20120900 Ver 2_Yadkin_WQC_Request_for_Approval_20190909

Cube Hydro Carolinas LLC
293 Highway 740
PO Box 575
Badin, NC 28009-0575
1

September 9, 2019

Chonticha McDaniel
NC Department of Environmental Quality
Division of Water Resources
401 & Buffer Permitting
512 N. Salisbury Street, Suite 942-E,
Raleigh, NC 27604

Via E-Mail

Subject: Yadkin Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 2197)
Request for Approval under 401 Water Quality Certificate No. 4035 Condition
No. 12.C – Installation of Fixed Cone Valves at High Rock, Tuckertown, and
Narrows Dams

Dear Ms. McDaniel:

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Water Resources
(Division) issued a 401 Water Quality Certificate (Certificate) to Alcoa Power Generating Inc.
Yadkin Division dated October 23, 2015. The Division later re-issued Certificate No. 4035 to
Cube Yadkin Generation, LLC (Cube Yadkin) on February 3, 2017. Cube Yadkin immediately
began implementing and complying with the Certificate in 2017 despite it not becoming
effective until April 18, 2019, when the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued
Yadkin Project license became final and non-appealable.

Condition 12.C of the Certificate prescribes that fixed cone valves will be installed and operated
at High Rock, Tuckertown, and potentially Narrows, to enhance dissolved oxygen (DO) in the
tailwaters. In 2017 FERC and the Division approved a test installation of a linear cone valve
(also known as a Dedekind cone valve) at High Rock and Tuckertown Dams as a possible
alternative to the more traditional Howell-Bunger cone valve. The primary reason for the
proposed innovative technology is that the linear cone valves are installed on an existing dam
gate, and not through the dam, making it an easier and far less-intrusive installation.
Additionally, Cube Yadkin was able to expedite the installation schedule, and the linear cone
valves perform better over an increased operational range with less impact to recreational
resources and historic properties.

Cube Yadkin collects DO and temperature data continuously in each of the four Project
tailwaters in accordance with a DO Monitoring Plan and Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP)
reviewed and approved by the Division. Data collected during the 2017 – 2019 DO monitoring
seasons (May 1 – November 30 each year) demonstrate that the linear cone valves enhance DO
in the tailwaters substantially during periods of non-generation. Encouraged by this
performance, Cube Yadkin is, with this submission, requesting the Division to allow Cube
Yadkin to install a linear cone valve at High Rock, Tuckertown, and Narrows, if necessary, to

2

satisfy the requirement in Condition 12.C to install fixed Howell Bunger cone valves. Cube
Yadkin is proposing no other changes to the existing Certificate.

In support of this request, Cube Yadkin has consulted with not only the Division, but also Project
stakeholders. In November 2017, Cube Yadkin hosted Division staff on-site at Tuckertown Dam
to demonstrate the operation of the linear cone valve. Preliminary data collected during the last
few months of the 2017 DO season showed significant improvement in DO during periods of
non-generation (see Attachment A). Cube Yadkin followed-up with the Division a year later, in
November 2018, to share the results of a full season of linear cone valve operation and DO data.
The data showed that the operation of the linear cone valves results in a consistent increase of
DO when turbines are not in operation (see Attachment B). Cube Yadkin shared this same data
presentation with North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission staff in December 2018.

In June 2019 Cube Yadkin previewed the linear cone valve with the following groups at an
annual stakeholder meeting (see Attachment C):

 Davidson County
 High Rock Business Owners Groups
 High Rock Lake Association
 NC Division of Parks and Recreation
 NC Wildlife Resources Commission
 Old North State Club
 Piedmont Boat Club
 Rowan County
 SaveHighRockLake.org
 The Trading Ford Historic District Preservation Association
 Three Rivers Land Trust
 Town of Badin
 U.S. Forest Service
 Yadkin Riverkeeper

To reach a broader audience, Cube Yadkin held a public meeting in Albemarle, NC on July 17,
2019. Notice of the public meeting was published in The Salisbury Post, The Lexington
Dispatch, The Stanly News and Press (SNAP), and the Montgomery Herald. A representative
from The Trading Ford Historic District Preservation Association and a reporter from The SNAP
attended the meeting. The meeting presentation and an article published in The SNAP are
provided in Attachment D.

