NCS000589_Fish tissue monitoring_2023

Young, Brianna A
From: Lawyer, Mike
Sent: Monday, April 3, 2023 2:04 PM
To: Young, Brianna A
Subject: FW: [External] e-Copy: WSC 2023 Fish Tissue Monitoring Report for NPDES Wastewater
Renewal Application
Attachments: WSC 2023 Report for NPDES Renewal -Final 03-20-2023.pdf
FYI
Michael Lawyer, CPSWQ
Stormwater Program Supervisor
Division of Energy, Mineral and Land Resources
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
Office: [phone] 1 Cell: [phone]
Email: mike.lawyer(@ncdenr.gov
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to third parties.
From: Tyndall, Kent <[e-mail]>
Sent: Monday, April 3, 2023 1:45 PM
To: Lawyer, Mike <[e-mail]>
Cc: Hawkins, Randy <[e-mail]>; Glenn, Elizabeth <[e-mail]>
Subject: [External] e-Copy: WSC 2023 Fish Tissue Monitoring Report for NPDES Wastewater Renewal Application
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REF: W. H. Weatherspoon
NPDES Stormwater Permit NCS000589
Effective: 2/1 /2017
Subject: Fish Tissue Monitoring Results
Dear Mr. Lawyer:
In accordance with Section B. of Duke Energy Progress, LLC's W. H. Weatherspoon NPDES Stormwater
Permit NCS000589, Duke hereby submits this Fish Tissue Monitoring Results e-copy. The original is being
postmarked today for delivery via USPS certified mail. These Monitoring Results are being submitted within 30
days of receiving results.
Please note Section B (page 9 of 17) of our NPDES Stormwater permit state:
The current NPDES Wastewater Permit NC0005363 requires the facility to conduct fish tissue monitoring once during that permit term
for arsenic (As), selenium (Se), and mercury (Hg) in accordance with a Sampling Plan approved by the Division of Water Resources.

The permittee shall submit a copy of fish tissue monitoring results to the DEMLR Stormwater Permitting Program (Central Office) within
30 days of receiving results and indicate the location of sampling in relation to stormwater discharge outfalls. This reporting timeframe
differs from the NPDES Wastewater Permit, which directs that fish tissue analysis results be submitted with the wastewater discharge
permit renewal application.
If there are any questions, please contact either:
• Mr. Kent Tyndall, Environmental Professional for the W. H. Weatherspoon Plant; phone [phone] or e-
mail Kent.Tyndall .duke-energy.com; or
• Mr. Randy Hawkins, Environmental Specialist in our Permitting & Compliance Group, phone [phone]
or email Randy. Hawkins(a)duke-eneray.com.
Thank you!
R. Kent Tyndall
EHS Professional I Duke Energy I CDG EHS Field Support
L. V. Sutton Energy Complex I W. H. Weatherspoon Plant
Mailing Address: 801 Sutton Steam Plant Rd, Wilmington, NC 28401
o: 910.341.4775 1 m: 910.409.9430 1 e: [e-mail]

DUKE
ENERGY,
PROGRESS
March 31, 2023
Certified Mail # 7019 2280 0001 4397 3662 (2 copies)
Mike Lawyer
NCDEMLR- Stormwater Permitting Program
1612 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1612
Subject: Fish Tissue Monitoring Results
Dear Mr. Lawyer:
W. H. Weatherspoon Plant
491 Power Plant Rd
Lumberton, NC 28358
Mailing Address:
Kent Tyndall
L. V. Sutton Energy Complex
801 Sutton Steam Plant Rd
Wilmington, NC 28401
o: 910.341-4775
In accordance with Section B. of Duke Energy Progress, LLC's W. H. Weatherspoon NPDES
Stormwater Permit NCS000589, Duke hereby submits this Fish Tissue Monitoring Results.
These Monitoring Results are being submitted within 30 days of receiving results.
Please note Section B (page 9 of 17) of our permit state:
The current NPDES Wastewater Permit NC0005363 requires the facility to conduct fish tissue monitoring once during
that permit term for arsenic (As), selenium (Se), and mercury (Hg) in accordance with a Sampling Plan approved by
the Division of Water Resources. The permittee shall submit a copy of fish tissue monitoring results to the DEMLR
Stormwater Permitting Program (Central Office) within 30 days of receiving results and indicate the location of
sampling in relation to stormwater discharge outfalls. This reporting timeframe differs from the NPDES Wastewater
Permit, which directs that fish tissue analysis results be submitted with the wastewater discharge permit renewal
application.
If there are any questions, please contact either:
• Mr. Kent Tyndall, Environmental Professional for the W. H. Weatherspoon Plant; phone
[phone] or e-mail Kent.Tynd all .duke-energy.com; or
• Mr. Randy Hawkins, Environmental Specialist in our Permitting & Compliance Group, phone
[phone] or email Randy. HawkinsCa)-duke-energy.com.
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 property 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.
Sincerely,
Brandon Burgess
Supervisor Operations

