NCG530000 NCAA NPDES Comments 20231113

North Carolina Aquaculture Association
NCik, # ' V'A
300 Industrial Drive New Bern, NC 28562
Ms. Sydney Deuterman
Division of Water Resources
Water Quality Permitting Section
1617 Mail Service Center
Raleigh,NC 27699-1617
submitted via email: sydney.deuterman&deq.nc.gov
Ms. Deuterman,
The North Carolina Aquaculture Association(NCAA) asks that you please accept these
comments in support of the proposed NPDES General Permit NCG530000 for discharges from
seafood packing and rinsing, aquatic animal operations:
• The NCAA supports the inclusion of an annual grab sample of effluent from our
aquaculture farms, and the removal of quarterly composite sampling parameters for
intake and discharge.
• The NCAA recommends that the permit be granted a five-year duration, in accordance
with the Clean Water Act,with a revised expiration date of November 30, 2028.
The NCAA is pleased that the NC Division of Water Resources has adhered to Session Law
2023-63 and has revised the NCG530000 permit,particularly in modifying the monitoring
conditions. We advocate against any further alterations to the current proposed permit and
believe that the proposed permit strikes a balance between providing adequate environmental
protection and ensuring economic viability for our farms.
We appreciate the opportunity to submit these comments. If you have any inquiries or require
additional information, please feel free to contact me at 919-222-7701, or you may contact our
NCDA&CS Liaison to the association at pete.andersongncagr.gov
Sincerely,
1156g( 74 y -ag
Randy Gray, President
NC Aquaculture Association