None of the consulted stakeholders objected to the use of the alternative technology. Data
collected to date in 2019 continues to show that the linear cone valves are equivalent or better
than the expected performance of the required Howell Bunger valves. For these reasons, Cube
Yadkin respectfully requests that the Division allow the continued use of the linear cone valve to
satisfy the requirement of Condition No. 12.C to install a fixed Howell Bunger cone valve.
Cube Yadkin is not proposing any other changes under the Certificate.

3

The use of this innovative technology does not change the requirement to enhance DO in the
High Rock, Tuckertown, and Narrows tailwaters by installing DO enhancing technology at the
dams (Condition 12.C). The Division’s confirmation would allow the use of an innovative
technology that offers many benefits over the initially specified technology, with an as good or
better improvement in DO, much earlier in the process. The proposed change will not have any
impact that has not otherwise been identified and evaluated during the Project relicensing and
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review.

With regard to schedule, Cube Yadkin installed the required aeration technology at High Rock
and Tuckertown in 2017, years in advance of the schedule required by the Certification.
Condition 12.C.i.a.3 of the Certificate requires Cube Yadkin to provide proposed engineering
plans and specifications for the fixed cone valves at High Rock to the Division within 150
calendar days of a final FERC license (or September 15, 2019). Based on a conversation with
Division staff, Cube Yadkin is submitting this request for approval on or before the September
15 deadline (p. communication, C. McDaniel, May 2, 2019 and September 6, 2019). Cube
Yadkin appreciates your review and approval of the proposed innovative technology. If you
have questions or need additional information to support this request, please contact me
([e-mail]) at [phone] or Jody Smet at [phone] or
[e-mail].

Sincerely,

Eli W.L. Hopson
Vice President for Legal, Regulatory, and Policy
Cube Hydro Partners

Attachments
Attachment A

November 30, 2017 Meeting Presentation and Site Visit to Tuckertown with NCDEQ Staff
LINEAR CONE VALVESIMPLEMENTATION TO IMPROVE DISSOLVED OXYGEN
TRADITIONAL SOLUTIONChallenges:SafetyJet dynamicsInstallation
LINEAR CONE VALVEAdvantages:Aeration PotentialSafetyImplementation
Patent PendingImplementation targeted across southeast
LINEAR CONE VALVE DO BENEFITSImproved average DO by 0.74 mg/LImproved non-generating DO by 1.55 mg/LWhen not generating, linear cone valve brought river into instantaneous compliance within one hourEliminated nighttime DO slump
Attachment B