W. H. Weatherspoon Plant
2019-2022 FISH TISSUE MONITORING REPORT
NPDES Permit # NC0005363
March 2023
Prepared by:
DUKE ENERGY PROGRESS, LLC.
Environmental Field Support - Water Resources
New Hill, North Carolina

Table of Contents
Page
1.0 Introduction....................................................................................................................... 1
2.0 Study Site Description and Sampling Locations.............................................................. 1
3.0 Target Species................................................................................................................... 2
4.0 Field Sampling Methods................................................................................................... 3
5.0 Laboratory Processing and Analysis................................................................................. 3
6.0 Data Analysis and Reporting............................................................................................ 3
7.0 References......................................................................................................................... 5
List of Tables
Table
Page
1 Sample location, species, number collected, and size (length and weight) of fish collected for
trace element analysis from 2019 through 2022............................................................... 4
2 Means and ranges of trace elements in fish muscle tissue collected from the two sampling
areas from 2019 through 2022.......................................................................................... 5
List of Figures
F
Page
1 Sampling areas for fish tissue trace elements monitoring on the Lumber River .............. 2
i

1.0 Introduction
Duke Energy owns and operates the Weatherspoon Steam Electric Plant (Weatherspoon Plant) located
adjacent to the Lumber River in Robeson County, North Carolina. The Weatherspoon Plant was retired
in 2011 and demolition was completed in 2013. Currently, coal related operations only include removal
and recycling of coal combustion residuals. The Weatherspoon Plant National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES) Permit (No. NC0005363), which was effective November 1, 2018, and
will expire October 30, 2023, states a requirement in section A.14 for annual monitoring of trace elements
(arsenic, selenium, and mercury) in fish muscle tissues near the ash pond discharge (Outfall 001) (Figure
1). In addition, the permit requires a fish tissue monitoring plan to be submitted for approval. The plan
was submitted to the North Carolina Division of Environmental Quality, Division of Water Resources
(NCDEQ-DWR) on April 22, 2019, and subsequently approved on June 6, 2019. Collected fish were
processed and analyzed at Duke Energy's Harris Energy and Environmental Center laboratory for trace
element tissues monitoring.
2.0 Study Site Description and Sampling Locations
Fish were collected from the Lumber River at Stations UP and DI (Figure 1) for individual muscle tissue
trace elements analysis. Location UP is upstream of Outfall 001 and served as a reference location to
monitor background trace element concentrations in fish muscle tissue. Sampling location DI is in the
immediate vicinity and downstream of Outfall 001 and was used to monitor near -field uptake and
assimilation of trace elements in fish muscle tissue. Location UP starts approximately 3.0 river
kilometers (rkm) above Outfall 001 and extends approximately 1.5 rkm downstream. DI starts
approximately 0.5 rkm above Outfall 001 and extends downstream approximately 1.0 rkm.
1

A
* W H Weatherspoon
O Outfall Ocl
- Fish Trace Element Sample Reaches
0 0.25 0.5 Miles
I I I
0 0.25 0.5 Kilometers
W.H. Weatherspoon Plant
NPDES Permit NC0005363
Latitude 34.587538 Longitude-78.97552
WIGS 84 Datum
DUKE
ENERGY,
Figure 1. Sampling areas for fish tissue trace elements monitoring on the Lumber River.

