NCG030000_DRAFT Fact Sheet to Notice_20180803

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
DIVISION OF ENERGY, MINERAL AND LAND RESOURCES
FACT SHEET
GENERAL PERMIT
NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM
PERMIT TO DISCHARGE STORMWATER
Permit No. NCG030000 Date: August 3, 2018
1. TYPES OF DISCHARGES COVERED
a. Industrial Activities Covered by this General Permit
Coverage under this General Permit is applicable to:
♦ All owners or operators of stormwater point source discharges associated with activities classified as
establishments primarily engaged in:
■ Rolling, Drawing, & Extruding of Nonferrous Metals [standard industrial classification (SIC) 335]
■ Heat Treating of Metal (SIC 3398)
■ Fabricating of Metal Products (SIC 34)
■ Manufacturing of Industrial and Commercial Machinery (SIC 35)
■ Manufacturing of Electronic Equipment (SIC 36)
■ Manufacturing of Transportation Equipment (SIC 37)
■ Manufacturing of Measuring and Analyzing Instruments (SIC 38)
♦ Stormwater point source discharges from like industrial activities deemed by The Division of Energy,
Mineral, and Land Resources (DEMLR) to be similar to these operations in the process, or the
discharges, or the exposure of raw materials, intermediate products, by-products, products, or waste
products.
Except upon DEMLR determination of similarity as provided immediately above, the following
activities and associated discharges are excluded from coverage under this General Permit:
Establishments primarily engaged in ship and boat building and repairing (SIC 373), which is covered by
general stormwater permit NCG190000.

NCG030000 Fact Sheet — NC DEQ
b. Types of Operations Covered
August 3, 2018
SIC groups 34, 35, 36, 37, and 38 industry categories include facilities involved in the manufacture
of metal and metal -related products, including metal cans; tinware; handtools; cutlery; general
hardware; nonelectric heating apparatus; metal forgings; metal stampings; ordnance; engines and
turbines; farm and garden machinery; construction machinery; mining machinery; elevators; hoist
cranes; monorails; industrial trucks; tractors; industry machinery electricity distribution
equipment; electrical industrial apparatus; household appliances; electrical lighting and wiring
equipment; radio and TV receiving equipment; communications equipment; electronics
components and accessories; motor vehicles; aircraft; guided missiles; space vehicles; boats;
railroad equipment; motorcycles; bicycles; snowmobiles; measuring instruments; instruments
sensors; optical instruments; lenses; surveying and drafting instruments; hydrological,
hydrographic, meteorological, and geophysical equipment; medical equipment; dental equipment;
ophthalmic goods; photographic equipment; and watches and clocks.
Facilities involved in the metal finishing industry may include activities best described by the
following list from Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations Part 433 (40 CFR § 433):
Cleaning
Machining
Grinding
Polishing
Tumbling
Burnishing
Impact Deformation
Shearing
Heat Treating
Thermal Cutting
Welding Brazing
Soldering
Flame Spraying
Sand Blasting
Other Abrasive Jet
Machining
Electrical Discharge
Machining
Electrochemical
Machining
Electron Beam Machining
Laser Beam Machining
Plasma Arc Machining
Ultrasonic Machining
Sintering
Laminating
Hot Dip Coating
Sputtering
Vapor Plating
Thermal Infusion
Salt Bath Descaling
Solvent Degreasing
Paint Stripping
Painting
Electrostatic Painting
Vacuum Metalizing
Assembly
Calibration
Testing
Mechanical Plating
Also, facilities involved in the metal plating operations may include the following activities
40 CFR 413, Effluent Guidelines - Electroplating:
Electroplating
Electroless Plating
Chemical Conversion Coating
Etching and Chemical Milling
Anodizing
Facilities involved in the coil coatings operations may include the following activities 40
CFR 465. Effluent Guidelines - Coil Coatings Category:
Page 2 of 10

