge from said treatment works via Outfall 001, at a location specified on the attached map,
into the Hiwassee River [Stream Segment 1-(15)], currently a Class C waterbody within Subbasin
04-05-01 [HUC 060200020203] of the Hiwassee River Basin.
Page 2 of 8

NPDES Permit NC0027332
PART I
A. (1.) EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS—OUTFALL 001
[15A NCAC 02B .0400 et seq., 02B .0500 et seq.]
Dunng the penod beginning on the effective date of the permit and lasting until expiration,the Permittee is
authonzed to discharge waters from the station sump (receiving flow from floor drains,penstock-envelope leakage
and Unit 1 wheel pit leakage) from Outfall 001. Such discharges shall be limited,monitored and reportedl by the
Permittee as specified below:
/
EFFLUENT CHARACTERISTICS LIMITS MONITORING REQUIREMENTS 1
[parameter codes] Monthly Daily Measurement Sample Sample
Average Maximum Frequency Type Location
Flow(MGD) 50050 /Monitor&Report • Quarterly Estimate E
Free Oil Visual Sheen(yes=1 no=0)3'4 51689 Monitor&Report Quarterly Estimate E
pH(su)4,5,6 00400 Monitor&Report 6 Footnotes 4;„5 Grab E
Oil&Grease(O&G)(mg/L)4,5 00556 15 mg/L 20 mg/L Footnotes 4,5 ' Grab E
Footnotes
1 Electromc Reporting of Discharge Momtormg Reports(eDMR):
a The Permittee shall begin submitting Discharge Monitoring Reports electronically using NC DWR's eDMR
application system/See Condition A (5) 'E / r•
b. Momtonng results obtained during the previous'calendar quarter shall be recorded and reported in eDMR no later than
the 30th day following the completed reporting period.The first DMR is due on the 30th day of the month following the
calendar quarter in which the permit was issued. \ t `
2 Sample locations E—Effluent
3. Free Oil/Visual Sheen.
a The tailrace shall be visually inspected for oil sheens at leastoncea quarter at this hydroelectric facility.
b ,,"Chemical wheel pit cleaning is permitted on a monthly Basis.When cleaning of the wheel pit occurs,the tailrace shall
be inspected visually for foam and oil Cleaning shall be conducted only with pre-approved solvents Should the
Permittee wish to change'cleaning solvents,a written request should be made to the Division including the MSDS for
the proposed solvent. See Use of Biocides—Special Condition A. (4.).
c. Free Oil Visual Sheen shall be reported by entry of the one of the following codes into eDMR
Yes= 1 (Oil•Sheen Visible)
No=0(Oil Sheen Not Visible)
4 If oil sheen or visible foam(other than trace amounts)are present,monitoring of the following parameters is required until
presence of oil or foam is abated pH and O&G
5 Best Management Practices(BMPs)'In lieu of reporting pH and O&G,BMPs must be employed to ensure that excessive
pollutants are not discharged to the surface waters of the State.These practices should mclude,as a minimum,changing oil
absorbent pads quarterly and cleaning accumulated sediment in the bottom of the sump routinely When these activities
occur confirmation that BMPs have been followed shall be clearly noted in the comments section of eDMR.
6 The pH shall not be less than 6 0 standard units nor greater than 9 0 standard units unless ambient river conditions prevent
compliance with this range
Conditions:
• This permit does not limit mechanical cleaning operations,which do not contribute any wastewater to the discharge Non-
discharging cleaning operations may be conducted as often as necessary to ensure safety and proper facility operation
• There shall be no discharge of floating solids or visible foam(other than trace amounts)in the effluent
• All samples collected should be form a representative discharge event,a measurable discharge event that results m an actual
discharge from the permitted discharge outfall
Page 3 of 8

NPDES Permit NC0027332
A. (2.) EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS—OUTFALL 002
[15A NCAC 02B .0400 et seq., 02B .0500 et seq.]
During the penod beginning on the effective date of the permit and lasting until expiration,the Permittee is
authorized to discharge unwatenng sump waters from Outfall 002 Such discharges shall be limited,monitored and
reported1 by the Permittee as specified below:
EFFLUENT CHARACTERISTICS LIMITS MONITORING REQUIREMENTS 1
[parameter codes] Monthly Daily Measurement Sample Sample
Average Maximum Frequency Type Location2
Flow(MGD) 50050 Monitor&Report Quarterly Estimate E
Free Oil Visual Sheen(yes=1 no=0)3'4 51689 Monitor&Report Quarterly Estimate E
pH(su)4,5,6 00400 Monitor&Report 6 Footnotes 4,5 Grab E
Oil&Grease(O&G)(mg/L)4'5 00556 15 mg/L 20 mg/L Footnotes 4,5 Grab I E
Footnotes
1 Electromc Reporting of Discharge Monitoring Reports(eDMR)
a The Permittee shall begin submitting Discharge Monitoring Reports electronically using NC DWR's eDMR
application system See Condition A (5 )
b Momtormg results obtained during the previous calendar quarter shall be recorded and reported in eDMR no later
than the 30th day following the completed reportmg period The first DMR is due on the 30th day of the month
following the calendar quarter in which the permit was issued
2 Sample locations E—Effluent
3 Free Oil Visual Sheen
a The tailrace shall be visually inspected for oil sheens at least once a quarter at this hydroelectric facility
b Chemical wheel pit cleaning is permitted on a monthly basis When cleaning of the wheel pit occurs,the tailrace shall
be inspected visually for foam and oil Cleaning shall be conducted only with pre-approved solvents. Should the
Permittee wish to change cleaning solvents,a written request should be made to the Division mcludmg the MSDS for
the proposed solvent.See Use of Biocides—Special Condition A (4)
c Free Oil Visual Sheen shall be reported by entry of the one of the followmg codes into eDMR
Yes= 1 (Oil Sheen Visible)
No=0(Oil Sheen Not Visible)
4 If oil sheen or visible foam(other than trace amounts)are present,monitoring of the following parameters is required until
presence of oil or foam is abated pH and O&G
5 Best Management Practices(BMPs) In lieu of reporting pH and O&G,BMPs must be employed to ensure that excessive
pollutants are not discharged to the surface waters of the State These practices should include,as a minimum,changing oil
absorbent pads quarterly and cleaning accumulated sediment in the bottom of the sump routinely When these activities
occur confirmation that BMPs have been followed shall be clearly noted m the comments section of eDMR
6 The pH shall not be less than 6.0 standard units nor greater than 9 0 standard units unless ambient nver conditions prevent
compliance with this range
Conditions
• This permit does not limit mechanical cleaning operations,which do not contribute any wastewater to the discharge Non-
discharging cleaning operations may be conducted as often as necessary to ensure safety and proper facility operation
• There shall be no discharge of floating solids or visible foam(other than trace amounts)in the effluent
• All samples collected should be form a representative discharge event,a measurable discharge event that results in an
actual discharge from the permitted discharge outfall
Page 4 of 8