November 27, 2018 Presentation to NCDEQ Staff in Raleigh, NC
December 18, 2018 Presentation to NCWRC Staff in Marion, NC
Yadkin Linear Cone Valve Operation OverviewW. Neal Simmons, Eli Hopson, Jody SmetNovember 27th, 2018
Outline•Dissolved Oxygen Enhancing Technology•Traditional vs. Proposed•Improving DO at the Yadkin Project•401 Requirements and early compliance•Linear Cone Valve Installation•Valve and Sensor Locations/Information•Linear Cone Valve Testing•Data Analysis and Results•Time-series analysis•Dissolved oxygen response•Seasonal results•Summary and Next Steps
•DO levels in High Rock and Tuckertown tailwaters periodically fall below the State standards during the summer and fall (May – November)•Cube Yadkin understands the importance of meeting water quality standards, including DO•Investing in R&D and technology to meet standards:•Direct oxygen injection in penstock and scroll cases•Central aeration•Howell-Bunger Valves•Draft tube aeration•Distributed aeration (GE)•Linear Cone Valves•Advanced controls, measurement, and predictionImproving Dissolved Oxygen on the YadkinRequest NCDEQ to modify condition 12c in the 401 to replace the requirement of the Howell-Bunger valve with the use of the Linear Cone Valve.
Traditional SolutionAdvantages:•Proven technologyChallenges:•Reduced dam integrity•Impact to NRHP eligible facility•Boat/Fishing safety•Impacts recreation•Fatigue failure from jet dynamics•Long installation time•Portion of water has limited exposure to atmosphere, limiting oxygen pickup.Howell‐Bunger Valve in operation
Alternative Solution (Linear Cone Valve)Advantages:•Breaks flow into droplets for exposure to atmosphere in same manner as a Howell-Bunger type valve, but provides greater aeration•Easily installed on existing spillway gates and utilizes gate motion and hydrodynamic forces to adjust valve setting•Valve can be configured to self-regulate flow or vary oxygenation•20X reduction in installation time•Safer for downstream recreation•Maintains integrity of dam•Preserves historic attributes of facilityChallenges:•New solution with limited field experience•Limited to facilities with spillways, such as the facilities on the Yadkin riverLinear Cone Valve on Gate 1 at TuckertownCurrently installed at High Rock and Tuckertown facilities
Linear Cone Valve Operational FlexibilityVideo illustrating how the Linear Cone Valve operates (click on image to play).
Improving Dissolved OxygenLicense Requirements401 WQC Condition No. 12 outlines required DO enhancements:•Monitoring & Reporting -Started and Ongoing•Installation of Upgrades to Generators at High Rock -Started and Ongoing•Installation of Upgrades at Narrows -Completed•Installation of Fixed-Cone (Howell-Bunger) at High Rock and Tuckertown –Evaluating alternative design (Linear Cone Valve) which have been installed at both facilitiesIf planned enhancements do not result in compliance with water quality standards for DO/temperature, additional measures are required to be developed in consultation with DEQ.ImplementationDuring Generation: Install GE aerating turbines. Upgrade on Unit 1 has begun, with Units 2 & 3 following. To be completed by September 22, 2020.No Generation:Continue to operate Linear Cone Valve at High Rock and Tuckertown (Pending Approval)
Specific Yadkin System Challenges•Hypereutrophication of upstream reach complicates DO mitigation, requiring increased oxygen enrichment•Must meet 4.0 mg/L instantaneous and 5.0 mg/L average DO standard•DO enhancement requirements from May-November•Standards must be met during periods with and without generation
High Rock Linear Cone Valve and Monitoring SetupDO BoatLinear Cone ValveCHC High RockBuilt: 1927Rated Capacity: 37.2 MW# of Units: 3 Francis (12.4 MW)Location: Yadkin River
Tuckertown Linear Cone Valve and Monitoring SetupDO BoatLinearCone ValveTuckertown PowerhouseCHC TuckertownBuilt: 1962Rated Capacity: 38.04MW# of Units: 3 Kaplan (12.68 MW)Location: Yadkin River
Dissolved Oxygen Floating Sensor PackageSpecifications:•Installed Sensors–Dissolved Oxygen–Temperature–System Health•Onboard Power Supply–Solar powered + batteries•Communications/Data–Onboard data storage–Wireless updates to server every 10 minutes–Operators can connect to unit to view live dataDesign revised in Fall 2018 to improve stability and reliability during high flow eventsProvides real‐time monitoring of water temperature and DONote: Data gathered in accordance with NCDEQ approved Monitoring Plan and QAPP
Linear Cone Valve in Operation
DO Data and Linear Cone Valve Operations Analysis Linear Cone Valve Installed on Gate #1 at High Rock and Turckertown, and began testing on 5/18 and are continuing to evaluate operations at multiple settingsHigh Rock: Over 87 days of operational data with statistically representative number of events for conditions of interest (Generating, Spilling and Operating Linear Cone Valve)Tuckertown: Over 33 days of operational data with statistically representative number of events for conditions of interest (Generating, Spilling and Operating Linear Cone Valve).High flow events throughout DO season presented challenges•DO boats capsized under bypass operations and needed to be recovered for several high flow events•Valve performance cannot be tested when bypassing or generating because of high flows through turbines or bypass gates mute effect from linear cone valve.