NCG030000 Fact Sheet — NC DEQ August 3, 2018
Coil Coatings with Steel Base Material
Coil Coatings with Galvanized Base Material
Coil Coatings with Aluminum Base Material
Can Making
Facilities involved in electrical and electronic components manufacture may include the
following activities, 40 CFR 469 - Electrical and Electronic Components Category:
Semiconductor Manufacture
Electronic Crystals Manufacture
Cathode Ray Tube Manufacture
Luminescent Materials Manufacture
c. Characteristics of Discharged Stormwater
The renewal permit maintains the analytical monitoring requirements for all
stormwater discharge outfalls associated with industrial activity. Additionally, the
permit retains those analytical monitoring requirements specifically for facilities that
have vehicle maintenance activity occurring on-site which uses more than 55 gallons of
new motor oil and/or hydraulic oil per month when averaged over the calendar year.
The renewal permit also maintains the qualitative monitoring requirements for all
stormwater discharge outfalls associated with industrial activity regardless of
representative outfall status.
The decision to retain parameters from the previous permit was based on their
continued usefulness as stormwater pollution indicators for these industry types.
d. GeographicArea(s) Covered by this General Permit
Discharges covered by this General Permit are located at any place within the political
boundary of the State of North Carolina. Discharges located on the Cherokee Indian
Tribal Reservation are subject to permitting by the US Environmental Protection
Agency and are not covered by this General Permit.
e. Receiving Waters
Receiving waters include all surface waters of North Carolina or municipal separate
storm sewer systems conveying stormwater to surface waters.
2. DISCHARGE CONTROLS AND LIMITATIONS
Page 3 of 10

NCG030000 Fact Sheet — NC DEQ
August 3, 2018
The renewal permit maintains benchmark concentrations to provide facilities a tool with
which to assess the effectiveness of best management practices (BMPs). These benchmark
concentrations are not effluent limits, but provide guidelines for the facility's Stormwater
Pollution Prevention Plan (SPPP or Plan). Exceedances of benchmark values require the
permittee to increase monitoring, increase management actions, increase record keeping,
and/or install stormwater BMPs in a tiered program. Four (4) benchmark exceedances
trigger notification to the Regional Office and may prompt additional requirements (Tier
Three).
3. MONITORING AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
The renewal permit specifies monitoring and reporting requirements for both quantitative
and qualitative assessment of the stormwater discharge and operational inspections of the
entire facility. Specific pollutant parameters for which sampling must be performed and
the frequency of the sampling are based upon the types of materials used and produced in
the manufacturing processes and the potential for contamination of the stormwater runoff
at these facilities. Qualitative parameters are consistent with other general permits in the
NPDES stormwater program.
The renewal permit proposes specific monitoring requirements for the following
parameters for stormwater discharges: Total Rainfall, pH, Non -polar Oil and Grease [by
EPA Method 1664 (SGT -HEM)], Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Copper, Lead, Zinc, and
Total Toxic Organics (TTO)—unless the facility is waived from TTO monitoring through a
Solvent Management Plan. Additionally, outfalls that discharge runoff from vehicle or
maintenance areas will still need to monitor for new motor oil or hydraulic oil based on the
average amount of oil used (more than 55 gallons used per month when averaged over the
calendar year). In an effort to make the permit more user-friendly, all analytical monitoring
requirements, including the associated benchmark values, were combined into one table.
The monitoring schedule was also simplified to just `Period 1' and 'Period 2,' which applies
throughout the duration of the permit, instead of listing each period for all five years.
The renewal permit retains the term "measurable storm event." The "measurable storm
event" is an event that results in an actual discharge, rather than an event with a rainfall
measuring 0.1 inches or more. To qualify as a measurable storm event, the previous storm
event must have been at least 72 hours prior. The renewal permit also maintains the
requirement to separate semi-annual sampling events by a minimum of 60 days.
The renewal permit allows the permittee to forgo sampling if adverse weather conditions
prevent sample collection (see the Definitions section of the draft permit). Inability to
sample because of adverse weather conditions must be documented in the SPPP and
recorded on the data monitoring forms (DMRs).
As before, the renewal permit specifies qualitative (visual) monitoring of each stormwater
outfall for the purpose of evaluating the effectiveness of the Stormwater Pollution
Page 4 of 10