3.0 Target Species
Target fish species for individual tissue analysis at both sample locations include black bass
(Micropterus spp.) and sunfish (Lepomis spp.). The approved study plan stated that six individuals
per species group would be collected annually within each sample location for a total of 24 fish.
Similar to US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA 2000) recommendations for whole body
fish tissue assessments, an attempt was made to limit the smallest fish to 75% of the largest fish
total length by species depending on availability.
4.0 Field Sampling Methods
Fish were collected following the Duke Energy ESFP-SW-0600-Trace Elements Field Procedure -
Rev. 0. Prior to 2020, collections followed procedure NR-0095-Trace Elements Field Procedure -
Rev. 1. Only live fish that showed little or no signs of deterioration were retained for analysis.
Retained fish were identified to species, measured for total length (mm), weighed (g), tagged (Floy
tags), and bagged by species/site. Fish were placed on ice and transferred to a freezer within 24
hours of collection.
5.0 Laboratory Processing and Arsenic, Selenium and Mercury Analysis
All individual fish samples were processed in Duke Energy's New Hill Trace Element Laboratory
according to procedure ESFP-SW-0601-Trace Elements Sample Preparation -Rev. 0. Samples prior
to 2020 were processed using Duke Energy procedure NR-00107-Trace Element Monitoring
Laboratory Procedure -Rev. 4. The processed samples included lyophilized left axial muscle (and
included right axial muscle if insufficient left axial muscle was obtained). Quantitative analysis of
individual fish muscle tissue samples for arsenic, selenium, and mercury (trace elements) was
achieved by x-ray fluorometry. Quality control was achieved with duplicates and standard
reference materials. Remaining sample materials were archived and kept for a minimum of two
years.
6.0 Data Analysis and Reporting
In total, 49 black bass and 48 sunfish were collected and analyzed for trace elements. Twenty-five
Black Bass were collected from Station UP and twenty-four from Station DI. Twenty-four sunfish
were collected from both Stations UP and Station DI. (Table 1).
3

Table 1. Sample location, species, number collected, and size (length and weight) of fish
collected for trace element analysis from 2019 through 2022.
Sample
location
Species
Number
collected
Length (mm)
Mean Range
Weight (g)
Mean Range
Black bass
25
355
(221-510)
711 (128-2000)
UP
Sunfish
24
188
(130-290)
151 (42-516)
Black bass
24
345
(212-550)
669 (130-2300)
DI
Sunfish
24
215
(160-260)
209 (71-350)
In addition to the length and weight of each fish, the dry -to -wet weight ratios are presented for
convenience to convert the arsenic, selenium, and mercury concentration wet weight values back
to dry weight values (Appendix A). From 2019 through 2022, mean concentrations of arsenic and
selenium for sunfish and black bass spp. at both locations were below the USEPA wet weight
screening values for recreational fishermen (USEPA 2000). Mean mercury concentrations for
sunfish at both locations were also below screening values. Mean mercury concentrations for black
bass at both sampling locations were above the screening value. These data indicate mercury is
present in the river system, both above and below Outfall 001 at the Weatherspoon Plant (Table 2).
Table 2. Means and ranges of trace element concentrations in fish muscle tissue
collected from the two sampling locations from 2019 through 2022. All values are wet weight
(µg/g) including the USEPA screening values shown next to each element.
Sample
Arsenic (1.2)
Mercury (0.4)
Selenium (20.0)
Location
Species
Mean
Range
Mean
Range
Mean
Range
Black bass
0.16
(0.13-0.18)
0.57
(0.22-1.20)
0.31
(0.21-0.65)
UP
Sunfish
0.15
(0.12-0.26)
0.28
(0.12-0.77)
0.33
(0.19-0.51)
Black bass
0.15
(0.13-0.17)
0.65
(0.24-1.16)
0.59
(0.22-4.39)
DI
Sunfish
0.15
(0.12-0.18)
0.36
(0.10-0.84)
0.43
(0.26-1.04)
*To convert to a dry weight, divide the fresh weight concentrations by the dry -to -wet weight ratio. Mean dry -to -wet ratio for sunfish is 0.20. The
mean dry -to -wet ration for Black Bass is 0.21.
7.0 References
U.S. EPA. 2000. Guidance for assessing chemical contaminant data for use in fish advisories. Vol. 1.
Fish sampling and analysis. Third edition. EPA 823-B-00-007. United States Environmental
Protection Agency, Office of Water, Washington, DC.
4

