NC0039586_Water Effects Ratio Study_20190710

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ROY COOPER { "'1,L ^\'•
Governor - ', [; „� '
MICHAEL S.REGAN
Secretary ` `$aw,,
LINDA CULPEPPER NORTH CAROLINA
Director Environmental Quality
July 10, 2019
Bentley K.Jones
Shearon Harris Nuclear Plant
5412 Shearon Harris Road
New Hill,North Carolina 27562-9300
Response: DWR Review of Duke Energy Progress,LLC—Shearon Harris Nuclear Plant
(NPDES Permit NC0039586): 2018 Water Effects Ratio Study
Dear Mr.Jones:
On May 9, 2019, the Division received the results of a Water Effects Ratio study for the Shearon Harris
Nuclear Plant from Duke Energy Progress, LLC. On June 5th, a meeting was held with Duke and its
consultants to discuss the results. Based on the discussions and the Division's review of the study methods
and results,the Division provides the following comments:
• The Division requests the WER study be conducted in accordance with Appendix F of EPA's 1994
Interim Guidance on Determination and Use of Water-Effect Ratios for Metals which specifies utilizing
either a dye dispersion study or dilution model to incorporate the near-field effects of a facility's
discharge when developing a WER for Special Flowing-Water Situations.
• The Division requests that, as it is the more conservative species in the stream when determining
WERs, the primary organism used in the WER study be the.fathead minnow to insure adequate
protection of the receiving stream.
Additionally,the Division wishes to inform the Permittee that,per Appendix A Part B of EPA's 1994
Interim Guidance on Determination and Use of Water-Effect Ratios for Metals, dilution will be taken into
consideration when determining the WER but will not be included again in calculation of the dissolved
standard.
The process associated with the WER will be continually developed, as the process is fairly new to the
Division. In this case,the more protective WER of the two Shearon Harris Nuclear Plant WER studies
shall be applied to copper limits in NPDES permit NC0039586.Future WER verifications shall be
conducted using the most updated Division-approved procedure.
If you have questions concerning these comments,please call me at(919)707-3609 or by email
at [e-mail].
Sincerely,
.7),/,;"..._-7________
Nick Coco,Engineer
NPDES Complex Permitting Unit
CC: Julie Grzyb,DWR NPDES Complex Permitting Unit
Cyndi Karoly,DWR Water Sciences Section
Connie Brower,DWR Classifications and Standards Branch
5 En I rc 512 NorthNorth Carolina SalisburyDepartment Street 1of1617 Mailvironmental Service CenterQuality I RaleighDivision,Northof CarolinaWaterResou 27699es -1617
NORTFI CAROLINA
Ospegtment Q 919.707.9000