NCG030000 Fact Sheet — NC DEQ August 3, 2018
Prevention Plan and assessing new sources of stormwater pollution. Qualitative
monitoring parameters include: color, odor, clarity, floating and suspended solids, foam, oil
sheen, erosion or deposition at the outfall, and other obvious indicators of stormwater
pollution. Qualitative monitoring should be performed during any analytic sampling event.
The renewal permit maintains specific direction to the permittee about how to respond to
qualitative monitoring. If qualitative monitoring indicates that existing stormwater BMPs
are ineffective, or that significant stormwater contamination is present, the permittee must
investigate potential causes, evaluate the feasibility of corrective actions, and implement
those corrective actions within 60 days. A written record of the permittee's investigation,
evaluation, and response actions must be kept in the SPPP. The Qualitative Monitoring
Response establishes actions for when a permittee repeatedly fails to respond effectively
to correct problems, or if the discharge causes or contributes to a water quality standard
violation.
4. COMPLIANCE SCHEDULE
The compliance schedule in Part I1I, Section A still advises that the permittee comply with
Limitations and Controls specified for stormwater discharges in accordance with the
following schedule:
Existing Facilities already operating but applying for permit coverage for the first time: The
Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan shall be developed and implemented within 12 months of the
effective date of the Certificate of Coverage and updated thereafter on an annual basis. Secondary
containment, as specified in Part II, Section A, Paragraph 2(b) of this general permit, shall be
accomplished within 12 months of the effective date of the issuance of the Certificate of Coverage.
New Facilities applying for coverage for the first time: The Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan
shall be developed and implemented prior to the beginning of discharges from the operation of the
industrial activity and be updated thereafter on an annual basis. Secondary containment, as
specified in Part II, Section A, Paragraph 2(b) of this general permit shall be accomplished prior to
the beginning of discharges from the operation of the industrial activity.
Existing facilities previously permitted and applying for renewal under this General Permit:
All requirements, conditions, limitations, and controls contained in this permit shall become effective
immediately upon issuance of the Certificate of Coverage. Secondary containment, as specified in
Part III, Paragraph 2(b) of this general permit shall be accomplished prior to the beginning of
discharges from the operation of the industrial activity.
5. SPECIAL CONDITIONS WHICH WILL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE
DISCHARGE
If a facility that is required to perform the Total Toxic Organics (TTO) monitoring develops
a solvent management plan and makes the certification detailed in the permit, the facility
will not be required to perform TTO monitoring.
In Part 1I, Section D addresses electronic reporting requirements mandated by the federal
NPDES Electronic Reporting Rule. When the agency's electronic reporting system is able to
Page 5 of 10

NCG030000 Fact Sheet — NC DEQ
August 3, 2018
accept NPDES stormwater permit monitoring data, the permittee must report discharge
monitoring data electronically using NC Division of Water Resources' Electronic Discharge
Monitoring Report (eDMR) internet application. NC DEMLR will notify permittees when
eDMR is ready to accept data.
6. BASIS FOR CONTROLS AND LIMITATIONS
The conditions of this general permit have been designed using best professional judgment
to achieve water quality protection through compliance with the technology-based
standards of the Clean Water Act (Best Available Technology [BAT] and Best Conventional
Pollutant Control Technology [BCT]). Where the Director determines that a water quality
violation is occurring and water quality -based controls or effluent limitations are required
to protect the receiving waters, coverage under the general permit shall be terminated and
an individual permit will be required. Based on a consideration of the appropriate factors
for BAT and BCT requirements, and a consideration of the factors discussed below in this
fact sheet for controlling pollutants in stormwater discharges associated with the activities
as described in Item 1 (Types of Discharge Covered), the permit retains a set of
requirements for developing and implementing stormwater pollution prevention plans,
and specific requirements for monitoring and reporting on stormwater discharges.
The permit conditions reflect the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) and North
Carolina's pollution prevention approach to stormwater permitting. The quality of the
stormwater discharge associated with an industrial activity will depend on the availability
of pollutant sources. This renewal permit still reflects the Division's position that
implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs) and traditional stormwater
management practices which control the source of pollutants meets the definition of BAT
and BCT. The permit conditions are not numeric effluent limitations, but rather are
designed to be flexible requirements for developing and implementing site specific plans to
minimize and control pollutants in the stormwater discharges associated with the
industrial activity.
Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 122.44(k)(2) authorizes the use of BMPs in
lieu of numeric effluent limitations in NPDES permits when the agency finds numeric
effluent limitations to be infeasible. The agency may also impose BMP requirements which
are "reasonably necessary" to carry out the purposes of the Act under the authority of 40
CFR 122.44(k)(3). The conditions of the renewal permit are retained under the authority
of both of these regulatory provisions. The pollution prevention requirements (BMP
requirements) in this permit operate as limitations on effluent discharges that reflect the
application of BAT/BCT. The basis is that the BMPs identified require the use of source
control technologies which, in the context of this general permit, are the best available of
the technologies economically achievable (or the equivalent BCT finding).
All facilities covered by this stormwater general permit must prepare, retain, implement,
and (at a minimum of annually) update a stormwater pollution prevention plan. The term
"pollution prevention" distinguishes this source reduction approach from traditional
Page 6 of 10