APPENDICES

Appendix A. Arsenic, mercury, and selenium concentrations (wet weight) in individual fish
axial muscle collected and analyzed from 2019 - 2022 for the Weatherspoon
Plant NPDES permit # NC0005363.
Collection
Length
Weight
Arsenic
Mercury
Selenium
Dry to Wet
Species
Species group
Location
Date
(mm)
(g)
(As)
(Hg)
(Se) µg/L
Weight
µg/L
µg/L
Ratio
Redear Sunfish
Sunfish
UP
9/11/2019
290
516
0.16
0.53
0.43
0.2
Redear Sunfish
Sunfish
UP
10/1/2019
258
270
0.15
0.77
0.35
0.18
Warmouth
Sunfish
UP
11/4/2019
180
131
0.14
0.41
0.29
0.19
Bluegill
Sunfish
UP
11/4/2019
170
84
0.14
0.19
0.4
0.19
Bluegill
Sunfish
UP
11/4/2019
190
118
0.15
0.41
0.34
0.2
Bluegill
Sunfish
UP
11/4/2019
180
98
0.13
0.17
0.27
0.18
Largemouth Bass
Black bass
UP
9/11/2019
395
860
0.16
0.85
0.33
0.21
Largemouth Bass
Black bass
UP
9/11/2019
321
463
0.16
0.52
0.21
0.21
Largemouth Bass
Black bass
UP
9/11/2019
372
718
0.15
0.89
0.39
0.2
Largemouth Bass
Black bass
UP
9/11/2019
369
760
0.16
0.68
0.22
0.21
Largemouth Bass
Black bass
UP
9/11/2019
450
1326
0.15
0.68
0.38
0.21
Largemouth Bass
Black bass
UP
11/4/2019
370
644
0.15
0.58
0.38
0.2
Redbreast
Sunfish
Sunfish
DI
11/4/2019
160
71
0.14
0.62
0.37
0.19
Warmouth
Sunfish
DI
11/4/2019
180
140
0.14
0.57
0.32
0.19
Redear Sunfish
Sunfish
DI
11/4/2019
240
242
0.16
0.33
0.43
0.21
Redear Sunfish
Sunfish
DI
11/4/2019
260
314
0.14
0.38
0.38
0.18
Redbreast
Sunfish
DI
11/4/2019
250
310
0.14
0.84
0.33
0.18
Sunfish
Bluegill
Sunfish
DI
11/4/2019
230
232
0.14
0.5
0.37
0.19
Largemouth Bass
Black bass
DI
11/4/2019
550
2300
0.16
1.16
0.32
0.2
Largemouth Bass
Black bass
DI
11/4/2019
400
790
0.15
0.7
0.43
0.19
Largemouth Bass
Black bass
DI
11/4/2019
360
628
0.14
0.67
0.68
0.19
Largemouth Bass
Black bass
DI
11/4/2019
360
626
0.16
0.76
0.4
0.2
Largemouth Bass
Black bass
DI
11/4/2019
360
610
0.16
0.91
0.65
0.2
Largemouth Bass
Black bass
DI
11/4/2019
305
334
0.15
0.95
0.41
0.2
Bluegill
Sunfish
UP
7/29/2020
167
80
0.15
0.18
0.34
0.21
Bluegill
Sunfish
UP
7/29/2020
186
120
0.16
0.19
0.32
0.2
Bluegill
Sunfish
UP
7/29/2020
165
96
0.16
0.12
0.41
0.21
Redear Sunfish
Sunfish
UP
7/29/2020
252
300
0.15
0.33
0.4
0.2
Redear Sunfish
Sunfish
UP
7/29/2020
176
108
0.16
0.2
0.51
0.21
Redear Sunfish
Sunfish
UP
7/29/2020
220
220
0.16
0.22
0.45
0.22
Largemouth Bass
Black bass
UP
7/29/2020
490
2000
0.18
1.2
0.35
0.24
Largemouth Bass
Black bass
UP
7/29/2020
365
620
0.15
0.54
0.28
0.2
Largemouth Bass
Black bass
UP
9/15/2020
397
870
0.15
0.51
0.35
0.21
Largemouth Bass
Black bass
UP
9/15/2020
435
950
0.16
0.77
0.65
0.22
Largemouth Bass
Black bass
UP
9/15/2020
337
528
0.17
0.3
0.26
0.22
Largemouth Bass
Black bass
UP
9/15/2020
344
620
0.16
0.32
0.35
0.2
Bluegill
Sunfish
DI
9/15/2020
228
260
0.17
0.4
0.31
0.2
Redear Sunfish
Sunfish
DI
9/15/2020
210
204
0.16
0.1
0.54
0.21
Redear Sunfish
Sunfish
DI
9/15/2020
256
350
0.16
0.4
0.43
0.21
Bluegill
Sunfish
DI
9/15/2020
209
192
0.14
0.45
0.53
0.19
Bluegill
Sunfish
DI
9/15/2020
221
190
0.14
0.41
0.43
0.18
Redear Sunfish
Sunfish
DI
9/15/2020
241
312
0.18
0.27
0.54
0.22
Largemouth Bass
Black bass
DI
9/15/2020
250
160
0.14
0.6
0.58
0.19
Largemouth Bass
Black bass
DI
9/15/2020
390
860
0.16
0.54
0.31
0.2
Largemouth Bass
Black bass
DI
9/15/2020
307
380
0.13
0.24
4.39
0.2
Largemouth Bass
Black bass
DI
9/15/2020
465
1500
0.15
0.6
1.01
0.21
Largemouth Bass
Black bass
DI
9/15/2020
212
130
0.17
0.26
0.32
0.21
6