NPDES Permit NC0027332
A. (3.) EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AND MONITORING REQUIREMENTS—OUTFALL 003
[15A NCAC 02B .0400 et seq., 02B .0500 et seq.]
During the period beginning on the effective date of the permit and lasting until expiration,the Permittee is
authorized to discharge once-through cooling waters from generator air cooling and bearing cooling from
Outfall 003. Such discharges shall be limited,monitored and reported' by the Permittee as specified below:
EFFLUENT CHARACTERISTICS LIMITS MONITORING REQUIREMENTS 1
[parameter codes] Monthly Daily Measurement Sample Sample
Average Maximum Frequency Type Location
Flow(MGD) 50050 Momtor&Report Semi-annually Estimate E
Temperate(°C)3 00010 Momtor&Report 3 Semi-annually Grab E
pH(su)4 00400 Monitor&Report 4 Semi-annually Grab E
Footnotes
1 Electronic Reporting of Discharge Monitoring Reports(eDMR):
a The Permittee shall begin submitting Discharge Momtormg Reports electronically using NC DWR's eDMR
application system See Condition A.(5).
b Monitoring results obtained during the previous calendar quarter shall be recorded and reported m eDMR no later
than the 30th day following the completed reporting period The first DMR is due on the 30th day of the month
following the calendar quarter in which the permit was issued
2 Sample locations E—Effluent
3 The temperature of the effluent will be regulated so that the temperature of the receivmg stream does not increase more
than 2 8°C above the natural water temperature Receiving water temperature shall not exceed a maximum of 29°C due to
the facility's operation.
4 The pH shall not be less than 6 0 standard units nor greater than 9 0 standard units unless ambient nver conditions prevent
compliance with this range
Conditions
• All non-contact cooling water sample locations shall provide representative samples of the discharge and require sampling
prior to discharge commingling with any other waters or substances,such as stormwater or surface water to enable
characterization of a pollutant of concern
• There shall be no discharge of floating solids or visible foam(other than trace amounts)in the effluent
• All samples collected should be form a representative discharge event,a measurable discharge event that results in an
actual discharge from the permitted discharge outfall
Page 5 of 8

NPDES Permit NC0027332
A. (4.) USE OF BIOCIDES — SPECIAL CONDITION [G.S. 143-215, 143-215.1]
The Permittee shall obtam authorization from the Division prior to using any biocide in discharge from that
may be toxic to aquatic life. The Permittee shall notify the Director in writing no later than 90 days prior to
using any biocide not already approved for this facility. The Permittee shall provide such notification by
completing a Biocide Worksheet, Form 101 to include a map indicating the receiving stream and the effluent
discharge point. Concentrations of additives to biocides such as chromium,copper, or zinc shall not exceed
applicable water quality standards or action levels in the receiving stream, as determined by calculations using
the Biocide Work Sheet, Form 101 and the Supplemental Analysis Worksheet.
A. (5.) ELECTRONIC REPORTING OF DISCHARGE MONITORING REPORTS
[G.S. 143-215.1(b)] I'/ /
Federal regulations require electronic submittal of all discharge monitoring reports (DMRs)and program
reports. The final NPDES Electronic Reporting Rule was adopted and became effectiveon-December 21,2015.
\
NOTE: This special condition supplements or supersedes the followingsections within Part II rof 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.) (a)]
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 electromcally using eDMR and will be required
to complete the eDMit 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.
Page 6 of 8

NPDES Permit NC0027332
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:
• 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/fmal-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
Page 7 of 8

NPDES Permit NC0027332
4. Signatory Requirements [Supplements Section B. (11.) (b) and Supersedes Section B. (11.) (d)1
All eDMRs submitted to the permit issuing authonty 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 authonty 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://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.)l
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 8 of 8

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Chatuge Dam Rd, Hayesville, NC 28904A ,„.. 1500 °°° 6 111 '''!
Receiving Stream:HIWASSEE RIVER
Stream Segment: 1-(15) Stream Class:C 35.0192°N, -83.7917°W
River Basin:Hiwassee Sub-Basin#:04-05-01 SCALE NC Grid:G3SE
County:Clay HUC: 060200020203 1:24,000 USGS Quad:Hayesville,NC