NCG030000 Fact Sheet — NC DEQ
August 3, 2018
pollution control measures that typically rely on end -of -pipe treatment to remove
pollutants in the discharges. The plan requirements are based primarily on traditional
stormwater management, pollution prevention and BMP concepts, providing a flexible
basis for developing site-specific measures to minimize and control the amounts of
pollutants that would otherwise contaminate the stormwater runoff.
The pollution prevention approach adopted in the stormwater pollution prevention plans
in the renewal permit still focuses on two major objectives: 1) to identify sources of
pollution potentially affecting the quality of stormwater discharges associated with
industrial activity from the facility; and 2) to describe and ensure that practices are
implemented to minimize and control pollutants in stormwater discharges associated with
industrial activity from the facility and to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions
of this permit.
The Division believes that it is not appropriate, at this time, to require a single set of
effluent limitations or a single design or operational standard for all facilities which
discharge stormwater associated with industrial activity. This permit instead establishes a
framework for the development and implementation of site-specific stormwater pollution
prevention plans. This framework provides the necessary flexibility to address the variable
risk for pollutants in stormwater discharges associated with the industrial activities that
are addressed by this permit, while ensuring procedures to prevent stormwater pollution
at a given facility are appropriate given the processes employed, engineering aspects,
functions, costs of controls, location, and age of facility (as discussed in 40 CFR 125.3). This
approach allows flexibility to establish controls which can appropriately address different
sources of pollutants at different facilities.
There has been no significant change to this rationale since the previous general permit.
Stormwater Benchmarks
The pH benchmark range of 6.0 - 9.0 standard units is based on N.C. Water Quality
Standards in 15A NCAC 02B .0211 and is consistent with other renewed general
stormwater permits.
The standard total suspended solids (TSS) benchmark of 100 mg/L is based on the
median concentration derived from the National Urban Runoff Program (NURP) study in
1983 and serves as a benchmark in most other industrial stormwater permits with TSS
monitoring. The lower TSS benchmark for ORW, HQW, trout, and primary nursery area
(PNA) waters of 50 mg/L reflects half that standard value and was set to flag potential
problems in discharges to waters with much lower water quality standards for TSS
concentrations (20 mg/L for HQW and ORW; 10 mg/L for trout and PNA waters).
The benchmarks for Copper (Cu), Lead (Pb) and Zinc (Zn) changed to 0.010 mg/L (or 10
µg/L), 0.075 mg/L (or 75 µg/L), and 0.126 mg/L (or 1.26 pg/L) respectively. The
benchmark for lead is equal to one half the Final Acute Value (1/2 FAV). The FAV is
Page 7 of 10