Species
Species group
Location
Collection
Date
Length
(mm)
Weight
(g)
Arsenic
(As)
µg/L
Mercury
(Hg)
µg/L
Selenium
(Se) µgm
Dry to Wet
Weight
Ratio
Largemouth Bass
Black bass
DI
10/6/2020
501
1850
0.16
0.88
0.32
0.21
Bluegill
Sunfish
UP
7/22/2021
190
152
0.15
0.26
0.35
0.21
Bluegill
Sunfish
UP
7/22/2021
164
96
0.13
0.15
0.28
0.19
Bluegill
Sunfish
UP
7/22/2021
169
120
0.21
0.29
0.34
0.19
Bluegill
Sunfish
UP
7/22/2021
155
76
0.13
0.13
0.26
0.19
Bluegill
Sunfish
UP
7/22/2021
151
84
0.26
0.57
0.26
0.19
Bluegill
Sunfish
UP
7/22/2021
146
80
0.14
0.29
0.26
0.19
Largemouth Bass
Black bass
UP
7/22/2021
510
1650
0.15
1.02
0.24
0.2
Largemouth Bass
Black bass
UP
7/22/2021
273
280
0.14
0.22
0.25
0.19
Largemouth Bass
Black bass
UP
7/22/2021
231
178
0.17
0.35
0.4
0.21
Largemouth Bass
Black bass
UP
7/22/2021
221
128
0.16
0.59
0.25
0.21
Largemouth Bass
Black bass
UP
7/22/2021
230
176
0.17
0.36
0.33
0.21
Largemouth Bass
Black bass
UP
7/22/2021
365
780
0.17
0.62
0.28
0.22
Largemouth Bass
Black bass
UP
7/22/2021
385
942
0.16
0.54
0.27
0.21
Largemouth Bass
Black bass
DI
7/22/2021
375
760
0.15
0.74
0.3
0.21
Redear Sunfish
Sunfish
DI
7/22/2021
195
130
0.15
0.22
0.35
0.2
Redear Sunfish
Sunfish
DI
7/22/2021
235
300
0.17
0.25
0.47
0.22
Redear Sunfish
Sunfish
DI
7/22/2021
195
120
0.15
0.13
0.37
0.21
Redear Sunfish
Sunfish
DI
7/22/2021
250
300
0.15
0.33
0.43
0.21
Redear Sunfish
Sunfish
DI
7/22/2021
220
190
0.15
0.21
0.51
0.21
Redear Sunfish
Sunfish
DI
7/22/2021
225
210
0.16
0.2
0.48
0.21
Largemouth Bass
Black bass
DI
10/5/2021
343
487
0.15
0.76
0.61
0.2
Largemouth Bass
Black bass
DI
10/5/2021
332
508
0.15
0.76
0.33
0.21
Largemouth Bass
Black bass
DI
10/5/2021
335
531
0.15
0.53
0.29
0.21
Largemouth Bass
Black bass
DI
10/5/2021
