NC0000396_Rim Ditch and Wetlands System Modifications_20150327

AV&
NCDENR
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Pat McCrory Donald R. van der Vaart
Governor Secretary
March 27, 2015
Harry K Sideris
Senior Vice President, Environmental Health & Safety
Duke Energy
526 South Church Street
Mail Code EC3XP
Charlotte,NC 28202
Subject: Rim Ditch and Wetlands System Modifications
Asheville Electric Plant NC0000396
Buncombe County
Dear Mr. Sideris:
The Division received a letter from you on February 25 requesting confirmation that planned
activities at the Asheville Steam Electric Plant holding permit NC0000396 are authorized under
the current administratively continued permit.
In your letter you proposed the removal of the rim ditch from the 1964 basin in order to begin
excavation of the ash in that basin. A new rim ditch system of at least the same capacity or a
treatment system of demonstrated superior treatment would be constructed within the footprint of
the 1982 basin from which the ash has already been mostly removed. This system would treat ash
sluice and other low volume wastes except for the Flue Gas Desulphurization (FGD)wastestream.
The Division concurs with your assertion that this activity can occur under your existing permit
without modification. Per NC General Statute 143-215.1 (a5) as modified in 2011 session no
Authorization to Construct is required for this activity.
The letter also indicated that FGD polishing wetlands treatment system within the 1964 basin
would also need to be removed to facilitate ash removal. The first option offered was temporarily
sending the waste to sanitary sewer presumably under a Pretreatment permit from MSD
Buncombe. The Division concurs that this option would be acceptable under Section E of Part II
Standard conditions of the permit as no increase in the quantity of pollutants discharged would
occur and 40 CFR Part 423 Categorical Regulation for Steam Electric Power Generating allows
disposal by Pretreatment. The Division does not believe that enough information has been
submitted by Duke to determine if the option of the addition of"some alternative treatment" would
be in keeping with the permit as issued.
1617 Mail Service Center,Raleigh,North Carolina 27699-1617
Phone:[phone] Internet:www.ncwater.org
An Equal Opportunity\Affirmative Action Employer-Made in part by recycled paper

Mr. Harry Sideris
Duke Energy
March 25,2015
Page 2 of 2
Duke is reminded that land disturbing activities that occur outside the treatment unit or that may
affect the dike may require approvals or concurrence from the Division of Energy, Mineral and
Land Resources.
If you do have any questions please feel free to contact me at(919) 807-6309,or via e-mail at
[e-mail].
Sincerely,
Jeffrey O. Poupart
Water Quality Permitting Chief
Division of Water Resources
cc: Central Files
NPDES files
ARO
2