NCG030000 Fact Sheet — NC DEQ
August 3, 2018
estimated by a statistical analysis of acute toxicity data and protects 95 percent of the
species in the most sensitive genera that has been tested. A safety factor of two is applied
for water quality protection purposes. The benchmarks for copper and zinc are based on
EPA's NRWQC dissolved criteria and translated into total for permitting purposes (as
required by federal regulations for the NPDES program). The dissolved values are
converted into total recoverable with EPA's partition factor and a calculation that assumes
a total suspended solids (TSS) concentration of 10 mg/L. Even though the TSS stormwater
benchmark is typically much higher, 10 mg/L assumes a "best case" stormwater discharge
with low solids, resulting in a conservative benchmark value for the total recoverable
metal.
Total toxic organics (TTO) is a parameter representing the sum total of multiple organic
compounds (depending on the industry). The same benchmark from the current permit,
1.0 mg/L, is in the renewal permit.
The benchmark for Non -Polar Oil and Grease, or TPH, [EPA Method 1664 (SGT -HEM)]
remains at 15.0 mg/L. The TPH benchmark is consistent with other States' benchmarks
and/or limits. We would only expect in discharges associated with significant oil
contamination to exceed this benchmark.
7. REQUESTED VARIANCES OR ALTERNATIVES TO REQUIRED STANDARDS
There are no requested variances or alternatives to required standards. Facilities
requesting variances to required standards will not be covered under this General Permit
but will instead be required to seek coverage under an individual permit.
8. THE ADMINISTRATIVE RECORD
The administrative record, including application, draft permit, fact sheet, public notice,
comments received, and additional information, is available by writing to:
Stormwater Program
Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources (DEMLR)
1612 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1612
The above documents are available for review and copying at:
Archdale Building, 9th Floor
DEMLR Stormwater Program
512 N. Salisbury Street
Raleigh, North Carolina 27604
Page 8 of 10

NCG030000 Fact Sheet — NC DEQ
August 3, 2018
between the hours of 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM Monday through Friday. Copies will be
provided at a charge of 10 cents per page.
9. STATE CONTACT
Additional information about the draft and final permit may be obtained at the above
address between the hours of 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM Monday through Friday by contacting:
Alaina Morman at [phone].
10. SCHEDULE OF PERMIT ISSUANCE
Draft Permit Public Notice - Statewide Notice to publish: September 4, 2018;
Draft available on-line: September 16, 2018;
Comment Period Ends: October 16, 2018
Permit Scheduled to Issue - October 31, 2018;
Effective November 1, 2018
11. PROCEDURE FOR THE FORMULATION OF FINAL DETERMINATIONS
a. Comment Period
The Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources proposes to issue an NPDES
General Permit for the above described stormwater discharges subject to the outlined
benchmark concentrations, management practices, and special conditions. These
determinations are open to comment from the public.
Interested persons are invited to submit written comments on the permit applications
or on the Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources' proposed determinations to
the following address:
Stormwater Program
Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources
1612 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1612
Attn: Alaina Morman
All comments received within thirty (30) days following the date of public notice are
considered in the formulation of final determinations.
b. Public Meeting
Page 9 of 10

NCG030000 Fact Sheet — NC DEQ
August 3, 2018
The Director of the Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources may hold a public
meeting if there is a significant degree of public interest in a proposed permit or group
of permits. Public notice of such a meeting will be circulated in newspapers in the
geographical area of the discharge and to those on the Division of Energy, Mineral, and
Land Resources' mailing list at least thirty (3 0) days prior to the meeting.
c. Appeal Hearing
An applicant whose permit is denied, or is granted subject to conditions he deems
unacceptable, shall have the right to a hearing before the Commission upon making
written demand to the Office of Administrative Hearing (OAH) within 30 days following
issuance or denial of the permit.
d. Issuance of a Permit When no Hearing is Held
If no public meeting or appeal hearing is held, after review of the comments received,
and if the Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources' determinations are
substantially unchanged, the permit will be issued and become effective on the first day
of the month following the issuance date. This will be the final action of the Division of
Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources.
If a public meeting or appeal hearing is not held, but there have been substantial
changes, public notice of the Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources' revised
determinations will be made. Following a 30 -day comment period, the permit will be
issued and will become effective on the first day of the month following the issuance
date. This will be the final action of the Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources
unless a public meeting or appeal hearing is granted.
Page 10 of 10