High Rock DO Season Time SeriesDO conditions noticeably change with operational conditions, with a consistent rise in DO when the linear cone valve is opened or while spilling (see slide 16).
High Rock DO: Linear Cone Valve Not In OperationDO conditions show strong diurnal pattern, decreasing at night when generation is off (red arrows), DO rise seen after sunrise due to photosynthesis.
High Rock DO: Linear Cone Valve in OperationDO increases sharply when cone valve is opened after generation has stopped. DO levels continue to increase the longer valve is open as more water in tail race is oxygenated.
Tuckertown DO Season Time SeriesDO conditions noticeably change with operational conditions, with a consistent rise in DO when the linear cone valve is opened or while spilling (see slide 18).
Tuckertown Dissolved Oxygen Response to Cone ValveLinear cone valve is very effective at improving DO. DO increases sharply when cone valve is opened (green arrows) and decreases when valve is closed (red arrows). Valve OffValve OnValveOffValveOn
Data AnalysisSunriseABCDApproximately 24,000 data points per-channel for each site were analyzed using MatlabLinear Cone Valve Performance was evaluated when generation was off and there was no spilling. Flows from generation or spilling are approximately 30x greater than the flow through valve and therefore dominate the DO readingsMethodology•Time series were identified when there was no spill and generation was off•To exclude the effect of photosynthesis only data points from sunset to sunrise were examined•DO at the beginning of time‐series (end of generation) was found (Start DO, point A)•DO at end of time‐series (sunrise or start of generation) was found (End DO, point B)•Maximum DO reading during series was found (Max DO, point C)•Minimum DO reading during series was found (Min DO, point D)•The change in DO was calculated by subtracting the starting DO value from the ending DO value (Delta DO,  points B-A)•The DO range was calculated by subtracting the minimum DO value from the maximum DO value  (Range DO,  points C-D)•Slope of the DO rise was determined by finding the slope of a least‐squares fit of a straight line (1storder polynomial) through the data (DO Slope, green dashed line)•Values for each of the above parameters were averaged and compared for statistical significance (see table on slides 20 and 21)Exemplar dissolved oxygen response
High Rock DataBlue Box25‐75 PercentilesRed LineMedian ValueWhiskersData Rangen=31n=19n=37Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L)Valve Condition Start End Delta Min. Max. Range SlopeValve Off 4.42 3.65‐0.813.33 4.60 1.26‐0.10Partially Open 3.03 2.16‐0.871.86 3.14 1.28‐0.12Open 3.09 5.302.252.87 5.42 2.560.42Linear Cone Valve increases DO by more than 2 mg/L and continues to increase DO the longer valve is openedAverages of Time‐series DataSee slide 19 for method details
Blue Box25‐75 PercentilesRed LineMedian ValueWhiskersData Rangen=17n=16Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L)Valve Condition Start End Delta Min. Max. Range SlopeValve Off 3.30 3.710.412.95 4.15 1.200.08Open 3.50 5.622.123.28 5.64 2.360.36Tuckertown DataAverages of Time‐series DataSee slide 19 for method detailsLinear Cone Valve increases DO by more than 2 mg/L and continues to increase DO the longer valve is opened
Linear Cone Valve ‐ Early BenefitDesign Flow220cfsDischarge DOFully SaturatedConstruction Time60daysWater Aerated in 2018114.22 billion gallonsDam Safety ImpactNoneLinear Cone ValveDesign Flow220cfsDischarge DOFully SaturatedConstruction Time280daysWater Aerated in 201820 gallonsDam Safety ImpactSignificantHowell-Bunger Valve1 Total of 6.54 billion gallons at High Rock and 7.68 billion gallons at Tuckertown2 No water could have been aerated in 2018 because of long installation time
Addressing Yadkin’s DO RequirementsGE Aerating RunnerLinear Cone Valve
Summary & Next StepsCube Yadkin is implementing a combined solution that addresses both the generation and non-generation license requirements, while simultaneously accelerating the implementation and preserving the integrity of the Dam.The operation of the Linear Cone Valve results in a consistent increase of dissolved oxygen, demonstrating the system improves DO when turbines are not in operation.Results gathered are equivalent or better than the expected performance of the required Howell-Bunger valves.Request NCDEQ to modify condition 12c in the 401 to replace the requirement of the Howell-Bunger valve with the use of the Linear Cone Valve.Yadkin DO Upgrade Timeline 20172018Q1‐2 2019Q3‐4 20192020CHP Acquires YadkinEvaluation of Linear Cone ValveHR Unit 3 Completed Sept‐2020HR Unit 2 CompletedHR Unit 1 CompletedDO Season 2(Data Gathering)DO Season 2 (Data Analysis)DO Season 1(Data Gathering)DO Season 1(Data Analysis)
Attachment C