280
272
0.15
0.38
0.43
0.2
Largemouth Bass
Black bass
DI
10/5/2021
408
1100
0.16
0.7
0.32
0.22
Bluegill
Sunfish
DI
6/6/2022
172
108
0.14
0.16
0.48
0.19
Bluegill
Sunfish
DI
6/6/2022
230
296
0.15
0.42
0.26
0.2
Bluegill
Sunfish
DI
6/6/2022
204
170
0.13
0.36
0.36
0.19
Bluegill
Sunfish
DI
6/6/2022
193
146
0.12
0.39
0.31
0.17
Bluegill
Sunfish
DI
6/6/2022
184
136
0.13
0.42
1.04
0.2
Bluegill
Sunfish
DI
6/6/2022
165
88
0.13
0.18
0.35
0.19
Bluegill
Sunfish
UP
7/6/2022
170
84
0.14
0.13
0.32
0.2
Bluegill
Sunfish
UP
7/6/2022
145
60
0.13
0.14
0.24
0.19
Bluegill
Sunfish
UP
7/6/2022
172
85
0.18
0.15
0.31
0.2
Redear Sunfish
Sunfish
UP
7/6/2022
262
350
0.15
0.51
0.38
0.19
Warmouth
Sunfish
UP
7/6/2022
217
258
0.15
0.23
0.23
0.21
Warmouth
Sunfish
UP
7/6/2022
130
42
0.12
0.19
0.19
0.17
Largemouth Bass
Black bass
UP
7/6/2022
370
720
0.15
0.51
0.27
0.21
Largemouth Bass
Black bass
UP
7/6/2022
370
720
0.13
0.3
0.21
0.16
Largemouth Bass
Black bass
UP
7/6/2022
248
175
0.16
0.33
0.28
0.21
Largemouth Bass
Black bass
UP
7/6/2022
368
729
0.16
0.46
0.34
0.21
Largemouth Bass
Black bass
UP
7/6/2022
265
258
0.18
0.42
0.34
0.23
Largemouth Bass
Black bass
UP
7/6/2022
390
672
0.14
0.61
0.25
0.19
Largemouth Bass
Black bass
DI
6/6/2022
421
900
0.14
1.09
0.25
0.19
Largemouth Bass
Black bass
DI
6/6/2022
310
432
0.17
0.57
0.46
0.21
Largemouth Bass
Black bass
DI
6/6/2022
288
350
0.17
0.29
0.22
0.21
Largemouth Bass
Black bass
DI
6/6/2022
243
180
0.16
0.34
0.28
0.2
Largemouth Bass
Black bass
DI
6/6/2022
248
199
0.15
0.51
0.5
0.2
Largemouth Bass
Black bass
DI
6/6/2022
235
159
0.15
0.61
0.37
0.2
*To convert to a dry weight, divide the fresh weight concentrations by the dry -to -wet weight ratio.
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