State environmental officials are asking the public to weigh in on draft proposed water quality permits for Duke Energy’s Belews Creek Steam Station.
The Stokes County facility is required to obtain National Pollution Discharge Elimination System, or NPDES, permits to discharge wastewater and stormwater to the Dan River, Belews Lake and Charlie’s Pond in the Roanoke River basin. Mandates of the proposed draft wastewater permit include groundwater monitoring, increased surface water monitoring and fish tissue sampling. The proposed draft stormwater permit includes several new requirements, including development of a pollution prevention plan, implementation of approved stormwater management measures and monitoring runoff from the site.
The draft wastewater permit and related documents are available online at http://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/water-resources-hot-topics/dwr-coal-ash-regulation/duke-energy-npdes-permits-for-facilities-with-coal-ash-ponds/duke-energy-npdes-modifications-renewals. The draft stormwater permit and related documents are available online at https://deq.nc.gov/news/hot-topics/coal-ash-nc/npdes-permits. Printed copies of the draft permits and related documents may be reviewed at the agency’s Winston-Salem Regional Office. To make an appointment to review the documents, please call 336-776-9800.
Public comments on the draft permit should be mailed to:
- Wastewater Permitting, Attn: Belews Creek, 1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, N.C., 27699-1617.
- Stormwater Permitting, Attn: Belews Creek, 1612 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, N.C., 27699-1612.
Public comments may also be submitted by email to publiccomments@ncdenr.gov. Please be sure to include “Belews Creek Wastewater” or “Belews Creek Stormwater” in the email’s subject line.
All comments received by Nov. 15, 2016 will be considered in the final determination regarding permit issuance and permit provisions.
As part of the public feedback process, the state environmental agency will hold a public hearing to accept comments on the two draft permits at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15 at the Stokes County Courthouse, 1012 Main St., Danbury, N.C. Speaker registration will begin at 5 p.m.