Meeting Attendance List
June 4, 2019 Meeting Presentation to Project Stakeholders
Yadkin Project Annual Recreation Plan MeetingJUNE 4, 2019SALISBURY, NC
Agenda •Welcome, Introductions•General Overview of Implementation of FERC Project License/401 Water Quality Certification/Relicensing Settlement Agreement •Review/Discuss Recreation Plan and Implementation Schedule ◦Meeting Purpose◦Short‐term (2019‐2020) Planning ◦Longer‐term (2021 and beyond) Planning •Additional Topics◦High Rock Unit Upgrades / Tailwater Recreation ◦York Hill Access Area ◦Highway 49 Access Area ◦High Rock Navigational Buoy Effort ◦Other 
FERC Project License ImplementationArticle Status Article 202 – Exhibit F Drawings  CompleteArticle 203 – Exhibit G Drawing  CompleteArticle 302 – Effects of Revised Reservoir Operating Levels Filed, under FERC review Article 303 – Turbine/Generator Modifications  Ongoing Article 401 – Resource Plans (Lake Sediment Monitoring Plan for Narrows Reservoir; Sedimentation and Flood Protection Plan;Contaminant Monitoring)Ongoing Article 402 – Fish Sampling Work Narrows Reservoir  Complete Article 404 – RTE Species Management Plan Complete Article 405 – Transmission Line Corridor Management Plan CompleteArticle 406 – Recreation Plan Complete Article 407 – Shoreline Management Plan  Complete Article 408 – Historic Properties Management Plan Filed, under FERC review 
401 Water Quality Certification Implementation Condition StatusNo. 8 – Sediment Removal Salisbury Intakes  Baseline survey complete; ongoing sand mining No. 9 – Sedimentation and Flood Protection Plan Filed, under FERC reviewNo. 10a – Narrows Fish Tissue Sampling Conducted 2017No. 10b – Priority Pollutant Discharge Monitoring Conducted 2017, 2018 (2019, 2020, 2021 outstanding)No. 10c – Narrows Sediment Sampling Conducted 2017, 2018 (2019, 2020, 2021 outstanding)No. 12b – High Rock Turbine/Generator Upgrades Unit 1 complete, Unit 2 ongoing, Unit 3 by 9/2020No. 12c – Cone Valves at High Rock & Tuckertown Complete*No. 12e – Upgrade Tailwater DO Monitoring EquipmentCompleteNo. 12f – Update DO Monitoring Plan and QAPP CompleteNo. 12h – Annual DO/Temperature Report 2017, 2018 Complete, Ongoing 
Traditional Howell‐Bunger Cone ValveAdvantages:•Proven technologyChallenges:•Reduced dam integrity•Impact to NRHP eligible facility•Boat/Fishing safety•Impacts recreation•Fatigue failure from jet dynamics•Long installation time•Portion of water has limited exposure to atmosphere, limiting oxygen pickup
Alternative Solution – Linear Cone ValveAdvantages:•Breaks flow into droplets for exposure to atmosphere in same manner as a Howell‐Bunger type valve, but provides greater aeration•Easily installed on existing spillway gates and utilizes gate motion and hydrodynamic forces to adjust valve setting•Valve can be configured to self‐regulate flow or vary oxygenation•20X reduction in installation time•Safer for downstream recreation•Maintains integrity of dam•Preserves historic attributes of facilityChallenges:•New solution with limited field experience•Limited to facilities with spillways, such as the facilities on the Yadkin riverCurrently installed at High Rock and Tuckertown facilities
Linear Cone Valve ‐ Early Benefit1 No water could have been aerated in 2018 because of long installation time2 Total of 6.54 billion gallons at High Rock and 7.68 billion gallons at TuckertownHowell‐Bunger Linear Cone ValveDesign Flow 220 cfs 220 cfsDischarge DO Fully saturated  Fully saturatedConstruction Time 280 days 60 days Water Aerated 2018 0 gallons114.22 billion gallons2Dam Safety Impact Significant None 
Attachment D

Newspaper Notice (Published in the Salisbury Post, The Lexington Dispatch, Stanly News and
Press, Montgomery Herald)
July 17, 2019 Public Meeting & Presentation
SNAP News Article

Cube Yadkin Generation, LLC 
Yadkin Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 2197) 

Public Meeting to Discuss Proposed Minor Modification to 401 Water Quality Certificate 

Wednesday, July 17, 2019 
6:00 – 7:00 pm 

Holiday Inn Express Conference Room 
500 Leonard Avenue 
Albemarle, NC 28001 

Yadkin Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 2197)Proposed 401 WQC Modification – Linear Cone Valve July 17, 2019
Yadkin Project BackgroundOriginal FERC License 1958Project Relicensing 2002 – 2016401 CertificationOctober 2015New FERC Project License September 2016Cube Yadkin Generation purchased Project February 2017401 Certification reissuedFebruary 2017License/401 implementation ongoing
Yadkin Project CWA Section 401 Certification401 Water Quality Certificate – required for a federally licensed activity including the operation of facilities which may result in a discharge to navigable waters.401 Requirements401 WQC Condition No. 12 outlines required Dissolved Oxygen (DO) enhancements:•Monitoring & Reporting -Started and Ongoing•Installation of Upgrades to Generators at High Rock -Started and Ongoing•Installation of Upgrades at Narrows -Completed•Installation of Fixed-Cone (Howell-Bunger) at High Rock and Tuckertown –Evaluating alternative design (Linear Cone Valve) which have been installed at both facilitiesIf planned enhancements do not result in compliance with water quality standards for DO/temperature, additional measures are required to be developed in consultation with DEQ.ImplementationDuring Generation: Install GE aerating turbines. Upgrade on Unit 1 is complete, Unit 2 is ongoing, and Unit 3 will follow. To be completed by September 22, 2020.No Generation:Continue to operate Linear Cone Valve at High Rock and Tuckertown (Pending Approval)
•DO levels in High Rock and Tuckertown tailwaters periodically fall below the State standards during the summer and fall (May – November)•Cube Yadkin understands the importance of meeting water quality standards, including DO•Investing in R&D and technology to meet standards:•Direct oxygen injection in penstock and scroll cases•Central aeration•Howell-Bunger Valves•Draft tube aeration•Distributed aeration (GE)•Linear Cone Valves•Advanced controls, measurement, and predictionImproving Dissolved Oxygen on the YadkinRequest NCDEQ to modify condition 12c in the 401 to replace the requirement of the Howell-Bunger valve with the use of the Linear Cone Valve.
Traditional SolutionAdvantages:•Proven technologyChallenges:•Reduced dam integrity•Impact to NRHP eligible facility•Boat/Fishing safety•Impacts recreation•Fatigue failure from jet dynamics•Long installation time•Portion of water has limited exposure to atmosphere, limiting oxygen pickup.Howell‐Bunger Valve in operation
Alternative Solution (Linear Cone Valve)Advantages:•Breaks flow into droplets for exposure to atmosphere in same manner as a Howell-Bunger type valve, but provides greater aeration•Easily installed on existing spillway gates and utilizes gate motion and hydrodynamic forces to adjust valve setting•Valve can be configured to self-regulate flow or vary oxygenation•20X reduction in installation time•Safer for downstream recreation•Maintains integrity of dam•Preserves historic attributes of facilityChallenges:•New solution with limited field experience•Limited to facilities with spillways, such as the facilities on the Yadkin riverLinear Cone Valve on Gate 1 at TuckertownCurrently installed at High Rock and Tuckertown dams
Tuckertown Dissolved Oxygen Response to Cone ValveLinear cone valve is very effective at improving DO. DO increases sharply when cone valve is opened (green arrows) and decreases when valve is closed (red arrows). Valve OffValve OnValveOffValveOn
Significant Improvement in Yadkin Water QualityPercentage of time water quality exceeds State StandardInstantaneous > 4.0 mg/L Average > 5.0 mg/LFacility 2018 2019 2018 2019High Rock 64.1%99.1% 51.4%98.6%Tuckertown* 100.0%100.0%100.0%100.0%Narrows 100.0%99.8% 100.0%100.0%Falls 97.4%98.9% 88.6%100.0%Data compares values from May and June of 2018 to May and June of 2019*At Tuckertown, data is limited to May alone
Improvements in DO* A Linear Cone Value was installed at both High Rock and Tuckertown dams in late 2017
Summary & Next StepsFile a request to modify the 401 WQC w/NCDEQ no later than 9/15/2019•Request specific to using the linear cone valves in place of the prescribed Howell-Bunger cone valves•Request supported by stakeholder consultation•All other conditions of the WQC will remain the same (no other proposed changes)QUESTIONS?
Cube requests change to 401 certificate
(https://www.thesnaponline.com/author/Imari Scarbrough/)
By Imari Scarbrough(https://www.thesnaponline.com/author/Imari Scarbrough/)
Email the author (mailto:[e-mail])
Published 10:10 am Tuesday, July 23, 2019
Cube Hydro Carolinas plans to request a change be made to its 401 Water Quality Certificate to incorporate new technology into its High Rock and Tuckertown sites.
The certificate currently demands the use of a Howell-Bunger valve, but Cube wants the language changed to allow for the use of a linear cone valve.
Jody Smet, director of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) licensing and compliance for Cube, said Wednesday evening the Howell-Bunger valve is
“proven technology.” However, she and Neal Simmons, vice president of research and development and optimization, said even still, the Howell-Bunger valve has
several disadvantages.
The Howell-Bunger valve shoots water out in a cone, with part of the water immediately going back into the body of water below while the rest shoots outward longer.
The water that is almost immediately deposited downward has less chance to become oxygenated than the water that is shot out farther.
The Howell-Bunger valve takes months to install, Simmons said.
Adding it requires a hole be made in the dam, which Cube would rather avoid, Smet said.
Smet said other issues include its effect on the dam as a National Register of Historic Places-eligible site.
The linear cone valve developed by Cube fixes those issues, according to the company.
Because the water is sent out in a sheet rather than a cone, the water as a whole goes up and out, letting more of the water become aerated, Simmons said. No hole is
required in the dam and installation only takes about a week. It does not affect the look of the dam, can be set to “self-regulate flow or vary oxygenation,” and is “safer
for downstream recreation,” Cube claimed in the presentation.
The only two issues Cube notes with the technology are it is a “new solution with limited field experience” and it is “limited to facilities with spillways, such as the
facilities on the Yadkin River.”
While it is new, the linear cone valve has been tested and data shows the dissolved oxygen level is higher when the valve is opened.
Cube’s analysis compared the percentages of times the water quality was over the standard set by the state. The numbers show an increase from 2018 to 2019
numbers at High Rock, Narrows and Falls.
At Falls, the average went from 88.6 to 100 percent. At High Rock, it was more drastic, increasing from 51.4 to 98.6 percent.
Cube compared the information from May and June 2018 and May and June 2019.
The dissolved oxygen levels at High Rock and Tuckertown “periodically fall” below state standards from May through November, according to the presentation. But
“Cube Yadkin understands the importance of meeting water quality standards, including DO,” it noted in its presentation.
This new valve was created in part to help reach that goal.
Ann Brownlee, president and founder of Trading Ford Historic District Preservation Association in Salisbury, said she has no issue with the use of the valve.
Smet said she plans to send a letter to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality requesting the change by the end of August, but the deadline for the
request is Sept. 15.
According to Smet, Cube will not ask for any other details of the certificate to be changed.
Imari Scarbrough is a freelance contributor for The Stanly News and Press.
SPONSORED CONTENT(HTTPS://JADSERVE.POSTRELEASE.COM/TRK?NTV_AT=3&NTV_UI=86830E6E-8CE3-4AAC-B466-
3240138D29DF&NTV_A=9MAEAY2W1AARCQA&NTV_FL=CZ1ACOKSPKGSU-PHDTDWLUR6MLAQEUR0F-
O6J0MY5F6AEMAZBVMKDNU_3DWFBXHXSQTDPTYMSKWWB9PFTVYAIG==&ORD=-936046004&NTV_HT=SMS3XQA&NTV_TAD=16&NTV_AZ=1ASPL-
U8-MRRGHF9&NTV_AL=4YJBNEGCQTQ=&NTV_AK=DRORD076KXCOS5F3&NTV_R=HTTPS://UPBEATNEWS.COM/AFTER-RENOVATING-ABANDONED-
FARMHOUSE-MAN-FINDS-SECRETS-HIDDEN-IN-THE-FLOORS/?
UTM_SOURCE=NATIVO&UTM_MEDIUM=KTS&UTM_CONTENT=NV_KTS_003&UTM_CAMPAIGN=UN_NV_SAFE_PG_DT_US_0415_001_KTS&UTM_TERM=NEWS+